I would like someone to please explain me which is the absolutely best sound cars available for music and movies,not games.I was thinking of buying Creative X-Fi Elite Pro but then I heard of Azuentech X-Meridian and Ht-Omega Claro+(both using some good C-Media chip)and upcoming Azuentech X-Prelude(Creative chip).What should I get and why,please explain.

If you have a good motherboard the on-board audio is almost as good as any stand alone sound card

I am used to listenig my Pioneer/B&W HiFi system so I woul like the best possible sound from my PC too.

For PC I would say the Elite based on the reviews I have read it is a great card. Don't know much about the other two. So what kind of speakers are you using with these sound card.

all non creative sound cards only support up to EAX2.0. I heard that Auzentech does have an EAX5 card called the 7.1 or something. If they use creatives drivers, then the card wont be any better than an Xfi. The xfi cards have a lot of reported driver and compatibility issues.

I like this card a lot: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829127002
Blugears Benspirer Dolby True Surround.
I used this card for a while, and it made a 700mb rip sound SUPERB.
Games also sound great.

If you want more though I would try out this card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829153001
Razer AC-1

This surround sound headphones make the best of the sound card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6826153002

try em out

It is really difficult to say which card is best for a high end audio system. As you probably know, each electronic component will "color" the sound and most sound cards are not review to determine how well they can reproduce music without colorization at an audiophile level.

Last I heard, M-Audio and Terratec were highly regarded for people who wanted high quality music coming out from their high end systems. I think Terratec sound cards are mainly sold in Europe though.

You may want to go into an audiophile store and ask the people there which sound card do they thing will give you the best sound quality. It is very likely they will not know the answer to the question though.

BTW, which B&W speakers do you have? A few years ago I went along with my friend to audition some speakers. We checked out the B&W 801s, our jaws dropped because of the quality of music, the huge size, and the huge price tag. He went for the 803 series.

I'm a video editor so I really appriecate quality of sound with picture. There are two main differences between onboard and add on cards....

1. ) Connections : Motherboards are made to service the widest audience possibile, hence professional musicians usually miss out in regards to connections. Sound cards allow them to connect to various devices..eg . MIDI, Guitars, DAT tape ...

2. ) Memory : The funny thing with this is that only the latest creative card with 64mb is capable of this, all other cards will steal a bit of CPU time to process what they've processed. Only games seem to be programmed to take advantage of extra memory.

Hence you will not get any extra benifits if none of this applies to you.

I myself invested in speakers and more RAM ( to speed things up ). Onboard gives me excellent quality because I'm never using any music/ sound source that's high than say a CD.

Sound cards (like any sound equipment ) can't improve quality any higher that the source. eg. Audio cassette to DVD will still sound shitty. Even in 5.1 Dolby.

Games are straining because the CPU has to 'sound" 128 tracks at the same " real " time. So obviously any extra help would be appreicated.
When playing music/composing, it's already written in stone ( well, code ) so all the CPU does is read it..

Hope this helps you.

Hmmm... I have X-Fi elite pro, just because the sound "card" is outside of computer. Always, when the audio source is inside the computer, there is some electronic leak to sound component that causes hiss, and other kind of static noice.
How well you notice that baground noice is up to your ears, your speakers and so on. With any normal computer speakers you most propably don't notice anything because those speakers are so poor, that they cause some "noice" by they own.
If you however have good quality hifi-speakers or headphones, there is difference. For me it's important, to some other... well they would not care less...

What is good with X-Fi elite pro:
- high guality components (if you want to sample music, and then put it on the CD or Audio DVD format)
- the external sound unit (less static noice!)
- connections: midi, optical and coacial links etc...
- sound guality with good speakers (It's not pro-stuff, but quite near... If you want pro stuff you nead much more expensive equipment than elite pro! So in comparison it's quite cheap... Yep I know, this does contradigt with the bad things. But everything is relative... Professional stuff is something like 1000$ or more...)

What is bad with X-Fi elite pro_
- the price! (You can get much more memory or anything you want with that price)
- the space (the box is guite big...)
- the difference in sound is allmost nothing if you use normal 100$-300$ computer speakers... So you need hifi quality audio speakers or headphones... (read more money... Good quality headphones are not so expensive, but many want to have surround system and hifi-quality surround system is more like 2000$-4000$...)
http://www.genelecusa.com/ht/produ [...] way/6020a/
http://www1.electronichouse.com/poty/14753.html
- support (not so many programs support all the features that Elite pro have.)

Unless he never plans on upgrading to vista, EAX is almost a moot point.

@madhatter4: WRONG!! (gives a good solid backhand to the right cheek)

I highly doubt he wants some headphones, no less a gaming set with a mic. in his face.

Judging by his loudspeakers, I'd say he would prefer headphones from here:
http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite/

ive got 5 pairs of Sennies.

Get em. The HD212s are good