Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Sound Cards > Help me choose between these 4 soundcards

Help me choose between these 4 soundcards

Forum CPU & Components : Sound Cards - Help me choose between these 4 soundcards

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I want to purchase a sound system and a sound card, and I narrowed it down to these four:

Auzentech X-fi Forte 7.1
Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater HD
ASUS Xonar Essence STX
Asus Xonar HDAV1.3

Along with the Onkyo HT-S5200

If I purchase the Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater HD or Asus Xonar HDAV1.3, will I just need to have an hdmi cable for it to work?

If I purchase the ASUS Xonar Essence STX or Auzentech X-fi Forte 7.1, what sort of cable will I need for it to work?

And regardless of the cabling, what is the best soundcard out of these four?

And is the Onkyo HT-S5200 a good choice?

Thanks

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asus xonar, it uses rca jacks and 6.5mm jacks but comes with 3.5 mm adapter

Message edited by obsidian86 on 09-14-2009 at 10:26:14 PM

------------------------------ I took a step back to look at the bigger picture and realized i needed better glasses
Reply to obsidian86

best card for what??? gamming, video, stereo music. they will connect with what??

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to xanxaz

xanxaz wrote :

best card for what??? gamming, video, stereo music. they will connect with what??

Mostly music, but sometimes games and movies. They'll connect to the Onkyo HT-S5200 that I plan to purchase with it.

Reply to dereck

I'm about to buy the Onkyo HT-S3200 and the Forte 7.1. Is there anything I need to know before I make the purchase?

Reply to dereck

Doesn't your MB already have a built-in 7.1 sound card?

Reply to kikireeki

So I don't need a sound card?

Reply to dereck

it is up to you really. If you want to have true HD/DTS-HD bitstreaming you will need either

Asus Xonar HDAV1.3
or
Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater HD

The latter seems a more polished product but be sure to read this before you buy:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3632

If you do not want to spend too much Sound Blaster cards are the best value for money and have now clean and stable drivers.

Reply to uncle_ben

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Help me choose between these 4 soundcards

Forum CPU & Components : Sound Cards - Help me choose between these 4 soundcards