Help me choose between these 4 soundcards

[dereck]

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

 

[obsidian86]

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

 

[xanxaz]

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

 

[dereck]

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.

 

[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?

 

[kikireeki]

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

 

[dereck]

So I don't need a sound card?

 

[uncle_ben]

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.