Best soundcard

I'm considering upgrading and whatever.. I'd just like your opinion on what you think would be the best soundcard. I know absolutely nothing about them, so..

Price = Don't care.

I don't know what kind of speakers, possibly a 3-speaker set. Suggestions?

And it would basically just be for gaming and music..

If your a gamer definitely get 5-piece system (2 front, 2 surround, 1 subwoofer). You'll be able to take advantage of EAX and/or A3D (depending on soundcard and gametitle). I can personally recommend Altec Lansing and by all means if you have the money to burn- get a Klipsch 5.1 system. My brother got one and its FREAKING awesome. Its even more worth the money if you watch DVD's (Its THX rated), and plays great music.

If you just want to listen to music but spend less than Klipsch, try looking into a 3-piece Cambridge speakers. I've got Cambridge Soundworks, and love it. My Altec Lansing 5-piece system is better for gaming; however, even if it is far less powerful (alot cheaper too).

As for soundcard, most folks are recommending the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz, but I don't have any experience with this card so I can't say for sure.

MX300 was a great sounding card! I own the SQ2500 of the same chip.

What's the frequency, Kenneth?

I'm still using my SQ2500.

What's the frequency, Kenneth?

""Turtle Beach Santa Cruz.

Klipsh 2.1 speakers""

Geez, there is nothnig even close to MX300 and MS Sound System 80 combo as far as 2.1 setup goes.

..this is very useful and helpful place for information...

Ah, duh, you guys all missing the points....was just giving options.

For Music, a 2.1 system is way the go. Your basically only worried about wav and mp3 sound quality. TBSCw/Klipsh2.1 does that very very well for a pc if your not wanting to spend massive dollars on Sirroco Spirit speakers or something.

Of course 5.1 is better than 2.1 for movies and games...

And for the other reply: sure there is, how bout a TerraTec 6fire with Sirroco Spirit speakers? blow dat away. all about preference and price.

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the empires state building, along came goblin, wiped the spider out

5.1 is only better for music if you constantly just have to be surrounded by walls of sound. Thank you but not for me.
5.1 is not better than 2.1. Whats happening is you just think it sounds cool to have the sound coming at you from every direction...which is...just your personal preference to what sounds cool. That does not equate to whats "best" for music. A good 2.1 setup is far superior for replication of good music sound.

edit: 2.1+2.1 does not equal 5.1...but then i'm sure you know that...

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the empires state building, along came goblin, wiped the spider out

If you play a two-channel source in a four-channel system, most sound cards will simply duplicate from the front left and right to the rear left and right. So in effect, the four-channel system ends up sounding like headphones. When a sound comes from the left on a 2.1 system, it only comes from the front left. On a 4.1 or 5.1 system, it comes from both the front left and rear left, dominating the whole left side and sounding *quite a bit better* than a simple 2.1 system.

Personally, I think MP3s and CD tracks sound much better in 4.1 than 2.1 because it surrounds me like headphones. Of course, good headphones are ideal for music.

Ritesh

You are the first person I know who perfer 2.1 speaker system over 5.1 speaker system.

Just to throw in my two cents, I prefer four speakers over two for music, but I'd rather have two great speakers than four slightly worse ones.

<font color=blue>Hi mom!</font color=blue>

To the origional poster: I hope this thread hasnt totally alienated you if your still out there. Just buy a set of Klipsh speakers and be happy=)

To Ritesh:
Two totally different kinds of signal processing... I was talking about what headphone amps do to fix the "blobs in the head" you get on headphones which is where you basically hear a symphony in your head. The signal processors on a headhpone amp can correct that and make it sound like its coming from a stage in front of you instead. It doesnt actually change the dynamics though,just sounds like its coming from a stage in front of you instead of from inside you.

Totally different animal, i agree that the kind of signal processing your talking about which is something creative specializes in is bad. I would prefer 4 speakers to headphones without the signal processing amp i mentioned. Makes a huge difference in how real and live the music sounds.

Never said 4 speakers changed the music or sound somehow...just the soundstage...if you don't know what i'm talking about just forget about it its not that important-P Don't try to make it into something i'm not saying.

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the empires state building, along came goblin, wiped the spider out