Sound Card for Z-5500

Is the onboard sound card on an asus p6t deluxe v2 mobo adequate for a Logitech Z-5500 setup. If not, whats a good card? Thanks.

The onboard is adequete but Logitech speakers sounds muffled.

The tone controls and/or equalizer from the discrete soundcard will help it sound better by increasing higher frequencies.

Both cards are good, you just need to figure out what is your priority. I do care more about how my music and video sound quality than my games.

Base on my experience, I found that C-media chip sounds warmer than Soundblaster or Realtek Chip, I don't know if others notice though.

Although X-Fi design is better than old SB Audigy, I don't know how much closer to E-Mu the sound quality is? the AES technology from creative designed for games is nice but when playing games I don't know how much advantage you get to your goal, another is what Creative called crystalizer to enhance music pleasure is a bonus.

Between the two I'd go for C-Media, also easier to connect or find the connectors if you want to use more than 5.1 system.

I'm not a headphone kinda guy.

I have Sennheiser headphone and it's great for what I need but I tried Sony and Bose of their comfort line and it's also good.

If you are a headphone guy then save your money and buy a cheaper discreet C-Media soundcard and more expensive headphone. I can't find much difference between $40 and less $150.

However you will notice one when comparing a $40 VS over $250 but some people rather spend that cash on loudspeakers system.