Good sound setup for under $200?

[HamMach1]

I was searching google and stumbled upon this thread:

http://www.computerforum.com/1464488-post2.html

...and it intrigued me to make an account to get some more info. Would this setup up give me a better sound/bass than purchasing something roughly the same price from companies like Logitech, Klipsch, etc. that come with a sub? I'd almost want something more along the lines of $100-150 but I always get suggestions to "shell out an extra $20, $50, $75, and get so and so brand".

My main use is for music... like, 100%. And I have room on my desk for speakers.

Help a complete audio noob!

 

[valtopps]

buy a Klipsch system. 2.1 or 5.1 also you need a sound card asus dx or creative labs etreme music. depending how much you have left over you can buy a better sound card.

 

[linkin]

For $200 you should get a Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music or X-Fi Xtreme Audio. i have the PCI-E version of the xtreme audio and it works a treat over the crappy onboard realtek sound. Sounds are clearer, louder, The bass is good except my speakers don't do it justice.

That will leave you maybe $120 or $100 left on some speakers. I have no clue but i can tell you to avoid logitech systems like the plague. mainly models with a control box for volume, bass and to plug headphones in etc, they always break. please avoid them.

There are also a bunch of features in the Creative Audio Control Panel you can turn on for even clearer sound, such as the crystaliser which makes things like symbol clashes and drums clearer and louder (but not shrill)

Yeah, i like my card. got it for $50

 

[meticadpa]

M-Audio Studiophile AV40 and an ASUS Xonar D1/DX

Better than any "computer" speakers out there. Ignore Logitech, and ignore Creative's crystaliser software; it highly degrades audio quality - the only use for it is if you're using low-quality sound files.

 

[diduknowthat]

If the system is for music then definetly avoid X-fis. They're mainly made for gaming (EAX 5.0) and aren't as good for their cost for music.

 

[linkin]

Maybe a Xonar STX then? i hear they are great bang for buck cards... kind of expensive though.

 

[meticadpa]

If the system is only for music, then avoid sound cards altogether. A DAC like the Musiland Monitor 02 US is of far higher quality than even the Xonar Essence STX, is portable, external, and cheaper.

 

[bomberboysk]

I was searching google and stumbled upon this thread:

http://www.computerforum.com/1464488-post2.html

...and it intrigued me to make an account to get some more info. Would this setup up give me a better sound/bass than purchasing something roughly the same price from companies like Logitech, Klipsch, etc. that come with a sub? I'd almost want something more along the lines of $100-150 but I always get suggestions to "shell out an extra $20, $50, $75, and get so and so brand".

My main use is for music... like, 100%. And I have room on my desk for speakers.

Help a complete audio noob!

You just missed out on newegg having the polk 40's for $109.99, but right now they are still only $139:
Speakers:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290010&cm_re=polk_40-_-82-290-010-_-Product
Amp:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=248-462

Or, if you really want the best SQ possible, get one of the following receivers instead of the amp(gonna cost you quite a bit more though), especially one that has optical in, which would provide better SQ than analog through a cheap sound card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882105432
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882120164

Or, if you decide to get a decent audio card, this would be my receiver of choice:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882120128

If the system is for music then definetly avoid X-fis. They're mainly made for gaming (EAX 5.0) and aren't as good for their cost for music.

Unless of course you mod them, switching the OpAmps from the cheap ones creative uses with analog devices AD8599's or National Semiconductor LM49720's/49860's/4562's will help tremendously, as well as on the pci cards switching of the main power filtering capacitor. Modding the X-fi's essentially makes them the same as the auzentech cards, in some cases better as auzentech usually uses a good OpAmp for the main stereo channels, and cheaper ones for surround.

If the system is only for music, then avoid sound cards altogether. A DAC like the Musiland Monitor 02 US is of far higher quality than even the Xonar Essence STX, is portable, external, and cheaper.

Problem is, price for price...a decent sound card like an auzentech or HT Omega or a modded X-fi generally beats a DAC, DAC's really only shine in higher end applications.

 

[meticadpa]

The DAC is much cheaper than the Xonar Essence STX, and many users have agreed that it's far superior to that card, even when the Essence's OPAMPs have been upgraded...

 

[bomberboysk]

The DAC is much cheaper than the Xonar Essence STX, and many users have agreed that it's far superior to that card, even when the Essence's OPAMPs have been upgraded...

I'm not talking about the STX, the xonar STX is a card designed for users of high impedance headphones as it has a built in headphone amplifier. I'm referring to the line of cards by HT Omega and Auzentech, or a modified X-fi(which is what in simpliest of terms, the auzentech cards are). Don't get me wrong, the Musiland is great for the price...but i'd have an Ht Omega Claro or auzentech before it.

 

[astrallite]

If the system is for music then definetly avoid X-fis. They're mainly made for gaming (EAX 5.0) and aren't as good for their cost for music.

Just FYI, the last game that came out with EAX 5.0 support was BF2 in 2005. It shouldn't be a relevant reason to purchase for gaming today.

 

[astrallite]

The Essense STX is designed more for stereo audio in mind than headphones. The headphone out isn't the best, but the stereo outs are the best of any soundcards, with the 132DB SNR Burr Brown 1792 . Up until last year this was the best DAC on the planet (since superseded by the ESS Saber Reference 134DB SNR).