Recommendations - Sound card & Speakers

alexrezniz

alexrezniz

New Member
I looked at other threads but didn't see anything too related to my question. I'm definitely not an audiophile and I don't know much when it comes to sound cards, speakers, and quality sound.

I'm looking for the best combination of speakers plus a sound card that I can get for under/about $250. Also, a combination for around $500 (I'm not sure if I want to spend all my money on sound, or save some and get something else as well like a new GPU or monitor or something).

As far as quality, all i've heard besides cheap stuff (as in $50 and less with no sound card) was my friends X-540s paired up with a Creative Titanium I believe it was, and those blew me away.

Like I said, I basically don't know anything when it comes to speakers/sound cards, so if anyone could give me advice on the best comibnation, that would be great!
 
Are you used it for music/ gaming?

Soundcard - May be Asus Xonar Essence STX??
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132010&Tpk=Asus Xonar Essence

review
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?/audio/asus_xonar_essence_stx_-_pci-e_audiophile_soundcard/1

Asus produce better quality sound, if you are gaming you may want Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019

For general upgrade from onboard, $65 ASUS Xonar DX may be a good choice.

Speakers - How many speakers do you want?
I've listened to AE2, they are good, but i don't know if it is what you wanted.
I want AE5, but I can't afford it...

AE2 review
http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Audioengine-A2/

AE5 review
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/...able/audioengine-a5/?searchterm=Audioengine 5
http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Audioengine-A5/

I don't know what which 5.1 system is best. I think most ppl will say Logitech Z-5500...
 
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Well, when it comes to music I listen to mainly Classical and techno. So, I want good sound but also good bass. I do play a lot of games (Crysis, Grid, Gears of War, Sins of a Solar Empire, Bioshock, Penumbra, HL, HL2, etc...), but that's slowly going downwards as school is becoming more demanding cause I need to start getting ready for college.

I have noticed those products from newegg before, and I was liking the Titanuim Fatal1ty, but do you have any thoughts on the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude? or the HT Omega Striker? I read that those were good, but I really don't know what makes a sound card or the speakers actually good.

As for speakers, perferably a 2.1 or 5.1, i'm not really sure which would be best. I live in an average/small house with my mom and my room is only an 8' x 10' room, and all i've used is 2.1. I have a 2.1 cyber acoustics set right now, which was cheap and sounded better than just normal Dell speakers and stuff like that, but after hearing my friends speakers/sound card, I am now hating mine!

Do you know of a good combo for around $250??
 
I think you'd better of to 2.1, I have had a 5.1 in my small room, I just can't stand my cable...
Auzentech X-Fi Prelude seems expensive...
I haven't listen product from HT Omega, no comment on that.
 
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That Asus you mentioned early along with the HT card have both gotten great reviews and they're at a good price for me. I'll probably choose between those. As for 2.1, the Logitech Z-2300s look nice, but for 2.1 they look kinda expensive.
 
alexrezniz said:
That Asus you mentioned early along with the HT card have both gotten great reviews and they're at a good price for me. I'll probably choose between those. As for 2.1, the Logitech Z-2300s look nice, but for 2.1 they look kinda expensive.
Click to expand...

So z2300 is too expensive, it is just $115 from amazon...

I also heard Harman Kardon SoundSticks II is good as well. cost $100 from amazon

Cheap one...Logitech Z-4 may be? Amazon selling at $55
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AM6QHE...d=ATVPDKIKX0DER&linkCode=asn&tag=cnet-1023-20
 
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daisymtc said:
So z2300 is too expensive, it is just $115 from amazon...

I also heard Harman Kardon SoundSticks II is good as well. cost $100 from amazon

Cheap one...Logitech Z-4 may be? Amazon selling at $55
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AM6QHE...d=ATVPDKIKX0DER&linkCode=asn&tag=cnet-1023-20
Click to expand...

Well, it's expensive in the aspect that the ones I own were $30 and at the time I thought those were expensive. Other than that the only reason I still think they are slightly expensive would be because 5.1 setups like the X-540s are cheaper, and it's 5.1. But then again, I still don't know anything when it comes to any of this.
 
alexrezniz said:
Well, it's expensive in the aspect that the ones I own were $30 and at the time I thought those were expensive. Other than that the only reason I still think they are slightly expensive would be because 5.1 setups like the X-540s are cheaper, and it's 5.1. But then again, I still don't know anything when it comes to any of this.
Click to expand...

Z2300 is at higher end. it is like Z5500 with 5.1 system.
I personally own £100 2.1 speaker for my desktop (when i purchased it, £1 = $2), i don't care about what other 2.1 cost as I want it with quality...
My previous 5.1 set up was creative, roughly £50 5 years ago, I am not really happy with its sound quality, and thus I opt to an expensive one.
 
daisymtc said:
Z2300 is at higher end. it is like Z5500 with 5.1 system.
I personally own £100 2.1 speaker for my desktop (when i purchased it, £1 = $2), i don't care about what other 2.1 cost as I want it with quality...
My previous 5.1 set up was creative, roughly £50 5 years ago, I am not really happy with its sound quality, and thus I opt to an expensive one.
Click to expand...

Ah, ok, that's what I thought. That's an expensive set you have, but quality does come at a cost.

There are a couple Best Buys near my house and they always have a few speakers out tat you can listen to. The Z2300s definitely sounded nice. They're definitely a good choice.
 
Has anyone heard both the X-540s and the G51s?? Are the G51 really that much better to justify them at almost double the cost??
 
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