sound card recommendation

**Stealth915** · 02-24-2008, 10:41 PM

I did a search and read many of the threads regarding sound cards, but I'm still undecided on which sound card will give me the best performance/value.

I will be running 4.1 sound in my car with a 4 channel amp for the front/rear speakers and a mono amp for a pair of subwoofers. I will be getting the Intel D201GLY2, and I am trying to decide between getting a PCI soundcard vs a USB soundcard. I am leaning towards getting a PCI card - it seems the advantage of external USB sound is being able to fit the mobo into a smaller case. I'd like to keep my case relatively small, but I think a case that can fit a PCI card with a riser to make it go sideways should do the job for me.

That being said, what are some popular PCI sound cards that people run? I have an X-Fi in my computer, but it doesn't seem to be very popular, as people are going with Audigy models or even SB Live!. Also, do all/most PCI cards have good output voltages? I can't seem to find this information in the X-Fi manual.

Thanks

**crooper** · 02-26-2008, 02:15 AM

I think the X-Fi is a great sounding card, so I have one in my carpc. If I knew how much of a headache it would be dealing with the Creative drivers, I probably would've gone with a different solution. I have a Platinum in my home PC, works great. XtremeGamer in my carpc, hours of frustration. But it works right now so I'm happy.

Use AC3Filter to convert 5.1 audio tracks to 4.1. Works great.

**Stealth915** · 02-26-2008, 02:14 PM

What specific problems did you have with the creative drivers in a CarPC environment? And if you were to choose a card right now for the CarPC, which card would you recommend? There doesn't seem to be a comprehensive list of PCI cards like there is for USB ones, so I'd like to get as many suggestions as I can.

Thanks!

**durwood** · 02-27-2008, 11:55 AM

I started a small list, but time has not been on my side.

What features do you find most desireable? Budget? Have you thought about using the carpc for audio processing?

**Stealth915** · 02-27-2008, 04:51 PM

I'd like to do some audio processing on my carPC, but I haven't done much research into EQs or Tuning. My main requirement is to have a card that has good output voltages to feed into my amps, and at least 4.1 sound.

My budget is somewhere under $100. If I can get by with something as low as $50 I wouldn't mind either.

I'll be listening to MP3's 95% of the time on the CarPC, and I'd like to make it sound pretty decent. From the Wiki link in your sig, durwood, I think Soundblaster with KXProject drivers would be the best fit for me. How does SB with KXproject compare to X-Fi using Creative drivers? I'm using the X-Fi "Crystalizer" on my desktop right now and everything sounds "better" than without it.

There's also a huge range SB cards that support KXProject. What are the advantages of using, say, an Audigy 2 Platinum to a cheaper card like a Live! Value?

**durwood** · 02-27-2008, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by Stealth915

There's also a huge range SB cards that support KXProject. What are the advantages of using, say, an Audigy 2 Platinum to a cheaper card like a Live! Value?

I don't have any experience with the Xfi cards but it SHOULD be an upgrade to previous creative offerings. I don't see why they would go backwards in development.

The Audigy2/4 is good step up in improvement over the Live series. (BTW, the Audigy SE is not the same as the original audigy cards) Output voltage on all creative Audigy and newer cards should be 2V. It's a Dolby standard IIRC. The XFI might have a higher output voltage, but I doubt it. You should be able to find a used Audigy2/4 fairly cheap. If all you are listening to are MP3's then I think you will be fine.

You won't notice any improvement in soundcards until you jump up into the $200+ range.