Good Sound Card Suggestions

Cocide · 04-09-2008, 04:24 AM

I am almost done planning my install but am stuck on what brand or type of sound card to use.

It would be nice to get something that is USB, but I do understand there is a quality loss. I could go PCI but then I would not be able to use a nano itx mobo.

Basically it comes down to me having a small car, it would be nice to have a smaller pc because it would be easer to fit and use less power.

I do appreciate good quality audio and have a nice system in my car already, I do hear audio imperfections and am a bit of an audiophile so the sound quality must be good. keeping that in mind, I have a soft top car that has a lot of road noise so if there is only a minor difference in quality that should be fine.

If there are any good USB based sound cards that would be the best solution, digital to the amps so less interference possibilities (my car is an electromagnetic mess, but when I'm gonna install I am going to gut the interior to try and fix things). USB would also allow me to use the smaller motherboard that creates less heat, requires less power and will be easy to fit behind the lcd.

However it is done I need input on what card manufactures do not play with the levels, when I looked I kept seeing complaints of cards boosting highs and lows to 'clear up the audio' and in my opinion that is not acceptable.

In the end I need 5.1 support and preferably 3 inputs but 2 would work if I use the onboard excuse for a sound card thing.

If it is USB using a card for out and a card for in is fine IMHO, maybe it is even preferable because more bandwidth is available.

I also have a mini pci available on the nano itx but I do not think this would be of much use. Unfortunately I do not have much experience with consumer grade equipment and I do not have the cash or desire to buy commercial grade parts.

Vipsavior · 04-13-2008, 12:36 AM

I will let you know.i am going with a sound blaster Audigy2 Sound Card i am running 4 12" subs 2 front doors and 2 rear deck 6x9 sound be here in 2 1/2weeks. Price Range 65 to 100 USD

Cocide · 04-13-2008, 12:50 AM

Cool, I figured this thread was hopeless...
I am looking at the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage SRM, but I wont buy for about a month. Its about the same price range. Iv got 4 6.5" door and rear deck speakers by pioneer if memory serves me (dont know the number but pushing 60w rms ea) powered by an a6004v, and a 10" 07CVT10-2 mostly due to size limitations of my car (the sub is not in the trunk and I can still take a passenger somehow) powered by an a4002t. Its not an amazingly powerful system but it has a great sound w/ the head unit I have on it now. Some time around the 10th I'll be building a new sub enclosure with fiberglass to try and get more volume so that should be interesting.

scott_fx · 04-13-2008, 01:32 PM

imho don't waste the time or money on 5.1 for that car. It is probably impossible to get accurate 5.1 in that car. stick with a nice set of components and a 10 or 12" sub and you'll have far better results. look into that hippohifi dac for a space saving high quality 'soundcard'

Cocide · 04-13-2008, 01:50 PM

Very interesting... would not have thought of or found that. But when I said 5.1 I was more meaning 4.1 (5.1 is more commonly referred to) so that I could change the fade level from the pc (not set the gain on the amp) and so that I could control the sub as a separate speaker. But yes you are correct 5.1 in a car would be hard to say the least. Thanks for the advice!

Cocide · 04-13-2008, 03:00 PM

Well the more I look at it the more I like it, but what do I do about audio in. I'm looking at sirius (ok quality), hd radio (from what I've been told great quality), and a 3.5mm on the dash (to be assumed great quality source).

The sirius radio could go to the built in line in on the mobo and probably not have enough quality loss to matter, but that still leaves me with 2 more sources I want to have great quality.