Recomend a sound card for me.

[Lamron]

I upgraded to a 5.1 sound system a while back, primarily because I wanted to used the small satellite speakers that they use. Not much room left for speakers with my 28" and 17" monitors.

At the same time I bought a new computer and skipped buying a sound card to save money. The on-board sound really isn't bad, but its stereo and I'm getting REALLY tired of people sneaking up behind me because I can't hear what direction they are coming from. I used to run a quadraphonic setup when playing SH, and I miss it!

So now I need recomendations for a new sound card.

Requirements:

PCI-E
5.1 channels
Optical Output (this might be the tough one)
under $100

[Major_A]

This doesn't look bad

$49.99

www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102023

Model
Brand Creative
Model Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
Audio core
Channels 7.1
Sample Rate 96KHz
Digital Audio 24-bit
SNR >100dB (20kHz Low-pass filter, A-Weighted)
Ports
Line In Yes
MIC In Yes
Other Ports Speaker out (4x 1/8" mini jacks)
Optical out (TOSLINK) Digital Out supports stereo SPDIF out and pass through of multichannel DVD sound
Optical in (TOSLINK)
Intel HD Audio Compatible Front Panel Header (2x5pin)
Spec
Interface PCI Express
Features
Features X-Fi Technology
X-Fi Crystalizer
X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual
X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone

Hear headphone surround that sounds like multichannel speakers
Enjoy Realistic sound effects in games
Experience cinematic surround sound from DVD movies

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Lamron]

I was looking at that, but everywhere I look it gets really bad reviews.

[Major_A]

hmmm saw what you ment . It's hard to trust things with so few reviews. However, it helps, me personally have never had anything bad from newegg. I realize one con was a driver thing, but my graphics card hasn't failed yet....ATI Diamond Radeon X1550 512mb ram....and all this time I thought it was what was causing the reboots....but it wasn't

I guess you never know.... but the next best I found I'd look at was the the HT Omega...the $139 one, but I never saw that brand till now looking up sound stuff.

[Garp {eng}]

Never really gave the sound card any thought? I have the one that came with this set up (made by Maplins for me) It is a 5.1 and gives me 180o sound, made by Real tech audio if thats any help.

[Death's Shadow]

Fair warning .. COD 5 Hates real tek.. it will work but it hates it.. LOL


Its good for 4 though.

[Garp {eng}]

Thanks DS I'll stick to cod 4 then :-) got enough problems working that one out :-)

[Lamron]

I found something that does everything I want.

www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829118006

This card does true Dolby Digital Live encoding, not just "pass through" of DVD sources. That means that it will take the discrete channel outputs of a game and convert it to the digital optical output my 5.1 receiver/speakers need. So I'll be able to correctly hear all directions.

I'll post a review for it after I receive and install it.

[Marauder(CDN)]

I never responded because you asked about PCI-E..I would have recommended this though
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271001

is the one I run ans I do like it.

[Lamron]

Stupid new sound card! The "Master" volume only controls the center and rear channels. Even muting the whole system has no effect on the stereo front output. I sent an E-Mail to them asking about it. There might be some setting I missed.

I got everything else working and now I have 5.1 channels of sound, BUT the stupid thing LAGS! There is a delay before each sound plays. It doesn't matter for music, but when you're playing a game and click fire, you see the gun firing, but there is a looonnngggg wait before you hear the sound. Its probably between 0.25-0.5 seconds behind. GRRRR!!!

Marauder, do you have any problems with delay with your sound card? I'll probably have to send this one back and get something else.

[Urumii-Previously ThePresident]

Wow... any delay should not be tolerated for a sound card. I would have pulled my hair out if that happened to me.

[Lamron]

Here's what I sent the manufacturer:

Hello, I just installed my new Montego DLL sound card and have the latest drivers from your website. I am using Windows XP PRO SP3, and have the S/PDIF set to DLL 5.1 Encoding.

I have an odd problem. The "Master" volume control on the control (linked to Windows system volume), does not control the master volume. Even when muted, the card still outputs in 2-channel stereo, volume unchanged. The "Master" control only effects the center and surround speakers.

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

They replied eight days later with this:

When you use the S/PDIF Out, the Master Volume is not to be used. The idea is to get as close to a perfect, unaltered transfer as possible. Changing the volume by software processing would by definition 'change' the audio data. So we designed the card so that when using the S/PDIF Out, the Master Volume is inactive.

I hope that helps clarify the situation. Thank you,

That's not very helpful other than to tell me that its really a design problem, and not just a single defective unit. Why would they think people would want to have NO control over the volume of the sound card and NO way to mute it?

[Urumii-Previously ThePresident]

Yeah, that seems a little idiotic to me. But hey, I'm just the consumer, what do I know.