Sound Card Options for 125$

[SKOONJar]

I've been looking into sound cards and then realized I have no idea whats good so I figured I would ask you guys. I listen to music a lot I mean a lot and game. Music sound is more important to me I listen to it for hours a day through my pc coming though my stereo in my room( yes 2.0 set up but I want upgrade options up to 5.1 or even 7.1). I have a set of Cerwin Vega bookshelf speakers that everything will come through. My headset is a usb headset with a built in sound card so no worries there. My budget is 125USD. I heard Creative cards are only good for gaming but correct me if im wrong but I heard asus cards are all around great.

[unidentical]

I have the xonar STX and it's great but it's around $200

 

The Xonar dgx will give you 5.1 at $50

 

The Xonar DX will give you 7.1 at $90

 

either of those will be an improvement over stock.

 

I've never had much luck with creative cards so I avoid them and I found the ASUS control panel is quite good.

 

Hope that helps some.

[SKOONJar]

Hows the music quality with your stx?

[Christian]

I'm thinking of getting the DX for a 2.1 system. (H/K Soundsticks). Would that improve sound quality over stock mobo audio

[SKOONJar]

I'm thinking of getting the DX for a 2.1 system. (H/K Soundsticks). Would that improve sound quality over stock mobo audio

For 90$ I sure hope it would do something...

[SKOONJar]

Any other ideas?

[josh_05]

Hows the music quality with your stx?

The music quality on the STX is a lot better than the other 2 due to its onboard Burr Brown DAC. keeping in mind, you have to have a decent set of headphones or speakers.

[SKOONJar]

The music quality on the STX is a lot better than the other 2 due to its onboard Burr Brown DAC. keeping in mind, you have to have a decent set of headphones or speakers.

Well my cerwin vegas are very nice.

[unidentical]

Hows the music quality with your stx?

Music quality is very nice but I'm also using Grado Prestige series phones with it. 

 

You have to have the hardware to make use of the signal, like Josh_05 said.

[josh_05]

Music quality is very nice but I'm also using Grado Prestige series phones with it. 

 

You have to have the hardware to make use of the signal, like Josh_05 said.

Nice choice on the Grado's :) I'm using the SR225i's and love them :)

 

Well my cerwin vegas are very nice.

Your Cerwin Vegas will defiantly benefit from the STX's DAC :)

[unidentical]

Nice choice on the Grado's :) I'm using the SR225i's and love them :)

I scored a set of 325s a few months ago, older model, but not even used. So good.