Sound card recomendation

[Jibs]

Thanks for all the info. I'm not sure how much i'm looking to spend yet, i guess once i get some recomendations I will start looking into how much I will need to spend to get a card that will work for me.

 

[Jibs]

Jibz, i definitely didn't mean to steal your name. This is actually the first time i've come across someone using the jibs/jibz nickname

 

[tdubl07]

I say for sub $100, an HT omega, or xonar would be great

 

[Bean Counter]

you might want to check out the Asus Rog Phoebus. fairly new but seems to have everything you want.

 

[michaelubc]

Asus Rog Phoebus Looks like a pretty wicked sound card. Anyone with actual experience with this card care to chime in?

 

[ultraman7k]

Slik got one a while back

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/audio/54275-asus-pheobus-released.html

 

[Slik]

I tested the Xense and Phoebus with my Tiamat 7.1 analog headphones,and of course,set the cards to 7.1 analog. I also tested both cards in 5.1 analog. I tested my trusty Psyko Carbon's with both cards too. After playing several games,I found the Phoebus sounded better than the Xense in 7.1,and the Xense better than the Phoebus at 5.1. I prefer the Phoebus with the Tiamats at 7.1 analog for gaming. The Psyko's didn't sound as good as the Tiamat's when in 7.1 with the Phoebus. I think Asus had 7.1 analog in mind when they designed the Phoebus. All in all,the Phoebus is a great card once you figure out navigating the software settings.

 

[elmorejohn46]

I used to buy the best sound cards but now I just use my video card as my sound card and I think it works great occourse I have it going though my AV Home Sytem so that makes it sound even better.

 

[Hacksaw907]

I used to buy the best sound cards but now I just use my video card as my sound card and I think it works great occourse I have it going though my AV Home Sytem so that makes it sound even better.

If all you're doing is using a digital format to transfer your sound, ie. HDMI or toslink, then yeah, a sound card won't benefit you one bit. If, however, you're sticking to typical 3.5mm/RCA jacks to output sound, then a sound card can be very beneficial.

 

[Robscix]

If all you're doing is using a digital format to transfer your sound, ie. HDMI or toslink, then yeah, a sound card won't benefit you one bit. If, however, you're sticking to typical 3.5mm/RCA jacks to output sound, then a sound card can be very beneficial.

That is not quite true. Even though you are using digital, you can still pass the card features through digital to your external device. Many times, onboards will also have very shotty digital outputs, very jittery and imprecise.

For example, many of the best gaming audio systems I have seen use a gaming card and pass the features through digital to a higher end DAC or receiver. This way you have all the features of the card but have higher quality sound in comparison to just the cards DAC's.

On the other hand, if you have a higher end modern soundcard, you would be better off running analog to many receivers as many modern soundcards would have superior DAC's in comparison to what is available on receiver S/Pdif input section.