Is discrete sound card better for MP3 playing?

[thelawnet]

I have Asus P5B-E Plus motherboard, with onboard ADI AD1988A 7.1 sound.

"The AD1988 family of audio CODECs and SoundMAX® software provides superior HD Audio quality that exceeds Vista Premium performance requirements. The AD1988A and AD1988B have 10 DACs and 6 ADCs, 3 stereo headphone ports, peripheral sensing, jack retasking, microphone array capture, and S/PDIF in and out, making AD1988 the right choice for desktop PC's where performance is the #1 consideration"

"Frequency Response 20 Hz - 24 kHz
Signal to Noise Ratio >94dB
Total Harmonic Distortion 0.01%
Noise Floor –120dB
Play/Record Sampling Rate(s) 7 kHz - 48 kHz
AD/DA Resolution 16 bit "


I'm just using it for MP3s. I am going to order Aego M speakers, and I was wondering if I should get a soundcard as well? Will I notice the difference.

NO surround use, just mp3s.

Any thoughts?

 

[NinjaMonkeyUK]

Well I jumped from an onboard ASUS soundcard to a Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer (which I use in stereo only) and the difference, to my ears, is massive... Everything is so much clearer using my X-Fi that I would never go back to onboard sound again...

 

[thelawnet]

Well I jumped from an onboard ASUS soundcard to a Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer (which I use in stereo only) and the difference, to my ears, is massive... Everything is so much clearer using my X-Fi that I would never go back to onboard sound again...

is there any reason to get the Gamer over the regular Xtreme just for music?

 

[dogbert]

No. In fact, if you just want to listen to music or play with stereo sound, you get a much better bang for your buck from the envy24 based cards, like the Terratec EWX 24/96 or the M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 from eBay or other 2nd hand places.

 

[thelawnet]

No. In fact, if you just want to listen to music or play with stereo sound, you get a much better bang for your buck from the envy24 based cards, like the Terratec EWX 24/96 or the M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 from eBay or other 2nd hand places.

bit confused:

the standard x-fi xtreme is £25: http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/129740

The Terratec is not available anywhere, while the M-Audio is £35 used or £50 new. Is that going to give better quality?

I'm not going to be playing with stereo sound, just play mp3s.

Nothing else.

 

[thelawnet]

bit confused:

the standard x-fi xtreme is £25: http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/129740

or maybe I want the x-fi xtreme music for £50

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/112512

???

 

[badbob]

I'm not going to be playing with stereo sound, just play mp3s.

Nothing else.

Mp3's are stereo! In which case I wouldn't get a Creative Labs card, go for Dogbear's recommendations.

I have a Creative X-FI Music OEM, it's good (much better than onboard) but I'd go for M-Audio instead (for music) which I own also. CL have gaming in there pocket.

Pickup M-Audio Audiophile 2496 and you're done. Be aware M-Audio have no Vista drivers, and no D3D hardware mixing (gaming features) Also no EAX in hardware, only EAX 2 in software.

 

[thelawnet]

Pickup M-Audio Audiophile 2496 and you're done. Be aware M-Audio have no Vista drivers

I guess that's one reason to stick with creative, as I'm a vista user.

 

[thelawnet]

Mp3's are stereo! In which case I wouldn't get a Creative Labs card, go for Dogbear's recommendations.

I have a Creative X-FI Music OEM, it's good (much better than onboard) but I'd go for M-Audio instead (for music) which I own also. CL have gaming in there pocket.

Pickup M-Audio Audiophile 2496 and you're done. Be aware M-Audio have no Vista drivers, and no D3D hardware mixing (gaming features) Also no EAX in hardware, only EAX 2 in software.

Looking at the stats here:

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/multimedia/m-audio-revolution51.html

seems like the X-Fi outperforms the M-Audio

Anyway, seems like Creative is the safer option, and Creative's volume of sales means X-Fi is now cheaper.

The X-Fi Audio BTW, appears to be a rebadged Audigy, the 'SE' edition of the X-Fi, and not worth what they are charging it. Bottom of the line = Music @ £49.95

 

[thelawnet]

Looking at the stats here:

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/multimedia/m-audio-revolution51.html

seems like the X-Fi outperforms the M-Audio

Anyway, seems like Creative is the safer option, and Creative's volume of sales means X-Fi is now cheaper.

The X-Fi Audio BTW, appears to be a rebadged Audigy, the 'SE' edition of the X-Fi, and not worth what they are charging it. Bottom of the line = Music @ £49.95

Actually, the Music is now been EOL'ed, and is replaced by the Gamer edition, which is identical, but slimmer PCB, non-gold inputs, and no I/O port (which is useless unless you are planning to connect guitars and decks to your card)

So best cheap option = Gamer or Music