Audio card choice

[ICIT2LOL]

Have just done my first build - SN i5 2500 on Gigabyte H67 UD3H board and jsut want to do a little experimenting with an audio card - nothing flash but quality.

Have picked out two locally and wondered what others might think of these.

Auzentech X-Raider 7.1

ASUS Xonar DG there is a fair price difference nad the opinion locally is so divided I really don't know what to choose.

Wouldn't mind going to something that I can mix through a sound system, at the machine end.

 

[fireberd]

I don't know anything about either. I have an HT Omega "Striker 7.1" installed. It does not have ASIO drivers but the ASIO4ALL will work with this card if you need ASIO for recording. I've used this, just testing, with my Sonar 8.5.3 Recording Program. I have other hardware for recording but I did it to test it.

The Striker 7.1 has the usual analog outputs and also has S/PDIF in and out. It will drive a P.A. or Karaoke system.

HT Omega The card is available at www.newegg.com

 

[mickey megabyte]

well the auzentech card is nearly three times the price of the budget asus, which is normally a good indicator of audio quality.

each card will use different electronic converters to playback and record audio. the more expensive card will (hopefully) have better circuitry, which will result in better sound quality (flatter frequency response) with less hiss/noise or distortion.

you pays your money, and you takes your choice.

if you're only using cheap speakers, you probably won't hear much difference, but if you're playing back through a hi-fi amp or expensive speakers, then i would go for the auzentech card - especially if you plan to do any recording.

i haven't tested any of these cards myself, so i'm only going by common sense.

saying all that, the asus does get very good reviews for the price, whereas the auzentech is more of a 'pro' card, with a wider range of in's and out's, including things like spdif digital i/o that can talk to other digital audio gear that you may have (or plan to get in the future)

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks

Hey thanks to both of you I have gone with the ASUS for the time being - it's only $35 and well I can shove it into a friends machine that is a bit older ansd try something more expensive.

The system I'm using is only a Logitec Z313 25 watts output quality is quite good but you now one s always looking for that little bit extra and I want to eventually get an audio app where I can mix the frequencies around a bit to suit my taste and experiment.

Any suggestions??