Recommending a sound card is difficult because people's taste in sound is highly subjective. Over on OCN, it causes some seriously heated debates that rival those caused by religion and politics (where those are permitted; most forums ban them because of the rancor they cause), especially from the hardcore audiophiles (aka audio snobs).
The only thing I can suggest is trying one or more to see what YOU like. An option to an actual PCI or PCI-e sound card is a USB DAC (Digital to Analog converter). which performs pretty much the same function as a sound card. When I got my sound card (ASUS Xonar Essence STX; the newer STX II is supposed to better but also costs more, especially if you get it with the optional daughterboard for speaker systems larger than 2.0 or 2.1), I bought it locally from a place that has a generous 30 day return policy (no restocking fee) so I could easily return it if I didn't like what I heard. If you buy to try, be sure to get whatever you buy from someplace that has an equally generous return policy.
The only thing I can suggest is trying one or more to see what YOU like. An option to an actual PCI or PCI-e sound card is a USB DAC (Digital to Analog converter). which performs pretty much the same function as a sound card. When I got my sound card (ASUS Xonar Essence STX; the newer STX II is supposed to better but also costs more, especially if you get it with the optional daughterboard for speaker systems larger than 2.0 or 2.1), I bought it locally from a place that has a generous 30 day return policy (no restocking fee) so I could easily return it if I didn't like what I heard. If you buy to try, be sure to get whatever you buy from someplace that has an equally generous return policy.
My Computer
At a glance
Win 7 Ultimate 64 bitIntel i7-3930KKingston HyperX Genesis 32GB Kit (8x4GB Modul...MSI R7850 Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC Radeon HD 7850 2...
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
- Custom Build
- OS
- Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
- CPU
- Intel i7-3930K
- Motherboard
- ASUS P9X79 WS
- Memory
- Kingston HyperX Genesis 32GB Kit (8x4GB Modules) 1600MHz DDR
- Graphics Card(s)
- MSI R7850 Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR
- Sound Card
- Asus Xonar Essence STX
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 3x Asus VG248QE 24", Vizio 32" TV
- Screen Resolution
- 1920 x 1080, ?
- Hard Drives
- Samsung 128GB 840 Pro SSD (1),
Samsung 4TB 850 EVO SSDs (4)
Samsung 4TB 850 EVO SSDs (16) external backup drives used in 2.5" hot swap bays in the computer.
- PSU
- Corsair HX750w
- Case
- Antec Two Hundred v2 (modified)
- Cooling
- Cooler Master GeminII S524 120mm (fan replaced with a 140mm)
- Keyboard
- Logitech G510s
- Mouse
- Logitech M525 (two in use)
- Internet Speed
- =< 32Mbps down, 8Mbps up
- Antivirus
- AVAST!, MBAM, SAS, Spybot S&D (all but MBAM free) Glary Util
- Browser
- IE11
- Other Info
- LSI 9211-8i HBA card (8 SATA III ports), 2.5" & 3.5" Hot Swap Bays, HooToo HT-CR001 PCI-E to USB 3.0 Internal Hub + 6 Slot Card Reader, and LG Model CH12LS28 BD-ROM Optical Drive. Also, ScanSnap S1500 ADF duplexing scanner, Canon 9000F flat bed scanner, Corsair SP2500 2.1 speakers, Samsung CLP 415nw laser color printer, Cyberpower PP2200SW UPS
