Sound card difference

Hello,

It has been my experience that headphones and speakers matter more than the sound card, but that is an opinion and a very subjective one. It probably depends a great deal on what type of audio you are listening to how long you listen to it, the volume of the audio and so forth.

Perhaps you can visit an audio store and try several different headsets to see if playing the same audio stream over and over sounds any different on them?



Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Hi Jimmy

Sound-quality-wise, there's notalot of difference between cards, nowadays. Unless you're into serious studio work.

Most of the cards vary in the 'bells 'n' whistles' you get with 'em. From 5-1 or 7-1 output channels, gold-plated sockets, a front-mounted 'audio' bay with extra sockets and controls - and, of course, the onboard sound and synth effects.

For most home-use though, you'd be hard-pressed to hear any actual differences to a piece of music being played through the card and hooked to either decent headphones or decent speakers

Bo, where DO you find all those cute little smilies?

When I bought my last motherboard, I specified that I wanted ON-Board sound. It was the AC97 variety. I've had Sound Cards in the past and I just didn't want to give up a PCI slot to a sound card.

I seldom listen to music, so a sound card to me is basically just a Noise Maker.
But, I also have a great Altec Lansing three speaker system, with Left and Right speakers and a Sub-Woofer. It was given to my by one of my customers who just couldn't make it work. When I got it home and hooked it up properly, it worked just fine.

When I DO play music, it sounds like a $500 stereo system.
Headphones? Can't stand them! They make my ears sweat.

Jimmy, you just need a sound card that 'works', not one that costs a lot of money. That's my advise for a sunny Sunday morning.

Cheers mate!
The Doctor

Dr.,
I use Logitech noise canceling headsets bought on sale .Put them on and I'm in my own little world with no distractions.Spent a few years in the Air Force wearing headsets so I like them. The sound from them is excellent. Number one pc does have good speakers with the sub woofer. A recent gift of an old E-machine which I have played with testing various ideas had me using old standard Dell speakers.One experiment was to put in a cheap sound card .(9.99).It did seem to make a difference. From the advice on the forum if I do try a sound card in the number 1pc it will be a cheap one or even better I'll try the one that I already have.Thank you all for the help.
Jimmy