External sound card

[dennisp 0]

Hey yall. I'm looking for an external sound card for my laptop that can support 5.1 sound, but don't want to spend too much money. Was wondering if any of these are worth it and how different they'll sound (what justifies the cost difference?):

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Philips-Aurilium-P...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster...oQQcmdZViewItem

or

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/produ...4&product=10769

[JimJ 11]

I have a Creative Audigy 2NX...

It's sitting in NC right now, but I have all the original packaging and whatnot for it.

How much would you be willing to pay for it?

[dennisp 0]

I have a Creative Audigy 2NX...

It's sitting in NC right now, but I have all the original packaging and whatnot for it.

How much would you be willing to pay for it?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Going rate on ebay is about 55-65, so I guess $60-65. Does it come with a remote?

[JimJ 11]

It does come with a remote, and some adapter cables...

If you can wait around two weeks, $60 shipped sounds like a plan.

[dennisp 0]

Thanks Jim. PM/IM me when you get back to NC.

[///M5 2,833]

That should work for most things and be superb for gaming. The only reason to pay more for one would be to improve the A/D's for recording and D/A's for analog playbook. CPU boards can have some crazy good ones but you need to visit the pro audio spectrum to get into those and for a laptop they are spendy. What are you connecting it to? Because if it is to your stereo and you use the digital SPDIF of the Audigy, it will be as good as your receivers D/A's are which is a great option. Note that proaudio sound cards are usually pretty crappy for gaming.

I use my onboard 5.1 for gaming, and send two channels analog for being a jukebox to my stereo. My pre-amp is old skool like the rest of my gear so I needed to buy a card with good D/A's. Also going to dub my vinyl collection to CD/HD that way. Enjoy the Audigy.

[Beat_Dominator 2]

Lol Frosty is pawning everythign off because he's a hobo!

[dennisp 0]

That should work for most things and be superb for gaming.  The only reason to pay more for one would be to improve the A/D's for recording and D/A's for analog playbook.  CPU boards can have some crazy good ones but you need to visit the pro audio spectrum to get into those and for a laptop they are spendy.  What are you connecting it to?  Because if it is to your stereo and you use the digital SPDIF of the Audigy, it will be as good as your receivers D/A's are which is a great option.  Note that proaudio sound cards are usually pretty crappy for gaming.

I use my onboard 5.1 for gaming, and send two channels analog for being a jukebox to my stereo.  My pre-amp is old skool like the rest of my gear so I needed to buy a card with good D/A's.  Also going to dub my vinyl collection to CD/HD that way.  Enjoy the Audigy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the insight

[///M5 2,833]

Frosty is pawning everythign off because he's a hobo!

At least he can live in his van.

[///M5 2,833]

Dennis, your welcome. One other thing that I didn't point out, the really good pro audio cards don't resample the analog either. Meaning if you have a 192kHz source they will play it back. If you start looking for a analog out card PM or post and I will send you links where you can do research. There are more cpu audio forums than car audio ones. People modding sound cards and such, it is pretty wacky. Or spending $10k on a headphone amplifier????