So I got the new ASRock mb with the realtek ALC890 on board chipset. I read around on-line before buying and most reviews said onboard has caught up with the X-Fi for the most part.

Unless I'm missing something I'm calling bullshit, after comparing to my old pc side by side that has a true X-Fi in it the difference is out of this world (Klipsh Promedia Ultra 5.1).

I downloaded a software version of X-Fi that sits on top of the Realtek to get the crystalizer and CMSS-3D and it still doesn't hold a candle to the real thing especially in overall volume without distortion. Is this just me doing something wrong or should I hop over to best buy and take advantage of the current sale on the SB X-Fi XtremeGamer for 80 bucks ($92 on new egg right now)

I'm a mild Audiophile and use sound to my advantage religiously in games

5/29/2009 5:52:38 PM

if you call yourself an audiophile, you'll never be content with onboard sound

i haven't bought a sound card in a decade, myself

5/29/2009 6:16:16 PM

Quote :

"most reviews said onboard has caught up with the X-Fi for the most part."

LOL

5/29/2009 6:24:25 PM

^ exactly

5/29/2009 7:05:15 PM

i splurged, got the x-fi titanium fatal1ty (though the fatal1ty part is gay)

5/29/2009 11:53:44 PM

I say unless you're building a home theater pc, onboard is gonna be fine even for games nowadays

you'll mainly want a separate sound card for output reasons not so much sound processing quality

5/29/2009 11:59:56 PM

_{I remember my last sound card... a monster '96 Creative SB Awe32 ISA!}

5/30/2009 12:22:30 AM

i'm very picky about sound, and the difference between this and even top of the line onboard is insane, mainly for the overall gain/loudnedd too when i want to crank my music

i've had an AWE 16, AWE 32, Audigy 2, Live 5.1, X-Fi XtremeMusic (old one) and now the Titanium X-Fi

[Edited on May 30, 2009 at 1:08 AM. Reason : forgot awe 16]

5/30/2009 1:07:57 AM

yea the other portion is having speakers that will take advantage of the better sq. no sense in connecting an x-fi to crapy dell factory 2.0 speakers

5/30/2009 1:55:06 AM

Quote :

"Klipsch Promedia Ultra 5.1"

5/30/2009 2:09:34 AM

message_topic.aspx?topic=546699
I need to go ahead and pick one of these cards up for myself...

5/30/2009 4:44:14 AM

The official sound card thread is dead, so I figured this was the next best bet.

Does anyone have any reasonably priced recommendations for an external sound card for my mac? The internal audio is dogshit and I'm looking for a usb or firewire digital-analog converter.

This is rad as shit, but a bit out of my price range.
http://www.neuhauslabs.com/amplifiers/

7/27/2009 2:46:56 PM

you definitely want a soundcard with wavetable!

7/27/2009 3:07:31 PM

if you're an audiophile, why in the world would you buy a creative card?

^^ check out http://www.pacificvalve.us/MusilandMD10.html

i picked one up to use with my MBP because i wanted something i wouldn't be scared to throw in a gear bag... it's absolutely amazing.

the gamma1 also sounds pretty damn good for what it is:
http://www.amb.org/audio/gamma1/
you have to build it yourself, though.

go lurk over at head-fi.org and computeraudiophile.com, lots of good stuff.

7/27/2009 3:49:07 PM

all those gay consumer/gamer soundcards are pretty crappy. did that really say fatality?

for a good stereo bang for the buck, just get a PCI M-audio audiophile 2496. Good solid card for around $85 w/ prosumer quality DACs and a nice SNR.

I use a Presonus Firebox (firewire 6x10 interface, http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=4) on my MBP and the sound quality difference between it and my internal soundcard is miles. Although part of that is the fact that it has a decent headphone amp, but it is a very clean source. Its about $250 new, but thats probably a lot just to use as a sound card and headphone amp.

Apogee stuff makes really nice interfaces for Macs, but they aren't cheap.

I kinda thinking you can get a "real" audio interface for the price of some of these hax0r targeted gaming shits. The con is that you need a 6 channel interface to run 5.1 and those generally aren't too cheap. (the Presonus Firebox having 8 analog outs can do this)

[Edited on July 27, 2009 at 5:05 PM. Reason : link]

7/27/2009 5:02:30 PM

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-SB1090-Blaster-Surround/dp/B0017QQQAE

7/28/2009 10:15:04 AM

^^the firebox is awesome (albeit a bit too much for home use - i have one in my road case), and so is the 2496 for the price.

the apogee stuff is WAY too overpriced for what it is. yes, it sounds nice... but you can get those same DACs in much cheaper equipment.

7/28/2009 1:39:23 PM

I have an imac, so PCI isn't an option for me. I'd need something external.

I'm hoping to get some Audioengine A2's, and feel like running them from my headphone jack is a waste.

8/11/2009 1:45:23 AM