Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Sound Cards > Best pci-e sound card for audiophile

Best pci-e sound card for audiophile

Forum CPU & Components : Sound Cards Best pci-e sound card for audiophile

Hey guys looking at purchasing a new sound card for my work pc and would like peoples honest opinions of their experiences with sound cards for music playback and recording.
I'm looking for the best sounding sound card without having to go pro, as for recording, I'm using the card to record DJ sets directly from the mixer to the pc.

Cards I'm looking at

Creative Sound Blaster Titanium HD
Creative Sound Blaster Titanium PCI-e
Auzentech X-fi Forte
Auzentech Bravura
Asus Xonar D2X
Asus Xonar Essence STX

Which card from this list would you choose and why?

Which card also has good software for recording through a line input or rca?

Which card's sound playback makes you go wow thats awesome?

Thanks for your help, have used the Creative X-fi Fatality in the past , the sound was pretty good and the software was easy to use for recording, should I go for another Creative card?

Thanks again!

------------------------------ i7 3770K OC, CORSAIR VENGENCE DDR3 16GB,EVGA GTX 680 SC,ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77,CORSAIR FORCE 3 SSD,SB TITANIUM HD,ENERMAX REVOLUTION 1050W PSU,THERMALTAKE ARMOUR LCS,SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER 27.5
Reply to monsta

Hi

A lot depends on your budget....sound cards range fro £10 to Hundreds....

All the best Brett

Reply to Brett928S2

Hey Brett budget is up to 300 us

http://www.native-instruments.com/ [...] or-audio-6

Reply to tinnitus

What mixer??? Well I don't know much about sound cards, but here are the most bought ones on newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCat [...] der=PRICED Looks like the asus xonar essence xt is a good choice. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829132010 and you can upgrade to some external amp or something like that?

------------------------------ Nap time!-amdfangirl
Reply to amuffin

Hey amuffin , running analog as I still use Vinyl aswell as CD, so using my DJM-600 and its hooked up to Crown CE-1000 amp and JBL speakers.
Been doing some research and hear the Asus Essence cards sound great but have a few problems with recording with the line input, think I might bite the bullet and get the Creative SB Titanium HD.

The ASUS Essence STX is best in class. That being said, since you don't get 7.1 out of it, I'd add the ASUS Xonar Xense and Auzentech Home Theatre HD to your list if that is a problem.

I simply can not recommend a Creative card. The ASUS D2X is too costly for what it offers, the Forte is an older card, and the Bravura always annoyed me for being called an X-fi yet lacking EAX 5 support [though it IS a solid card].

Also, very few cards offer a stand alone line input these days; I believe the D2X does [I know the D2 did at least...], but its not a major feature for most soundcards. SOundcards focus on audio OUTPUT, not input.

Reply to gamerk316

NI Traktor Audio 6 is a good choice for you needs. you can connect it on various configs:

also it have a ground connector for your 1200mkx, if you wanna rip direclty from vinyls.

Message edited by tinnitus on 02-02-2012 at 05:40:26 PM

Reply to tinnitus

Guys thanks for your help , I went ahead and took a chance by getting the Creative Sound Blaster Titanium HD. I just didnt want to risk getting the ASUS STX after reading the Asus forums, it appears the line in input is shared with the mic and therefore users are finding issues with recording using that input.

Gotta say the sound from the Titanium HD is excellent, clear and crisp and the bass that comes out of it is awesome, the installation was easy and having no issues with the drivers or the card at all.
I believe Creative finally got their drivers right this time and made a really good card. I'm very happy with my purchase and would recomend this card to anyone thats looking for an excellent 2 channel stereo sound card for music or recording.

Message edited by monsta on 02-04-2012 at 11:34:49 AM

Ask the community Add a reply

Related content

See all topics related to "Best pci-e sound card for audiophile"

Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Sound Cards > Best pci-e sound card for audiophile

Go to:

There are 645 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Page generated in 0.981 seconds

Latest best answer

Battery Compatibility issues in Windows XP on Gateway

By hang-the-9, 61 days ago:

If this is a 3rd party battery, issues like this are pretty much to be expected. If it's...

They won a badge

Join us in greeting them

17:08 aoaom won the Freshman badge
16:27 wuyu2241 won the Freshman badge
15:01 Cooky1992 won the Uniformed badge
15:01 medu5a won the Uniformed badge
15:01 mefa_star won the Uniformed badge
15:01 C4ptainpanda won the Uniformed badge
11:45 googlman won the Freshman badge
04:50 underwater mike won the Uniformed badge
04:40 tomstoms won the Freshman badge
04:24 dibetter won the Freshman badge

How do I win badges?

Partners

Best pci-e sound card for audiophile

Forum CPU & Components : Sound Cards Best pci-e sound card for audiophile

CPUs

Power Supplies, Cases & Mods

Sound Cards

Servers

NICs

Other Components

Akasa

Antec

Cooler Master

Cougar

DeepCool

Enermax