Best Sound Card Recommendation

Hi all -

I'm shopping around for a new laptop sound card, and I need some advice. I'm trying to upgrade from a Creative Audigy 2ZS Notebook. My computer is a Sony VAIO sz650 (2.2ghz T7500, 4GB RAM, 160GB Hybrid HD) running Vista Business. I'm essentially looking for a sound card with the BEST sound quality under $350, but I can spend a little more if it's worth it, that's an upgrade or comparable to the 2zs Notebook. A few things I'm looking for:

- Either USB, PCMCIA, Firewire or Express Card 34 (not 54) connection
- Toslink Optical out for connection to Logitech Z5500D Speakers
- Software Equilizer and some sort of MP3 enhancement software, like Creative's CMSS 3D
- 5.1 surround support with at least Dolby Digital and ProLogic , and if possible THX and DTS
- 24 bit audio
- Full Vista Support!!!
- I would not be using this for MIDI or studio recording
- It'd be nice to have a remote, but not required

I'd get something like the M-Audio Transit, but from what I know, it doesn't have any built-in decoders or enhancement software.

Any advice would be really appreciated! Thanks!

 

What's wrong with your Audigy2ZS? I have one, and it's basically the best you can get.

Most other options either have limitations or lack vista support (why do you want vista anyways?).

I like the Turtle Beach SRM, but it's still well short of it's desktop brethren and lacks most of the features of the Audigy.
http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/audio-advantage-srm/home.aspx

 

Thanks for the response! Yeah that sensoring thing is lame.

To answer your questions, I really don't want to go to XP. Just personal preference. As for replacing the Audigy, like I said, lack of Vista support and I feel like there's something better out there to get the best possible sound for my setup. And just a clarification, I'm a music listener, not a big gamer, so gaming support doesn't matter much to me - just the best sound.

I looked into a Expresscard 34 to 54 adapter so I can use the XFi. I'm not sure if that would reduce the sound quality though. Plus, I thought that the XFI was fully supported by Vista? In the other thread, you said it has restricted Vista support.

I'm definitely willing to go with external USB/Firewire options. In fact, I'd prefer them, and I've heard they have better sound quality than PCMCIA or Expresscard.

Also, I would use this card for music listening primarily, not gaming or DVD watching, so I don't exactly need DTS support. I have a DVD-RAM player for that.

With what I said in mind, do you have any other thoughts? What about external cards? I know this is a lot, but you've been really helpful so far!! Thanks!

 

Oh, and as for the RME products, they seem to be all recording/MIDI devices, not exactly playback devices. Some of those products are BEASTS though!

 

RME does do playback as well (IMO the best PCI cards out there), but yeah most of their products are for recording too.

I will have to look at a few of the USB and FireWire options I know of and see their Vista support. I blew out Vista on my computers specifically because of poor support (from A/V devices to things as simply as no PalmSync support).

The comment on the XFi and Vista is that while it is fully supported by Creative, it's still crippled in comparison to XP and also when compared to the Audigy 2ZS... as long as you're not just looking at audio playback, which is a little more narrow (but understandable) requirements.

I know of a few solid external audio products from a few years back, but I do need to check their Vista support as I really haven't checked in a while.

BTW, you do know that the Audigy is supported under Vista right? Initially there was no support but they did update the drivers. Still a far sight worse than XP, but really that's the case for most IMO;
http://us.creative.com/support/down...&driverlang=1033&OS=26&drivertype=0&x=13&y=14

Anyways I'll try checking from work tomorrow and post if I find some additional options.

 

Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!

I have seen the Vista driver from Creative for the Audigy, but everytime I try to install it, I either get a blue screen or it doesn't install fully so I can't access the console or THX settings. I did some looking around, and found a few resources that apparently allow you to have all the functionality of XP in Vista with the Audigy, including SPDIF optical out and all the other stuff Audigy lacks in Vista. I'm a little afraid to try it out though:

http://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com...cd-for-win2000-xp-server-2003-vista-3264-bit/

Also, I don't understand how the XFi (which Creative advertises as full Vista enabled) is "still crippled in comparison to XP."

You know, when you think about it, why aren't there more options out there for high quality external cards under Vista support? First off, USB and Firewire (external) cards don't get interference like internal PCI cards do, and allow for greater expandability/ in/out jacks. Plus, since integrating PCs into home theater setups is becoming more popular, you'd think there would be some great products out there! All I'm finding is stuff from 2004 with functionality reduced (like the audigy) due to Vista. I'm primarily just looking to get great sound out of my mp3's/ aac's (preferably with some sort of mp3 program enhancement like CMSS) under $350! Is that too much to ask for?

Sorry for my ranting You've been really helpful so far, so thanks again!

 

Yeah, I'm not sure why it would do that, did you try disabling a few things like onboard audio first, and then running as admin? I had to disable the realtek to add the Vista drivers. this was when I thought Vista might be worth saving.... no.

I hadn't seen that 'unofficial driver' , but it looks intruiging. If I weren't so busy, it'd be worth trying, even if it meant formating and re-installing, just for info's sake.

Well it's the features that are still not available for Vista that are available for XP, such as the EAX features, beacuse of the way Vista handles audio versus OpenAL. There's also issues with DVD-A playback and a few other features. It's interesting to see in that 'unofficial driver' the DVD-A support.

I agree, but I think it's still a rather small market and at that point most people who want the quality will go with a full I/O breakout box focused on both input and output.
I think the market they're thinking of for audio-out only is more of the compressed audio crowd.

For what you're looking for really, I'd say look for the strongest OPAMPs and the best SNR. Which might just be the turtle beach or the XFi (which is only slightly better than the 2ZS in that respect). The SNR on the Realtek built into my laptop is actually very high and the OPAMP do a good job of driving good headphones. For the tweaking, I would recommend investing in better software, since I think your hardware solutions are not too bad.

You want to make sure your PCMCIA interface is up to the task (and not providing noise [had that issue on a DELL]) but other that that you should be fine.

No worries, been there myself.

As for the Vista situation it's no better for the M-Audio or E-MU solutions I was thinking of.

So really I think your best options may be the Turtlebeach (I find them to usually have richer sound) or the Audigy options, and then adding some better playback software that can shape the sound for you.

 

Thanks for the response!

Yeah I'm also really curious about the unofficial drivers. If I can't find anything better, I might try installing them. Anything to avoid getting that blue screen. And yes, I did run under admin and disabled the integrated sound first. If I go for the unofficial drivers, I'll be sure to report back.

In response to your comment about Vista support for the XFi, EAX (which is for gaming, right?) and DVD playback are secondary to music playback.

"I think the market they're thinking of for audio-out only is more of the compressed audio crowd." -- If I'm primarily playing from iTunes / CD's, wouldn't I be in the compressed audio crowd?

I was thinking: if you put the Vista functionalty issue aside (but still driver support), are there better external/PCMCIA cards than the Audigy for mp3/AAC playback, or as you put it, "the compressed audio crowd?"

Honestly, I'm slightly confused, so let me try to sum up what we're saying here. It seems like there are two options: 1) get something that just provides optical out like the M-Audio Transit/ Turtle Beach, and get software from another place to enhance sound/ graphic equalizer and let the internal decoders on my Logitech z5500d's do the rest, or 2) get the whole package in something like the XFi or the Terratec. I'm really pointing toward option 2. So, considering almost all the sound cards have approx equal Vista support, is there an internal/external option out there that is equal to or exceeds the Audigy notebook for what I'm looking for? I was really liking the Terratec Firewire 7.1 because of external build, remote, full sized optical out (unlike the XFi or Audigy notebook where you need an adapter), but it seems old, and I'm not sure if it compares to the audigy. I'm really pointing to some option like #2, with a product like the Terratec.

Honestly, you know what all I'm looking for. What option would you choose, or what products would you recommend? Thanks so much!

 

Personally I prefer option 2, but that would be after trying to get the Audigy to work for your needs. Heck if you get it to work properly then the money saved can be spent on either, speaker, software or music. The audigy is a quality part, which is why I bought mine and still use it (in conjunction with the realtek). Especially when dealing with highly compressed music I would focus on getting something that is 'ease of use' (which may be the Terratec), and while Vista isn't in general, the Audigy or XFi would likely be your best bet near term for feature support under Vista, and then if people like TurtleBeach or Terratec or M-Audio come along with something in the next few months, then you won't even need to second guess and just go with that. Right now I don't think anything gives you much of an advantage other than your preferences, so I'd try to get what you already have working. I do appreciate the toslink/mini-toslink concern though, if it's worth that convenience then it's not too much to pay.

Btw, someday try listening to a SACD or DVD-Audio (preferably 192/24 or 96/24 but even 48/24 should be noticeable) to see what high sample rates and range can do with audio. One of the best comparisons would be the CD/DVD-A The Beatles "Love" album material. Not only is the album solid (although no NowhereMan) it also gives you a perfect A vs B comparison and it's pretty cheap (I think I bought mine for less than $20 at launch).

Although it does spoil you and make you want to change the bit rate on all your MP3s/AAC content, which is why I never buy online digital, I just buy CDs and rip them myself with either lossless AAC or high VRB MP3.

 

You're right. I'm not excited to try the Audigy again with unofficial drivers, but it wouldn't hurt to try (except another blue screen!) Otherwise, an interim product is probably the best way to go right now, and just wait to see what comes out. I didn't see much in the CES 2008 coverage about sound cards though, so maybe nothing soon? Anyway, I've kind of narrowed down my options, and I'd love your input:

I'm not familiar with realtek. Is that a decoder/equilizer/ mp3 enhancer software? If so, couldn't I buy any hardware with a Vista driver, and have the software handle all the decoding/effects/equilizer? For instance, The terratec, which has somewhat outdated software but good hardware, and just use realtek for software? If that's the case, then I'd check out the terratec or maybe this even though its a video editor: http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=60&subcategory=96&product=11226 If realtec isnt software, is there good software out there?

If there's no software available, or if it's smarter to use hardware specific software, then I was kind of looking at the TurtleBeach SRM USB because it's a cheap interim product with full sized Toslink and especially remote control support so I can use my Harmony 880 with it. Either that or the XFi with an express card adapter...

Being a Beatles fan, I'll have to check out the SACD's. AND, when I actually do get a sound card, you'll have to fill me in on ripping lossless AAC/mp3, or converting my existing song library.

 

The Realtek is actually the onboard audio in the Fujitsu and I picked it because for 2 channel local and digital out it has alot of features supported including DTS-Connect which the Audigy doesn't do.

I was tempted to recommend that video/media box solution, but for that price I'd suggest the solution I had before my audigy, and that's the SB 24bit Live USB, which is 'ok' but didn't have some of the features I wanted like DVD-A support, but also misses the remote feature you want (although you can add a remote to Vista and XP MCE like I did for the N6460 [cost $19 when I bought the laptop]).

The Beatles isn't an SACD is a CD / DVD-A 2 disc set, just to help you find it. As for converting your existing collection, if it's already in a given bitrate converting it to 256 VBR or something won't do anything, it needs to be encoded at that level from the start. iTunes will encode in high bit rate AAC, personally I prefer using tools like GoldenWave + RazorLame for MP3s (for ease of use), and then Audacity or Audition for more serious work in other formats. However if you're not doing to much tweaking from the start (I like to tweak prior to ripping) then iTunes is fine.

There is a bunch of playback software out there, but it's really a question of finding what you like as to which is best. I don't need much post processing so I like basic players that don't offer alot of tweaking (let me set my 4 EQ presets and also 'none/flat' and I'm fine).

BTW, love your remote, I have the same one (my 2nd 880 actually), love the flexability hate the small buttons.

 

Yeah I love my 880. It's great if you have a lot of AV equipment to control, and always impresses! I've got some light dimmers set up with it too... really awesome. I hear you about the small buttons!

Thanks for explaining the Realtek to me.

I'm going to really look at what's out there and report back later tonight.
Right now I'm thinking that I'll get hardware from one place, then get software from another.

Do you know of any software companies that have software that enhances mp3/AAC's, has a graphic equilizer, ect?

Another thought I had: get a PCI expansion system, which is basically a box with a PCI slot that connects to a laptop via ExpressCard 34, and then get an amazing PCI sound card for a desktop. I know generally these PCI expansion systems are insanely expensive ($1k plus), but ebay has them for relatively cheap. Thoughts?

 

Sorry to keep throwing these options at you, but what if we were working with $500? Would that give me more options?

We'd be going into professional recorders like E-MU, right? Unfortunately, there isn't even Vista support for E-MU products. There have to be options under $500 that will give me amazing sound...