Advice needed with my new Creative sound card and Creative speakers, how to plug it all in? lol!! and more advice please

[Waynester]

Hi Guys
 
i`m a newbie at all this Audio stuff 

 
currently, my Desktop PC is this model
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01665626&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&product=3889579#N33
 
 
it came fitted with this internal soundcard which i`m not impressed with to be honest
http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=28&Level=5&Conn=4&ProdID=141
 
 
 
i have just ordered this USB Soundcard, is it anygood? 
i will be mainly using it to listen to FLAC files from my PC
http://uk.store.creative.com/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-x-fi-hd/1-19829.aspx
 
 
i have these speakers sat waiting for connection to the new soundcard
http://uk.store.creative.com/speakers/gigaworks-t40-series-ii/4-18021.aspx
 
 
how do i connect everything up?
 
is it 2 phono jack cables (left and right) from the out of the soundcard
and then plug the mini stereo jack end in to the aux in on the front or rear of the speakers?
 
also, what is the volume dial for at the front of the soundcard?
does it turn volume up just for the headphones?
 
do i turn the volume dial to 3 quarters? and then turn up my speakers?
 
i want to make sure theirs no distortion and get the best sound from my FLAC files
 
will i notice a HUGE Audio quality difference with this soundcard compared to my internal one??
 
thanks for your help guys 

 

[arijspieter]

Quote:

i have just ordered this USB Soundcard, is it anygood?

 
i don't have it but you can read a review of someone on this forum who does have it here:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/creative-sound-blaster-x-fi-hd-usb-audio-system-with-thx-sb1240
also, there is no low latency asio driver for this card and i've been told by a friend of mine that it's more a "gamer" card altough it should give you an excellent upgrade over your onboard audio
 
to connect them, you're fine with the rca outs on your card, just connect those directly to the back of your speakers
 
and for volume control, i suggest you only use your sound blaster to control that (in windows and in foobar or another audio player, just put the volume at 100%)
 
hope this helped you