Soundcard to go with Logitech Z-5500s and HD 280s

[kockroach]

I've been searching through the forums for a little while before registering. I have the Logitech Z-5500s and Sennheiser HD 280 cans on order, and wanted to get some opinions on the best sound card to use. (I am investigating an amp for the HD 280s, but will worry about that one later) I currently have a Creative Audigy 2 ZS card. I would like to find the best card for music and video (5.1). I also do play games, but it isn't the priority right now.

I have read through a bunch of threads here, and found that there seems to be three cards mentioned most often....the Chaintech AV-710, E-MU 0404, and the M-Audio Revolution (5.1 or 7.1). I would like to be able to hook my speakers up through a digital out (optical or coax), and have a out for my cans. What would be the best card of those three? I don't care about price...I know two of them are around $100, and I am willing to pay that.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Distroyed]

Well considering most of the cards you mentioned dont support 5.1, your options are fairly limited. Allegedly the Audigy4 Pro sounds close to par with the Emu line, so if you've got the cash that's the package to choose. Though I wouldnt expect anything sensation from their headphone out, if their previous Pro models are anything by which to judge

 

[JWFokker]

The 0404 doesn't do surround sound, so that's out. The AV-710 and Revolution cards are all Envy24 based, but the AV-710 is a budget version and uses a cheaper chip and DACs, etc, so you're left with the Revo 5.1 and 7.1. The only option I see is the Revolution 5.1. You don't have a 7.1 setup, it's cheaper and the DACs on it are better than the ones on the 7.1. While CPU usage will be a bit higher during games than with the Audigy 2 ZS, the much improved sound stage will make up for it. Get the Revolution 5.1.

 

[kockroach]

@Distroyed: What exactly do you mean that most of the cards don't support 5.1? The Revolution comes in either 5.1 or 7.1, and the Chaintech is 7.1. I don't know a ton about the E-MU card, which is why I was asking about it.

I didn't ask about an Audigy card, because from what I have read, they are not great with the digital out for 5.1. Isn't the Audigy Pro 4 basically the same board as the 2?

Edit: Thanks for the info JWFokker....glad to know that the 0404 doesn't do surround sound. Doesn't the 5.1 also have an out for the headphones?

 

[Distroyed]

Oh yeah, I forgot the Chaintech does surround.

The Audigy4 is supposedly notably better than its progenitors in that it incorporates the same dac as the Emu's. But none of that matters if you're only using the card for digital out. All you need is a bit-accurate card capable of sending the 5.1 signal.

 

[JWFokker]

The Audigy 4 is EXPENSIVE. And the soundstage for music still isn't as good as an Envy24 or EMU based card. With games it's arguably better because it's got EAX 3.0 HD Super Deluxe whatever. Other cards stop at EAX 2.0 because they probably got tired of licensing all this crap from Creative that doesn't really make a big difference.

 

[JWFokker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kockroach Edit: Thanks for the info JWFokker....glad to know that the 0404 doesn't do surround sound. Doesn't the 5.1 also have an out for the headphones?

Don't the Z-5500's have a headphone port on the control box? My Z-560's (the original Logitech surround setup) have a headphone port on the controls and it's better quality than the headphone port on my soundcard (less noise).

But to answer your query:

Yes, the 5.1 does have a dedicated headphone out. And a digital out too. Looks like it's the one to get.

 

[Erukian]

In my opinion, an Audigy 4 or Audigy 2 ZS are perfect for you.

The Z-5500 and those senn's arent hi-fi audio.. So what i'd do is buy one of the audigy's to just enjoy the speakers for gaming and movies, because that's what their going to sound best doing.

IMHO, you have to spend at least $300 on a pair of stereo monitors/bookshelves to even touch hi-fi. And even then you have to buy a sub which is going to run you another $200-300 and an amp..

So yeah, your set-up isnt hi-fi, you might think it sounds great but in all honesty the Audigy wont sound much different than a M-Audio card w/ the drivers that the z-5500's and senn's use.

Hope I helped,
-Joe

 

[eitook]

why not just buy an el cheapo av710 and run 2 soundcards? that's what i'm doing..and its perfect.

AV710 w/ ASIO for purely music listening (hooked up to the z5500 via optical out, while hd280 goes into the high resolution analog jack) and audigy for gaming (via direct 5.1 input on the control pod). Under windows audio settings, put audigy as the main source of audio. This way, conflicts between the two won't happen when kernel streaming kicks in. e.g. Effectively, your PC houses 2 seperate sources.

OH, if you want to watch DVDs using the z5500's dolby digital decoder, the av710 does that as well, since it is hooked up digitally (you will have to just change some software settings)
Cost effective, no?

 

[maarek99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWFokker Other cards stop at EAX 2.0 because they probably got tired of licensing all this crap from Creative that doesn't really make a big difference.

Other cards generally tend to have a crap dsp or not at all. The emu/audigy line still has a very powerful dsp compared to their pricetag.

 

[kockroach]

Thanks for all of the great feedback! (Couldn't that be considered a contradiction!?)

To answer all the questions....

I don't believe the Z-5500s have a headphone jack. I looked on Logitech's site, and it only listed a bunch of inputs. It says nothing about a headphone jack....it would be nice if it has one. I guess I will find out tomorrow or Saturday when it gets here.

I am not trying to go hi-fi with my computer.....at least not for the time being. I wanted to get a better set of speakers, and get a better sound card for music. I already have an Audigy 2 ZS (said that at the top of the thread), it's in a Shuttle....so no space for a second sound card either. In a couple of months, I will be doing a major overhaul and will put together a new tower for gaming. The Audigy will go there....the Revolution will stay in my Shuttle for music/movies. The EMU is defintely out since it doesn't do 5.1, and I would prefer the Revolution to the Audigy for digital, since the Revo has an RCA out, instead of the 1/8" connector on the Audigy.

 

[JWFokker]

You shouldn't buy new speakers. Just take them apart and put them in proper enclosures. They're Tang Band drivers that are very similar to the W3-871 and are quite good when placed in a bigger, tuned enclosure. The sub is another matter. You'll want to buy a new sub. But I'd spend money on headphones before a sub.

 

[kockroach]

That's an interesting suggestion JWFokker.....I'll have to consider that one. That would also allow me to change out the speaker wire. I wish the Z-5500s had inputs in the back to allow for a wire of my own choice, instead of the hardwired RCA wires.

I'll keep that one in mind, thanks!

 

[JWFokker]

They're hardwired now? Damn. They're still probably better quailty than the stock wires that came with the 560's. Sure I can use large gauge wire, but only up to around 16 gauge because of the spring clips on the sub amp. You could always open up the speakers and attach your own wires if you wanted. You'd just want to terminate them with RCAs on the amp end.

 

[kockroach]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWFokker They're hardwired now? Damn. They're still probably better quailty than the stock wires that came with the 560's. Sure I can use large gauge wire, but only up to around 16 gauge because of the spring clips on the sub amp. You could always open up the speakers and attach your own wires if you wanted. You'd just want to terminate them with RCAs on the amp end.

I just got my Z-5500s and my HD-280. I'm very impressed with the HD-280 so far. I do agree with what some other have said about the fit....it does seems to clamp a little tight. I by no means have a small head, but I think they're pretty comfortable.

And just to note....the Z-5500s are NOT hard wired. So there is the flexibilty of going with better wires.....which I am going to go hunt down!

Edit: Still unpacking.....the control center also has a headphone jack. WOOT!