New Soundcard time...

[mrwacko]

Now that my ancient Creative Audigy has finally bitten the dust its time for a new one.

I got 2 X-FI music's from ebuyer (scan were out of stock) and they both suffered from the apparently common fault of awful sound (crackling and popping) so i'm on the hunt for a different one.

I use it mostly for 2 channel audio connected to my Arcam amplifier with a nice pair of B&W 602 speakers .

Any suggestions please?

[MadduckUK]

does it have / do you use an optical connection?

[mrwacko]

I was using coax before it died, however the amp has both optical and coax. I would like to keep using digital if at all possible

[Agrippa]

If you'd said *only* 2-channel I could have recommended the Onkyo Wavio, which is easily the best card out there if you don't want all the multi-channel dung and bloatware which comes with most offerings today. If you need multi-channel too, but really want good stereo, then M-Audio is the way to go in my opinion.

[mrwacko]

If you'd said *only* 2-channel I could have recommended the Onkyo Wavio, which is easily the best card out there if you don't want all the multi-channel dung and bloatware which comes with most offerings today. If you need multi-channel too, but really want good stereo, then M-Audio is the way to go in my opinion.

I do like the look of that ONKYO Wavio, might you know where it can be bought from?

[Biscuit]

If you'd said *only* 2-channel I could have recommended the Onkyo Wavio, which is easily the best card out there if you don't want all the multi-channel dung and bloatware which comes with most offerings today. If you need multi-channel too, but really want good stereo, then M-Audio is the way to go in my opinion.

Just thought i would point out i dont think M-Audio have vista support yet

[Clunk]

M-audio do great cards, but their windows drivers are awful, or at least they were.

[Biscuit]

2 of my friends have delta pro cards and they are perfectly fine on XP, much more stable than my old emu 1212m and my current XFI.

[Agrippa]

I do like the look of that ONKYO Wavio, might you know where it can be bought from?

I'm afraid the only place I know of is here in Norway. Doubt it's of any use to you, but in case it is the links are:

Onkyo Wavio SE-90PCI - approx. £115

Onkyo Wavio SE-150PCI - approx. £150

Not a lot on those pages which needs translation I guess.

Actually, the more expensive one is a 7.1 card I see. Never noticed that before, as I've no interest in multi-channel.

[mrwacko]

MMM if the onkyo was more widely available it'd probably snap it up, but since as its not M-Audio might be the route. There doesnt seem to be much of a selection outside of creative.

Any more sugestions?

Thankyou for the advice thus far

[Agrippa]

Well, I'm sure the Razer Barracuda AC-1 will do a reasonable job too. :-)

[Biscuit]

id quite liek the barracuda. How about the terratec?

[mrwacko]

The barracuda looks very nice, the reviews arn't amazing though. For a £130 card I would hope for a very good write up

Terratec aye? Have you used this biscuit?

[Biscuit]

no i havent mate, heard some good things but not had any experience. I think name puts me off.

[Agrippa]

No Terratec experience here either, but have heard much good about it. Can't vouch for any of it unfortunately.

[sutyi]

I'd say wait for the new X-Fi based Auzentech card, or if you want to buy it in a short period of time than go for the Auzentech X-Meridian 7.1, it's based on C-Media's OxygenHD (CMI-8788), and it has superb sound quality.

http://www.auzentech.com/site/images...ybig_front.jpg

Edit: Typo.