Best Sound card under $50?

[MTAtech]

I know this forum is for video but I didn't see one for audio. I hope nobody is offended.
I upgraded to Win2K and my old ISA Creative AWE64 (CT4500) doesn't seem to work with W2K.

So, I'm looking for the best sound card under $50. My requirements are Win 2K compatability, PCI (of course) and, if possible, dolby digital.

Money being no object, I'd get a Creative Platinum 5.1 Live but $$$ is an object.

[Hellmund]

I'd go for the <eom> SBlive . See em at computer fairs quite cheap. Don't support Dolby but still have EAX. All the 5.1 cards are around the $100 mark I'm afraid. Havn't seen any lower than that.

[MTAtech]

Thanks Hellmund. I was looking at the Abit AU10, that I saw on www.pricewatch.com (http://www.pricewatch.com) for $49. The AU10 has 5.1 Dolby.

[BBA]

If you do go with the Abit ( which I think is a better card than the SB-Live )...

look here:
http://www.3dsoundsurge.com/ubb/Forum17/HTML/000018.html

[BBA]

Ummm...shouldn't this be under general hardware?

[MTAtech]

I thought it belonged here because video and audio are related.

I also saw the Hoontech SoundTrack Audio DSP24 Value but found nobody that sells it.

The Abit seems like the frontrunner so far.

[This message has been edited by MTAtech (edited 07-22-2001).]

[eagle1]

I think there's one called the Nightindale 8 Pro which has some good reviews floating on the Net. The card has a C-Media chip (known for the integrated solutions in motherboards) and it is said that it produces some clear and crisp audio so you can search for some reviews.!

I think it's cheap too.!!

[Graham]

I have heard good things about the Abit AU10.


G

[thekingofpain]

Ive had many Blaster incarnations---what sounds BEST to me is a cheap 11$ Yamaha X-Wave 576 card that I found---I think Yamahas music reproduction history goes back to like 1880 or so---how long has Creative Labs been doin it???

[MTAtech]

I think I'll wait a week or so. In my exploration, a new Aopen card came out (http://www.neoseeker.com/Hardware/Products/AOpen_aw744deluxe/index.html), the AW744 Deluxe, for $65 list. Nobody has them yet. I want to see the street price.

[This message has been edited by MTAtech (edited 07-22-2001).]

[zskillz]

well, I suppose it really depends what you want to do.

just so you know... it was a hard learned lesson, but if you use programs like cubase, etc. the sblive lineup is aweful

if u use it for just about anything else... I'd totally recommend the sblive value. Mine does absolutely everything that it needs to.

-Z

[Rhino302]

I have the Diamond MX400. Was 40 bucks. It's alright

[MTAtech]

I thought of the MX400 (about $26 now) but it is a legacy product with questionable Win 2k support. http://www.diamondmm.com/default.asp?menu=support&submenu=win2k_stuff&item=audio

SPDIF Unsupported
Out-2 Unsupported
MIDI supported w/MX400 Midi port only.
- DLS not supported
Install error but installs and works

[eagle1]

I use a Sound Blaster Live Value (which cost me about $48.00) and it is great. Good sound reproduction, bunch of features, etc.!

[struggles]

general hardware BBA?

[RobRich]

Current I use a Philips Rymthic Edge, available for under $35 in the OEM box flavor. Great 2D clarity and spatialization, with superb hardware 3D acceleration.

I can also recommend Yamaha's DX-XG series of cards, assuming you stay away from the absolute cheapest cards from this line-up. The mid-range solutions ($40-60) offer great 2D and MIDI response with low perceived total harmonic distortion. Though 3D audio is limited at best.

Robert Richmond