Beefing Up My Audio

**shenmueguru** · January 12, 2008, 12:50 PM

So I'm thinking about adding a sound card with a set of 5.1 speakers to my computer set up (and Guitar Hero III, hehe) My budget for the lot of it all including GHIII is about $300. I don't want to spend $300 unless there is a great deal/value, so I'd prefer around $250 or less. My uses are to improve my 2.0 Dell standard speaker set-up and onboard sound, and to make games/itunes sound better. I'm not a hardcore audiophile and I don't do much with music beside listen to it, so an expensive sound card probably isn't needed. I've made a few selections:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829271001

(sound card, $80)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...1006&Tpk=x-540

(logitech 5.1 speakers, $77) I like the wall-mounting features and the ability to clip one satellite to the top of my LCD.

Guitar Hero III w/ guitar, $75

TOTAL: $232

Suggestions, comments? Thanks!

My specs are E6600, 8800GTX, 2gb ram

**spartan_phalanx** · January 12, 2008, 01:11 PM

I have the x-530 speakers and am more than happy with them so the x-540 are a great choice as they are better than the x-530's.

Not sure on the sound card but it looks like it has some great reviews.

**Juno** · January 12, 2008, 03:51 PM

Studio monitors.

**shenmueguru** · January 14, 2008, 08:16 PM

studio monitors?

**mrmouth** · January 14, 2008, 09:31 PM

Your better off spending more on the card itself.

HT OMEGA is a great company, but for really just a bit more, you can get one of the better sound cards on the market, made by them. Maybe go with the logitech 530's to save a bit.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829271002

**Juno** · January 14, 2008, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by shenmueguru

studio monitors?

**shenmueguru** · January 17, 2008, 05:07 PM

ok, bought the HT omega claro. I've always used onboard sound, is there anything else to it besides plunking it into the PCI slot or do I have to connect any cables to it?