steveman

I've been wondering what audio card to get, I have about £100 budget and this is what i need from the card:

2 inputs (PC Mic inputs)
2 outputs (Headphones + Speakers)
Decent quality sound for gaming and decent input latency.

Thanks!

smz

Is it essential to have to two mic inputs? I have not seen that configuration. Do you have onboard sound? Perhaps you would be able to work with using it for just the extra mic input but depending on what you need to run for two mics, may cause an issue because the recording device needs to be specified in windows unless you are using a special app which controls this within the program by the device.

As for Headphones and Speaker outputs, that is a pretty old spec as far as having a sound card with an internal amp driving headphones. Generally the outputs are line level. If you have a powered set of headphones, that probably would be OK. Nevertheless, a couple things come to mind which is sending the output of the soundcard into a set of front speakers that includes a headphone jack. Also the possibility of an onboard modular connector to support an additional input. These is normally seen to take the output of a cd-rom's audio and send it to the sound card. Perhaps there is a cable that can do some kind of conversion but the input level for a CD in is aux/line level and mic is different. I will look up a few sound cards and see if your specs come up. I may have to goto proaudio for the multiple in/outputs though.

steveman

I guess i could use the onboard for one input since i am using a program that allows you to set which input for each track, and i guess i could use the headphone jack on the speaker, but its no ideal. However ive been looking around myself and if i could get a soundcard with a front bay, i could easily switch between speakers and headphones without having to dive down behind my computer.

So basically im looking for one with a front bay now, obviously decent sound quality for the price (~£100)

Tony.b99

Hi steve
have you tryed p3 computers it should come up on a browser, or P3.com I think they are quite good

Tony

smz

I'll have a look at that line of products. Forgive me as I am in the US so E100 doesn't immediately translate to a USA number. But when you talk about not something supercheap, Turtle Beach and Creative are the first that come to mind. But you know as well as I do that their platinum series which include those nifty front covers are very pricey. Though I will check out some things this weekend and post my findings here. Thanks for your patience.

ecc83

Point to smz, Tony mentioned a budget of £100. not euros. Thats quite a bit more. A quick $ valuation would be 150 but since us brits get stiffed for all pc components I would think his £100 would buy $200-$250 worth of US kit.
I also agree, not seen 2 mic ins on anything other than pro and then gaming might not be there, mic ins on cards are usually crap his budget in US should cover a wee mixer.
Dave.

smz

Looks like he conceded on the second mic input. his main concern now seems to be headphone access in the front of the PC. I wonder if like onboard sound, if there are sound cards with similar sets of pins that a case would have front audio jacks for. I just though of that. In that case I would think you could get away with An audigy or something. Also there could be a chance you buy an audigy or a card like that and buy the front panel as an add-on instead of a full platinum package. Here in the USA I can find great deals... Newegg.com is one of the best for these. But there are others.

Deleted090308

Hi,
I have a Creative Audigy2 Platinum with a frontbay (a little outdated, but it does the job). 7:1 surround, 2 line-ins, 2 mic ins, headphones jack in the front bay + other connections and controls in front. The sound is good and I've never had any problems with games. I even use my computer as a guitar amplifier - plugging the guitar in to the front bay. Since this combo is getting a little old it's way under your budget - appr. £35 (I payed £200 4 years ago).

Creative X-Fi Platinum is a very good card + front bay. It's a little over your budget (£115) - X-Fi Platinum

Nicholas

ecc83

Ok then! Way to go, hope you never want to get rid of the C drivers!

Dave.

smz

I wasn't even gonna go there with the X-Fi. I have a USB Creative Extigy which actually works out quite nice for me. I started using it with my previous setup before I got the new M/B with more expansion slots. Being that I'm SCSI, I eat up one slot for the Adaptec right off the bat. I like to have as little cards as possible in there not because of lack of power, but heat. I live in the suburbs of Los Angeles, we see 100+ days for about 4 or 5 months a year. Not every day during the summer, but it isn't pleasant.

WOW, The Conversion for international currency really is confusing to me. I only know Canadian. £35 and £100 is obviously more then $65 us dollars.

Deleted090308

I've never tried to uninstall the drivers. Is it that difficult?

ecc83

To be fair to Creative I have had trouble with almost every card I've ever had.
I had a Terratec 5.1 for a year or so and then I needed co ax dig' so I bought a Trust 12950. Both cards use the same chip and both are absolute sods to get out of your system. This is mainly caused (Ithink) because the Trust at least does not have an uninstall prog in its software. As sound cards they are fine and I cannot fault the performance(if anyone is really strapped they can have one if postage is not to expensive) I now use Audiophile 2496 in both machines, superb and when I needed to get rid to diagnose something they exited gracefuly and then came back on line as per the label on the tin.

Yes my head hurts with the money thing! We limeys look at all this slurpy gear in the mags and web and see it being given away in the states!

Go to Behringer.de and they have a handy drop down which give the price of all their gear all world currencies, you can extrapolate this to other brands.

Dave.

Deleted090308

Thanks for the Behringer tip. Did we help you or just make you confused?