Sound card for Analog speaker

blix9 · Nov 22, 2003, 10:57 PM

Hello, People

I have Monsoon MH505 5.1 speaker set which is Analog. It is currently hooked up to my nForce1 onboard sound which I plan to upgrade soon.

nForce2 Soundstorm is an option by getting a new nForce2 motherboard. But some say Soundstorm solution is not ideal for analog speakers. It seems to excel with digital speakers though. I may be wrong.

My question is what would be a sound solution for my analog Monsson speaker set which I love. I listen to music, play games, and watch DVD with my PC.

Thanks in advance.

Necrosis · Nov 23, 2003, 12:03 AM

I used my Klipsch setup with the old board sound on my board. Why don't you wait until you upgrade to "hear" how it sounds?

blix9 · Nov 23, 2003, 10:08 AM

Sorry, but I don't understand your response. So I want to upgrade.

swimtech · Nov 23, 2003, 02:09 PM

Blix9,

So far, I've yet to hear of any speakers designed to accept actual digital data. So-called "digital" speaker systems simply take the digital signal and convert it to analog, amplify the analog signal, and send the amplified analog signal to the speaker cones.

The key to quality sound you mentioned mostly happens during the conversion from digital to analog before the signal gets to the speakers - and the amplifier quality. Some solutions (built into "digital" speaker systems) are better at converting the digital signal to an analog signal than others.

If you like your speakers, keep them and try them with whatever new onboard sound hardware or sound card you upgrade to before you decide whether or not to replace your speakers. Any new sound hardware you upgrade to should work fine with your speakers. If your speakers are of good quality (I'm not familiar with your Monsoon speakers), you should be able to hear the difference.

From what I've read, the SoundStorm, Sound Blaster Audigy 2, and M-Audio Revolution sound systems are all of high quality (at the consumer level), but have differences. The Soundstorm is nice for both games and music, but you have to buy a new mainboard to get it. The Audigy excels at games. The M-Audio sound card excels at music and DVD playback, and plays games well (not as many game oriented features as the Audigy though) but uses a bit more of your CPU power than the other two.

Necrosis · Nov 23, 2003, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by blix9
Sorry, but I don't understand your response. So I want to upgrade.

Okay I just re-read your post and think I must of been a little tired. Honestly I think your best option is to upgrade your motherboard simply because it will give you an all around upgrade. You'll have a better chipset plus better sound too. Think about it for a minute if your current setup is adequate imagine how much better it will sound on a nforce 2 platform! Just think about it this way...you can spend around $120.00 for a new board or $50.00 - $90.00 or more on a new sound card.

swimtech · Nov 23, 2003, 03:56 PM

Overall Blix9, I agree with Necrosis. The latest SoundStorm audio has great specs and very low CPU usage. You'll be adding additional capabilities and speed to the rest of your system too.

Nov 22, 2003, 10:57 PM	#1
blix9 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 315 Rep Power: 0	Sound card for Analog speaker Hello, People I have Monsoon MH505 5.1 speaker set which is Analog. It is currently hooked up to my nForce1 onboard sound which I plan to upgrade soon. nForce2 Soundstorm is an option by getting a new nForce2 motherboard. But some say Soundstorm solution is not ideal for analog speakers. It seems to excel with digital speakers though. I may be wrong. My question is what would be a sound solution for my analog Monsson speaker set which I love. I listen to music, play games, and watch DVD with my PC. Thanks in advance.

Nov 23, 2003, 02:09 PM	#4
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Blix9, So far, I've yet to hear of any speakers designed to accept actual digital data. So-called "digital" speaker systems simply take the digital signal and convert it to analog, amplify the analog signal, and send the amplified analog signal to the speaker cones. The key to quality sound you mentioned mostly happens during the conversion from digital to analog before the signal gets to the speakers - and the amplifier quality. Some solutions (built into "digital" speaker systems) are better at converting the digital signal to an analog signal than others. If you like your speakers, keep them and try them with whatever new onboard sound hardware or sound card you upgrade to before you decide whether or not to replace your speakers. Any new sound hardware you upgrade to should work fine with your speakers. If your speakers are of good quality (I'm not familiar with your Monsoon speakers), you should be able to hear the difference. From what I've read, the SoundStorm, Sound Blaster Audigy 2, and M-Audio Revolution sound systems are all of high quality (at the consumer level), but have differences. The Soundstorm is nice for both games and music, but you have to buy a new mainboard to get it. The Audigy excels at games. The M-Audio sound card excels at music and DVD playback, and plays games well (not as many game oriented features as the Audigy though) but uses a bit more of your CPU power than the other two. __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Nov 23, 2003, 03:56 PM	#6
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Overall Blix9, I agree with Necrosis. The latest SoundStorm audio has great specs and very low CPU usage. You'll be adding additional capabilities and speed to the rest of your system too. __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Nov 23, 2003, 12:03 AM	#2
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	I used my Klipsch setup with the old board sound on my board. Why don't you wait until you upgrade to "hear" how it sounds?

Nov 23, 2003, 10:08 AM	Thread Starter #3
blix9 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 315 Rep Power: 0	Sorry, but I don't understand your response. So I want to upgrade.