New PC Build i5

Trust me on this. Onboard audio is kak. Go for the Asus P8H67 with this sound card:

±R1350 Asus Xonar D2X , ultra fidelity 7.1 pci-express sound card , with metal shielding , ASUS AV200 High-Definition sound processor , support DS3D GX Dolby®/DTS + Pro Logic IIx + ALT DRM backup + AEC , SNR output/input : 118/118db , HD Audio at 192KHz/24Bit , EAX advanced HD , with coaxial/optical optical SPDiF in/out + 3.5mm + CD-In + Aux-In + midi port (in+out ) - retail pack + bundled software

Or even this:

± R725 Asus Xonar DX , ultra fidelity 7.1 pci-express sound card , ASUS AV100 High-Definition sound processor , support DS3D GX 2.0 , VocalFX , Dolby®/DTS + Pro Logic IIx , SNR output/input : 116/112db , HD Audio at 192KHz/24Bit , EAX advanced HD , with optical SPDiF out + 3.5mm + CD-In + Aux-In - retail pack + bundled software - include low-profile bracket for 2u or minuet350

I know that optical doesn't do any processing and allows the Z-5500's to process sound, but with a high end sound card you will want to use the "normal" 5.1 jacks they provide.

You definitely shouldn't be spending more on a mobo for "better" onboard audio.
 
the only problem is the cables will have to be about 10 metres long. will there be a loss in audio quality?
 
Only have these available

Asus Sound Card XONAR D2X
Asus Xonar DG Soundcard
Asus Essence ST
Asus Sound Card XONAR HDAV13 Slim
Asus Xonar Xense Sound Card + Sennheiser headset bundle


Concerning the audio quality
Asus Sound Card XONAR D2X 1230.52
Asus Xonar DX 653.56 (only available 15/05)

is the d2x worth the extra 576.96?
 
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sure sure sure??

so here is the final build hopefully with postmanpot approval :)

ALL from rebel tech now


Corsair TX 650 836.70
Seagate 1tb 7200 500
Samsung Dvd rom 199.90
Zalman z9 plus 616.46
vtx3d hd6870 1914
i5 2500k 1769.17
Asus P8P67 1599.19
Mushkin 8g ddr 1333(2x4gb) 784.04
Asus Xonar D2X 1230.52

Total cost (inclusive) 9449.98


Wait a second the z5500 only have 3 inputs for analog namely front back sub
and the xonar d2x have front, side, sub, back

how would that work?
 
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I advise you to first see what your system is like with optical via your motherboard, and only then if you find it lacking or run into problems should you get a discrete sound card. I would not go directly for a discrete card, unless you yourself know that it is something you need and that the particular card you get is suitable for what you want.
 
If it's connected now via optical, he knows exactly what it'll sound like... And to my knowledge, it is.

Machine is clearly being used to play music/movies some distance away. My vote is still with a good sound card, something always overlooked. Will process audio way better than the Logitech sub's inner workings.
 
But with regards to the optical out on the ASUs d2x. Is it same type of cable as the z5500 takes. Ie the same connector on the ends of the cable.

Also if I had to use the optical out on the d2x as opposed to the 4 analogue channel (which I am still unsure of how to connect to the z5500 as it only has 3 inputs) would the processing still be done on the card?
 
AFAIK optical is optical. As I explained it simply passes the audio data through without doing any processing. If you want the Logitech's to do the processing, any mobo with optical will do. AFAIK.

What connectors do the Z-5500's have?
 
Btw there are also full HD audio/video Xonar's you might be interested in:

Asus Xonar Hdav1.3 , HDMI 1.3 compliance , 1080p Full-HD audio/video digital output with splendid technology video enhancement , ultra fidelity 7.1 pci-express sound card with metal shielding , ASUS AV200 High-Definition sound processor , support Dolby trueHD + DTS-HD + Pro Logic IIx , SNR up to 120db , HD Audio at 192KHz/24Bit , EAX advanced HD , with HDMi in/out + RCAx2 analog out + coaxial/optical optical SPDiF in/out + 3.5mm + CD-In + Aux-In - retail pack + bundled software

Asus Xonar Hdav1.3 Deluxe , HDMI 1.3 compliance , 1080p Full-HD audio/video digital output with splendid technology video enhancement , ultra fidelity 7.1 pci-express sound card with metal shielding , ASUS AV200 High-Definition sound processor , support Dolby trueHD + DTS-HD + Pro Logic IIx , SNR up to 120db , HD Audio at 192KHz/24Bit , EAX advanced HD , with HDMi in/out + RCAx8 analog out + coaxial/optical optical SPDiF in/out + 3.5mm + CD-In + Aux-In - retail pack + bundled software

Both ±R1,700.
 
The z5500 only have 3 types of input.

Two digital - optical , coaxial

1 analog made out of three input namely front back and sub

All the sound cards are 7.1 surround card and thus have 4 outputs namely center side rear and sub

So I think for now I will get the boars with the optical out and see how the z5500 perform.
 
Well I am on the verge of ordering from rebeltech but I just realized how long gave they been around? Are they reliable? Any feedback from people who have brought from them?
 
Very reliable and awesome to deal with. Just search the forums for feedback.
rebeltech, wootware, prophecy, landmark, take2 and sybaritic are the most common online stores
 
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