Originally posted by desdgl
I was thinking about buying the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speaker set and wanted to know if I will need a better sound card. I know that I won't need to get a surround card but is the Sound Blaster 16 really good enough?
I've tried to stay out of this because of some personal reasons, but I feel compelled to put in my opinion.
The question of, is the Sound Blaster 16 "good enough", that depends on your definition of good enough. I think that quality speakers, even on a cheaper or lesser sound card or audio system will improve the quaility of the sound, nevertheless. Granted you will reach a point where it can get no better, but obviously the Klipsh you mentioned are better than what you have now or you wouldn't be looking at them. So my opinion is that if they are in the price range you are looking at, they will probably give you an improvement, no matter what sound card you have.
As to the sound card, if you go to a better sound card, you will no doubt, get even better sound. I think that the cards that Young & Wild and BrownPaper suggested would be good if you want to upgrade.
As for the speaker choice, the ones you mentioned are certainly good speakers, but unless you have got your mind made up that Klipsh is what you want, you should listen to some of the other brands mentioned in this thead, they are all quality speakers, and you might like something else better for less money. If you really want good sound don't be fooled by the first set you listen to, you might find something better. Although other people's advice and reviews are helpful, you are the one who has to be happy with your choice.
My opinions on some of the other topic's this thread has generated; price line and size has nothing to do with tinny or boomy base. Granted price is usually a good guide for this, but there are some good speakers that sound very good, with smooth frequency response, for a very good price. The only thing that can be said about size in relation to this, is that smaller generally means less low bass response.
As for signal to noise ratio, I have an Audigy card, that I hook up to a not inexpensive home theater system, and I have never had a problem with signal to noise ratio, nor distortion, as long as I have follow Godataloss instructions on how the set the volume on the computer and reciever. I use anolog setup, because I have no need for digital. I've only used the digital hookup to proove a point here at TS one time.
For the damping factor issue that was mentioned, generally speaking the higher the better, but I've got a $4000 reciever, and the damping factor is not even mentioned in the specs, and believe me, it sounds pretty good. And the damping factor has nothing to do with noise. It's a factor of how fast the speaker is pulled back to the nuetral position, how good it is controlled, (booming) as is explained
here. This says that the damping factor should be at least 300, but look at
this. Onkyo's top recievers, all the way up to $3000, all have a damping factor of only 60, and I don't think they sound to bad. I have read in several articles, that a damping factor of 100, is about all that is really necessary, but I'm sure ideas contrary to this can be found. Speaker cables will also have an effect on the damping factor.
Paper vs composite cones? Back in the day when all woofers were in sealed cabinets, the pressure built up inside the box was great, and paper cones had to be stiffer, and held up just fine, I've had many, with never a problem. Without having looked at the specs on any of the speakers mentioned, I wouldn't let paper vs composite, be a factor in buying speakers. While composite speakers no doubt have benifits, some of it might just be hype by the manufaturers.
Long enough. Just my .02$