Is the Creative X Fi Sound Blaster Laptop Sound Card worth it?

External sound card for (Electronic) music production and 5.1 output?

• Hi everyone, I am looking for an external sound card / audio interface for my laptop which combines GREAT, very pure sound for my speakers, and the possibility to plug in my 5.1 creative sound system. I am looking for a real physical interface which has good sound, and NOT something digitally created/manipulated which I can achieve through regular EQ on my laptop. ( Example: Creative Labs USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Audio System SB1090 ) http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-Blaster-Surround-System/dp/B0017QQQAE/ref=cm_rdp_product My processor is a stronger version of the i5 and I have 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, so no worries with that. I hope I was totally clear... Thanks!

• Answer:

  I'm afraid that you are going to need to repost this in the audio/audiophile section. Most of the stuff available, that's worth buying, falls into categories slightly higher than, or lower than, the one you ruled out. Gamers are the biggest market for this type of product (because laptops can "play music" just fine) and the cards are built and priced accordingly. It sounds like you are going to spend a ton of money, only to get sound output to your Creative 5.1 system? I could see it if you were going to output to a home theater and esoteric speakers, but not a Creative 5.1 system. (Not criticizing, I just can't see how this would be justified.) A choice you may want to consider is to get a really good USB setup, like the titanium from Creative, and spend some real money on headphones. This is going to open up your music like nothing else. Worse, you are probably going to see a HUGE price increase from the consumer level stuff you don't want to the stuff that you do want. The item listed below (not for gamers) is in the $1200 range. The company in the third link builds to order, and they are also in the audiophile computer audio output business. No pricing readily available.