Does a sound card (USB) send high frequencies to the satellites/center speaker and bass/lows to the sub? - Do I need a sound card?

I just bought the Logitech Z 5500 speaker system and they're great, but when I turn the bass up in iTunes, I noticed that the satelites "bottom out" and can't handle all of the bass. Would a sound card fix this problem by directing high frequencies to the satelites/center and the lows/bass to the sub?

When I'm playing a PS3 game on my z5500s (via optical cable), I notice that my z 5500 console displays dts or dolby digital, ect (whatever audio format the game is outputing). Would a sound card output all sound coming from the computer in dts/dolby format, or only games and movies with them included? If not, what format do they output?

I'm running a laptop so I need a USB or firewire sound card. I'm lookng at the Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB. Is this a good choice / will it do what I want it to?


Basically I just want to listen to bass-heavy music on iTunes without damaging my speakers and play games in dolby/dts that are compatible. Is a soundcard what I need?


By the way, I must use the 3 stereo jack plugs (green, orange, black) on the imput on the Z 5500 because, like I said, my optical input on the speakers is being used for my PS3.

 

ALSO - my laptop is hooked up to the z 5500s with one male-to-male stereo cable going to the single "mp3 player" imput on the side of the z 5500 console and I'm running the effect (on the z 5500 controls) settings on 6 ch. direct, wich I've found to give the most bass (or un-altered sound coming from the iTunes equalizer)

 

yes a soundcard is better than most built in speaker systems however nowadays you can get 5.1,7.1 even 8 channel sound out of most systems you need a compatible speaker system and you will notice that different players have different sounds when used on your pc. I use powerdvd to play all my videos that are in 5.1sound while all my mp3/pcm sounds I use media player you need to experiement with your various softwares tweak the sounds in the settings and find what works for you. Sound is so personal to each user and we all have different preferences. If i was gonna buy a sound card i would buy turtle beach or creative as a builder I have had great success and satisfaction from my customers but as a user I use ac97 from realtek that came with my motherboard I updated the drivers and tweaked the settings til i was happy. I have a altec lansing speakers system 5.1 that by default has a high base so it took me awhile thru trial and error to get it just right to much bass and i don't like it. good luck to you.

 

Right, but would a sound card send the high frequencies to the satelites/center, and the bass/lows to the sub (using the green, black, and orange imputs on the z 5500s) to give better clarity and avoid speaker damage at high volume? Is there a setting or format I have to use to achieve this (specifically for iTunes)?

 

Right now, using the single line out to the speakers, the speakers basically output stereo sound and the satellites and getting very "muddy" with bass when I turn the bass up on the equalizer in iTunes. That is why I'm asking about a sound card and if it directs the high/low frequencies instead of playing too much bass on the satellites and to much treble in the sub. I'm looking for ridiculous bass for hip hop/rap and dance music without blowing out the satellites from too much bass.

 

If you are gonna use Itunes you should configure your basic speaker software to the center on all settings that way you can use other software to control the sound. You have software already on your system to control the sound that's the whole thing about sound go to control panel find you sound icon or software icon and reset it's balance, treble and bass to middle so you can control sound in itunes. What is the sound card you are currently using or that came with your pc?

 

I have Realtek High Definition Audio (stock), but it's in my laptop and only supports 2.1 sound. The Logitech z 5500s are 5.1 so I need a USB 5.1 card anyway, along with the equalizer software with it. What I really need is a Creative X fi 5.1 USB with the Bass redirection setting turned on to send all the bass to the sub and have no distortion on the sattellites/center from too much bass.

 

so since u already know what u need go get it

 

Yeah, i guess. I was just researching as I posted my questions.

Thanks for the suggestions.