PCMCIA Sound card vs. Splitter

[GSM CEO]

Ok heres the idea


I bought the Logitech X-530, but my laptop only has 1 headphone port, so only the sub, and 2 speakers work..


So here are my 2 options...i can either buy a 3 way headphone splitter

Or, buy a PCMCIA Sound card and use that


Just as a reference, the splitter is £10 and the PVMCIA card is £70


So has anyone got any other ideas/Problems i might run into using one or the other?


Thanks

 

[Capricorn]

I guess it depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If you're just playing music and want all four speakers to play (stereo) sound, the splitter should do the job. If you're playing DVDs or games with surround sound, the splitter won't be sufficient since it just replicates the single left channel and single right channel to a pair of speakers each. A surround sound card would send independent sound to each speaker (channel). Surround sound in DVDs or games really adds to the experience. When the shots are coming from behind you, they really sound like they're behind you, not to your left or right.