Recommended Sound Card

[Harlequin]

Trying to keep it below $100. Looking at either the of the ASUS Xonar, the HT OMEGA Striker or the Creative Recon. Any input?

 

[Razulian]

Asus, definitely Asus.

 

[Harlequin]

There are a few different ASUS models like DS, DX, DG, etc. Any idea on the differences?

 

[Razulian]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006&Tpk=Xonar DX

 

[Razulian]

That's the best you can get with your budget imo.

 

[Harlequin]

Oh, thats PCI-e. I need regular PCI. =P

 

[Razulian]

Oh wow, that is quite ancient to me (even though I grew up with them); but I'll check it out for you lol

 

[Razulian]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132007 same card, except for it being PCI and not PCI-E

 

[tr1age]

Xonar is the best. I have the 2.1 surround audiophile. It makes my headphones sounds like god.

 

[Harlequin]

Cool, thanks for the input everybody.

 

[JDMezi]

Yeah, thanks for the input guys as this helped me as well. I've been looking at this card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

What do you think? Decent for money?

 

[Razulian]

Yeah, thanks for the input guys as this helped me as well. I've been looking at this card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

What do you think? Decent for money?

It'll be decent, it's the best Xonar for less than 100$ after all. (It also shares the same audio chip as their top of the line cards, the STX).

 

[MyLittlePony]

Hrm.. This has me thinking again.. I just put the ASUS Rampage IV Formula in my new system. The on-board sound is pretty amazing compared to my old board. Would I get much of a worthwhile improvement going up to something like the Xonar DX 7.1?

Stats on the rampage:

SupremeFX III built-in 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted): 110 dB
- Output THD+N at 1kHz: 95 dB
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
Audio Feature :
- SupremeFX Shielding™ Technology
- 1500 uF Audio Power Capacitor
- Gold-plated jacks
- X-Fi® Xtreme Fidelity™
- EAX® Advanced™ HD 5.0
- THX® TruStudio PRO™
- Creative ALchemy
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel

 

[Razulian]

Hrm.. This has me thinking again.. I just put the ASUS Rampage IV Formula in my new system. The on-board sound is pretty amazing compared to my old board. Would I get much of a worthwhile improvement going up to something like the Xonar DX 7.1?

Stats on the rampage:

A soundcard is always better than onboard audio, though you'll only hear the difference if your speaker system is good too.
Also the Realtek sound processor that mobo uses isn't quite good either (that's just Realtek in general), you'll have a better soundstage if you get a soundcard. You just need to have good gear also.

It's like this: you're using a GTX 490 for three old 800x600 monitors. You won't have much difference if you put in a GTX 690 until you start using for instance three 2560x1440 monitors.

 

[MyLittlePony]

Using sennheiser pc360s.

 

[Razulian]

Using sennheiser pc360s.

Yeah it'll be an improvement, though you literally pay for what you get; I suggest you save your money and rather get this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132054

 

[MyLittlePony]

Hrm, can't justify $200 for a soundcard. I'll just stick with what I have for now.

 

[tr1age]

Using sennheiser pc360s.

Yes you would. I run the Rampage. And I have a sound card, it makes my sennheisers sound like night and day. But mine have a built in pre amp.

 

[Falx]

When I bought my mobo i went for the version that came with standalone sound in the form of THIS . I have been very happy with it so far, but i really have nothing to compare it too since I have been using onboard audio for 20 years~