Sounds Cards Comparo (or The search for Aural Pleasure) - Page 10

Linkin · 26th April 2010, 8:21 PM

Well i have a small room, big speakers not necessary, but i like clean bass

so i will have a look at that sticky.

ibbeebee · 27th April 2010, 4:39 PM

So the best of all possible worlds might be the Auzentech X-Fi Forte 7.1 & a good headphone amp

cdtoaster · 18th May 2010, 2:22 AM

i think i might get the essence STX it sounds very tempting, atm i still have the x-fi extreme audio

i was going to buy a DX and the audioengine 5 with sub a while back but had to buy a car. now i will have spare money again

stranger2502 · 18th May 2010, 12:48 PM

hi gents.

how is the
Creative X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series
im picking it up quite cheap about $150 and was wondering is it worth it, or should i save up for the xonar STX

also the Razer AC-1 what is it worth ? is the STX better ?

Regards Stranger2502

jalyst · 18th May 2010, 12:51 PM

Essence ST is the best because of it's clocking, & no PCI to PCIe bridge is used because, well it's PCI!
But it's only marginally better than the Essence STX, and more expensive I think.

Have a look at some of the massive threads at head-fi.org for more detailed accounts from users.
This thread is a good start.....
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/...t-sneak-peak/0
Please note both are stereo solutions, the ST can be upgraded to multi-ch with the H6 daughter-board.

If you want your card mostly for gaming than you don't need either....
If you usage pattern is less skewed and you can afford the price tag, they're simply awesome.
They only get better with careful section of new opamps and other mods users are doing at head-fi.

Jazz · 18th May 2010, 2:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stranger2502

hi gents.

how is the
Creative X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series
im picking it up quite cheap about $150 and was wondering is it worth it, or should i save up for the xonar STX

also the Razer AC-1 what is it worth ? is the STX better ?

Regards Stranger2502

Gaming, the creative, music/ movies the STX. That's basically as per the first post of this thread.

cdtoaster · 18th May 2010, 5:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalyst

Essence ST is the best because of it's clocking, & no PCI to PCIe bridge is used because, well it's PCI!
But it's only marginally better than the Essence STX, and more expensive I think.

Have a look at some of the massive threads at head-fi.org for more detailed accounts from users.
This thread is a good start.....
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/...t-sneak-peak/0
Please note both are stereo solutions, the ST can be upgraded to multi-ch with the H6 daughter-board.

If you want your card mostly for gaming than you don't need either....
If you usage pattern is less skewed and you can afford the price tag, they're simply awesome.
They only get better with careful section of new opamps and other mods users are doing at head-fi.

its actually cheaper than the STX (by $4) at umart, $205 vs $209
the problem is that PCI is starting to get phased out.... some new mobos are PCIE only and i will probably buy a new pc at the end of the year. at the moment i use HD555s with the "595 mod" on my pc which i also play games on and have crappy $100 creative speakers in my media/file pc. usually i listen to music through my headphones because they sound a lot better and also use programs such as FL studio and reason on the 'games' pc. i want to buy this card for music though and am not worried by a decrease in performance in games. i have a pretty decent 'perfect FLAC' collection too

jalyst · 18th May 2010, 9:54 PM

If you only need stereo and it isn't mostly for games, then the ST or STX is an awesome buy.
Have a closer look at that thread i linked to for the subtle/notable (depending who you ask) differences between the two.

cdtoaster · 18th May 2010, 10:18 PM

yeah thanks for that, ive been looking through it. its over 100 pages though

EC MEISTER · 21st May 2010, 11:12 PM

Which of these cards support multi channel upmix (play stereo through all speakers)?

cdtoaster · 22nd May 2010, 7:05 PM

i bought the ST today and maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan some songs sound SO much better its crazy. it's as though im listening to everything for the first time again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EC MEISTER

Which of these cards support multi channel upmix (play stereo through all speakers)?

i cant test it because i'm using headphones but they all should? with the ST i can change audio channels to 2/4/6/8 dunno if you need the add on card though

brettmo86 · 17th June 2010, 4:30 PM

looking for a cheap sound card for my HTPC guys, max budget of $100

Any ideas?

smiddi · 17th June 2010, 6:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brettmo86

looking for a cheap sound card for my HTPC guys, max budget of $100

Any ideas?

Xonar DX or Xonar U1 (depending on your output).

.

carbon_death · 19th June 2010, 6:57 PM

I am looking at getting a new sound card.
I want the best sound quality i can get out of my set of edifier s730's.
Money isn't too much of an issue, but i'd like to keep cost under $300.

cdtoaster · 21st June 2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbon_death

I am looking at getting a new sound card.
I want the best sound quality i can get out of my set of edifier s730's.
Money isn't too much of an issue, but i'd like to keep cost under $300.

i bought the essence ST and its been totally amazing <3

27th April 2010, 4:39 PM	#137
ibbeebee Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1	Headphone Amp So the best of all possible worlds might be the Auzentech X-Fi Forte 7.1 & a good headphone amp

18th May 2010, 2:22 AM	#138
cdtoaster Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,428	i think i might get the essence STX it sounds very tempting, atm i still have the x-fi extreme audio i was going to buy a DX and the audioengine 5 with sub a while back but had to buy a car. now i will have spare money again __________________ There is one rule for the industrialist and that is: Make the best quality of goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible. - Henry Ford

18th May 2010, 12:51 PM	#140
jalyst Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 648	Essence ST is the best because of it's clocking, & no PCI to PCIe bridge is used because, well it's PCI! But it's only marginally better than the Essence STX, and more expensive I think. Have a look at some of the massive threads at head-fi.org for more detailed accounts from users. This thread is a good start..... http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/...t-sneak-peak/0 Please note both are stereo solutions, the ST can be upgraded to multi-ch with the H6 daughter-board. If you want your card mostly for gaming than you don't need either.... If you usage pattern is less skewed and you can afford the price tag, they're simply awesome. They only get better with careful section of new opamps and other mods users are doing at head-fi. Last edited by jalyst; 18th May 2010 at 2:32 PM.

18th May 2010, 10:18 PM	#144
cdtoaster Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,428	yeah thanks for that, ive been looking through it. its over 100 pages though __________________ There is one rule for the industrialist and that is: Make the best quality of goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible. - Henry Ford

21st May 2010, 11:12 PM	#145
EC MEISTER Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ivalice Posts: 1,764	Which of these cards support multi channel upmix (play stereo through all speakers)? __________________ i7-2600k @ 4.5 l Z68XP-UD3 l Gskill Ripjaws 16G 1600-CL8 l 128GB SSD l 2x3TB l CM 690 l Corsair HX-620W l HIS HD 6950 l Asus [Essense STX, VW222U] l Logitech [G500, G15v2 , X-530] l Win7 64bit \| [Logitech 'G' Owners Club Member #7777]

18th May 2010, 12:48 PM	#139
stranger2502 Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 736	hi gents. how is the Creative X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series im picking it up quite cheap about $150 and was wondering is it worth it, or should i save up for the xonar STX also the Razer AC-1 what is it worth ? is the STX better ? Regards Stranger2502

18th May 2010, 9:54 PM	#143
jalyst Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 648	If you only need stereo and it isn't mostly for games, then the ST or STX is an awesome buy. Have a closer look at that thread i linked to for the subtle/notable (depending who you ask) differences between the two.

17th June 2010, 4:30 PM	#147
brettmo86 Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Gold Coast Posts: 2,058	looking for a cheap sound card for my HTPC guys, max budget of $100 Any ideas?

19th June 2010, 6:57 PM	#149
carbon_death Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney, 2210 Posts: 990	I am looking at getting a new sound card. I want the best sound quality i can get out of my set of edifier s730's. Money isn't too much of an issue, but i'd like to keep cost under $300.