Anyone try the new Asus Xonar DX yet?

[Slick5150]

I haven't seen any reviews on this card yet, but the features look pretty promising. Anyone have any experience with it?

 

[AmberClad]

We're talking about the "budget" version of D2X right? As in the smaller, low profile version? I saw that at NewEgg and I'm pretty curious about it as well, especially since it's PCIe.

Actually - from listening to the Tech Report podcast, they're working on a review of it.

 

[Slick5150]

Yeah. I like the fact that its PCIe for one, but the feature set looks pretty solid, and the fact that it can emulate EAX5 has me curious as well.

I'm basically wondering how it compares overall to the Razer Barracuda AC-1, Auzentech X-Fi, etc, as far as good non-Creative sound cards go.

 

[error8]

I also want to buy this cards. The features are so interesting and it seems more Vista compatible then all those Creative cards. But there isn't a review on the whole world wide web about it. I guess that is should be a little worse then the Xonar D2X, but I don't think that we will actually hear the difference. I'm more interested in its gaming compatibility under Vista. My Creative card has some serious issues here.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Here is an extensive review, one day old.

http://techreport.com/articles.x/14500

It gets great reviews. I just got a D2X and I love it as well. Noticeable difference, even with "cheap" 5.1 Logitech speakers.

 

[error8]

That is a very nice review. It seems like a great sound card indeed.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644
Here is an extensive review, one day old.

http://techreport.com/articles.x/14500

It gets great reviews. I just got a D2X and I love it as well. Noticeable difference, even with "cheap" 5.1 Logitech speakers.

Thanks for posting that, seems like a great card.

 

[lilohtpc3]

Thanks for the link.
I think the TR review plus the user reviews on NewEgg.com are making it easy decision for sound card buyers.

Xonar DX is indeed a great card
Byebye Creative, may you rest in peace...

 

[Pabster]

Great, now we don't need to wait for Creative to make a PCI-E sound card. Or drivers to make it work :laugh:

 

[TC91]

Some nice creative ass kicking, the xonar's new GX 2.0 thing appears to do wonders for cpu utilization, and im surprised with how it performed so closely with the d2x in the subjective tests. Maybe the xonar prices will drop a little when the x-fi 2 comes out?

 

[postmortemIA]

xonar does great in cpu utilization unless it is emulating EAX 5.0, which it does in software.

Competition is a good thing.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

how much of an upgrade would this be over an Audigy 2 ZS w/ M-Audio LX4 speakers & HD555 Headphones?

 

[Cutthroat]

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644
Here is an extensive review, one day old.

http://techreport.com/articles.x/14500

It gets great reviews. I just got a D2X and I love it as well. Noticeable difference, even with "cheap" 5.1 Logitech speakers.

Excellent review, I just put one on my wish list but it's out of stock at the moment.

 

[legoman666]

I just ordered it. It's the only card that will fit in my system: PCIe 1x and low profile, should be good. I have been waiting a few weeks since the initial press release for it to become available.

 

[Brian48]

Anyone know if there's a PCI version of the DX? My only other choice is the pricier D2. Unfortunately, this card would not fit in my top PCIe slot (DIMM slots are in the way) and the others are covered up by my 8800GTX.

 

[Roguestar]

What's a sound card?

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
What's a sound card?

You are kidding, right?

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: Brian48
Anyone know if there's a PCI version of the DX? My only other choice is the pricier D2. Unfortunately, this card would not fit in my top PCIe slot (DIMM slots are in the way) and the others are covered up by my 8800GTX.

No, the DX is only for PCIe sadly. I have the same problem as you, the card would actually fit on my motherboard, but the cpu cooler fan will be just 1 cm away from the card, so no place for it to breathe. A pci version would be more useful indeed. I have so many of those that I never use.

 

[0roo0roo]

:thumbsup: for sticking it to creative

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: Brian48
Anyone know if there's a PCI version of the DX? My only other choice is the pricier D2. Unfortunately, this card would not fit in my top PCIe slot (DIMM slots are in the way) and the others are covered up by my 8800GTX.

No, the DX is only for PCIe sadly. I have the same problem as you, the card would actually fit on my motherboard, but the cpu cooler fan will be just 1 cm away from the card, so no place for it to breathe. A pci version would be more useful indeed. I have so many of those that I never use.

The funny thing is that the C-Media chip they use is PCI, not PCIe. They're having to bridge it to make it a PCIe part. The lack of a PCI part is solely for market reasons.

 

[Ghouler]

You mean it would be cheaper for them to release PCI version but they wont do it and the bridge design means PCIe card uses PCI only bandwidth, right?

btw. EAX emulation delivers front to rear sounds in some games according to extremetech review for Xonar. I guess my X-Fi aint that bad after all

 

[lilohtpc3]

But don't forget the concousion of the reviews...
If it aint good, I trust those reviewers wouldn't have made such comments.

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/14500
"The Xonar DX is more than just a fantastic sound card. It also cements Asus as the most credible?and importantly innovative?alternative to Creative's dominance of the PC audio market. Enthusiasts have been waiting for such an alternative for a long time."

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2282606,00.asp
"ASUS chews up proprietary audio calls and spits out aural gold with the Xonar DX, a fantastic gamer's sound card."

 

[TC91]

Originally posted by: lilohtpc3
But don't forget the concousion of the reviews...
If it aint good, I trust those reviewers wouldn't have made such comments.

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/14500
"The Xonar DX is more than just a fantastic sound card. It also cements Asus as the most credible?and importantly innovative?alternative to Creative's dominance of the PC audio market. Enthusiasts have been waiting for such an alternative for a long time."

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2282606,00.asp
"ASUS chews up proprietary audio calls and spits out aural gold with the Xonar DX, a fantastic gamer's sound card."

agreed. i doubt the "emulated" eax will be too noticable if at all especially when you are in fact gaming; you likely will be enjoying the gaming experience, and the card is awesome for music and movies too without cut down crappy vista drivers

 

[Brian48]

Bah. Screw it. Couldn't wait. Went ahead and picked up it's more pricier cousin; the D2 in PCI. Friggin' overpaid for it too, but who cares at this point.

 

[TC91]

Originally posted by: Brian48
Bah. Screw it. Couldn't wait. Went ahead and picked up it's more pricier cousin; the D2 in PCI. Friggin' overpaid for it too, but who cares at this point.

Sometimes you have to overpay to get what you are looking for, but as long as you are happy / satisfied in the end nothing else should matter.