Anyone use a sound card?

[AnitaPeterson]

In my HTPC, I have an X-Fi ExtremeMusic, connected via digital output to a Yamaha receiver. Wonderful card. It's one of the few pieces of hardware to survive multiple upgrades and makeovers over the years.

 

[thelastjuju]

In my HTPC, I have an X-Fi ExtremeMusic, connected via digital output to a Yamaha receiver. Wonderful card. It's one of the few pieces of hardware to survive multiple upgrades and makeovers over the years.

How can you even tell? :sneaky:

You've outputted DIGITAL, so the sound card isn't DOING anything other than passing the digital audio signal, untouched, to your Yamaha receiver to take care of the digital sound processing and the digital to analog conversion (DAC).

You'd have to output ANALOG to take advantage of the sound card's DAC, which may or may not be superior to the Yamaha's DAC. I suggest getting a hold of a 3.5mm --> red/white cable and seeing if outputting analog improves your sound quality.. because even though I dislike the x-fi's, they probably do have a superior DAC's if its an entry level receiver.

 

[kami]

I have a Asus Xonar STX PCI-E. Really expensive card, crappy output selection. Stereo only (6.3mm headphone amp or 2 channel RCA line out) but the quality is nice. The quality difference from on board realtek junk with my headphones (Sennheiser HD650) is absurd. They make a PCI version too (ST instead of STX). It also required a molex power connection. It has digital SPDIF but like others have said if you are doing digital out then any sound card is fine since you are bypassing anything expensive in the card.

I use a separate amp now (see here) which has turned my STX into a glorified DAC basically.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

How can you even tell? :sneaky:

You've outputted DIGITAL, so the sound card isn't DOING anything other than passing the digital audio signal, untouched, to your Yamaha receiver to take care of the digital sound processing and the digital to analog conversion (DAC).

You'd have to output ANALOG to take advantage of the sound card's DAC, which may or may not be superior to the Yamaha's DAC. I suggest getting a hold of a 3.5mm --> red/white cable and seeing if outputting analog improves your sound quality.. because even though I dislike the x-fi's, they probably do have a superior DAC's if its an entry level receiver.

He he!
I had it set up like this before, played with the crystallizer and so on... But my needs are primarily films these days - hence the pure digital output. Although, come to think about it, I can probably have both outputs connected, and enjoy the best of both worlds.... Hmmm...

 

[thelastjuju]

He he!
I had it set up like this before, played with the crystallizer and so on... But my needs are primarily films these days - hence the pure digital output. Although, come to think about it, I can probably have both outputs connected, and enjoy the best of both worlds.... Hmmm...

Actually, I'd advise against that!

I definitely remember reading something about how this can damage the card, so definitely better to do one at a time, or at the very least, double check on this!

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Actually, I'd advise against that!

I definitely remember reading something about how this can damage the card, so definitely better to do one at a time, or at the very least, double check on this!

I'm not at home right now, but I believe that, even if you connect both the analog and digital outputs to a receiver, you still need to access the Creative console and specify which output you want to use - AFAIK, there's no way to output sound through both digital and analog at the same time... anyone care to add to this?

 

[weez82]

I'm not at home right now, but I believe that, even if you connect both the analog and digital outputs to a receiver, you still need to access the Creative console and specify which output you want to use - AFAIK, there's no way to output sound through both digital and analog at the same time... anyone care to add to this?

For some programs you can tell it what device to use. Like in foobar2000 I can set it up to use the optical out and skype I'll have the headphone out. But yeah, not all programs can do that. I did that with the x-fi I had and still do it with the onboard and astro mix amp Im using now. Not the best way to do things but oh well. I'll take what I can get

 

[hondaf17]

I have the AuzenTech X-Plosion:

http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-plosion.php

Love it and performs really well.

My 5.1 headphones broke though and need a new pair. For a sound card like this that has all the discrete inputs, what headphones should I buy? I want to have good surround sound so I can tell directions in gaming.

Most of the "gaming" headsets have 7.1 virtual surround with USB connections and you're paying for the headset to convert to 7.1 which my quality sound card already does.

Would I be better off buying a good pair of stereo headphones and just processing through my sound card?

Appreciate the thoughts.

 

[Smartazz]

I have the AuzenTech X-Plosion:

http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-plosion.php

Love it and performs really well.

My 5.1 headphones broke though and need a new pair. For a sound card like this that has all the discrete inputs, what headphones should I buy? I want to have good surround sound so I can tell directions in gaming.

Most of the "gaming" headsets have 7.1 virtual surround with USB connections and you're paying for the headset to convert to 7.1 which my quality sound card already does.

Would I be better off buying a good pair of stereo headphones and just processing through my sound card?

Appreciate the thoughts.

I've never used surround headphones, but my soundcard with Sennheiser HD595s gives me very good directional sound. I've been very impressed with the 3d sound feature on my sound card.

 

[alfa147x]

Don't use a sound card. It does nothing to isolate the power amps from the rest of the (emi?) noise floating around you case. Get an external DAC. I have the Schiit BIFROST. Makes a huge difference in noise floor.

 

[marraco]

Why I use Asus Xonar DG:

-Is noise free. No integrated sound is noise free, not even on the most expensive mothers.
-It haves amplification for headphones. Not even on the most expensive mothers have amplification for headphones.

 

[Muse]

Why I use Asus Xonar DG:

-Is noise free. No integrated sound is noise free, not even on the most expensive mothers.
-It haves amplification for headphones. Not even on the most expensive mothers have amplification for headphones.

I've had a Hercules GTXP for around 10 years. It's satellite breakout box has a headphone jack (which has it's own pot), the big kind of jack. Unfortunately it started acting balky a couple of years ago (one channel cuts in and out). All efforts to fix it failed. So, I'm instead using analog out from RCAs on the back of the breakout box and a short cable that provides a mini headphone jack for an extension cord. Works OK, and volume is controllable in software.

For two of my laptops I use U-Control UCA202 USB sound cards (under $30 each). I'm quite happy with the audio they provide. The headphone out jacks of the laptops are dodgy at best, but these sound cards are a nice workaround. I use one to get stereo analog input for recording, the other for stereo analog output for amplification by a receiver.

 

[mingsoup]

I keep telling people that if they want a cheap soundcard, to pick up a used Audigy 2 ZS off ebay or something for around $30. One of the best purchases you can make if you have halfway decent speakers or headphones, and a good ear for detail.

Its an excellent improvement over onboard, and I'd even argue its superior to anything Creative is putting out NOW. Because that was when they had a HARDWARE approach (high quality DAC, DSP, opamps) instead of their SOFTWARE approach (X-fi, Crystallization, EAX emulation) to produce quality sound.

Any X-Fi chipset card should be avoided really, they are the weakest performers, have the most plaguing driver issues, and rely heavily on marketing gimmickry with their "f4tal1ty", "EAX", and "THX" nonsense..

The Asus XONAR models are pretty good, but nothing compares to any card with the CMI8788 chipset.. the holy grail of sound cards thanks to its glorious DAC.. They want $200 for the HT Omega cards with this chipset, but if you're lucky you can find a used Auzentech x-meridian, a very rare card, which has the same exact chipset. I was lucky enough to pick one up for $80 in mint condition.

Hey I might just do this. I run an Audigy 1 Gamer right now. Actually I just put it in, having a dilemma with my VT 2020 onboard throwing fits as of late + SLI, and what do I do. Sit a PCIE between them tight. Run my audigy 1 gamer? Keep my onboard VT2020 that is dropping in and out based on the cable positioning. Buy a XiFi HD? A Xonar? I like the idea of the Audio 2 ZS. I've also thought about USB. Currently testing my theory with the Audigy 1 gamer, see if it was the onboard audio that was giving my system real fits. D3 audio was stuttering and soon even desktop audio was stuttering, with each stutter a CPU/system hiccup. Strange.

I mean weird strange stuff, where if I plug in a USB cable the volume dips down for a moment. Not a good taste in my mouth. I've had vague events in log with device is no longer functioning and not knowing what is was. Maybe just maybe if I ditch this onboard my system will clear up.

Does anyone agree on the Audigy 2 ZS opinion?

 

[billyb0b]

Had a Auzentech Forte but it died on me. Just replaced it with an Asus Xonar STX pushing to Corsair SP2500 speakers. connected via RCA cable

 

[helpme]

I've had a Hercules GTXP for around 10 years. It's satellite breakout box has a headphone jack (which has it's own pot), the big kind of jack. Unfortunately it started acting balky a couple of years ago (one channel cuts in and out). All efforts to fix it failed. So, I'm instead using analog out from RCAs on the back of the breakout box and a short cable that provides a mini headphone jack for an extension cord. Works OK, and volume is controllable in software.

For two of my laptops I use U-Control UCA202 USB sound cards (under $30 each). I'm quite happy with the audio they provide. The headphone out jacks of the laptops are dodgy at best, but these sound cards are a nice workaround. I use one to get stereo analog input for recording, the other for stereo analog output for amplification by a receiver.

I feel your pain with the Hercules. I have the same card/box and had similar problems. I eventually stopped using it when BF3 caused me to upgrade to windows 7. Now I just use long 3.5mm cables to bring the headphone output to my desk. No more pot to control the volume though

 

[Muse]

I feel your pain with the Hercules. I have the same card/box and had similar problems. I eventually stopped using it when BF3 caused me to upgrade to windows 7. Now I just use long 3.5mm cables to bring the headphone output to my desk. No more pot to control the volume though

BF3 = Battle Field 3? I don't game. I'm using the GTXP on an XP box. I may just keep on using it (and XP, I gather from your remark that I won't find a Windows 7 driver for the GTXP) although it takes up a PCI slot, but I really need another motherboard, and with all the PCI cards I have, it had better support a litter of them. I need a different motherboard because the HDTV cards in it (MyHD) don't play nice with the current motherboard. It works, but I get fairly frequent lockups that require either a reboot or an absolute unplugging of the computer. D: It's pretty disconcerting to be watching a time shifted 3 hour DVR recording and find I have to reboot the machine and 1/2 the time I don't know exactly where I was in the recording.

 

[blotto]

I just upgraded from an Auzentech Forte to a Xfi TitaniumHD. This card is incredible. My forte was nice but picked up noise from my GPUs. The TitaniumHD is quiet and the sound is much improved over the forte.

 

[Mem]

Using Asus Xonar DX(pci-e)best sound card I have ever owned,solid drivers plus no issues in gaming and better then any Creative sound card I have used/own.

 

[Malfeas]

HT Omega Striker, have had for about 5 years. Before that used an audigy 2zs, but it died somehow.

 

[Dahak]

personally nope, even though I have 2 or 3 sb x-fi platinum cards sitting around.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I used to use a x-fi platinum on a rig I had built about 7 years ago. I still have the actual card laying around somewhere, but the front panel with all the ports and knobs is toast. I was doing some maintenance on my rig and decided to pull it out and it was really hard to pull out. Ended up cracking the sides and the knobs snapped off so it can't sit in the slot and stay put now.

 

[moonbogg]

I went from an Xfi extreme gamer (PCI) with my old mobo to just using onboard sound and it sounds different, but not "worse". The x-fi had that crystalizer thing that made the sound more high pitched, but the onboard sound is just as good, but different slightly.
I am having a hard time understanding that there could really be a difference in quality between gaming with onboard vs sound card with modern realtek solutions. I mean, really? More features I get, but sound quality?

 

[theevilsharpie]

When I upgraded to my newest PC, I went from a Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS (sounded OK), to the onboard Realtek ALC 892 (sounded incredibly flat and dull, much worse than the Audigy), and finally to a Xonar Essense STX (blows both out of the water).

If you're using a digital receiver, there won't be any quality difference between integrated and discrete. However, analog receivers still benefit from a better sound card, especially when using headphones.

 

[vazz]

I use the Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 7.1 sound-card and honestly, the sound is crystal clear. Was worth the money imo. Superb clarity and rich sound

 

[shingletingle]

I use the Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 7.1 sound-card and honestly, the sound is crystal clear. Was worth the money imo. Superb clarity and rich sound

Thanks for being honest.