Need a new sound card to replace X-FI Xtreme Music

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V_R

V_R

V_R

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As Title, i have a Creative X-FI Xtreme Music sound card. Been great for a few years but now its starting to cut in and out randomly... I fear its only a matter of time before it dies completely.... :(

I play games and listen to music, both with headphones and through speakers (AE Ageo M's)

What are peoples thoughts?

Looking at the following so far but i'm not to up on what is good and what isn't.


Asus Xonar Essence ST
Asus Xonar Essence STX
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium


Liked my Creative, and have had no issues so far so am tempted to go with the Titanium.. But i hear good things about the Xonar cards.

Help and advice please! :)
 
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I have an Xtreme Music, and a Xonar Essence ST. I use the X-Fi in my main PC, and the Essence is in my media PC, which I use for music and watching films on.

What headphones do you have? Depending on what ones you have, will go some way to determine if an Essence would be a good buy. It's a superb card, but you need decent headphones to make it worthwhile. As good as the Aego's are, I don't think they are good enough to warrant buying an Essence just for them.
 
Not IMO. It's overpriced for what it is, and a review said the Essence is a better card. If you were to get the Titanium HD or an Essence, I would strongly advise getting quality headphones, otherwise, it's better to just get a cheaper card. The original Titanium, Xonar D1/DX or D2/D2X.
 
The xonar DX is a nice card had mine for a year now through the same speakers as yourself really nice quality sound for the price, the only thing about them I dont like is driver support its not that great.
 
Marsman: What review? Post a link please

I am looking at some high end headphones and a clip on mic as i dont spend as much time on voice comms as i used to.



Artus: that is what puts me off, that isn't the first time i've heard bad comments regarding the Asus drivers... :(

What is it like in games? For positional audio?
 
I think its great for games I play WoW and normally FPS its clear and postional audio is good too.
 
Just found this review, in which they found it slightly superior to the Essence. They do say the difference is marginal, and it's down to taste as to which, one prefers.

@ £167, the HD is too costly IMO. I paid £130 for my Essence, so that's gone up too. Had it been £145, like it is now, I would have gone for a cheaper card. As good as it is, I just don't use it enough.

Both the Xonar Essence and Titanium HD are great cards. One review thought the Essence was better, the other preferred the Titanium HD, so it's down to preference really it would seem. At £167, the Titanium is too much. £150 would be a better price for it, but I still wouldn't pay that if I am honest, whether it be either card.
 
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As someone who also owned a X-Fi Xtreme Music and changed to a Xonar D1, I would advise the Asus Xonar Essence ST/X as I think you will find a bigger jump in sound quality. The Xtreme Music and Xonar D1's sound was very similar to me with Goldring DR150's.
 
Ok, small update, i now have a set of Sennheiser PC350's, Still not settled on a card yet though...
 
Marsman - not sure you're allowed to mention manufacturer direct pricing if they can be bought in the UK. Classed as a competitor?

V R - did you like CMSS-3D on the X-fi? Do you use EAX in games where it's available? If yes to those maybe stick with a higher grade X-Fi. If no to either I would get a Xonar.

Having owned a Xonar D2, Dolby Headphone is the only reason (aside from price) I would choose a Xonar over X-Fi for gaming. If you get a Dolby Digital Live / DTS Connect capable X-Fi you can always add a Dolby Headphone capable receiver externally later.
 
Yeah i love the CMSS-3D and EAX if and when i can use it. One of the reason i am 'creative loyal' i guess. :)

Question is which is better, CMSS-3D or Dolby headphone?
 
Uriel said:
Marsman - not sure you're allowed to mention manufacturer direct pricing if they can be bought in the UK. Classed as a competitor?
Click to expand...

Maybe. I think I'll edit that, even though it's kind of amusing Creative themselves are classed as a competitor, when OcUK are selling their products.
 
V_R said:
Yeah i love the CMSS-3D and EAX if and when i can use it. One of the reason i am 'creative loyal' i guess. :)

Question is which is better, CMSS-3D or Dolby headphone?
Click to expand...

If it was CMSS-3D Headphone vs Dolby Headphone, I'd say the latter by a long way.

However CMSS-3D works as a HRTF system with up to 4 channels with things like elevation filter and MacroFX intact (they stop working at 5.1 or above). So I use an X-Fi in 4 channel mode with CMSS-3D. Send that via DTS Connect (I get latency with Dolby Digital Live) to an external Dolby Headphone reciever (Victor SU-DH1). Best of both worlds really.

If it wasn't for the external receiver letting me have Dolby Headphone though, I would just get a Xonar.

The difference to me is that CMSS-3D sounds like surround sound over headphones. The first time I used Dolby Headphone I reached out to turn my 5.1 speakers off and found they already were! No competition for me but the experience is somewhat unique to the individual as they rely on the HRTF being a good match for your own. You may find that Dolby Headphone doesn't suit you quite as well.

Although Xonar emulates EAX, I found it's very hit and miss. Particularly in older games I found that either I couldn't turn EAX on or there were glitches if I enabled DS3D-GX (which allows legacy support for DirectSound 3D games and EAX emulation).

If I didn't play many games though, Xonar would be the clear choice.
 
Marsman said:
Depends on the headphones
Click to expand...

Yes - this too. I've tried plenty of headphones on which Dolby Headphone was quite unconvincing.

Angled drivers and a large soundstage go a long way to helping with the CMSS-3D illusion but they mess with the directional aspect of Dolby Headphone. I find that headphones need to do treble very well and have excellent control thoughout the audible range to be convincing with Dolby Headphone. Often the midrange can sound distant but it's rare to find headphones that convincingly render bass distant from your ears with Dolby Headphone.
 
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TBH, I would not consider a Titanium HD or an Essence. Given that you have bought some PC350's, whatever ones opinions on the PC350's and other so called gaming headsets, they do not warrant a sound card such as the Titanium HD or a Xonar Essence.

This is from a decent review I read.

"While many people like the PC 350 headset, the Xense One is arguably too much sound card just for gaming. The headset (to our ears) isn't of a high enough quality to be seriously considered for indulgent audio listening - the muddiness and lack of treble had us looking elsewhere."

I'd look at either a Titanium or a Xonar D2/D2X.
 
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