Asus Xonar Which One?

hardtarget

hardtarget

hardtarget

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looking to change my sound card soon and want to try one of the Asus Xonar sound cards, but after reading up I'm more confused as to which one to purchase (so many choices) :confused: I did have have these two as contenders, but not sure what the main difference was between them one being nearly twice the cost of the other? Asus Xonar Essence ST/STX or Asus Xonar D2/D2X or is there a better option?

Gaming would be the main use although I still like to listen to music and watch movies too. I'm hoping my Roccat Kaves 5.1 will work with the Asus Xonar cards without any hassle. Using Windows 7 64Bit and a Gigabyte GA X58A UD7 v1 board.

I know there are PCI and PCI-E cards are there any advantages using one over the other or is it simply down to what ever free slot you have available on your motherboard? Any advice or experience with the above combination would be appreciated. :D
 
I absolutely love my Xonar Essence STX, and couldn't recommend it enough. It's a truly amazing sounding card. I have it rigged up to my hi-fi and use the built in headphone amplifier with my Grado SR225i and Sennheiser HD595's. Sounds amazing for music, games or movies.

The major thing to consider with the Xonar Essence STX and ST is that they are more suited to stereo sound. They lack the standard multi-channel outputs found on the other models of Xonar cards, and feature stereo RCA jacks instead (meaning connecting your Roccat headphones would be a problem). The only way to get true suround sound out of the Xonar Essence is via the SPDIF output.

I'd go with PCI-E if you have the option (as it's the more modern interface), but appart from that the interface has no impact on sound.

Having owned a Xonar card, i honestly wouldn't go back to a Creative one in a hurry.
 
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Marsman said:
The Essence is not an option, it's only stereo, as pointed out above. Best to consider a D2/D2X, or D1/DX.
Click to expand...

Yes very true, the Xonar Essence range really is for stereo users. I think it can only output true multi-channel Dolby Digital via the SPDIF. The rest of the connection are certainly stereo only.
 
I love my Xonar D2X. This is the card if your after pci-e interface with multi channel outputs then this is for you. I also have mine connected to my Hifi which sounds so much better. Like many have said, I won't be going back to creative for some time.
 
I have the D1...best bloody sound card i ever purchased!....sounds great in gaming AND just listening to music on Spotify/Youtube.

Ive had two creative cards in the past and both have let me down due to crappy drivers so i would not recommend Creative cards now at all.
 
Terminator1612 said:
Yes very true, the Xonar Essence range really is for stereo users. I think it can only output true multi-channel Dolby Digital via the SPDIF. The rest of the connection are certainly stereo only.
Click to expand...

The ST does have a connector, which the H6 daughter board can be connected. That will allow 7.1 analogue connection. It comes with the HDAV Deluxe, but it's not widely available on it's own though. Would be about £180 with the ST as well.
 
Yep ST (not STX) does allow multich analogue-out when used with the H6.
Opamps can be swapped on the main card & daughter-board too.
Works beautifully, admittedly fairly pricey... & ST is PCI only.

Does anyone know if Asus is releasing a successor to the ST/STX soon?
The range has been out for at least 2yrs now...
 
Not likely, there is no reason to, especially when you look how many people are happy to just stick with on-board audio. For the majority of people, what is currently available, is more than enough. Anyone who is serious about audio, would either use a separate hi-fi system, or would buy an external DAC, and hi-fi gear.

Asus are going to release an external version of the Essence though.
 
I'm serious about audio & use audio from my HiFi system & my HTPC :)

Marsman said:
Asus are going to release an external version of the Essence though.
Click to expand...

Yeah so I heard...
Wish it was a revised Essence + H6 + better amplification in one discrete card :(

Hey RE this new external Essence...
Is it basically just an Essence ST or STX (there's a slight difference in SQ) wacked into an external enclosure.
Or are there more notable improvements? What's it called exactly?
 
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I didn't read much about it at the time. Might have been due to little to no information about any specs etc, can't really remember TBH.
 
I can highly recommend the Xonar D2, is an excellent card, doesn't require a power input like the pci-e versions. I have mine connected via analogue to Logitech 5.1 5400 speakers and it sounds great. I've had an Audigy 2 zs and then X-FI and the Xonar sounds much better, although you do need decent speakers/headphones to get the best out of it. Also, the drivers are much better than creatives, I have not had any driver problems at all since purchase in 2008.
 
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