Xonar DG for good music?

NinetyOne · 30 Dec 2011 at 17:25

I'm not bothered about in game sounds. Is the xonar DG good for music? Currently only ever used onboard. I have good quality headphones and speakers.

PapaLazaru · 30 Dec 2011 at 17:36

Ultimately, it is only £20, so do not expect miracles but I can tell you that the difference it makes from onboard is really quite amazing. The onboard I came from is from a top of the range ASUS motherboard as well (CH IV). I still think it is one of the best pound for pound upgrades I have ever made.

NinetyOne · 30 Dec 2011 at 17:41

Yeah that's what I was hoping. Thought it would be a good time to bite the bullet and grab one while ocuk is offering free delivery to the Scottish highlands.

I was also looking at the slightly more expensive D2X but they seem to have gone out of stock. Unless there is a truly massive difference going from a DG to a D2X then...

Dano · 30 Dec 2011 at 17:56

I swapped my D2X for a DG some months ago, I don't have particularly expensive speakers or headphones but I can't tell the difference between the two, either compared to onboard is a significant improvement though.

NinetyOne · 30 Dec 2011 at 18:12

Hmm just thinking about when new motherboards come out.. I thought I heard something about them getting rid of pci slots and just going with pci-e now? Won't that be a problem?

Marsman · 30 Dec 2011 at 18:35

Well, PCI will be phased out at some point. I don't think it will disappear completely for some years yet, but I do think you will probably only get the one PCI on lower to middle spec boards. The higher end boards will drop it altogether, and some already have started doing so.

I wouldn't bother looking at a D2X. It's a great card, but it's really aimed at home theatre use. The DX sounds equally as good, according to many who have compared the two, and is cheaper.

The DG is a great budget card, but as PapaLazaru said, it's only £20. Most people find it sounds better than even onboard audio found on the higher end boards. Not everyone does though. Some people just can't differentiate between onboard audio and a sound card.

There are people who think the DG is rubbish, but I think they are people who are used to better sound cards.

Can I ask what headphones and speakers you are using?

NinetyOne · 30 Dec 2011 at 18:45

Tannoy mercury v4's and Vsonic Gr07's.

Hellfire257 · 1 Jan 2012 at 13:27

The DG is very good for its price. It certainly beats onboard.

Marsman · 1 Jan 2012 at 14:28

NinetyOne said:
Tannoy mercury v4's and Vsonic Gr07's.

I think if it were me, I'd get a DX. Using decent speakers and decent headphones/earphones, the difference should be noticeable over the DG.

I say should, because it also depends on you, not just your gear.

GraveYard · 1 Jan 2012 at 15:06

i only bought a sound card because bf3 was hardlocking because of the realtek onboard audio on my mobo.

so i picked the dg and damn im glad i did massive improvement over on board.

ive since bought some sennheiser pc 360s my music is sounding sweet as...