Need advice from all Asus soundcard owners

Twirlywoos

Twirlywoos

Twirlywoos

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So it seems the flagship Creative Ti HD I have does not output sound simultaneously to the headset and optical/coaxial outputs.

I heard that Asus cards have this feature. Can you confirm if your cards perform this function please and which one you have?

I want to output sound to my headset and to external speakers at the same time, therefore which card from the Asus range do you suggest I look for? I'm thinking the STX since it is at the same price range as the Creative I have, but then I see other cards like ST and phoebus etc.

Thanks
 
xonar.jpg


Yes :)
If you choose the STX, you won't be disappointed.
 
Thanks for that.

Is that picture showing if you select PCM over optical it will output simultaneously to headphone and all outputs?

Does this work at software/driver level or hardware/chipset?

Cheers
 
Hmm interesting question actually! I only selected optical out and noted audio still playing through the analogue output so in essence yes the function you're looking for is there. If you change the speakers output to headphones output then the speaker output mutes and outputs via the headphone amp/jack instead of course.
 
Just tested for you on my DX and it does indeed output PCM over optical simultaneously to stereo out minijacks (didn't test the others). That's using the windows mixer so presumably a driver thing?

I personally would probably get the D2X over the STX. For +£40 the only difference is an (inaudible) increase in SNR and a pretty design on the "shield".
 
joeyjojo said:
I personally would probably get the D2X over the STX. For +£40 the only difference is an (inaudible) increase in SNR and a pretty design on the "shield".
Click to expand...

Really? I found quite a big improvement going from a DX to the STX. That's with a Sennheiser PC 360 headset. I don't have any experience of the D2X.
 
I had the D2X and upgraded to the STX and indeed, there is an improvement.
 
Digital output when set to PCM outputs all the time along with both the analogue outputs and the headphone amp. (This is on my Xonar essence ST) If you select dolby digital live, all analogue output stops and you just get digital.
 
dewi said:
Really? I found quite a big improvement going from a DX to the STX. That's with a Sennheiser PC 360 headset. I don't have any experience of the D2X.
Click to expand...

mrk said:
I had the D2X and upgraded to the STX and indeed, there is an improvement.
Click to expand...

As this discussion might affect the choice the OP makes let's continue.

I haven't listened to either card, but a lot of experience in this hobby tells me that in a controlled double blind test, neither of you would be able to tell the D2X and the STX apart. Technically they are both far beyond the sensitivity of human hearing to tell apart.

I would entirely expect you both to say that "there is an improvement" as the expectation bias associated with upgrading to a £130 soundcard with a nicely designed "shield" is huge.

However if we're talking about comparing the line out of the D2X to the headphone out of the STX straight into headphones, this isn't a fair comparison. I could imagine a pretty large FR change there as the line outs have a high output impedance (100 ohms or so). The main advantage of the STX is the headphone output, which performs very well.
 
If I intend to use a headset below 100 ohms then will the d2x be a better choice? All I do is connect my Senn HD595's to the front output jack port?
 
I don't claim to be an audiophile but my hearing is very sensitive and it's one of the reasons why I've had such a hard time finding and sticking to the audio equipment I have now because I just prefer the sound quality coming from them to anything else.

I don't use digital outputs, I only use analogue and in the same way the slight increase in warmth in the sound going from d2x to stx (the upgrade didn't cost me much anyway) I also found the stx got better still once the opamps were upgraded. Yes the headphone output is an unfair comparison given the d2x has no headphone amp but if the op is using headphones as I imagine going by the post then surely this is of importance anyway.

Anyway, that isn't relevant to the Op's question, I merely posted a response in relation to the discussion. I don't know how sensitive op is to his hearing I can only speak from my own experiences.
 
Thanks guys. "Audiophile" has bad connotations, I prefer to just be interested in the electronics and leave the rest to the head-fi lot :p (and on the subject of electronics Kei wins anyway)

Straight into headphones you're definitely better off with the STX headphone out. The other outputs are "line outs" which are designed for feeding the inputs of other devices, and therefore struggle with headphones which are totally different beasts.

If it was sound card > some other amplifier stage (power or headphone) > speakers/headphones then they would likely be indistinguishable.
 
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Went for the STX in the end. Thanks for all your help. Also kudos to StigBourne who refunded a tenner since the STX went up in price whilst I was getting confirmation to my question.
 
Marsman said:
Yes it does have microphone input. That's what the other 6.35mm socket is for.
Click to expand...

ahhhhhhhh I seeeeeeeeeeee

I need a convertor thing then. :o

edit - there are only drivers on asus' website. I take it I have to install the software utility from the cd?
nvm win 8 hid it.
 
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Holy Crap, this sound card is fantastic. Just listening to some tunes now. Will game later in the evening to see how the virtual surround is.
 
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