SP2500 speakers : Asus Essence STX or Creative zXR

Flanno · 30 Apr 2013 at 20:09

Am in middle of pc build with Sabertooth Z77/3770K and I am thinking of going for a dedicated soundcard for the Corsair SP2500 speakers.

The system will be mainly for gaming, movies and listening to music. I am thinking the ZXR won't be worth it as I have a 2.1 setup so the advantage this card has with positional audio in gaming won't be there on 2.1 speakers. The Asus STX therefore might be a better choice. However given I only have SP2500 speakers, would these kind of soundcards be overkill in the first place ? Of course I may get some decent cans in a few months.

Thanks

Marsman · 30 Apr 2013 at 22:51

If you are going to get some decent headphones at some point, then getting a Xonar Essence makes sense. It would be a good investment. If you were to buy an Essence for the Corsair speakers alone, then it would be overkill. Such speakers don't need a so called 'audiophile' sound card. Not that there is anything wrong with the SP2500, it's just the Essence is primarily aimed at relatively high end headphones.

Flanno · 30 Apr 2013 at 23:13

Thanks Marsman. That's good advice and what I was thinking myself.

As regards the STX, for gaming would you give this the nod over the ZXR for 2.1 speakers and headphones ?

Marsman · 1 May 2013 at 13:00

Tough question. I'm probably biased in favour of the Xonar Essence, having one myself. In my opinion, the ZxR is too much money if you are going to use 2.1 speakers. The Xonar Essence will do the same for £65 less. It would be more justifiable if it was to be used with 5.1 analogue speakers as well as a good pair of headphones. Whilst there are no 5.1 PC speakers that need such a sound card, it would be a damn sight cheaper to buy a ZxR than it would be to buy a Xonar Essence and replace the 5.1 speakers with a set that has digital connections.

The ZxR may be better for gaming, as generally Creative cards have always been better for gaming than Asus cards. I doubt there is that much in it though, certainly not enough to justify the extra £65.

WuMyster · 1 May 2013 at 17:49

Id recommend the ASUS Essence even though as other people have said, its based for headphones for is completely fine for your SP2500's.
I expected the creatives to cost less than the ASUS and im quite surprised theyre more, even £65 more.
Go for the essence, you wont regret it. Clan mates are pairing them with sennheiser PC360's if youre a gamer...

Spook187 · 1 May 2013 at 19:28

Marsman said:
If you are going to get some decent headphones at some point, then getting a Xonar Essence makes sense. It would be a good investment. If you were to buy an Essence for the Corsair speakers alone, then it would be overkill. Such speakers don't need a so called 'audiophile' sound card. Not that there is anything wrong with the SP2500, it's just the Essence is primarily aimed at relatively high end headphones.

i have these on my wish list ready to buy when the wallet allows.

http://en-us.sennheiser.com/high-quality-headphones-around-ear-audio-surround-hd-650.

The STX can power 300 impedance no problem which is what i want.

Flanno · 1 May 2013 at 22:38

Yes, I am leaning towards the STX. I had one in a build a few years ago and was very happy using them with a pair of Sennheiser 650's. Alas that rig is long sold along with my Graham Slee solo srg II headphone amp.

Does the ZXR use that Creative CMSS3D for virtual surround gaming with headphones or some other tech, and I wonder how it compares to Dolby headphone on the STX. I reckon I could be looking at something like a pair of Senn 360's to use with whatever card I get.

Marsman · 1 May 2013 at 22:59

The Z series use something called SBX Pro Studio. The Recon cards used THX TruStudio Pro. Some people have questioned if it's the same thing, but without the THX branding, to save on licensing costs. How that compares to DH, I don't know. What makes it hard to say which is better, is that as we hear differently so opinions will vary quite a bit. Just doing a quick search shows that some find THX better than DH, some find CMSS 3D better than THX, and some find DH better than CMSS 3D. Make of that what you will. :/

jamesriley94 · 1 May 2013 at 23:43

The Xonar cards are miles ahead of anything Creative tbh.

Creative are overpriced, and poor quality.

Get the STX.

melmac · 2 May 2013 at 12:40

Flanno said:
Yes, I am leaning towards the STX. I had one in a build a few years ago and was very happy using them with a pair of Sennheiser 650's. Alas that rig is long sold along with my Graham Slee solo srg II headphone amp.

Does the ZXR use that Creative CMSS3D for virtual surround gaming with headphones or some other tech, and I wonder how it compares to Dolby headphone on the STX. I reckon I could be looking at something like a pair of Senn 360's to use with whatever card I get.

Well, Some people on other forums like hardforum and headfi have moved from the Asus STX to the creative Z and have liked the Z more. Make of that what you will. The Zxr is supposed to be way better than the Z.

All of the Z series cards can drive headphones up to 600Ohms. So getting high impedance headphones will not be an issue.

It really depends on what your priorities are. For gaming, even with the 2.1 speakers the creative Z cards will be better. And will still be better when you get headphones.

For music and movies the creative Zxr and the Asus essence cards will be about the same. They are both really good. The little brother of the Creative Zxr, The Z, sounds really good too.

The problem with the Zxr is the cost. The asus essence are much better value at the moment.

But you are in the lucky situation is that the cards from both Asus and Creative are really good at the moment and I think you will be happy no matter which one you pick.

If spending a lot of money is a concern, why don't you order the Creative Z from here and try it for a week, if you don't like it return it under DSR and get the Asus essence. I pretty confident that you won't be returning the Z if you get to listen to it

melmac · 2 May 2013 at 12:42

jamesriley94 said:
The Xonar cards are miles ahead of anything Creative tbh.

Creative are overpriced, and poor quality.

Get the STX.

IF you are talking about the creative recon cards than yes I would agree with this. But, the Z series cards from creative are equal to anything that Asus have out. And for gaming, probably better.

Flanno · 2 May 2013 at 13:02

Thanks guys. Definitely have to have a think. I had the STX before as I said, but really only for music with good headphones so I know what to expect. Its interesting to hear the new Creative cards are top notch too. Sounds like I can't go wrong whichever I choose. Thanks again.

PapaLazaru · 2 May 2013 at 14:51

Stick with ASUS. I could not care for what Creative are now offerring as they have been re-churning out the same old rubbish with new badges for years and their drivers are awful, which is saying something as the ASUS drivers not not much better.

melmac · 2 May 2013 at 15:20

PapaLazaru said:
Stick with ASUS. I could not care for what Creative are now offerring as they have been re-churning out the same old rubbish with new badges for years and their drivers are awful, which is saying something as the ASUS drivers not not much better.

Oh come on, the recon series were crap. But the new Z series are much better. The drivers now are much better too, I would say better than Asus at the moment. You are flat out wrong in regards the creative Z cards.

PapaLazaru · 2 May 2013 at 16:26

melmac said:
Oh come on, the recon series were crap. But the new Z series are much better. The drivers now are much better too, I would say better than Asus at the moment. You are flat out wrong in regards the creative Z cards.

Have you benched them against each other? I have no reason to disbelieve you, but ASUS have been on top for ages in the soundcard department and I can see no reason why anyone would change from one to the other.

melmac · 2 May 2013 at 17:29

PapaLazaru said:
Have you benched them against each other? I have no reason to disbelieve you, but ASUS have been on top for ages in the soundcard department and I can see no reason why anyone would change from one to the other.

I have heard both the Z and the STX, haven't heard the Zxr. I have a Z since the end of october. If you check the thread on headfi or hardforum you will see other people who have moved from the ST/STX to the Z, mainly because they are getting better sound in games and not losing much in music or movies. Pretty sure the Zxr is better than the Z in every way. Pity it's so expensive. Even it had been £40-£50 cheaper it would have put serious pressure on the ST/STX.

I understand completely where you are coming from, the recon series cards had ok drivers but crap sound. The Titanium HD and earlier cards had great hardware but had some driver problems. The Z series cards seem to have got the balance right, great hardware and working drivers with no bloatware.

Phixsator · 2 May 2013 at 18:39

melmac said:
Oh come on, the recon series were crap. But the new Z series are much better. The drivers now are much better too, I would say better than Asus at the moment. You are flat out wrong in regards the creative Z cards.

Dunno why anyone have issues with the asus drivers as i have never had any what so ever. Not on win 7 and only 1 small issue in win 8 with the control panel not always loading. My Creative Titanium card is a total different story. Nothing but issues with the drivers. Hardware was pretty good though

melmac · 2 May 2013 at 20:37

Phixsator said:
Dunno why anyone have issues with the asus drivers as i have never had any what so ever. Not on win 7 and only 1 small issue in win 8 with the control panel not always loading. My Creative Titanium card is a total different story. Nothing but issues with the drivers. Hardware was pretty good though

I think you should read my post, I am talking about the Z series drivers.

There are people who have creative cards who never had a problem, and there are people like you with Asus cards that never had problems.

MaxP779 · 3 May 2013 at 11:15

Roll with the STX, much better than what creative have on offer with their zxr.

melmac · 3 May 2013 at 11:43

MaxP779 said:
Roll with the STX, much better than what creative have on offer with their zxr.

Can you offer the OP any evidence of that? Can you point out what components that the Zxr is weaker in? The only disadvantage the Zxr has is the price. For everything else I don't know how you can say the ST/STX is better.

Just want to add, even the Titanium HD is a better card than the Asus ST or STX, the only advantage the Asus card has over the Titanium HD is that it only supports headphones up to 330 Ohms.