xonar dx worth it on a z97x-sli mb?

aardvark · 2 Mar 2015 at 13:29

just wondering what people think about this?
i have an old xonar dx in my previous pc which i could stick in my new one - the new one is a gigabyte z97x-sli MB with onboard sound.
the sound quality is quite good but then the xonar had lots of surround options that the realtek doesn't.

has anyone done this?

Marine-RX179 · 2 Mar 2015 at 14:16

The Xonar DX will certainly be better than any onboard sound (even the better ones).

easyrider · 2 Mar 2015 at 14:33

Its a worthy upgrade. But if you haven't tried a decent DAC then that will crush a DX

Marine-RX179 · 2 Mar 2015 at 14:54

easyrider said:
Its a worthy upgrade. But if you haven't tried a decent DAC then that will crush a DX

Yea both my STX and DacMagic XS sound clearly better than my old Xonar DX, but since OP already got a DX lying around, he might as well use it over the onboard sound.

aardvark · 2 Mar 2015 at 15:06

i thought so, just thought i'd check since onboard sound has come a long way since my old pc.
just need to get a molex-floppy power adaptor and i'm good to go.

rids57 · 2 Mar 2015 at 17:27

seeing as you have both, why not just try it and let your ears make the decision?

LoadsaMoney · 2 Mar 2015 at 19:33

Got to use the onboard sound on my mobo, due to my Xonar DX not working properly with it, sounds just as good to me.

aardvark · 2 Mar 2015 at 20:22

rids57 said:
seeing as you have both, why not just try it and let your ears make the decision?

just lazy really - wanted to know what people thought

Reality|Bites · 3 Mar 2015 at 13:47

Well my Xonar D2X died the other week there and was forced to use the on board Azalia(sp) chip, which was awful with way too much interference, which might be due to overclocking? At the time I was going to buy a new card I was wanting to try the SB Z but it was sold out, So thought I would try a Xonar DG card. So placed it in my basket then had a little look in the clearance section and found the DG for half the price lol. I honestly can't tell the difference between the DG and the D2X and feel that I over paid first time around.

aardvark · 7 Mar 2015 at 19:40

well, bugger - finally got he power adapter, opened the case, and none of my pci express x2 slots are free!
ones covered by the graphics card and the other is blocked my the cpu heatsink.

i guess i'll either stick with the onboard sound or maybe get a pci card instead.

easyrider · 7 Mar 2015 at 19:45

aardvark said:
well, bugger - finally got he power adapter, opened the case, and none of my pci express x2 slots are free!
ones covered by the graphics card and the other is blocked my the cpu heatsink.

i guess i'll either stick with the onboard sound or maybe get a pci card instead.

Get a DAC I have one email me....to my gmail address in trust.

aardvark · 7 Mar 2015 at 19:53

easyrider said:
Get a DAC I have one email me....to my gmail address in trust.

thanks, but what advantage is the dac?
i wanted the xonar in so i get the dolby headphone and some 3d settings (for games only, i don't use my pc for music).

Andi-C · 7 Mar 2015 at 19:55

Stick it in any PCIE you can see ! Doesn't matter if its an x8 or x16 ? If you haven't got one free then its onboard or USB device like a U5...

easyrider · 7 Mar 2015 at 19:57

aardvark said:
thanks, but what advantage is the dac?
i wanted the xonar in so i get the dolby headphone and some 3d settings (for games only, i don't use my pc for music).

Sound quality..

aardvark · 7 Mar 2015 at 20:00

but i wouldn't get any of the xonar effects.

i appreciate the offer but i think i might just get a pci xonar

setter · 7 Mar 2015 at 20:40

Xonar DX is much better than onboard sound on my board, but due to using sli cpu's I was unable to use the sound card. Shame as the audio on this board is abysmal.

rids57 · 7 Mar 2015 at 21:25

or get an external USB sound card like the Xonar U5 or U7 - all the benefits of an internal sound card that sits on your desk, with a nice handy volume control knob to twiddle.

aardvark · 8 Mar 2015 at 15:04

Andi-C said:
Stick it in any PCIE you can see ! Doesn't matter if its an x8 or x16 ? If you haven't got one free then its onboard or USB device like a U5...

wait what?

i missed this post.
you mean i can put it in a full length pciexpress slot?

rids57 · 8 Mar 2015 at 15:20

aardvark · 8 Mar 2015 at 15:22

sounds like a plan then - i have no plans to go sli in the near future so i'll put it in there.

cheers guys.