Asus Xonar U7 - any good?

GoogalyMoogaly · 11 Feb 2018 at 14:08

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying the Asus Xonar U7 (or maybe the cheaper U5): https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus...hone-amplifier-90yb00ab-m0uc00-sc-024-as.html

Does anyone know if they're any good?

I'm just using onboard sound at the minute. My speakers and headphones aren't anything special so I'm not sure I need it for the audio out, but whenever I'm on discord everyone says I'm really quiet and I don't know why (I've tried multiple headsets and multiple PCs). I was hoping something like this, with a microphone volume slider might enable me to turn up the microphone. I'm a little concerned that max volume will be what I currently have and all I'll be able to do is turn it down (which I really don't want).

So does anyone know if this will do what I want (or if there's another way to make my mic louder without reducing the quality)?

Thanks.

GoogalyMoogaly · 11 Feb 2018 at 16:15

Marsman said:
If your motherboard has Realtek, there will be a microphone boost setting, which should help. Try that first before considering a sound card, possibly just for louder microphone volume..

if I put the boost above +10db then there's a horrible crackling.

GoogalyMoogaly · 11 Feb 2018 at 16:34

Marsman said:
Ah OK. Have you tried different microphones whether part of a headset or not and still got crackling?

yeah, just recently changed my headset hoping the mic would be better, but it wasn't so I upped the boost and a friend mentioned it instantly.

GoogalyMoogaly · 11 Feb 2018 at 18:48

EsaT said:
Headphone output doesn't look that hot with very low output voltage:
http://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/amp/asus-u7-hp.php#rw11
I think U5 is pretty much same just with standard budget level sound card D/A converter.

Normal Creative sound cards do better.
And for gaming those Xonars use Dolby Headphone, which is behind Creative's algorithms because of DH's bass bloat and echo.

In external USB sound cards of that price category there are few models.
So you need external USB sound card and don't have PCI-e slots?

Well, here's my setup...

I've got 3 PCs connected through a KVM (with audio). I originally thought the audio pass through might be to blame, but I tried connecting the headset directly and it didn't seem to help. So I thought a soundcard might help and if I get a USB one then I can connect it via the KVM's USB port and all PCs can benefit from it.
Also I was wondering if the fact it'll be USB from the KVM to the PC rather than normal analogue (I think that's what 3.5mm connection are, aren't they?) maybe that will help if there's any signal degradation.