Ditch or keep = Asus Xonar Essence STX II

[qbazdz]

Well, this will be an interesting conversation I bet..

I have been using this old school of a gem for years now for all my PC audio with a BD DT770 Pro Studio headset.
My setup is in process of being refined, some of the gaming will now be done on a 4k big screen, which as a 930D sound bar hooked up to it so all the processing I would imagine will be done without the need for the card.

I do want to keep 3 options alive:
- audio via PC only when not running on big screen/sound bar combo
- big screen setup with sound bar
- big screen setup with headphones (consider this as part of the question - new headset is potentially needed)

I do care about audio quality but given how surround technologies had moved on I am not up to speed enough to know if I need to look for alternative card, do something else, or rely on the in built audio card form the mobo with Realtek S1220A.
Mic for me is not a must, nor is wireless a lot when it comes to headset.

Please help

 

[siumatfung]

Well, this will be an interesting conversation I bet..

I have been using this old school of a gem for years now for all my PC audio with a BD DT770 Pro Studio headset.
My setup is in process of being refined, some of the gaming will now be done on a 4k big screen, which as a 930D sound bar hooked up to it so all the processing I would imagine will be done without the need for the card.

I do want to keep 3 options alive:
- audio via PC only when not running on big screen/sound bar combo
- big screen setup with sound bar
- big screen setup with headphones (consider this as part of the question - new headset is potentially needed)

I do care about audio quality but given how surround technologies had moved on I am not up to speed enough to know if I need to look for alternative card, do something else, or rely on the in built audio card form the mobo with Realtek S1220A.
Mic for me is not a must, nor is wireless a lot when it comes to headset.

Please help

I'd just get a ifi zen dac v2 which can be found for just over 120£ if you shop around

Providing the sound bar has a power on off you can run your cans and sound bar both from it

 

[arknor]

rely on the in built audio card form the mobo with Realtek S1220A.

Sound card's never really moved on since 2019 or whenever the Creative AE series launched, they are still very high spec even by todays standards.

as long as your soundcard supports PCIE then it should be way better than the realjunk onboard.

Most people switched to headphones these days and use USB DACs, I guess they can also work for powered speakers, but your sound bar likely had it already built in anyway, and just needs the signal passing to it via hdmi/optical.

sounds like HDMI supports higher quality audio

 

[JollyJamma]

I'd just get a ifi zen dac v2 which can be found for just over 120£ if you shop around

Providing the sound bar has a power on off you can run your cans and sound bar both from it

I love my Ifi Zen DAC so much. Such a great little DAC for the money.

The Xonar Essence STX was part of my dream “ultimate PC” build but I never ended up getting one because sound cards sort of fell away, a bit like DVD and Blu-ray players.

 

[arknor]

ut I never ended up getting one because sound cards sort of fell away, a bit like DVD and Blu-ray players.

I literally just bought a Soundblaster ae7 internal soundcard the other day
SNR 127 dB
ESS SABRE-class 9018
PCM: 32-bit / 384 kHz
DSD: DSD64
0.0001% (DAC)


specs aren't bad, can get better for the same money, but I didn't want any device on my desk, my speakers HS7 take up way too much room already, and I never listen to headphones.

 

[JasonM]

Keep running the STX II, it's superior to the onboard Realtek. Only replace the STX II for a good external DAC. The STX II was a little better than the original ST / STX as Asus improved the power filtering on the STX II and added a TXCO clock. I still have an STX II in use on my office PC powering Prodipe Pro 5 V3's, I agree with the comment above about saving desk space.

This thread I wrote some comments on how the STX II compares with 2 external DAC's I own.

I need help AsusEssence STXii 7.1 not detected

Hi all Sorry if this has come up recently System Aorus x570 Ryzen9 ASUs stxii 7.1 Pioneer studio speakers Sony sub Etc etc Ok windows 10 system worked fine Windows 11 ok till I got to 22H2 Then nowt but issues Spent three days with Microsoft updating ststem Now on 24H2 latest 14oct 2024 Now...

forums.overclockers.co.uk

 

[hornetstinger]

Just notcied even the asus cards on overclockers site- I presume current models- Asus haven't updated drivers for years.

 

[Aurhinius]

I would move to a USB DAC to be honest though it is a great soundcard there isn't much happening in PC soundcard space because things are just good enough now with onboard audio arguably. I know that will upset some people and I use an external USB multibit DAC.

Schiit audio came out with something that might interest you. https://www.schiit.com/products/gunnr