Noob Soundcard Question

Lex1970 · 28 Apr 2014 at 10:05

Hi just installed the Asus Xonar PCIE5.1 Audio Card, but I didn't get any auto Hardware has been added appear which normally happens and it tries to install the drivers from there.
Also when I installed the CD disk it didn't auto play had to manually select it. I'm 99% certain it did install OK as I'm sure you wouldn't get sound from the ports which I have inserted the Headphone jacks into but is there any simple way with Windows 7 that I can check that the device is installed?

Cookeh · 28 Apr 2014 at 12:11

Did you select the Xonar as the default soundcard within the BIOS?

Lex1970 · 28 Apr 2014 at 12:37

It's OK soundcard must be working as been playing Team Fortress Two and the difference is like night and day so thanks to the people on here who suggested the Xonar I wouldn't say it's a lot louder (not that you would want it any louder in the first place) but the quality is something to behold. I suppose the next upgrade will be headphones but to be honest not just yet I need to get a new desk first.

Cookeh · 28 Apr 2014 at 14:31

If its a bit quieter, thats because it defaults to either 75% or 80% volume - you can change it in the driver software

New headphones > new desk ;D What do you use currently, out of interest?

Lex1970 · 28 Apr 2014 at 15:25

At the moment I have a tiny corner desk which was fine with my old PC but with my new one id just way too small so want to order from Ikea Galant desk in black but it has been out of stock for ages so it's just a waiting game at the moment. I was not going to get some headphones right now but after the Turtle beach ones broke yet again which were used on the Xbox 360 and PC I decided to get some cheap headphones purely for PC use only so opted for Madcatz Freq 3 they are OK for the price and the sound card has made a huge difference so far.
Eventually I would like to get some decent headphones but a closed head design as I want to minimise sound leaks as it's only a small room and I don't want to be hearing the Pc in the background when I'm watching TV so eventually the DT770 look good although some people have commented that there is rather more plastic on these than there should be for the price and now that I have a sound card with the headphone Amp do you get the 80 or 200 size? Also there are other headphones which haven't been reviewed on here which look nice such as the AKG K550, or ATH-M50 which also have positive reviews.

If I have to wait to long for the Galant desk to be available in Black I may very well lose patience and try a new set of headphones but not made my mind up yet which closed headphones will be best for gaming at a max £130 budget.

Cookeh · 28 Apr 2014 at 15:45

DT770 is unequivocally the best at that price point. With regards to the Ohm value, whilst there is very little difference between them and while 200 should be drivable with good volume and sensitivity on the DG, 80 ohm will perform slightly better without a dedicated headphone amp.

ATH-M50s are horrendously over-hyped - perhaps one of the most over-inflated headphones around. Their monster bass is their downfall, its imprecise, boomy, uncontrolled and has an annoying frequency to leak into the mids. AKG K550's aren't bad, but they're very 'cold' and analytical - not that great if you want a 'fun' sounding headphone as they can be tiring.