Soundstorm alternative

PanchoVilla

PanchoVilla

PanchoVilla

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11 Mar 2004
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636
I've been using onboard Soundstorm on my Shuttle for the last few years. Since my PSU blew, I'm using a backup HP Dual core now, that has a Realtek onboard solution. Now I know how good the Soundstorm was.

After reading a lot, I bought the Asus Xonar DX, but frankly I'm dissapointed as it still doesn't sound as good as the Soundstorm.

I'm using Aego's with MP3's and the Soundstorm used to give really tight, warm bass. The Realtek and Xonar just seemed lacking.

I don't rip music or need 5.1 etc. I just use 2.1 and need something that is equivalent or better than the Soundstorm. Any suggestions?
 
I myself found the SoundStorm to be a lovely warm sound, and I like it.

Of course, depending on your Amp/Speaker setup, the SoundStorm may sound good or bad.

I am surprised that you found the xonar poor though? I think its great.

My main PC and my No2 are both using Creative cards ( Slaps hand ) and they are great. I need the LiveDrive on them you see, as I use my No2 PC to record my music from my real computer ( Atari Falcon ) and Im using Altec Lansing 955 speakers on my No1 which has no headphone sockets ( or volume control for that matter ) and the front firewire and AUX inputs are vital for my Media work.
 
Are you listening to MP3s? I have a Xonar D2 and it isn't kind to low bitrate recordings. I find it gives a very accurate representation of the source, and will show up imperfections. Try a CD or lossless recording. Additionally, you want the Xonar set to 2 channel mode for music listening. It really makes a difference with headphones and is tangible, but less noticeable with speakers.

If you don't want to reincode your music collection (which is what I'm considering doing), you might try an X-Fi and use the crystallizer.
 
With the xonar, I tried all combinations I could think of and found the 2 channel mode best suited. Various modes e.g. music, hifi, games, movies - and still my mp3's didn't sound as good to me as the soundstorm. Perhaps my soundstorm was misinterpreting the data and the new xonar is more of an accurate representation, I don't know.

I have active speakers - the older version of AEGO M 2.1, and they are great.

There are a few mp3's that I always use to judge the sound, e.g.
Bob Marley - Could you be loved
Groove Armarda - Hands of Time
Muhammed Ali - Stand by me
Gary Moore - Shapes of things
etc.

I don't know how to explain the sounds on soundstorm but I'll try:
- the treble is clear and you can 'feel' the breath of vocals.
- the bass is warm and almost grabs you forcing you to ride the wave of the music.

... I don't know... the xonar had clear treble but lacked in the bass. The realtek is very average. They don't sound special - but perhaps my settings are incorrect and I'm mistaken.

You know some people have a celebrity character and everyone notices when they enter a room, well the soundstorm was like that. The xonar and realtek just enter and quietly help themselves to the hors d'oeuvres.

I've taken the xonar out of my HP, but I can re-install and try some new settings if anyone can suggest.
 
As I said - I would try some CDs or lossless files. The Xonar is a very 'neutral' sounding card, about as close to reference as you will get for an internal PC card. It's not great for making your mp3s sound better.

I noticed a similar difference to you, finding that the Xonar lacked 'warmth' when listening to mp3s compared to my XtremeMusic or Audigy 2.

You could try the SRS 'WOW' setting in Windows Media Player, which gives a similar effect to the X-Fi crystallizer.
 
It's difficult to recommend a soundcard, on what is basically a subjective 'character' of sound rather than something that's easily quantified. If you're prepared to spend the money it might be worth getting the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude, which has replaceable opamps. If you don't find the sound 'warm' enough you can replace the opamps with something more to your taste.

The Prelude is probably overkill for your Aegos though.
 
cards like soundstorms and x-fi's are far kinder to pc speakers than hi-fi cards like the xonars and even more so with cards like the emu's. if you want to use pc speakers get an x-fi tbh:)
 
This is true for most things but there are a lot of PC Setups out there these days that are very high quality indeed while there are also a lot of So-called Hi-Fis that are quite simply tripe.

I liked the SoundStorm and in fact I loved it.

Sure, the SBLive I had at the time had a crisper sound, it was also playing music at a higher level too, so the warmth seemed to be lacking.

I also like the Turtle Beach cards also, I still have 2 of them, well, I have the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz, and a VideoLogic Sonic Fury... While too many people have blasted me for getting these 2 mixed up in the past, can I just add that putting the 2 together its impossible to tell them apart, but these also provide a much more sensual experience ( Oh god, listen to me! ), but again, it depends on the Amp / Speakers too, as well as personal choice.

Its kind of like the LP v CD arguement, and since everyones hearing is different to the next persons, there will never be a perfect setup thats great for everyone.
 
PanchoVilla said:
After reading a lot, I bought the Asus Xonar DX, but frankly I'm dissapointed as it still doesn't sound as good as the Soundstorm.
Click to expand...

I know Hi-Fi and sounds are open to the individual but.... to say the Xonar is poor to the soundstorm is laughable. I thought my SB live value better than the soundstorm and never understood why it was so highly rated. And dont even start on the mic output on the soundstorm psssssssshhhhhhh zzzzzzzzzhhhh pssssssshhhhhhhhh... awful.
 
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The SBLive beat the SoundStorm in the EQ... It was much more adjustable, but too much, and it made the sound far too gritty and harsh, but I see where you are coming from, I felt the SoundStorm was realistic and warm... If a little too soft for some music.

xonar is poor to the SoundStorm?
If you truly believe that, then you are clearly using cheap desktop speakers, or are messing too far with EQ.
Since your first post, I have got my old NF7 up and running again and I threw a fair number of mixed bag of various audio thingies, ranging from SFX SoundBytes such as bullets, thunder and so on, through to some Floyd & Scar Symmetry, and I hate to say that while the SoundStorm was once again a great audio solution, it is now showing its age. So, when compareing it to other onboard options, I feel it still holds itself well against them, but the xonar is clearly in a whole new league.

I played all these through 3 completely different setups

1 - JBL ESC Dolby System ( in 6 Channel and in Dolby Pro Mode )

2 - Altec Lansing 255 ( Fairly old now, but they still kick out plenty of oomph )

3 - Yamaha Amp & Monitors ( For my Atari Sequencing )

Xonar was better a verything
 
When I was using the soundstorm, I never used the equalizer - it was always flat. Also the bass setting on my Aego2's was always on normal.

Do soundcards need to warm up as well before they start sounding good? Like the old amps. I'm now thinking perhaps I was too hasty to send back the xonar; I should have persevered.

I know, I know, sounds and tastes are unique to the individual and cannot be quantified. But I distinctly remember MP3 files I've used on my older system and the bass wasn't as muffled. Imagine if you will, that you've put two kitchen sponges over your ears - and then try listening to a good bassy song. The bass can still be heard but it would obviously be a little muffled. I found that I didn't have this on the soundstorm - the bass was as clear as the treble.

I think I'll probably give the xonar another go, when I buy my new rig.

Caution: Make sure the kitchen sponges are dry before covering ears. Do not use the scourer side. Always read the label. May contain peanuts.
 
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