Spec me a card

chilipeppersc · 12 Apr 2012 at 12:47

I will soon purchase a ROG Maximus V Formula and am pondering the need for a soundcard with this board...whether it supports Dolby Digital/DTS?

I currently own a pair of Astro A40 headphones with a 5.8 mixamp which uses Virtual Dolby® 7.1 Surround Sound (TOSlink optical only).

I may also purchase SP2500's, for gaming purposes, depending on how good my headphones are.

What sound card would you recommend? Just for the headphones, or for both. I will be using the headphones linked up to the 5.8 mixamp via TOSlink(optical).

Any recommendations?

Thanks

Marsman · 12 Apr 2012 at 14:12

Depends if it has Dolby Digital Live. If it doesn't then a Xonar D1/X or an X-Fi Titanium, either would be a good choice, and both have DDL, which is what you need for the Astro's.

If you do get the SP2500's, then you will get better sound quality from a sound card, than you would using the onboard audio.

chilipeppersc · 12 Apr 2012 at 16:03

Marsman said:
Depends if it has Dolby Digital Live. If it doesn't then a Xonar D1/X or an X-Fi Titanium, either would be a good choice, and both have DDL, which is what you need for the Astro's.

If you do get the SP2500's, then you will get better sound quality from a sound card, than you would using the onboard audio.

Would Asus Xonar essence be good for the headset? There is no need to go cheap if I were to spend such amount on speakers then I would pay up for a sound card.

Marsman · 12 Apr 2012 at 16:19

An Essence won't offer anything to the Astro's, that a Xonar D1/X won't. As the connection is digital, the sound quality is down to what is converting that digital data into analogue sound. The Astro's will be doing this, so there will be no difference between an Essence and a D1/X.

chilipeppersc · 12 Apr 2012 at 16:28

and how is the sound quality with the Xonar 1/X with speakers?

Are sp2500 overkill for it?

thanks for your help btw :]

chilipeppersc · 12 Apr 2012 at 18:52

or how about the d2x? anyone got any suggestions?

best card for both headphones and sp2500?

best card for headphones?

Marsman · 12 Apr 2012 at 18:53

chilipeppersc said:
and how is the sound quality with the Xonar 1/X with speakers?

Very good, for both speakers and headphones.

Are sp2500 overkill for it?

Certainly not. Should be a very good pairing.

Marsman · 12 Apr 2012 at 18:59

chilipeppersc said:
or how about the d2x? anyone got any suggestions?

best card for both headphones and sp2500?

best card for headphones?

D2X, again isn't going to do anything that the DX can't, when it comes to the Astro headphones. As long as the card has Dolby Digital Live, there will be no difference at all.

As for speaker use, there is very little to choose between them. Quite a few people have found they could not tell between them, including a group of people who were blind tested.

If you'd rather go for a D2X though, then there is no reason why you shouldn't.

chilipeppersc · 12 Apr 2012 at 19:56

So now I will propose one more question.

D2X or Titanium X-Fi? Primarily for gaming purposes.

Marsman · 12 Apr 2012 at 21:49

Both are very good, and each has it's fans. X-Fi Titanium might be the better choice when it comes to gaming effects.