Xonar DG - ultimate budget headphone card?

I've noticed this tinny echo when using 5.1 Speakers mode with my Roccat Kave's. I noticed it once or twice before but just thought it was bad video, but now it has been brought to my attention I have noticed it more. I dont think it happens with 2 Speaker mode, as usually I have sound out my HiFi Stereo, and only use my headset for certain movies and games.

Any idea why this happens in 5.1 mode, or any way to fix it? I've tried a lot of different settings, but none seemed to make any difference. I plugged my headset into my onboard Realtek sound and this did not occur, so it must be a soundcard problem.
 
A bit of reading around indicates that Xonar cards have delay applied to the centre and rear channels by default, hence the echo that's noticeable for 5.1 headphones.

I don't know if it can be adjusted or disabled in the standard drivers but these modified drivers are supposed to disable it: http://brainbit.wordpress.com/category/uni-xonar/

I think that might sort out the issue that people have been complaining about.

Edit: The HDAV's drivers have a Speaker Delay Setup feature. I don't remember having this on my D2 so I imagine some other Xonars would be the same. If it's there, you will want all delays set to zero (feet or metres, depending on drivers) for 5.1 headphones.
 
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I actually checked the Asus website and it appears they released a new driver for this card in October, version 7.12.8.1792. There are different options when you install it. I first went with Normal, and it appeared to remain the same. I then went with Low Latency option, and that appeared to be better, but I noticed the sample rate had changed to 44.1 instead of 96KHz. I changed it back to 96 and it still appears to be fine, as far as I can tell anyway, so that is how I have left it for now.

If anyone else is having this problem I would suggest downloading the new drivers and giving them a try. If it doesnt work, try the different options when installing.
 
Serraph said:
There are different options when you install it. I first went with Normal, and it appeared to remain the same. I then went with Low Latency option
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I'm almost certain that's the UNi drivers Uriel is referring to, I certainly haven't seen that on any official drivers.
 
Nope, new drivers downloaded straight from the Xonar DG page on the Asus website. I did download the UNi driver but I havent opened it yet as I thought I would try the new Asus ones first. Check here and go to 'Download' and enter your OS, you will see the new drivers, Version 7.12.8.1792 - 2010/10/15 update, under AUDIO.

I dont think im particularly great at picking out the differences in sound, but for me at least chosing that Low Latency option reduced it to a point where I couldnt hear the echo anymore.
 
PapaLazaru said:
Errrr......just in case I am also being a noob and missing these, where are they exactly? :o
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Click on the main window button so you can select analogue out as headphone, then if you look right where you have selected headphone there is two 'buttons'.

Point your mouse over the one on the right it will say 'HP Advance Setting' click on it and then you can choose the between the three amp settings.

Hope this is helps.
 
Really? You sure you got the latest driver set? It is after you acept the License agreement, it states 'Select components - which components sould be installed'. This gives you a window which alows you to select Normal, Low Latency, C-media Panel, or C-Media Panel (GX enabled),and then two tick boxes for if you wish to install ASIO 1.0 Patch and Enable Stereo Upmix to 4, 5.1, & 7.1.

When I did it I chose the Low Latency setting second time round, and it seems alright, however I did not tick any of the boxes of the last two options, the ASIO 1.0 Patch and Enable Stereo Upmix to 4, 5.1, & 7.1. Im not an expert when it comes to sound, so im not entirely sure what these do. Does anyone know if I should include these in the install?
 
pooley said:
Click on the main window button so you can select analogue out as headphone, then if you look right where you have selected headphone there is two 'buttons'.

Point your mouse over the one on the right it will say 'HP Advance Setting' click on it and then you can choose the between the three amp settings.

Hope this is helps.
Click to expand...

Ah, I knew this already, I was hoping I did! But cheers for the response. :)

SouthEastBlue said:
Would this sound card be much better than on board VIA HD integrated sound using Logitech X-210 speakers? :)
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Well considering I have an ASUS Crosshair IV motherboard, which is ASUS's top of the line AMD motherboard, the DG is far superior to the onboard that comes with it. £20, you honestly cannot go wrong!
 
Serraph said:
Really? You sure you got the latest driver set? It is after you acept the License agreement, it states 'Select components - which components sould be installed'. This gives you a window which alows you to select Normal, Low Latency, C-media Panel, or C-Media Panel (GX enabled),and then two tick boxes for if you wish to install ASIO 1.0 Patch and Enable Stereo Upmix to 4, 5.1, & 7.1.

When I did it I chose the Low Latency setting second time round, and it seems alright, however I did not tick any of the boxes of the last two options, the ASIO 1.0 Patch and Enable Stereo Upmix to 4, 5.1, & 7.1. Im not an expert when it comes to sound, so im not entirely sure what these do. Does anyone know if I should include these in the install?
Click to expand...

They're the modified drivers. Not the official Asus ones.
 
Serraph said:
Snip
Click to expand...

Those are the UNi drivers like I said. The official ones aren't going to allow you to use another brand of GUI (C-Media), aren't going to allow you to patch ASIO, and I highly doubt they'd want you disabling auto startup of the audio panel which is how the low latency works.
 
Well I got them direct from the Asus website, and there is no different GUI, at least not from the Low Latency option I chose.

Perhaps Asus bought his modification or something, they were added a few months after the mod one came out.
 
Serraph said:
and there is no different GUI
Click to expand...

C-Media is the alternate GUI which is what I said above. No Asus did not purchase the modification, no you did not download this from the Asus driver downloads section, yes you did download and then mix up the UNi drivers thus this whole thing.

Like I said above what you've got is the UNi drivers, I downloaded the official Asus drivers earlier and there are NO options during install, the options you listed are all ONLY available through the UNi drivers and nothing more. If you DID download these through the Asus site it was via the forums where the guy who made the driver mods posted links, but not direct from the official Asus downloads.
 
Yep, my bad. As I had both installers downloaded to desktop I got confused, and the fact both versions are .1792 didnt help. I'll go sit in the corner now ...
 
Uriel said:
A bit of reading around indicates that Xonar cards have delay applied to the centre and rear channels by default, hence the echo that's noticeable for 5.1 headphones.

I don't know if it can be adjusted or disabled in the standard drivers but these modified drivers are supposed to disable it: http://brainbit.wordpress.com/category/uni-xonar/

I think that might sort out the issue that people have been complaining about.

Edit: The HDAV's drivers have a Speaker Delay Setup feature. I don't remember having this on my D2 so I imagine some other Xonars would be the same. If it's there, you will want all delays set to zero (feet or metres, depending on drivers) for 5.1 headphones.
Click to expand...


Just to throw my 2p in..... The gainward sound explosion 5.1 headphones dont seem to have any delay to centre or rear or certaionly not that i can tell... I use XP 32bit and xonar original drivers - but set 5.12.8.1773.

Unless I set the WAVE volume control in win XP to 75% ANY headphones I connect sound crap (tinny like there is no mid or bas only top end).
 
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