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Xonar Essence STX: Sneak Peek! - Page 124

post #1846 of 2057
8/19/09 at 4:25pm
DH is a toy to impress newbies and sell more cards, it's not serious stuff IMHO.
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post #1847 of 2057
8/19/09 at 4:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by adam_eu View Post
Ok, I think I'm gonna buy this STX, but I have couple of questions.

Main reason to buy it is a good DAC section. (1) Is it at last on the same level as E-MU 1212?
Not sure, but if you compare the specs the STX/ST is usually heads above other cards. I have never compared the two so I cannot say anything to that affect. Recording cards usually have great sound but they would also have limited features for gaming or movies etc..
Quote:
Originally Posted by adam_eu View Post
Another thing... I don't belive that its build in amp would drive my K701 or DT880 well so I'm planning to get external amp (correct me if I'm wrong). (2) What's exactly output power of STX's amp?
Many use harder to drive headphones with the internal amplifier, cans such as HD650's. The little amp chip seems to have a great deal of power according to many others use hard to drive cans.
The STX amplifier section including the Headphone amp chips swings from -12 to +12 and IIRC, puts our abut 1.5 Watts.
Here is the spec sheet may help answer other question related to this head amp chip. TPA6120A2
Quote:
Originally Posted by adam_eu View Post
I like that STX has gaming/movies support. "All in one" sounds great for me.

(3) Is there something wrong in using external amp (connected by STX's analog out) with games and movies? Maybe it's better to switch headphones to HP out before starting a game?
You can use the card as just a source and connect up your own can amplifier. There are others aorund that use a similar config because they have higher quality amps or just like the signature of their favorite amplifier.
Quote:
Originally Posted by adam_eu View Post
And the last one: I've heard that Dolby Headphone doesn't work through analog out, so i won't be able to use it with my amp. (4) Maybe just forget about DH? What do You think?

Adam
The DH is available when in headphone mode which means the internal amplifier is activated. When you switch to 2 channel mode as you would when running a external head amp, you only have options for 2 channle stereo. Depending on the task, there are many ways to use Dolby Headphones or other plugins and routines that basically do the same thing.
Some like DH and some like others, really depends on personal taste and the task at hand.

Hope this helps.
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post #1848 of 2057
8/19/09 at 5:06pm
Thanks, it helps a lot.
About this 1,5W output power... Is it for 32Ohm?
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post #1849 of 2057
8/19/09 at 5:21pm
Thread Starter 
I think the 1.5 is a max setting but check over the spec sheet.

There are gain setting with the driver:
Normal Gain (0db for <32ohm)
High Gain (+12dB for 64~320ohm)
Extra High Gain (+18dB for 300 ~ 600ohm)

There are a few guys using HD650's with these as I said and they are considered hard to drive. There are also people using external amplifiers with this card also. Really your choice whatever you think would work better for you. I would say test it out, if the internal amp give you the power you need or the sound quality you want, Use an external can ampliifer.
I know the amp was also tesed sucessfully with: HD600, DT880 and AKG K240df. IIRC the 240df are very hard to drive.

The internal amplifier is decent enough when you consider the overall MSRP of the card but It will not surpass the high dollar external headphone amplifiers for power or subjective sound quality. You are after all talking about a $200 soundcard.
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post #1850 of 2057
8/20/09 at 4:05am
I would like to try 2xLM6172 at the I/V section of the STX but as far as I know LM6172 is prone to oscillation.

May I expect oscillation problems with 2xLM6172 at the I/V of the STX? Is the oscillation dangerous for the card? Sorry if my question sounds silly but I am very unfamiliar with this engineering stuff.
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post #1851 of 2057
8/20/09 at 12:09pm
Thread Starter 
The LM6172 have been tested on this card and they seem to work fine from the reports.
To note, Oscillation is bad and you do not want it happening at all.
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post #1852 of 2057
8/20/09 at 12:55pm
hi there guys i think i may need to borrow some of your knowledge

basically i was about to purchase myself the essence stx then came across robs preview on the essence st so now im fairly confused

my uses for this card will be listing to loseless audio mp3's and audio cds
watching films and some light gaming all through headphones, ill most probably be using dr dre beats headphones although i may swap them soon for something better

any advice would be much appreciated

all the best guys

cheers
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post #1853 of 2057
8/20/09 at 1:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by leeperry View Post
DH is a toy to impress newbies and sell more cards, it's not serious stuff IMHO.
Watch some movies with AC3 data on it and use Dolby Headphone. Then come back to me.
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post #1854 of 2057
8/20/09 at 2:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chinesekiwi View Post
Watch some movies with AC3 data on it and use Dolby Headphone. Then come back to me.
I tried, no worries! the sound is WAY too hollow...and I prefer TrueHD 7.1 lossless audio these days. lossy audio is not my thang

I prefer to use my own binaural stereo downmix matrix + Ozone4 to increase the out-of-head inverted phase back speakers sound. it's far more realistic and "dry" than this DH toy.

DH feels to me like a HUGE reverb, which it is...technically. David Griesinger is far smarter than that, he invented many algorithms for HK and most of his work is freely available on his website: http://www.davidgriesinger.com/
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post #1855 of 2057
8/20/09 at 9:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by leeperry View Post
I tried, no worries! the sound is WAY too hollow...and I prefer TrueHD 7.1 lossless audio these days. lossy audio is not my thang

I prefer to use my own binaural stereo downmix matrix + Ozone4 to increase the out-of-head inverted phase back speakers sound. it's far more realistic and "dry" than this DH toy.

DH feels to me like a HUGE reverb, which it is...technically. David Griesinger is far smarter than that, he invented many algorithms for HK and most of his work is freely available on his website: http://www.davidgriesinger.com/
I do agree that DH is more of a gimmick. It impresses on first listen and very quickly becomes fatiguing and just plain boring to listen to. It kills dynamics, adds a massive amount of reverb and wetness, and completely changes the tone for the worse.
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post #1856 of 2057
8/20/09 at 10:49pm
DH sounds good to me. Couldn't care less what others think lol.
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post #1857 of 2057
8/20/09 at 10:59pm
RichSAD I agree with you i dont care what people think about those who uses Dolby headphones.The only time I use it is when I watching my Blu-ray/HD Dvd movies or playing Games.

What ever Dolby headphone mode I use is based on which Op-amps I currenty using as Some I use DH1 with them which works best for them. Then another combo I use DH2 which sound best for those.
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post #1858 of 2057
8/21/09 at 12:01pm
Thread Starter 
Sound is subjective. What sounds good to you might not sound good to others and what sound good to them might not sound good to you.
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post #1859 of 2057
8/22/09 at 2:14pm
Hi

I wanted to ask if an Essence STX would be a good deal for $180 and the seller also offers three OPA2107 op amps with it. And I'd also like to know, if it would be an over-kill for mu headphones or is it worth to get.

I'll mainly use it for music and games but also movies. I would use Audiotechnica ATH-M50 cans and Z-2300 2.1 speakers with it.
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post #1860 of 2057
8/22/09 at 2:17pm
Thread Starter 
That is a good deal. The opamps will give you a boost over stock sound quality.

I wouldn't say overkill, when you get a better source though you might start notcing the limiting factors in your setup. -speakers...etc.
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