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Should I upgrade sound card?

post #1 of 5
12/31/10 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 

 

Hello audiophiles,

 

 

I'm wondering whether I'd benefit from a soundcard upgrade or not. My current setup is as following:

 

 

beyer dt-990 --> meier audio corda concerto (headamp) --> x-fi xtreme music.

 

Listening to music (and movies) has priority. But also gaming is important to me(soundstage). Furthermore, I only use headphones.

 

If I'd upgrade it would be either the Xonar Essence ST or the X-fi Titanium HD. 

 

So should I upgrade or not? And which soundcard would benefit my needs most?

 

Thank you!

 

ps: what's the use of a pre-amp on a soundcard, when I already got a headamp?

 

 

 

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post #2 of 5
12/31/10 at 7:13pm

I'd say so, I have the same card and recently I modded the opamp and it made a difference, so and entirely better card would be even a better change.

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post #3 of 5
1/2/11 at 1:01pm

Asus ST or STX are better sounding cards than X-Fi titanium HD(much better than X-Fi xtreme music) and it will expand the soundstage and shows more details in muisc. It also sound very clean, amplified and grain free with more volume(easy to drive DT990).

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post #4 of 5
1/3/11 at 1:55am
The Auzen X-Fi Prelude is (imo) the best you can buy (from my experience). However I broke mine the other week from a little accident, so been looking all over the UK but nobodies selling them. So I placed an order for the Titanium HD last night, roundabout the same price, brand-new. If I had a choice from the 2 mind, I go the Auzen way! If I knew about the Asus ST or STX? I may have changed my mind??? The opamp is definitely worth changing too, when you can.
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post #5 of 5
1/3/11 at 7:36am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the input.

 

I made my decision. I wanted to buy an essence ST. But after reading for couple of hours, they don't seem to be doing that good at fps pinpointing. Also since I already have a dedicated amp, I think the opamp wouldn't be that beneficial. So therefore I went with the titanium HD :).

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