I'm torn between these two soundcards. I'd like to upgrade my PC's current on-board soundcard to one of these cards as from what I gather they are the best around.
 
My current setup is a Astro 5.8 Wireless Mixamp + Sennheiser PC 360s which work for both my xbox and PC for gaming. I use the optical audio out from my PC to the mixamp. Also I have a 2.1 external audio setup to listen to music most of the time, I switch between that and the headset.
 
As for gaming I play a bit of competitive FPS and a few random titles like Metro 2033 etc..
 
I'd really like to know which one of these cards to get they are priced pretty much the same where I am so I really don't know which to choose, as some say Xonar some say Titanium HD. I was told this would be the best forum to find out as there are a a lot of guys here who know what they are talking about.

Bump, Can anyone help with this decision?

why don't you just keep using your mixamp?

So no need to upgrade at all? Just thought one of these cards would give me better quality audio and the mixamp would just serve as a well amp for the headphone ?

I very much doubt the sound card will improve anything sauf the case that your actual card hasn't EAX or can't output digital 5.1
 
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vandal4125 said:

So no need to upgrade at all? Just thought one of these cards would give me better quality audio and the mixamp would just serve as a well amp for the headphone ?

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Using Essence STX now and heard XFI T HD in my friends, I still prefer STX myself.
I liked the cleaness of STX. I also find the driver controller panel simpler and smaller.
 
For your reference.
 
Another hint, just take a look at  the length discussions of STX in this forum, you'll see how popular it is in the head-fi community.

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audionewbieyao said:

Using Essence STX now and heard XFI T HD in my friends, I still prefer STX myself.
I liked the cleaness of STX. I also find the driver controller panel simpler and smaller.
 
For your reference.
 
Another hint, just take a look at  the length discussions of STX in this forum, you'll see how popular it is in the head-fi community.

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Essence STX for music? Sure, it's nice. For gaming? Forget it, even the very first Creative X-Fi generation cards beat the STX easily. And the Titanium HD has an overall smoother signature, while the STX is rather harsher, which the integrated amp doesn't help at all. Both cards are very much matched, coming more about sonic preferences than anything else, besides one card having gaming features implemented from ground up while the other has gaming features thrown as an afterthought.
 
About the popularity of Essence STX, or the not as big popularity of the Titanium HD, it goes mostly because of poor driver support that Creative had in the past, and badmouthing carried over the years, when it is no longer a concern.
 
Overall, if gaming is a concern, Xonar cards won't get you there. Full OpenAL hardware acceleration and real EAX hardware (not emulations like what happens on onboard audio chips and Xonar cards) are only found on Creative cards, even Audigy series have them.
 
@VandaL4125: Look better before purchasing, the Titanium HD is lower priced than the Essence STX. Ideally, you should get the Titanium HD and an external amp, this for computer gaming.

I use a xonar STX to game and don't see a big problem with it.  I had a more gaming orientated card in my last computer and honestly the difference if any want huge.  If your not some huge first person shooter nut the STX does just fine.  Ive always been an avid pc gamer and just recently got into the world of headphone audio, for a dual roll card i would recommend the stx. 

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riceeatin2010gt said:

I use a xonar STX to game and don't see a big problem with it.  I had a more gaming orientated card in my last computer and honestly the difference if any want huge.  If your not some huge first person shooter nut the STX does just fine.  Ive always been an avid pc gamer and just recently got into the world of headphone audio, for a dual roll card i would recommend the stx. 

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The OP plays competitive FPS, which requires a high performing gaming card, which the STX isn't. And saying that only FPS require a proper soundcard isn't accurate, RTS, racing games, all those provide the user the audio tools required for optimal gameplay, that along the immersion that comes with hearing games the way they can be listened to.

point taken
 

So it, seems the best for him is to get the Titanium HD and pair it with mixamp for dolby surround since he already owns the mixamp.

I quote from a post I made in another thread like this.

 
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jesperz said:

As a person who've owned both the Asus Xonar Essence STX and the Creative X-Fi Titanium HD I feel qualified to answer your question without relying on technical details but purely listening experiences. Mind you, that the list below purely consists of my own impressions.
 
Essence STX compared to X-Fi Titanium HD:

1. Essence STX seems slightly more detailed at midrange (it was too harsh for my taste, but I know many people like it).
2. Titanium HD has considerably better bass output all-round (meaning more present and deeper, the detail level of the bass frequency range on both cards is equal)
3. Sound stage is indifferent.
4. Titanium HD emulates surround sound better with stereo input.
5. Titanium HD is considerably better at downscaling surround input to stereo.
6. Creative Volume Panel offers more control options than Xonar Audio Center (not that you'd necessarily need the options though).

 
What I concluded from my comparison was that the Essence STX would probably work better with genres such as rock, metal, classical and the like; non-basshead genres.
On the other hand Titanium HD would probably work better with edm and the like; basshead-genres. The virtual surround capabilities of the Titanium HD also benefits gaming and movies a lot. As such I ended up returning my Essence STX and kept the Titanium HD, but it was mostly about the bass and not as much about the virtual surround. I get why one would choose the Essence STX over the Titanium HD, and especially if one does not have an external amp.

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Thanks for the reply mate, I'll be picking up a Titanium HD
 
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jesperz said:

I quote from a post I made in another thread like this.

 
 

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jesperz said:

I quote from a post I made in another thread like this.

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Based on this post it sounds I also did the right decision for me getting the Titanium HD.
 

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rpgwizard said:

Based on this post it sounds I also did the right decision for me getting the Titanium HD.
 

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Well I'm a bit worried.  I just ordered a ASUS Essence ST (not STX) and it should arrive Monday.  Now I primarily got this because I have owned a few of Sound Blaster products.  Starting with the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum,  X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series, to what I'm using now which is the X-fi onboard chip on my ASUS Crosshair IV Formula motherboard.  And they have all the same problem: freakin' random popping/clicks...  Drove me insane!!! (though the mobo only did it twice)  Tried many many drivers the only difference being how often the popping and clicking would occur but I could never get rid of them completely.  

Now I understand the Titanium HD was build from the ground up for gaming, but I needed something that could push my headphones.  I currently use a pair of ATH-M50 running through a Mackie Big Knob but in a few days I'm going to order a pair of ATH-AD900 since they got the [H]ard|OCP Gold Award and I've read plenty of threads on these forums that will provide the best performance for competitive gameplay..

I don't know.. I'll see what results I get.