RME HDSPe PCIe vs EMU 1212m vs Titanium HD vs Xonar - Best Quality Low Latency ASIO Card for...

First time asking for computer help, lol. I found an area I'm not knowledgeable in.

I've been using a Toneport UX2 to satisfy my ASIO Needs for Producing Audio and playing it back real-time. I play large libraries of samples (Orchestra and Piano from EWQL). When I play, I have about 4 instruments playing at once and maybe a few more in the backdrop. There's about 1/4 of a second lag when I play my audio and I've come to terms that I finally need a better ASIO Card. I have it on the fastest settings and it still doesn't even use 2% of my cpu when playing. I get tons of clipping and pops when playing also.

Is the RME HDSPe card better in terms of producing a more accurate sound and lower latency? (Compared to the EMU 1212m, Xonar, and Titanium HD) I just purchased a X-Fi Titanium HD PCIe for my PC (Upgraded from onboard x-fi), and I have tinkered around a bit with the ASIO features. The quality is BETTER than my UX2 and has a lower latency. But I'm not sure if this card meets my needs. It's not 5.1 like I thought it was and is overpriced for not suiting my needs. If I can find a better ASIO card with better quality and lower latency, I want to return this and switch.

My Setup:

Logitech Z-5500 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers

Intel i7 920 overclocked to 3.2GHZ

Windows 7 64-bit

Cubase 64-bit

Many VSTs and Samples (EWQL Symphonic Orchestra Platinum, Kontakt, etc).

12GB DDR3 Ram (Usually use about 8-10GB when recording).

Toneport UX2 ASIO Box

Thanks guys!

thanks. Yeah, the only EMU card I had been interested in was their newest one (0404 USB 2.0), which was actually discontinued this year. Other than that I was looking at the 1616m.

And 5.1 was just a 'cool thing to use'. My Z-5500 speakers are powered and 5.1 (They do DTS Digital, AC3, and Analog 5.1 as well). It would have been neat to put certain instruments in certain speakers, but it really isn't a need.