FiiO E7/E9, Xonar STX, or X-fi Titanium HD? - Page 3

I find it hard to believe that a little $100 dac like the e7 performs better than a high end sound card like the titanium HD. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by BababooeyHTJ 

I find it hard to believe that a little $100 dac like the e7 performs better than a high end sound card like the titanium HD. 

Are there any reliable and detailed measurements of the Titanium HD available somewhere ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BababooeyHTJ 

What games do you use cmss-3d for then? I really think that the cons out-weigh the pros with cmss-3d most of the time. I also have my doubts about the whole setting windows to 5.1. What are you trying to trick the driver or the game. If the game has their own software audio engine as you put it and thats whats handling the positional audio why would it matter what windows is set to? IDK I have my doubts on the whole theory behind that. I've been known to be wrong but I've yet to have someone explain why that would make a difference. 

That really is how modern games with software audio engines are doing things now - they look at the windows speaker setup to find out how to mix the sound.  

http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=96663

The article applies to the X-Fi cards with headphone use as well, same process.

I think you should try changing the speaker setup in windows.  It might change your tune about CMSS-3D with modern games.  

Thanks for the link, I didn't know that recommendation came straight from Creative. I did just try it out and I still really don't like that muffled sound that CMSS-3d provides. IDK, maybe I'll play around with THX trustudio. I didn't find that to be as bad. 

I still like using normal stereo mode for gaming. For me its the most immersive experience I still find the positional audio good enough for my purposes in the games that I play. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mephiska 

That really is how modern games with software audio engines are doing things now - they look at the windows speaker setup to find out how to mix the sound.  

 

http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=96663

 

The article applies to the X-Fi cards with headphone use as well, same process.

 

I think you should try changing the speaker setup in windows.  It might change your tune about CMSS-3D with modern games.  

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mephiska 

Yeah I'm planning on doing just this when the E17 is out.    So using the S/PDIF output the X-Fi should only do the DSP effects and the E17 will be used as the DAC, correct?

Correct.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by BababooeyHTJ 

I find it hard to believe that a little $100 dac like the e7 performs better than a high end sound card like the titanium HD. 

He said "X-Fi Titanium", no HD. I take it that he means the entry-level X-Fi Titanium, with the many 3.5mm jacks on its back for analog 7.1 (as opposed to the Titanium HD's RCA jacks for stereo in and out, the inputs of which are also mini-Toslink in and out) and without the EMI shield all the higher-end cards have. In that case, I can understand any audible improvements, since the components used aren't the same grade as those on the Titanium HD and the Auzentech cards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BababooeyHTJ 

I find it hard to believe that a little $100 dac like the e7 performs better than a high end sound card like the titanium HD. 

Your right it doesnt...i have had both!