Interesting stuff. DJ - have you got that link to the site where they measured 80 MW?

Nvm,I was thinking of the stx the entire time when it came to this subject. I remember now that one website said there wasn't 80 MW into 600 ohms but then another website proved them wrong. I just assumed with the same amp IC, it would be the same, however I hadn't initially realized the output impedance was a lot higher on the zxr...

Adding cheap resisitors to the TI amp chip(safety for lower impedence cans) to cut costs instead of focusing more resources on the power delivery. They didnt want to spend more on active current limiting hardware or protection from shorts. That's only thing I can think of.

If the stx was $199 at launch, then it stands that to include an ACM and a daughter board and extra 5.1 output stage, costs had to be cut somewhere to make it to $249.99. I guess they figured most gamers wouldn't notice the added impedence. As much as I hate Asus xonar line, it seems they cared about their stx quite a bit.

But here's another question, wouldn't the gain settings in the zxr affect total vrms? Or affect output impedance as with other audio sources. If so what's the need to add a crude resistor to the amp?

No worries DJ - yeah, as you point out, with all the extra gubbins the ZxR comes with I'm not surprised they had to make some cutbacks. We know about the ACM module being a bit crap, but it's utility is there. The options for music creators I could do without, as would most of us. Having 5.1 is ofc very useful - but as you said... cutbacks indeed. A paired-down one card solution, with no extra bits would be a winner.
 
Good tech points btw - hopefully somebody can answer them.

So, just a report, been having fun with my Z + K712 listening to "Armchair Apocrypha" by Andrew Bird (great guitar, violin, and vocals), and I was having fun. Noticed a slight improvement when I added my tube amp to the mix, not sure what is better from adding the amp or being able to pump up windows volume setting to max (though I have it at 96%).

I'm about to join AxelCloris and play Borderlands 2 for the first time (also first game with PhysX for me, will also set up OpenAL later!), this should be AWESOME!!!!

Whoa - totally forgot about Borderlands 2!! I want to grab Penumbra as DJ said too... grr.. is their a demo???  LOL - you and Axel -sweet!!

so i have the hd 598 and i also have monitor speakers hooke dup to my desktop which sound card would be best for me?
 
iv been looking at the zxr and the asusxonar st or stx. 

Vince - either or really - they're both practically the same for stereo bar the price - same sound quality. If you're a dedicated gamer, then perhaps swing with the ZxR as it's drivers are better (yes you read that right) and it has better software features including nice microphone support. With the Xonar you will kind of need to DL 3rd party drivers as the propriety Asus drivers suck balls. Both are great cards.
 
Your headphones will be driven easily by both as will your speakers. Tell us how you get on.

salx said:

Whoa - totally forgot about Borderlands 2!! I want to grab Penumbra as DJ said too... grr.. is their a demo???  LOL - you and Axel -sweet!!

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Ya what a difference openal made in borderlands 2. Just awesome.

I really recommend penumbra or amnesia series because the atmosphere will have you creeped out for nights, especially with full 3d sound. Just one of the benefits I love about going from Asus to creative, proper openal support.

I don't think I can handle amnesia games... I am a little girl. That said, there is something about watching YouTube personalities suffering through the games and watching their faces as they freak out ^__^

And yep, borderlands Tee Dubba-Yew Ooooooooh-yeah was a great time, I laughed like a nutjob, and Axel is a pretty chill dude, enjoying the jokes with me even though he's heard them before. Good times.

Is there an OpenAL starter-guide for dummies? Some of my friends just picked up Borderlands 2 so this sound technology interests me.

http://forums.gearboxsoftware.com/showthread.php?t=149923

That's how you switch to openal in borderlands 2.

Generally most games don't need this much tweaking for openal, usually in the options for the game you can choose your audio device. Chose the sbz not generic software as audio and openal should be good to go.

You'll know it works as the sbz panel will turn off sbx Surround when you launch the game.

salx said:

Vince - either or really - they're both practically the same for stereo bar the price - same sound quality. If you're a dedicated gamer, then perhaps swing with the ZxR as it's drivers are better (yes you read that right) and it has better software features including nice microphone support. With the Xonar you will kind of need to DL 3rd party drivers as the propriety Asus drivers suck balls. Both are great cards.
 
Your headphones will be driven easily by both as will your speakers. Tell us how you get on.

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Thanks salx. Would you happen to know if you can connect the computer front audio ports to the zxr? I hate that I always have to hook up my mic through the back right now

O and I think I will be going with the zxr, but not sure if I would use the ACM or the daughter board

vincedea said:

Thanks salx. Would you happen to know if you can connect the computer front audio ports to the zxr? I hate that I always have to hook up my mic through the back right now

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No you can't use the front ports with the zxr, that's why they include the ACM so you don't have to. And to be honest you wouldn't want to. All the extra noise and quality drop from using the front ports kind of negates the benefit of having such a high end card.

And I believe the front port doesn't use the zxrs amp or DAC either but rather the lower quality built in ones of the sound core.

Why don't you just use the ACM for this then?

If you read through the thread, everyone's saying that the ACM destroys audio quality, making it effectively worthless.

That said, I am extremely surprised that Creative no longer offers a 9-pin front panel audio header on the ZxR. The entire X-Fi Titanium line had one!

Maybe I shouldn't be, for Creative neglected to put AC'97 front-panel audio headers on their later PCI cards, perhaps to sell more front-panel audio bays.