raymond555
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 30, 2010
- Posts
- 158
- Likes
- 43
Hey guys.
First,sorry for my lame english,just thought I may help anyone who cant decide between those 2 soundcards.
its not professional review,only my 2 cents about the audio experience of the cards.
I came from creative titanium HD,which I used for about 3 years,which was a great card.
First of all,the ZXR PCB and the whole card feels way more robust,the PCB is thicker,and the EMI shield which covers the whole card,not only part of it,make the card feel a lot more steady.
On the other hand,the PCB design of the STX II is a lot more cleaner,while the ZXR looks like a total mass.
Installing both cards is very easy,the only difference is the STX II needs molex power supply connection
The ZXR stock opamps are JRC2114D's for the I\V,and LME49710 for the buffers,while the STX II uses much better MUSES8920 for the I\V,and MUSES8820 for the buffers.
Sound quality:
My speakers are creative gigaworks T3,I've had also Monster Clarity HD model one monitors connected as well,which didnt change my overall impression about the two cards.
To put simply,the creative ZXR have better channel seperation,more "in your face" sound,while the STX II is more musical,more forgiving,more rounded.
No metter What opamp I used in the ZXR(except for the very expensive MUSES02),the bass is just bloated,the highs on heavy rock music is harsh,and I always had the impression that the card is trying too hard.
the best combination I found for the ZXR,which eliminated the bloated bass as much as possible,and softened the highs was MUSES02 in the I\V,and.....signetics NE5534N in the buffers...
that's right,that 25 years old opamp sounded better than any OPA627BP\OPA134\AD797 I've tested in the buffer section.
So,to sum things up,my winner is the Asus STX II,its fun,forgiving,musical,spacious,airy.
Although sometimes I miss the "in your face" presentation of the ZXR,I couldnt get over that annoying bloated bass.
As for those who still use the Creative Titanium HD and thinking to upgrade to the ZXR,I'd say a big NO!
On a side note,the Asus STX II software looks dated and ugly but is more usefull,while the creative ZXR software looks more modern,cleaner and more user friendly but loaded with nonesense.
I didnt had any issues with the drivers from both of them.
Update 26/7/2014
decided to put Muses02 only in the buffers,the sound now is more upfront compared to the muses8820,especially the highs.
warmer,without losing space and air,definitely an improvement.
Update 11/8
The muses01 arrived today,tried 2XMUSES01 in the I\V with MUSES02 in the buffers.
The sound with this combo can only described as disaster.
like someone playing in the toilet.
Next,2XMUSES02 in the I\V with MUSES01 in the buffers.
its like someone turned on a big ass limiter which cuts the sound way to soon.
Final choise,3Xmuses02,at first maybe I thought I was losing space with those,but after giving it another chance,those are definitely the best,and one of the best sounding wise opamp out there for my opinion.(maybe they needed a little burn in)
sound is great with those,so those are my final choise.WINNER!
Update 09/10/14
The AD827SQ arrived today,put them in both the ZXR and then on the STX II,and totally transformed the ZXR into a different beast.
In the ZXR,aside from the overwhelming lower bass,performed way better than the STX II,sound is warmer,punchy,fast,agressive without being offensive,mid bass is awesome,mids are great,trebel are crystal clear and with soft end to them.also stereo direct is great for music.
With the AD827SQ in the I\V in the STX II & Muses02 in the buffers,the sound is natural and cold,spot on,kinda boring and dull.
channel speration improved drastically,from avarage to great,but still not excellent as the ZXR.
After spending time and money
on both cards,I came to the conclution that the 200$ we pay for each of those soundcards,is for the board only,we pay for the basics,and we must replace those ****ty opamps that creative and asus deliever with thier cards.
Now With the AD827SQ,the ZXR rocks,change of heart I guess...
Update 14/11/2014
Just recieved the AD797B for the ZXR buffers.
sound is more rounded,fake,highs are way too soft,details are missing.
Im back to the Signetics 5534N for the buffers,those old opamps simply rock!
forget data sheets and measurements,those one of the best sounding opamps out there when it comes to sound stage,clarity,with warm sound,especially with the AD827SQ in the I\V.
So Im sticking to the ZXR with AD827SQ in the I\V, Signetics 5534N in the buffers,smokes everything I've tried so far.
Update 20/11/2014
Threw some Signetics NE5534N with date codes from 83 instead 87,even better.more musical,warmar.
Just Awesome!!!!
Update:9\24\15
New Discrete Opamps arrived!
The Sparkos Labs SS3602
http://sparkoslabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SS3601_SS3602.pdf
All I can say my dear fellas,is screw all Opamp from TI,Muses,ADI etc
The Sparkos Labs SS3602,Discrete Opamps,are put simply,just amazing.
The sound is very warm,wide and analog,specious without feeling distant Like AD8599 for example,noise and distortion....well there isn't any..
Although expensive,they worth every penny.
Sound is well balanced,without favors to any scale,Bass is tidy and clean,vocals are pleasant,Mids are present without being harsh,the highs are the best I've heard lately from any sound system,crystal clear and soft to the ears,without losing ground.
First I tried them in the I\V section in my Asus STX II,with muses02 in the buffers,while they sounded great and punchy,Asus were dumb enough to share the same screw for the bracket and shield,and since those SS3602 are huge,I had to gave up the shield.
So I went back to the creative ZXR,put them in the I\V,combined with LT1028ACN in the buffers,and compared to the STX,sound is just as great and even maybe more specious and more controlled,just amazing job by sparko's labs.
Finally an Opamp that is true to its meaning and claim,A first class audio Opamp,A new champ,the high claimed Muses02 costs almost the same price,and doesn't deliver half the sound quality of the SS3602.
WELL DONE SPARKO'S LABS,WELL DONE!!!!
update 11\5\15
http://www.head-fi.org/t/728124/asus-stx-ii-vs-creative-zxr/105#post_12053821
First,sorry for my lame english,just thought I may help anyone who cant decide between those 2 soundcards.
its not professional review,only my 2 cents about the audio experience of the cards.
I came from creative titanium HD,which I used for about 3 years,which was a great card.
First of all,the ZXR PCB and the whole card feels way more robust,the PCB is thicker,and the EMI shield which covers the whole card,not only part of it,make the card feel a lot more steady.
On the other hand,the PCB design of the STX II is a lot more cleaner,while the ZXR looks like a total mass.
Installing both cards is very easy,the only difference is the STX II needs molex power supply connection
The ZXR stock opamps are JRC2114D's for the I\V,and LME49710 for the buffers,while the STX II uses much better MUSES8920 for the I\V,and MUSES8820 for the buffers.
Sound quality:
My speakers are creative gigaworks T3,I've had also Monster Clarity HD model one monitors connected as well,which didnt change my overall impression about the two cards.
To put simply,the creative ZXR have better channel seperation,more "in your face" sound,while the STX II is more musical,more forgiving,more rounded.
No metter What opamp I used in the ZXR(except for the very expensive MUSES02),the bass is just bloated,the highs on heavy rock music is harsh,and I always had the impression that the card is trying too hard.
the best combination I found for the ZXR,which eliminated the bloated bass as much as possible,and softened the highs was MUSES02 in the I\V,and.....signetics NE5534N in the buffers...
that's right,that 25 years old opamp sounded better than any OPA627BP\OPA134\AD797 I've tested in the buffer section.So,to sum things up,my winner is the Asus STX II,its fun,forgiving,musical,spacious,airy.
Although sometimes I miss the "in your face" presentation of the ZXR,I couldnt get over that annoying bloated bass.
As for those who still use the Creative Titanium HD and thinking to upgrade to the ZXR,I'd say a big NO!
On a side note,the Asus STX II software looks dated and ugly but is more usefull,while the creative ZXR software looks more modern,cleaner and more user friendly but loaded with nonesense.
I didnt had any issues with the drivers from both of them.
Update 26/7/2014
decided to put Muses02 only in the buffers,the sound now is more upfront compared to the muses8820,especially the highs.
warmer,without losing space and air,definitely an improvement.
Update 11/8
The muses01 arrived today,tried 2XMUSES01 in the I\V with MUSES02 in the buffers.
The sound with this combo can only described as disaster.
like someone playing in the toilet.
Next,2XMUSES02 in the I\V with MUSES01 in the buffers.
its like someone turned on a big ass limiter which cuts the sound way to soon.
Final choise,3Xmuses02,at first maybe I thought I was losing space with those,but after giving it another chance,those are definitely the best,and one of the best sounding wise opamp out there for my opinion.(maybe they needed a little burn in)
sound is great with those,so those are my final choise.WINNER!
Update 09/10/14
The AD827SQ arrived today,put them in both the ZXR and then on the STX II,and totally transformed the ZXR into a different beast.
In the ZXR,aside from the overwhelming lower bass,performed way better than the STX II,sound is warmer,punchy,fast,agressive without being offensive,mid bass is awesome,mids are great,trebel are crystal clear and with soft end to them.also stereo direct is great for music.
With the AD827SQ in the I\V in the STX II & Muses02 in the buffers,the sound is natural and cold,spot on,kinda boring and dull.
channel speration improved drastically,from avarage to great,but still not excellent as the ZXR.
After spending time and money
Now With the AD827SQ,the ZXR rocks,change of heart I guess...
Update 14/11/2014
Just recieved the AD797B for the ZXR buffers.
sound is more rounded,fake,highs are way too soft,details are missing.
Im back to the Signetics 5534N for the buffers,those old opamps simply rock!
forget data sheets and measurements,those one of the best sounding opamps out there when it comes to sound stage,clarity,with warm sound,especially with the AD827SQ in the I\V.
So Im sticking to the ZXR with AD827SQ in the I\V, Signetics 5534N in the buffers,smokes everything I've tried so far.
Update 20/11/2014
Threw some Signetics NE5534N with date codes from 83 instead 87,even better.more musical,warmar.
Just Awesome!!!!
Update:9\24\15
New Discrete Opamps arrived!
The Sparkos Labs SS3602
http://sparkoslabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SS3601_SS3602.pdf
All I can say my dear fellas,is screw all Opamp from TI,Muses,ADI etc
The Sparkos Labs SS3602,Discrete Opamps,are put simply,just amazing.
The sound is very warm,wide and analog,specious without feeling distant Like AD8599 for example,noise and distortion....well there isn't any..
Although expensive,they worth every penny.
Sound is well balanced,without favors to any scale,Bass is tidy and clean,vocals are pleasant,Mids are present without being harsh,the highs are the best I've heard lately from any sound system,crystal clear and soft to the ears,without losing ground.
First I tried them in the I\V section in my Asus STX II,with muses02 in the buffers,while they sounded great and punchy,Asus were dumb enough to share the same screw for the bracket and shield,and since those SS3602 are huge,I had to gave up the shield.
So I went back to the creative ZXR,put them in the I\V,combined with LT1028ACN in the buffers,and compared to the STX,sound is just as great and even maybe more specious and more controlled,just amazing job by sparko's labs.
Finally an Opamp that is true to its meaning and claim,A first class audio Opamp,A new champ,the high claimed Muses02 costs almost the same price,and doesn't deliver half the sound quality of the SS3602.
WELL DONE SPARKO'S LABS,WELL DONE!!!!
update 11\5\15
http://www.head-fi.org/t/728124/asus-stx-ii-vs-creative-zxr/105#post_12053821
