Asus Xonar

[sonci]

HI Everybody
Well, I'm thinking of building a new pc(Totally passive). I usually use my pc for music, xFI(Plat)---Denon Amplif-----A pair of B&W speakers.
I'd like to change my soundcard and I've read some good reviews about the E-MU1212M (I use winxP), but dont you think is a little out of time?
What about the Xonar DX2, it uses the TI Burr-Brown and Cirrus-Logic converters, which are used in some high end cd plyers(Rotel, Nad, etc.)
I'm interested only in the sound quality, not in EAX or multichannel stuff.
Does anyone have any experience with the sound of the Xonar?
Thanks

 

[sonci]

I usually use winamp Asio output on bit-matched playback(xfi audio creation mode). Do you think in this case the sound from the EMU will be the same as the xfi, since in bitmatched they dont convert sample rates, or I am just saying smth stupid.

 

[infinitesymphony]

All of the cards you're talking about are capable of bit-perfect output, but that doesn't reveal anything about how they'll sound--it just means that they won't degrade the audio data. Both the E-MU 1212M and the Asus Xonar should be good cards.

 

[magnetiq]

I can confirm that is is brilliant.

im not sure if it's the burr-brown chips, but it's the most musical sounding soundcard i've tried (i've gone through a lot), and definitely the warmest.

 

[sonci]

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnetiq /img/forum/go_quote.gif I can confirm that is is brilliant. im not sure if it's the burr-brown chips, but it's the most musical sounding soundcard i've tried (i've gone through a lot), and definitely the warmest.

Which version do you have, pci express(D2X) or the pci? Everybody say they are the same, but the D2X seems overpriced.

 

[magnetiq]

i went for the PCI because it was cheaper, i heard they are the same but i cant say for sure.

one word of advice, drivers were a real pain for me (WinXP SP2), they just didnt work. So i had to go to the ASUS message board and ask for help where someone posted the newest drivers, which required you to rename some parts of .ini. Straight-forward but could have been avoided, and very screwing annoying.

might have been sorted out now though, or you might not have a problem at all, but just wanted to state what happened to me. Awesome soundcard though.

 

[terrymx]

If you are meaning to buy a sound card for gaming purpose, I would highly recommending avoiding the EMU 1212M at all cost, even though it is one my favorite sound card, it is not designed for games.

I just want to mention Razor made their own Barracuda sound card for the same competition, with the shielding stuff and uses AKM chip, it bench pretty well too in the test. It is cheaper and uses optical out instead. (I just found out there is a seperate thread about it.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonci /img/forum/go_quote.gif Which version do you have, pci express(D2X) or the pci? Everybody say they are the same, but the D2X seems overpriced.

My honest opinion at the risk of offending others, I think they are overpriced because they are marketed for the 'high end gamers'.

 

[magnetiq]

the xonar isn't marketed for 'high-end gamers'.

and has optical out too?

 

[sonci]

Yes, I think if someone want pure EAX or a powerful processor, he should go for the xfi or prelude.
Unfortunately, even with ASIO and bit matched I dont like the sound of my Xfi(not Elite), sometimes (not kidding) I feel the nforce2 onboard sound is better(Soundstorm).