Q701's and xonar STX or creative ZX sound card
Dec 25, 2012 at 1:27 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 11

Sharp-Shooter

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Hello im looking to purchase the Q701's for myself, i just have a question with the Xonar STX or the creative ZX sound card be enough to power these headphones to a point where i would be able to enjoy the sound quality coming out for gaming, the reason why i ask is because when i read about these headphones some are saying Xonar STX work GREAT with these headphones alone, and some are saying i will need a dedicated amp to enjoy it, i dont wanna shell out 500 bucks to have the headphones unproperly powered and get poor sound...

so to make things simple, will a xonar work straight with Q701's? or should i get the Q701's with an E9K(or similar) amp instead
 
Dec 25, 2012 at 1:54 PM Post #4 of 11
thank you zal, so just to be sure getting one of these sound cards will power th Q701 alone without any external amp what so ever and i will be able to really enjoy the sound in games, i really hope so!

i will post again when i pick them up some time, not just to look into whether to get an STX, titanium, or a ZX-ZXR
 
 
Dec 25, 2012 at 2:21 PM Post #5 of 11
i have a xonar st- it has a headphone amp which can power up to 600 ohm headphones. i use it for gaming daily
 
Dec 26, 2012 at 1:06 AM Post #7 of 11
I am always baffled on how people seem to think the software distortions make for a better gaming experience. 
 
Get the magni and modi. Your headphones are 2.1. Get the best 2.1 experience and leave it at that. That is what I have done, and I can hear things around me in game just fine.
 
Dolby and all the fancy positioning software just adds echo to give you the impression of a really big sound stage, and from that the software tires to introduce surround sound. (at least that is how the asus essence cards would work).
 
Look, I have the STX card, and a dedicated dac/amp. I can game on both just fine, and the amp/dac (no part number since they are custom built) sound a lot better.
 
Stick with the magni/modi and never look back.  
 
Dec 26, 2012 at 2:57 AM Post #8 of 11
Quote:
ourfpshero what headphones do you use with your sound card? the ST and the STX is almost the same, one is PCI, other is PCI-E

Just get the Essence STX (PCI-E), it's cheaper.
My Essence STX can drive my 600-Ohm headphones and the Q701' are 62-Ohms(?).
 
Try asking at this link about amping the Q701.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/582276/q701-appreciation-thread
 
Dec 26, 2012 at 8:13 AM Post #9 of 11
Quote:
ourfpshero what headphones do you use with your sound card? the ST and the STX is almost the same, one is PCI, other is PCI-E

i have used many different headphones with the xonar st. currently using a hifiman he-300 and an audio technica ath-a900x
 
Dec 26, 2012 at 9:28 AM Post #10 of 11
My set is Xonar STX+ Q701/HD650 and I can say that they are running very well. I do not have any external amps to compare but I am very satisfied with the sound quality coming from my sound card.
 
Dec 28, 2012 at 4:03 PM Post #11 of 11
In my personal experience, I would go for the Creative Zx.
X-Fi has some great technologies. As you now know, the new technology used in this is SBX. However I must point out, this is still new(ish). By what I've been reading it's a really good.

Both the STX and Zx produce enough power to drive up to 600 Ohm Impedance Headsets and are both great, but I do think that the STX is pointed more towards true Music Lovers and not really gamers.
 
At the end of the day it's up to you.
 

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