The Xonar Essence STX Q/A, tweaking, impressions thread

[leeperry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeperry /img/forum/go_quote.gif BTW, I use foobar in KS w/ foobar...opening IE6 on XP SP3 while playing a track is fine, but w/ firefox3 there's an audible audio blank ?! I've always found FF3 utterly slow to open up, but it's even killing foobar(which runs in high priority)..yes my HDD is defragmented this slow opening time has always been very annoying anyway, but w/ my previous USB soundcard it didn't make any glitch...time to try Safari and Chrome

ok so IE6 never makes any audible glitch, Chrome does make some when I close it and Safari when I open it(just like FF3)...this didn't occur w/ my previous M-Audio USB soundcard.

gonna have to resort to more obscure browsers I guess, like Opera or sumthing

I run foobar in high priority and its thread runs at the highest priority too...I guess the Asus driver doesn't.

EDIT: ok cool, Opera9 doesn't glitch

EDIT2: after 3 days of burn-in, these metal 49720 are leaving me literally

 

[neongod]

Hi, does anyone knows if this sound card has a good tension output and a low impedance on the two main RCA (I don't mind about TRS for the headphones).
I need numbers if it'spossible, I can't find them anywhere.

Thanks

 

[taso89]

Finally some impressions with 3xLME49720's!

These remind me of the iGrados I once owned (and regret selling

though they were uncomfortable as hell). The first thing that comes to mind is: natural. These opamps take "the electronic edge" out of the music, so to say.

The selling point (heh, they were free) is that voices sounded magical, mids become smooth, almost liquidy. Bass did not change in amount, but did become tighter with more attack. Highs are about the same, perhaps a little less fatiguing.

Overall, a very musical opamp that is an absolute pleasure to listen to (both on the line-outs with speakers and yes, even the headphone out that I dreaded just a couple of posts ago).

 

[gurubhai]

changed the 49720NA with 49720HA. Had to trim the legs a bit to fit the shield.
First impression is that the HA version just feels much more musical than NA.

More listening

 

[ROBSCIX]

HA version form National are higher spec and tighter tolerance when fabricating. You could call them Mil Spec (Military Spec)

 

[leeperry]

the measurements between NA and HA are identical, at least from what the datasheets and the National engineer I quoted on the previous page say.

the reason why the metal cans sound better than the NA is apparently unknown...but god, do they sound better!

the low end bass is actually there, and the soundstage is ever so slightly wider and more refined...a freakin' miracle

 

[chinesekiwi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeperry /img/forum/go_quote.gif the measurements between NA and HA are identical, at least from what the datasheets and the National engineer I quoted on the previous page say. the reason why the metal cans sound better than the NA is apparently unknown...but god, do they sound better! the low end bass is actually there, and the soundstage is ever so slightly wider and more refined...a freakin' miracle

Um, the LME49720HA only comes in TO99 doesn't it, so sorry to sound nub but, how did you get it to fit the DIP8 designed opamp spaces?

Got any pics of yours to help maybe?

 

[ROBSCIX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinesekiwi /img/forum/go_quote.gif Um, the LME49720HA only comes in TO99 doesn't it, so sorry to sound nub but, how did you get it to fit the DIP8 designed opamp spaces? Got any pics of yours to help maybe?

They twist the lead to fit in the socket.

The HA designates the TO-99 part for this company. You can get dip8 version and SOIC version also.
The LME49720 has exactly the same specs and measurments as the LM4562 part line. Both opamps have been tested thoroughly since their release. National says the only difference is the part# on the chip.
Some say they hear a difference and some say no. Opinions vary.

 

[leeperry]

@chinesekiwi : I've posted pics on page 10

 

[ROBSCIX]

@chinesekiwi, if your interested in using TO-99 chips get some adapters. Here is the right one for those units: TO-99 to Dip8 Adapter

 

[leeperry]

more connections = less clean signal.

and soldering these things is gonna be tough....but well

that National engineer I quoted also bends TO99 to fit DIP8, let's assume that he knows what he's up to

 

[ROBSCIX]

What do you think you get with the leads hanging out there?
You obvisouly have no electrnoics experience as that would is a definate no-no and worse when considering audio electronics.
You can do it, but there are better ways such as using a adapter and I would bet the signal is much cleaner using the adapter then just poking the leads into the socket and having all the extra lead exposed to EMI/RFI.

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeperry /img/forum/go_quote.gif that National engineer I quoted also bends TO99 to fit DIP8, let's assume that he knows what he's up to

For Quick Testing!! -Let's assume the you can misunderstand anything you quote.
Pushing them into the socket is simply not the right way to do it.
If you don't care that is fine.

If you like them and aren't going to be changing them anymore, install them on those adapters and install the adapters on the STX. Remove the DIP socket altogether.
To trouble with installing them as you suggested is the connection is not solid.
If you want to install them as you suggest, go ahead but understand it is not correct and far from optimal for many reasons.
Your card, do with it as you will.

 

[gurubhai]

using an adapter would have been easier (the soldering should take less than a couple of minutes ). But I was not sure if it still would fit the shield and since the adapters were not available locally so I just decided not to wait and went ahead with HA fitting.
I was very careful though to place the legs in their correct respective positions and not just to poke them.
I think it was worth the effort though unless the audiophile placebo is taking me over

 

[leeperry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX /img/forum/go_quote.gif You obvisouly have no electrnoics experience as that would is a definate no-no and worse

all your base are belong to me

 

[gurubhai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX /img/forum/go_quote.gif HA version form National are higher spec and tighter tolerance when fabricating. You could call them Mil Spec (Military Spec)

I am guessing it means that HA version goes through tighter quality control measures. Is that so?