[doomgnu]

Quote:

 
In the first post it is said that the Xonar STX supports GX 2.0, and ASUS states this on their website:
However, with the latest driver, on Windows 7 x64, I got this:
 

 
Can somebody give some insight into this?
 

 
 
it seems it could have something to do whit fact that you have windows 7 and not Vista. That quote you posted says that support under vista. But there is no reason why there shouldn’t be DX 2.5 under win 7. I have it when companys give you less than promised.

 

[maarek99]

Does the LME49990 need an adapter or will it fit right in?

 

[audiofreak81]

It needs an adaptor, its a single soic when the card takes dual's. The cheapest way to get them is through the ebay link I posted. Or just buy an adapter and the 49990's and solder them yourself. They are tiny though and my hands shake, too scared to do it myself.

 

[audiofreak81]

You will need 2 per adapter, which is six total 49990's. Trust me, they are only half the size of the dual's, its better to buy them already done, and the guy that built them did an excellent job soldering them, its well worth it.

 

[wushuliu]

Replacing the ST clock w/ Vanguard elevates performance. Everyone should do it, even if they have to pay someone. Holds its own with any of the <$500 Dacs I have heard (speaking about line out) or digital out like Audio-GD DI, V-link etc - and does some things a whole lot better.

 

[Staal]

This has probably been asked countless times, but as I'm looking into a new desktop source at the moment, I was wondering how well the Xonar Essence STX fares against standalone DAC-boxes.
 
What does the DAC section of this compare to, and would I be getting more bang for the buck this way rather than buying a standalone DAC?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

This has probably been asked countless times, but as I'm looking into a new desktop source at the moment, I was wondering how well the Xonar Essence STX fares against standalone DAC-boxes.
What does the DAC section of this compare to, and would I be getting more bang for the buck this way rather than buying a standalone DAC?

You might want to look at it this way.
If you want headphone (7.1 & 5.1 channel) surround sound for movies and games, get the Essence STX, $180.
If all you really want is music, Stereo (2.0 channel) sound for movies and games, then you can go with an external (USB?)/DAC/headphone amplifier, $80 or more.
 
Fiio E9 & Fiio "D" series DAC $130
 
Objective 2 portable headphone amplifier and Fiio "D" series DAC, $185.
 
 
 

 

[wushuliu]

Stock form compares well to HRT Streamer II+, V-DAC. It does certain things very well and other things not so well in my experience. Once you ditch the output caps, swap opamps, and replace the clock then it holds its own against VDAC II, Dacport LX, and even the DACiT. The thing to keep in mind is different Dacs do different things well. Some are smoother, some really wide soundstage, some are very refined. It doesn't help that there are a million of them now. So you have to just demo what you can and decide. Amazon carries most of these Dacs now so you don't have to worry about return hassle.
 
That said, the ST/X is still worth the cost even w/ external dac because it eliminates the need for a usb/spdif converter, which can be a whole other expensive merry-go-round for some and performs better than the ones I've used (as mentioned in previous post).
 
 
 
 

 

[repman244]

Just got 2 x LME49860 and I must say that I am shocked at how much difference it makes. The instrument separation, the tight bass and much more pleasant sound to my ears.

 

[ROBSCIX]

Quote:

Just got 2 x LME49860 and I must say that I am shocked at how much difference it makes. The instrument separation, the tight bass and much more pleasant sound to my ears.

Yep, the LME49860's are pretty good amps.  Simply put, the various opamps are like flavors and you will like some flavors more then others and your tastes will differ from others.
 

 

[repman244]

 
Quote:

Yep, the LME49860's are pretty good amps.  Simply put, the various opamps are like flavors and you will like some flavors more then others and your tastes will differ from others.
 

Yea, I was thinking about ordering a few others to try and find nice sound, but for now I'm very pleased.

 

[ROBSCIX]

Quote:

 


Yea, I was thinking about ordering a few others to try and find nice sound, but for now I'm very pleased.

That's the trick, to enjoy what the new opamps provide.  Some people get into swapping opamps so much that they put the actual enjoyment of their sound system second.  Not to mention that it takes awhile for your ears/brain to get used to a new signature also so quick A/B changes don't really work well here.

 

[xShinBoi]

hi, I just wondering what op-amp should I use with my current setup...Asus Xonar Essence STX --> RudiStor NX-03 --> AKG K701

just bought few op-amps...

LME49720NA x3
LME49720HA x3
LME49860NA x3
LT1364CN8 x2
LT1358CN8 x2

stock op-amps..

JRC2114D x2
LM4562
 
prefer neutral sounding..

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

hi, I just wondering what op-amp should I use with my current setup...Asus Xonar Essence STX --> RudiStor NX-03 --> AKG K701
just bought few op-amps...
LME49720NA x3
LME49720HA x3
LME49860NA x3
LT1364CN8 x2
LT1358CN8 x2
stock op-amps..
JRC2114D x2
LM4562
prefer neutral sounding..

I'm going to guess the stock op-amps (JRC2114/LM4562) are the most neutral.
 
 
 

 

[ROBSCIX]

Do some experiments with the opamps.