[ShindoSama]

After Having little to no help on other forums I decided it's best to just ask the pros here 

  so here's the straight link to what I wrote.
 
I love listening to high quality music and surround gaming. I'm not sure which way to go because I'm a headphone junkie but both seem pretty good for that. With software such as Razer surround wouldn't the Phoebus be obsolete as far as virtual surround goes? Does the technology that the phoebus use have superior virtual surround compared to everything on the market? Talking statistically the STX has 4 time the quality of the Phoebus. While looking for sound cards I also stumbled upon this: 

http://www.newegg.co...Item=N82E168...

wouldn't this be better than both because it has superior sound quality along with virtual surround sound? I too heard that the Phoebus has poor drivers so it won't make full use of the quality. With all these aside having surround will make it worth it for me, as all of those sound cards are miles better than any onboard audio. Can I have anyone's thoughts on this?

TL;DR Asus Phoebus or STX and why? wouldn't this card be the best out of either two:http://www.newegg.co...Item=N82E168...

Thanks!
 
~Shindo
 
Just a note to ask head-fi (I hate how there's a colored background even after pasting the text): compared to onboard sound the phoebus does have much superior sound quality correct? Since it uses better technologies than virtual surround software, just from assumption, there must be a reason why both cards are priced the same but one has much better quality. Any help to just choose between the two? Much thanks! 

 

[MrTechAgent]

Seriously bro ?

 

[ShindoSama]

Quote:

Seriously bro ?

Help a noob out!

 

[soundsculpture]

there are entry level products. like xonar dg which is very good.

 

[ShindoSama]

Quote:

there are entry level products. like xonar dg which is very good.

Yeah, but do any have virtual surround support? I use a turtle beach dss2 for a while and I can attest that it's not as gimmicky as one might think, it actually works! with that said; I'm not exactly sure how those two cards fare in competition with other sound cards. 

 

[soundsculpture]

STX is one of the best!

 

[ShindoSama]

Ok, and as far as surround goes; would something like razer surround be just as good as the phoebus? Thanks so much for replying! 

 

[soundsculpture]

Razer Surround must be much better than turtle beach. turtle beach is way(20 years ago) too loud and bad sounding.
 

 

[ShindoSama]

hmm, reading up on some posts the Phoebus has some exclusive integrated sound technologies that provide better surround than software such as razer surround. coming from onboard, would the Phoebus still give me a great music listening experience, along with immersive gaming? I'm not a music professional by any means but I really appreciate great sound. 

 

[PurpleAngel]

I would think the Essence STX's would be more stable.
Asus has had a lot more time to perfect the STX drivers, compared to the Phoebus.
 
An Xonar DX or D1 sound card paired with an external headphone amplifier like the Schiit Magni, might be an option for you.