Which Soundcard is Better?

[oimi]

Hey guys,

does anyone know which soundcard is better? The Asus Xonar D2 7.1 Ultra Fidelity 7.1 PCI Soundcard or the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer - Fatal1ty Professional Series Soundcard to be used with Creative Labs Gigaworks S750 7.1-THX, 70 Watts Rms Per Channel 7 Channels 210 Watts Rms Subwoofer?

Thank you,

Shaun Hill.

[MSIC]

Don't know about better (also depends on what factors you want, such as mp3 playing, direct wav sound quality, frequency range etc etc) but this review might help you decide.
Asus Xonar D2 Sound Card - TrustedReviews

[oimi]

Thanks for the response.

I'll be looking to play mp3's, watch movies and play games with the best possible sound quality. What is direct wave sound quality useful for? Recording yourself with a mic? What about frequency range? What would that affect?

I read the review and although it was useful, I am still none-the-wiser.

[0iD]

If you're using Vista X64 I'd avoid the X-Fi as some people using x64 & 4 gb ram have/are epxperiencing driver problems still.

[MSIC]

I mentioned direct wav sound quality as an example of what you might call 'proper' sound quality, as opposed to something that has been enhanced (like the creative x-fi chip does with mp3s). Frequency range relates to the quality of a product of the highest and lowest ends of the audio spectrum, but with either of these products (and since you're talking about home use, not studio use) you'll be fine.

Most people would really aruge that the choice of a modern PC soundcard comes down to a choice between 2 things - playing stereo channel hi-fi type sound, vs multi-channel / gaming sound. Of course most cards can do both things, but some are better than others.

For your needs, i'd go with the Creative X-Fi, but get the Xtreme Music edition
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music and X-Fi Elite Pro - TrustedReviews
Strangely though, i can't find it on Scan, and if memory serves there is something wierd about one of the X-fi editions (the cheapest one i think) that didnt have the true x-fi chip processing. Can anyone else enlighten?

[oimi]

I'm using Vista 32X, with 4GB RAM.

What do you think of the other card?

[MadduckUK]

Strangely though, i can't find it on Scan, and if memory serves there is something wierd about one of the X-fi editions (the cheapest one i think) that didnt have the true x-fi chip processing. Can anyone else enlighten?

thats pretty much it. its the extreme audio - and its x-fi by name only.

[CrazyMonkey]

The 24 Bit Crystalizer in the X-Fi's have done wonder's for my general audio experience especially mp3s.

I have no experience with the Asus cards, but i have two X-Fi's and love them both =]

However, creative's customer support sucks. If Asus Motherboard customer support is anything to go by, you wont have any troubles with Asus.

[No.72]

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK If you want the best mp3 experience then get this. Although Ime not sure DD live works in vista.

[oimi]

I must admit, I wanted to see how you all reacted to this thread.

I already have a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer - Fatal1ty Professional Series Soundcard installed, but I don't feel that it has been doing any justice to my speakers.

I created a thread some time ago regarding the issue I had with my card (http://forums.hexus.net/help-technic...-speakers.html).

This should be an incredible combination, and when the volume is kept down, it is.

However, as soon as you turn the volume up half way, things start to differ. When playing music, there is a variable amount of choppiness (depending on just how loud the speakers have been set to play). The sound is not distorted, so this confuses me. There really is no reason for this to happen, I have tried to fix this issue in numerous ways (to no avail).

Someone else described this problem as the sound being"...very "choppy". Its a rappid cut-in cut-out effect in the surround sound settings". ([TweakNews.net Forum] :: View topic - Sound Blaster X-FI *Drools*)

Although in my case this applies even without having the surround setting settings enabled, even though I can play music louder without surround sound settings enabled before it becomes a problem again.

I have tried the latest Windows Vista drivers for this card and installed the latest version of Creative's Audio Console, but still this is an issue.

I tried installing the drivers suggested in the other thread, this did improve the issue (but didn't get rid of it). I should be able to use these speakers to their full capacity.

[peterb]

Difficult to tell without listening to it - and I don't know those speakers. Are they driven from the analogue output of the soundcard? When you increase the volume, are you increasing the output of the soundcard (from the windows volume control, or increasing the volume on the speakers - the amplifier gain?

From your description, you could be overdriving the speakers (or strictly speaking - the speaker pre-amplifiers.), the trick would be to turn up the amplifier volume to maximum, then adjust the soundcard volume up as high as possible until distortion/choppiness occurs - that is the maximum volume you can get - then adjust to listening volume by using the speaker volume control only.

However, without listening to the output - it is not easy to make a correct diagnosis.

[Betty_Swallocks]

I can't comment on the Asus but I have the original Creative xFi Extreme Music and honestly I've never heard such good sound.
Music, games, everything sounds fantastic,

[oimi]

Peterb, I will try why you have suggested and see what happens.

Thanks.

[oimi]

*Remove Post*

[this_is_gav]

Can't believe the Auzentech Prelude's not been mentioned yet.

It's essentially a Creative XFI with better DACs and it's got to the point where Creative are taking Auzentech's ideas with regard to driver fixes and incorporating them into their own drivers. Its connectivity is expandable to the point of that Auzentech stop making addons and the only thing you're missing is a breakout box.

If I was buying a sound card right now, I wouldn't even stop to consider anything else, and I find breakout boxes infinitely useful.

[godsdog]

Price probably, looking at the original stuff he put down

In that price bracket I'd certainly look at the AUDIOTRAK Prodigy 7.1 HiFi. Excellent card. But if I was going the extra mile it makes sense to get the best of both worlds with the Prelude. ...and it's come down from it's initial mark-up.