New Sound Card - £85

[Mattbot2]

So, seeing as I have a nice pair of headphones, I've been using the on-board sound card to drive them, and whilst they sound decent, I've heard they can sound a lot better with a good sound card.

Right now it's a choice between the Asus Xonar D2 or the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium, both can be had for £83.99.

Which one do I pick?

[Terbinator]

I have the D2X which is just the PCI-e version of the D2 AFAIK and it's really top notch tbh. I don't think there is much price difference between the D2/D2X if you need/prefer PCI over PCI-e or vice versa.

The drivers are reliable as well which is more than can be said for the Creative offerings from what I've read.

[Siuko]

I would go with the Xonar!

I cannot remember exactly which one I got (probably the cheap one) but I know its been great and I've never had any problems with it...

As for creative... well... less the said about them the better

[Mattbot2]

Yeah the D2X is what I meant >.<, will go for that then I think

[c.ruel]

If you just plan on using headphones then a xonar DG is probably best. It is the cheapest card in asus's range but is the only one with an onboard AMP other than the 100+ quid ones. I am very pleased with it, I would certainly read up on that card because, then you can just spend 30 odd quid get a decent soundcard and pocket the other 50.

It is particularly good for games but I have also found it surprisingly good for music playback as well ... which is a nice added bonus for the 23 odd quid i payed for it!

[Mattbot2]

If you just plan on using headphones then a xonar DG is probably best. It is the cheapest card in asus's range but is the only one with an onboard AMP other than the 100+ quid ones. I am very pleased with it, I would certainly read up on that card because, then you can just spend 30 odd quid get a decent soundcard and pocket the other 50.

It is particularly good for games but I have also found it surprisingly good for music playback as well ... which is a nice added bonus for the 23 odd quid i payed for it!

I've already got a pretty nice Hi-Fi unit which powers them, so ideally want something with optical out to the Hi-Fi.

[Terbinator]

I've already got a pretty nice Hi-Fi unit which powers them, so ideally want something with optical out to the Hi-Fi.

In which case if your on-board audio has optical out use that, otherwise you would be buying a soundcard for no reason what so ever as the processing would be done by your Hi-Fi, not a shiny new soundcard.

[Mattbot2]

In which case if your on-board audio has optical out use that, otherwise you would be buying a soundcard for no reason what so ever as the processing would be done by your Hi-Fi, not a shiny new soundcard.

I guess the question is, which would process it better?

[Terbinator]

I guess the question is, which would process it better?

Without knowing the specifics of your HiFi that would be hard to know. OTOH, if you wanted the Xonar to process it you would have to buy some speakers/headset to plug into the card itself.

fun and games

[kalniel]

I guess the question is, which would process it better?

Your hi-fi will usually process better than a soundcard, unless it's a very bad hi-fi (low-fi?) and/or a very good soundcard.

[Mattbot2]

Without knowing the specifics of your HiFi that would be hard to know. OTOH, if you wanted the Xonar to process it you would have to buy some speakers/headset to plug into the card itself.

fun and games

Could I not just plug my current headphones into it? Standard 3.5mm jack?

Your hi-fi will usually process better than a soundcard, unless it's a very bad hi-fi (low-fi?) and/or a very good soundcard.

Well it was around £350 8 years ago. Sony CMT-PX333, it's got enough juice to drive the headphones but I just don't know if it will be better at DAC than the sound card.