External Sound Card (Anyone use this?) - Page 7

alyy8128 · 25th Apr 2008, 01:07 PM

I think it depend on your budget lah. Xonar DX2 is really the price of Xonar DX times 2.

Chai · 25th Apr 2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alyy8128

Anyway, the onborad sound chip also consume the CPU power, which will affect the overall computer processing speed. Somemore, onboard have higher noise level (typical -85db compared to -100++db for soundcard). If you have a good speakers, you tend to notice the small small noise.

It is only true if you are playing a lot of hardware accelerated 3D sound.

There's no point spending so much money unless you are really willing to spend. DX is more than sufficient IMO.

Lacus · 25th Apr 2008, 09:04 PM

Well, sometimes it is possible to get bargain on certain soundcard..Thats why i can't decide..

Hmm, too bad...Asus Donar DX is not out here yet -_-"...

jasperchc · 25th Apr 2008, 09:27 PM

hmm... do most people who purchase a good external sound card use them on laptop? built in speaker are usually crap and good speaker are usually too bulky, are external sound card really any use? maybe for those pairing it with some good headphone?

ZuePhok · 25th Apr 2008, 09:35 PM

well, with vista, it doesnt really matter anymore does it? apart from better hard converter..

streams are handled by the revamped audio stack. you should be very happy with it.

Chai · 25th Apr 2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZuePhok

well, with vista, it doesnt really matter anymore does it? apart from better hard converter..

streams are handled by the revamped audio stack. you should be very happy with it.

We have been buying because of better hard converters. Enthusiasts have been using ASIO or kernal streaming to bypass kmixer for years, despite Windows XP's limitation, it has never been an issue for most people.

Papercut · 26th Apr 2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chai

I would say everything is important, source is just as important. A good set of speakers will show your weakness of sound card.

Persoally I feel that the speakers/headphones are still the most important and thus the most money should go towards that, and then followed by the amp and source. You would think that my cheapo Chaintech AV-710 would be the weak point in my system but it holds up really well and I honestly couldn't discern any improvement between it and a Zero DAC

Digerati · 26th Apr 2008, 03:57 PM

Trust me, right now, and especially if you use Vista, the ASUS Xonar DX is the best buy! Also, you get EAX 5 without all the troubles of Alchemy as the software does it all. Yes, performance in games is lower than the X-Fi's but we're talking about a frame or two in difference. Unless you're playing your games on < 20 FPS, those frames are not going to make a difference. Modern processors can handle the extra work for sound.

Lacus · 26th Apr 2008, 11:53 PM

And yes, I do use Vista =/..I think i'll decide once the DX card is released here

. Maybe it's due to too many Creative products i own at the moment

Chai · 27th Apr 2008, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papercut

Persoally I feel that the speakers/headphones are still the most important and thus the most money should go towards that, and then followed by the amp and source. You would think that my cheapo Chaintech AV-710 would be the weak point in my system but it holds up really well and I honestly couldn't discern any improvement between it and a Zero DAC

That is because of most are not using decent speakers/headphones.

25th Apr 2008, 01:07 PM	#61 (permalink)
alyy8128 Just Started Join Date: 22 Jan 2006 Location: Senai Johor Posts: 64 Reputation: 12 Rep Power: 0	I think it depend on your budget lah. Xonar DX2 is really the price of Xonar DX times 2. __________________ 愿：世界和平

25th Apr 2008, 09:27 PM	#64 (permalink)
jasperchc Active Join Date: 25 Aug 2005 Location: Kuching, MY Posts: 542 Reputation: 48 Rep Power: 4	hmm... do most people who purchase a good external sound card use them on laptop? built in speaker are usually crap and good speaker are usually too bulky, are external sound card really any use? maybe for those pairing it with some good headphone? __________________ "There is nothing to fear but fear itself" (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

25th Apr 2008, 09:35 PM	#65 (permalink)
ZuePhok Hold me back! I can't stop posting!!! Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Floating Island Of Mandango Posts: 8,497 Reputation: 2724 Rep Power: 41	well, with vista, it doesnt really matter anymore does it? apart from better hard converter.. streams are handled by the revamped audio stack. you should be very happy with it. __________________ DYKT: Our DNA can expired? Thank god my science class wasn't taught by Pak Lah

25th Apr 2008, 09:04 PM	#63 (permalink)
Lacus Active Join Date: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 660 Reputation: 128 Rep Power: 2	Well, sometimes it is possible to get bargain on certain soundcard..Thats why i can't decide.. Hmm, too bad...Asus Donar DX is not out here yet -_-"...

26th Apr 2008, 03:57 PM	#68 (permalink)
Digerati Just Started Join Date: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 45 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Trust me, right now, and especially if you use Vista, the ASUS Xonar DX is the best buy! Also, you get EAX 5 without all the troubles of Alchemy as the software does it all. Yes, performance in games is lower than the X-Fi's but we're talking about a frame or two in difference. Unless you're playing your games on < 20 FPS, those frames are not going to make a difference. Modern processors can handle the extra work for sound.

26th Apr 2008, 11:53 PM	#69 (permalink)
Lacus Active Join Date: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 660 Reputation: 128 Rep Power: 2	And yes, I do use Vista =/..I think i'll decide once the DX card is released here . Maybe it's due to too many Creative products i own at the moment