20K for Audio Only - Can I better ASUS Xonar Essence STX + AudioEngine A2?

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Infected

Infected

Herald
Hi,

Firstly my number one priority is Clean and Crisp output
I listen to all kinds of Music, play some games, and watch a lot of movies.

Currently I have a Audigy 2 ZS + Inspire 7.1. But it is just not cutting it anymore of music at all, I just feel there is a lot missing out with the Inspire.

I don't really fancy a 5.1, yeah surround sound is great for games and all, but I prefer clean music over a Surround Sound and I hate dealing with a lot of wires after using the 7.1. I live in a rented place so can't really hide the wires easily is another major concern of a surround option. Even with a 7.1 for years I have never really connected all 7 speakers for long and most of the time jus used it as a 5.1 as I was not really impressed.

I have auditioned the BOSE Companion 2, and I really think they are crap as well, sorry BOSE fans, they just dont cut it for me. A friend of mine here has them, but I just think the sound is nothing close to how it should be, not crisp and clear at all, if you know what I mean.

Now, I am settled on this Combo of Xonar Essence STX/ST + AudioEngine A2.
Is this the best I can get in my budget?

Any one using this setup please comment,
Otherwise also please share your comments and concerns.

Thanks a lot
Cheers,
Nanu
 
For a 20K budget, i strongly suggest Audio Engine A5 + whatever good sound card you can buy in the left over money. If you can bump the budget to 22.5, you can get a good enough Xonar sound card for around 5K. The A5's are a lot better than A2, its not just more volume, but even the sound stage, bass , mid and high freq response is clean and very well defined. A5s will last you for 5 years easily. While you will grow out of the A2 in almost 6 months. I have both of these.

I have combined A5's with M-Audio Dio 2496 and am enjoying every bit of it.

You can look at a bookshelf speakers + amp combo in that budget. However, it will need more space and will add to the wire clutter a bit, but in return you will get more control over the sound reproduction. A5 does not give bass or treble control. While a separate amp will allow you to tweak it up a bit.

I suggest you get a demo of A5
Infected said:
Hi,

Firstly my number one priority is Clean and Crisp output
I listen to all kinds of Music, play some games, and watch a lot of movies.

Currently I have a Audigy 2 ZS + Inspire 7.1. But it is just not cutting it anymore of music at all, I just feel there is a lot missing out with the Inspire.

I don't really fancy a 5.1, yeah surround sound is great for games and all, but I prefer clean music over a Surround Sound and I hate dealing with a lot of wires after using the 7.1. I live in a rented place so can't really hide the wires easily is another major concern of a surround option. Even with a 7.1 for years I have never really connected all 7 speakers for long and most of the time jus used it as a 5.1 as I was not really impressed.

I have auditioned the BOSE Companion 2, and I really think they are crap as well, sorry BOSE fans, they just dont cut it for me. A friend of mine here has them, but I just think the sound is nothing close to how it should be, not crisp and clear at all, if you know what I mean.

Now, I am settled on this Combo of Xonar Essence STX/ST + AudioEngine A2.
Is this the best I can get in my budget?

Any one using this setup please comment,
Otherwise also please share your comments and concerns.

Thanks a lot
Cheers,
Nanu
Click to expand...
 
The thing is I dont know a place to Demo the A5's in Pune...

And I am not sure if it is possible to do so in Mumbai either...
 
try silo media (aquarius electronics is the new name on East Street inside the building that houses karims retaurant) - they have both. Also you can give a shot to AVxellance on Bund Garden Road. let me know if you are going sometime - I know both the dealers well - can get you a small discount over prevailign prices (small means small since I work in the It industry and not related to any of theri businesses)
 
A5 was on demo in Sumaria Es store in Mahim last I knew. Maybe give them a call?

The A5 is much, much better than the A2, which I didn't like at all due to the exceedingly fat midbass hump that Audioengine put in it to compensate for the small size of the speaker. The A5 is much more accurate, even if a step away from the entry-level studio monitors you can find for a little more. For 20K or thereabouts the A5+Xonar DX is a good combination, The STX lends itself to slightly better downstream components and is overkill for either the A2 or A5.

Good luck!
 
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