Which is better Sound card ASUS XONAR , D2X , STX or any other ??

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anks22402

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Hey all just had some fewquery relating to sound card. My friend wants to purchase new sound card so any advice which one to go for... budget is 8k max not more than that... so which one to go for xonar dx , d2x or STX. he is completly into listening music and movies 90% of the time and very less gaming ... Speakers he has Z5500D and MX5021. He is mainly looking at crystal clear sound clarity.. and not BOOM BOOM..so kindly advice..
 
If its music then STX eyes closed. However looking at the speakers he has, he can safely do away with a Xonar DX as well. :D
 
LOL says who? The card has an onboard DAC which can drive high-end headphones like the HD600/650. You can safely run powered bookshelves with it. But for a Z5500 and MX, the DX is a safe bet.
 
note:: the STX doesnot have 5.1 analog outputs, keep in mind since you say he has a z5500.

I dont think the speakers mentioned deserve anything more than a DX, so +1 to what gannu says
 
again , if you use those speakers, it will be very hard to distinguish between the cards that you mentioned. IF the user is using headphones, or is going for a stereo speaker upgrade, go for the essence STX.
 
I guess the z5500 has optical in.the emu 1212m kills all consumer grade cards when it comes to pure audio quality.
There's a very old thread o mine here with those audio benchmarks,if they matter, but it sounds crystal clear and no card in this budget can take over it.
Cons-only analog 2 in 2out without the expansion dock.
And its not available in india so you gotta get it kmd way.
 
BIKeINSTEIN said:
Xonar DX is enough for a Z5500. :)
If he wants crystal clear music, he can begin by dumping that Z5500 first. :P
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i thought Z5500 was awesome considering the 17k price tag :P
 
Xonar DX is clearly the best bet.

Xonar D2X is just providing 4db SNR higher than Xonar DX on the rear channels. Z5500D isnt just worth the cost of D2X. The user's speakers should at-least be 30k worth, to justify the 8.5k for D2X.

I would have recommended Essense STX if the guy always uses professional headphones (Senn HD580 or higher) or very hi-end 2.1 speakers, which isnt the case, so we dump this option.
 
sato1986 said:
Xonar DX is clearly the best bet.

Xonar D2X is just providing 4db SNR higher than Xonar DX on the rear channels. Z5500D isnt just worth the cost of D2X. The user's speakers should at-least be 30k worth, to justify the 8.5k for D2X.

I would have recommended Essense STX if the guy always uses professional headphones (Senn HD580 or higher) or very hi-end 2.1 speakers, which isnt the case, so we dump this option.
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Wow, excellent recommendations indeed! STX + 2.1, 30k worth speakers and D2X. Keep 'em coming! :hap2:
 
anks22402 said:
m thinking too of changing the speakers and sound card.. like STX AND A5 i guedss that will make a good combo :-)
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Ah. Typical. :) Anks you always get drooled into upgrading your already kickass setup into a bling bling hi-end one. :P
Hence, its highly probable you will give your Xonar DX to your friend and buy yourself a Essence STX :hap2:
A similar fate for your MX-5021 too...
 
Hey i am using xonar dx with z5500 from last 6 months and the output is awesome , way too good then onboard sound . For the z5500 the dx2 would be waste of money . Only difference between dx and dx2 as far as i know is that dx2 decodes doulby digital which you dont need with z5500 since it does its own .( some1 correct me if i am wrong )

Only problem that i faced with dx is that when i connect my headphones the sound is not as expected , i dont know , it is just me or my headphones (she9550 ) . Dont get me wrong here , the headphones sound good but comparing to how it sounds with my friends STX setup it lacks little oomph but for z5500 they rock with it

BTW, I'm running the Z5500's through the Digital out and the she9550 are plugged directly into the Xonar. I've found the z5500 control pod headphone jack is lacking power ...
 
rohan_mhtr said:
Hey i am using xonar dx with z5500 from last 6 months and the output is awesome , way too good then onboard sound . For the z5500 the dx2 would be waste of money . Only difference between dx and dx2 as far as i know is that dx2 decodes doulby digital which you dont need with z5500 since it does its own .

...
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I think it does dts encoding too.
 
sato1986 said:
Xonar DX is clearly the best bet.

Xonar D2X is just providing 4db SNR higher than Xonar DX on the rear channels. Z5500D isnt just worth the cost of D2X. The user's speakers should at-least be 30k worth, to justify the 8.5k for D2X.

I would have recommended Essense STX if the guy always uses professional headphones (Senn HD580 or higher) or very hi-end 2.1 speakers, which isnt the case, so we dump this option.
Click to expand...

no doubt Xonar DX is actually vanilla version of D2X D2x has DTS, better Dolby Digital capabilities, more SPDIF options

further D2X can encode the sound it receives from the computer to DTS or DD streams, and output them via SPDIF , to be hooked up to your Home Theatre

Therefore you can watch movies or games etc on your PC with any audio stream, & can hear the surround sound of your games on your home theater.

Also dont think difference is only rear SNR ratings. Chk the link
Asus' Xonar DX sound card - The Tech Report - Page 1
Bottom line : if you are not a big enthusiast stick to DX its a Fabulous card. Has no flashyness (read the back lighting etc) and is also leaner version of D2X. And for the price is best on VFM scale.
However if u wanna something future upgrade proof D2X is way ahead
 
@antz: The DX also has DDL encoding, not DTS Connect though. It can also passthough DD/DTS/AC3 as any digital out solution can. :)
 
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