ASUS Xonar Essence STX

[Nexo]

Is this ASUS Xonar Essence STX a good sound card? I heard it was really good for headset? Is it also good for speakers and microphones? 

[Osmium]

Don't bother unless your onboard is broken or if you need to drive some high impedance speakers/headphones. It really does nothing for you in terms of sound quality and soundstage.

[Oshino Shinobu]

We're not fans of soundcards here. It will do pretty much exactly what all other soundcards do (make it louder)

[JAKEBAB]

im guessing your headphones won't be to high impedance that your onboard wont be able to handle so get a dac.

[Snazzy]

Only get an soundcard if you need 5.1 or need to drive needier(its a real word right?) headphones but, never buy one for amazing sound quality.

[Stefano]

Although onboard audio has caught up massively in the last couple of years, audio lovers will still choose a sound card over onboard audio. The question is are you willing to spend an extra $200 for slightly better sound quality?

 

If you don't know what to expect from a high quality sound source, go to a HiFi shop and ask to listen to their best gear and compare it to your Smartphone. If you can't hear the difference, a sound card is not for you.

 

If you don't listen to music there isn't any point getting an external sound card.

[dizmo]

The Xonar is supposed to have a pretty nice built in amp, and has an excellent SNR.

If you can get it for a decent price I'd say go for it, but i wouldn't pay retail.

[Nexo]

Is this a good onboard sound. Realtek ALC892 8 Channels

[helping]

Is this ASUS Xonar Essence STX a good sound card? As all are, "meh"  I heard it was really good for headset? For a headset? Absolutely not. Is it also good for speakers and microphones? Speakers don't need a sound card period. Microphone maybe if you're recording or producing content that uses a high quality analogue mic. 

 

 

im guessing your headphones won't be to high impedance that your onboard wont be able to handle so get a dac.

A DAC isn't much use with no amp.

 

Is this a good onboard sound. Realtek ALC892 

If you could include brand and model of motherboard that would be great. But yes it's enough, especially for the likes of speakers or gaming headsets.

[EmoRarity]

An STX could possibly be a good option if your onboard is broken and you have a need to to drive very high impedance headphones, and only high impedance headphones as the STX does have a high output impedance and will mess with your sound quality with anything short of a high impedance pair of headphones. 
Should also be noted that before upgrading to anything more then onboard you should look into upgrading your headphones. 

Only get an soundcard if you need 5.1 or need to drive needier(its a real word right?) headphones but, never buy one for amazing sound quality.

Most modern motherboards (made in the past 5 years) will have 5.1 or higher, so that makes soundcards even more irrelevant.

 

Although onboard audio has caught up massively in the last couple of years, audio lovers will still choose a sound card over onboard audio. The question is are you willing to spend an extra $200 for slightly better sound quality?

 

If you don't know what to expect from a high quality sound source, go to a HiFi shop and ask to listen to their best gear and compare it to your Smartphone. If you can't hear the difference, a sound card is not for you.

 

If you don't listen to music there isn't any point getting an external sound card.

No, "audio lovers" will not choose a soundcard over onboard, not unless they don't know what they are doing. 

[Lauen]

Is this a good onboard sound. Realtek ALC892 8 Channels

Using that myself, sounds exactly the same as my Xonar D2X soundcard. Also, what EmoRarity said.

[EmoRarity]

The Xonar is supposed to have a pretty nice built in amp, and has an excellent SNR.

If you can get it for a decent price I'd say go for it, but i wouldn't pay retail.

SNR is irrelevant after about 90-95ish. 

But the STX is only usefully if your headphones are really high impedance and only if, because of the damping factor.

[Musikman]

You would probably get better return on investment if you went with something from Fiio or the Objective O2.

[Stefano]

An STX could possibly be a good option if your onboard is broken and you have a need to to drive very high impedance headphones, and only high impedance headphones as the STX does have a high output impedance and will mess with your sound quality with anything short of a high impedance pair of headphones. 

Should also be noted that before upgrading to anything more then onboard you should look into upgrading your headphones. 

Most modern motherboards (made in the past 5 years) will have 5.1 or higher, so that makes soundcards even more irrelevant.

 

No, "audio lovers" will not choose a soundcard over onboard, not unless they don't know what they are doing. 

 That person is probably listening to shitty youtube downloads or lossy audio formats such as MP3s. If you are serious about audio you download lossless audio formats such as Flac or Wav files. The listening experiance will improve dramatically to the trained listener. The higher bitrate and the lower noise floor will effect the sound for the better.

 

Ask any audiophile forum and they will tell you the same thing.

[EmoRarity]

 That person is probably listening to shitty youtube downloads or lossy audio formats such as MP3s. If you are serious about audio you download lossless audio formats such as Flac or Wav files. The listening experiance will improve dramatically to the trained listener. The higher bitrate and the lower noise floor will effect the sound for the better.

 

Ask any audiophile forum and they will tell you the same thing.

Any bitrate above about 256 is mostly useless, ask any audio engineer. 

[Stefano]

Any bitrate above about 256 is mostly useless, as any audio engineer. 

Yep, but a product built to work at higher specs will normally work better than one running at the max, as any audio engeneer. 

[helping]

Any bitrate above about 256 is mostly useless, ask any audio engineer. 

Just leave it be.

 

Minimization is a much better policy than absolution. 

[EmoRarity]

Just leave it be.

 

Minimization is a much better policy than absolution. 

Key word mostly. 

[Nexo]

I've decided to just go for the onboard sound.

[helping]

Key word mostly. 

I'm not disagreeing, just saying the continuing with the argument is pointless since there's always going to be those guys. 

[Stefano]

Key word mostly.

Btw, you won't find any audio engeneers working with Realtek onboard audio. They use audio interfaces that cost thousands of dollars.

[Stefano]

I've decided to just go for the onboard sound.

probably the best decision if you're a regular gamer/ music listener.

[Stefano]

I am a regular gamer / music listener and I can tell you that onboard sound is shit, big time.

Thank you, a little bit of support

[EmoRarity]

Btw, you won't find any audio engeneers working with Realtek onboard audio. They use audio interfaces that cost thousands of dollars.

I can name three that don't. 

[helping]

I am a regular gamer / music listener and I can tell you that onboard sound is shit, big time.

I will opt to refute your claim with a simple: no.