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Suitable sound card replacement.

Bubben
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http://us.store.creative.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-XFi-Titanium-PCI/M/B001E25KDK.htm

I've been using this creative sound card for a few years now, and I'm looking for an excuse to get rid of it (I'm fed up with software problems). I'd still have to imagine that it floors any integrated solution(?) so what would be a suitable replacement?  

 

I currently use it with a stereo receiver which unfortunately doesn't support any digital/optical input, but the analog audio sounds good enough to me.

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I'm using the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132053'>ASUS Xonar DSX 7.1 and loving it! It's only $59.99 before rebates. I quit using Creative Labs sound cards after all the issues I had back on Vista and their poor driver support. Plus, they drop support for devices just as fast as they put out new products. Customer Support was worse than their drivers... at least in my case.

MOBO - Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0   CPU - AMD Phenom II X6 1055T @ 3.5GHz - Corsair H80i   RAM - 2x Corsair Vengence 4GB DDR3 @ 1666 MHz   

GPU - SAPPHIRE 100362-3L Radeon R9 290 4GB Tri-X OC  Sound - ASUS Xonar DSX  PSU - Thermaltake SMART M Series SP-850M 850W

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I'm using the ASUS Xonar DSX 7.1 and loving it! It's only $59.99 before rebates. I quit using Creative Labs sound cards after all the issues I had back on Vista and their poor driver support. Plus, they drop support for devices just as fast as they put out new products. Customer Support was worse than their drivers... at least in my case.

What's your use case?

 

I remember when Creative was a decent brand, but they've fallen far since then.

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What chipset IS your onboard?  It might not be as bad as you think.

"Pardon my French but this is just about the most ignorant blanket statement I've ever read. And though this is the internet, I'm not even exaggerating."

 

 

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I'd take a HRT music streamer over any sound card.

 

but if onboard sounds good enough for you don't change it.

all you will need is a 1/8" > rca adapter to hook it up to your receiver.

Will work for electronic components and parts


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Read again.

 

Guessing you use more speakers than headphones?

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I suppose it's going to be the 'Realtek ALC1150' (asus z87 pro/expert). I doubt that it'll be anything to put in the christmas tree.

 

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pc-based/237049-realtek-alc1150-audio-codec-115db-snr.html

 

I wouldn't be so sure, if they all have headphone amplifiers they might be more than sufficient.  There's not a lot of info on the new chip yet though.

 

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/slos075i/slos075i.pdf

 

But the amp chip is well known.  It's low power, but the output impedance is .3 Ohms.  Not too shabby.

"Pardon my French but this is just about the most ignorant blanket statement I've ever read. And though this is the internet, I'm not even exaggerating."

 

 

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http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pc-based/237049-realtek-alc1150-audio-codec-115db-snr.html

 

I wouldn't be so sure, if they all have headphone amplifiers they might be more than sufficient.  There's not a lot of info on the new chip yet though.

 

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/slos075i/slos075i.pdf

 

But the amp chip is well known.  It's low power, but the output impedance is .3 Ohms.  Not too shabby.

Amplified or not, it's the source I care about ;)

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Xonar DX is the best price to performance sound card on the market right now.

 

the only drawback is the I/O on the back isn't color-coded but if that's not a problem, then you can't go wrong.

 

there is one issue with the audio software on lower-end asus sound cards, make sure GX mode is off in the options (it's on by default), it causes a lot of problems with your audio.

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Amplified or not, it's the source I care about ;)

 

Indeed, you should have QUALITY FLAC or QUALITY MP3s to start with.  Do you have headphones or speakers? or both?

"Pardon my French but this is just about the most ignorant blanket statement I've ever read. And though this is the internet, I'm not even exaggerating."

 

 

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What's your use case?

 

I remember when Creative was a decent brand, but they've fallen far since then.

Music, Movies, Gaming, Online Streaming. I use my Turtle Beaches X12 and I also hook into a small sound system rigged with a 12" Kove Armageddon sub. Sorry for the late response, but I forgot to follow this post. 

 

Edit: The stereo is set up with the factory shelf speakers and some Pro Cinema Speakers as well. Bass levels are perfect, but when the sub is turned on everything gets quite intense.

MOBO - Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0   CPU - AMD Phenom II X6 1055T @ 3.5GHz - Corsair H80i   RAM - 2x Corsair Vengence 4GB DDR3 @ 1666 MHz   

GPU - SAPPHIRE 100362-3L Radeon R9 290 4GB Tri-X OC  Sound - ASUS Xonar DSX  PSU - Thermaltake SMART M Series SP-850M 850W

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Indeed, you should have QUALITY FLAC or QUALITY MP3s to start with.  Do you have headphones or speakers? or both?

I have a 200w stereo system for use when I play games or watch movies on my TV, and I also have a pair of wireless headphones for general use.

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Music, Movies, Gaming, Online Streaming. I use my Turtle Beaches X12 and I also hook into a small sound system rigged with a 12" Kove Armageddon sub. Sorry for the late response, but I forgot to follow this post. 

 

Edit: The stereo is set up with the factory shelf speakers and some Pro Cinema Speakers as well. Bass levels are perfect, but when the sub is turned on everything gets quite intense.

After getting somewhat caught up on the subject again, I found that loads of people who recommend this or that sound card, only use it for headphones, or through some cheap headphone amp. So I was just making sure that we were talking apples to apples :)

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Xonar DX is the best price to performance sound card on the market right now.

 

the only drawback is the I/O on the back isn't color-coded but if that's not a problem, then you can't go wrong.

 

there is one issue with the audio software on lower-end asus sound cards, make sure GX mode is off in the options (it's on by default), it causes a lot of problems with your audio.

As things stand right now, it's either the DX or the DSX but I'm in no hurry to decide.

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