Asus Xonar

[ZombifiedPyro]

So everybody tells me to buy the best asus xonar card within my budget if I ask them which sound card to buy, but that is not what I am asking this time. I want to know at what level will I start hearing big improvements over integrated audio solutions. I was looking at the Asus Z87-Plus or the -Pro.

Edit: If it helps I use grado SR-80i's and I want a pair of Meze 11, but I am not sure about the bass, they have smaller drivers than what I am used to. The grado's have very little bass and tend to focus on mids and have very crisp highs. I would love to keep these characteristics, but I want a little boost to the low end, so if you could also tell me what amp/dac or whatever could help with this I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
ZombifiedPyro

[Vitalius]

An Asus Xonar DG (for $28) would be a moderately noticeable improvement over onboard audio.

Most onboard audio have an SNR (Sound-Noise ratio) of less than 100. Any sound card with one above 100 would be noticeable imo. However, this is mildly subjective.

Just remember that to get the same amount of improvement going from onboard audio to a dedicated sound card like the Xonar DG, you add a zero to the end of the price. Or something close to it. So it might cost $200 to get the same amount of improvement over the $20 card, and $2000 to get the same amount of improvement over the $200 card.

Audio improvements are a logarithmic scale. It takes a lot to get improvement after the first initial upgrade.

[ZombifiedPyro]

Ok, thanks. The Z87-Pro has a 112 SNR so maybe it is worth the extra 30 dollars over the -Plus? Here is the thing from the spec list:

 

Realtek® ALC1150 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC 
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- High quality 112 dB SNR stereo playback output (Line-out at rear) and 104 dB SNR recording input (Line-in)
Audio Feature :
- Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound
- DTS Ultra PC II
- DTS Connect
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
- BD Audio Layer Content Protection

[Wingfan]

An Asus Xonar DG (for $28) would be a moderately noticeable improvement over onboard audio.

Most onboard audio have an SNR (Sound-Noise ratio) of less than 100. Any sound card with one above 100 would be noticeable imo. However, this is mildly subjective.

Just remember that to get the same amount of improvement going from onboard audio to a dedicated sound card like the Xonar DG, you add a zero to the end of the price. Or something close to it. So it might cost $200 to get the same amount of improvement over the $20 card, and $2000 to get the same amount of improvement over the $200 card.

Audio improvements are a logarithmic scale. It takes a lot to get improvement after the first initial upgrade.

Great info. I have been thinking about getting a sound card, but for something that will actually improve over my onboard might not be worth the extra money.

[Vitalius]

Great info. I have been thinking about getting a sound card, but for something that will actually improve over my onboard might not be worth the extra money.

Well, a $30 card will improve over the onboard sound. 

More than that will make the price skyrocket to continue improving it accordingly.

I would just buy the Asus Xonar DG.

[ZombifiedPyro]

Would it increase over either of these:

ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC 
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- High quality 115 dB (Line-out at rear) and 104 dB SNR stereo playback input (Line-in)
Audio Feature :
- SupremeFX Shielding™ Technology
- ELNA premium audio capacitors
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection 
- Sonic Radar
- DTS Connect
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel

 

or

 

Realtek® ALC1150 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC 
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- High quality 112 dB SNR stereo playback output (Line-out at rear) and 104 dB SNR recording input (Line-in)
Audio Feature :
- Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound
- DTS Ultra PC II
- DTS Connect
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
- BD Audio Layer Content Protection

[h264]

Ok, thanks. The Z87-Pro has a 112 SNR so maybe it is worth the extra 30 dollars over the -Plus? Here is the thing from the spec list:

Realtek® ALC1150 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC

- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking

- High quality 112 dB SNR stereo playback output (Line-out at rear) and 104 dB SNR recording input (Line-in)

Audio Feature :

- Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound

- DTS Ultra PC II

- DTS Connect

- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel

- BD Audio Layer Content Protection

It doesn't list it, but its spec sheet calls for a 2 Ohm output impedance. It's an onboard solution perfectly adequate for low impedance headphones.

[h264]

So everybody tells me to buy the best asus xonar card within my budget if I ask them which sound card to buy, but that is not what I am asking this time. I want to know at what level will I start hearing big improvements over integrated audio solutions. I was looking at the Asus Z87-Plus or the -Pro.

Edit: If it helps I use grado SR-80i's and I want a pair of Meze 11, but I am not sure about the bass, they have smaller drivers than what I am used to. The grado's have very little bass and tend to focus on mids and have very crisp highs. I would love to keep these characteristics, but I want a little boost to the low end, so if you could also tell me what amp/dac or whatever could help with this I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

ZombifiedPyro

You'll want to get a headphone with more bass, not another amp. The size of the driver is irrelevant.

[Wingfan]

This is what my board has now......7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC898 Audio Codec), Supports THX TruStudio

 

will the low end Xonar be a good upgrade?

 

Im getting my CM Storm Sirus Monday, and starting my next order.

[Vitalius]

This is what my board has now......7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC898 Audio Codec), Supports THX TruStudio

 

will the low end Xonar be a good upgrade?

 

Im getting my CM Storm Sirus Monday, and starting my next order.

Yes, it will.

[Wingfan]

Thanks Vitalius

[Vitalius]

Thanks Vitalius

You're welcome bro. 

Anything is better than Realtek.

[Wingfan]

Just ordered the Xonar, should be able to pick it up tomorrow :)

[Vitalius]

Just ordered the Xonar, should be able to pick it up tomorrow :)

Funny, so did I. :)

"pick it up" You live in Cali? Or someone near a physical store? Lucky.

[191x7]

Asus Xonar users should use UniXonar drivers from http://maxedtech.com/ - they are a lot better drivers than the ones from Asus.

 

And anyone cosidering a Xonard DG should get a Xonar DGX - it uses PCI-e so it's more future-proof.

[Wingfan]

Funny, so did I. :)

"pick it up" You live in Cali? Or someone near a physical store? Lucky.

I live 20min from the NJ warehouse, they just started pick-up service recently, FINALLY!!!! but this could be dangerous to my wallet

[Wingfan]

Asus Xonar users should use UniXonar drivers from http://maxedtech.com/ - they are a lot better drivers than the ones from Asus.

 

And anyone cosidering a Xonard DG should get a Xonar DGX - it uses PCI-e so it's more future-proof.

Thanks for the info 191x7

[Wingfan]

Time to go pick it up! this will be my first time in the warehouse since they started the pick-up service and im hoping they have some things on display (leaving my credit card at home lol)

[Wingfan]

One word.......A M A Z I N G!!!!!!!!!

[Alex Dimitri]

Welcome to the club Wingfan !!!!

 

Asus Rocks with their soundcars.....hands down best stuff you can get for your PC !