Asus STXII Or Asus Phoebus ?

[Dicehunter]

As I'm quite a noob when it comes to audio stuff, What is the main difference between these 2 as I can't see anything that would make the STXII all that much better and worth roughly a £100 more.

 

STXII - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus-xonar-essence-stx-ii-sc-021-as.html

 

Phoebus - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus-rog-xonar-phoebus-solo-7.1-pci-e-soundcard-sc-017-as.html

[iShad]

As I'm quite a noob when it comes to audio stuff, What is the main difference between these 2 as I can't see anything that would make the STXII all that much better and worth roughly a £100 more.

 

STXII - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus-xonar-essence-stx-ii-sc-021-as.html

 

Phoebus - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus-rog-xonar-phoebus-solo-7.1-pci-e-soundcard-sc-017-as.html

Unless you're planning to use a 5.1/7.1 speakers setup, there's no point to either of these and better off with an external dac/amp. If you're looking to power the dt990, I wouldn't bother and just stick with the onboard.

[Dicehunter]

Unless you're planning to use a 5.1/7.1 speakers setup, there's no point to either of these and better off with an external dac/amp. If you're looking to power the dt990, I wouldn't bother and just stick with the onboard.

 

The onboard is quite crap though and I can tell it's lacking in quite a few places and not doing these cans any favours.

 

I'm not keen on external solutions hence the either/or question

[iShad]

The onboard is quite crap though and I can tell it's lacking in quite a few places and not doing these cans any favours.

 

I'm not keen on external solutions hence the either/or question

Up to you, but if I have a $200~ budget I'd go for external solution and not waste time with sound cards. What's lacking with your onboard exactly?

[Dicehunter]

Up to you, but if I have a $200~ budget I'd go for external solution and not waste time with sound cards. What's lacking with your onboard exactly?

 

It just sounds tinny, I've tried my 990's on a friends Phoebus and it sounded so much better but if I end up going the slightly higher end headphone route I thought the STXII would have be a better buy, Slight future proofing etc... ?

[iShad]

It just sounds tinny, I've tried my 990's on a friends Phoebus and it sounded so much better but if I end up going the slightly higher end headphone route I thought the STXII would have be a better buy, Slight future proofing etc... ?

It will do, but soundcards often have unnecessary features that no one who cares about fidelity should ever use, and I'm not a fan of having to deal with drivers. For future proofing, you're better off getting magni/modi stack or o2+odac from Massdrop. For sub $100, can't go wrong with smsl.

[SSL]

It just sounds tinny, I've tried my 990's on a friends Phoebus and it sounded so much better but if I end up going the slightly higher end headphone route I thought the STXII would have be a better buy, Slight future proofing etc... ?

 

Get a Schiit Magni 2. If you're not getting noise/interference from your onboard, don't waste money on a DAC. An amp like the Magni will more than "future proof" your audio setup.

[Dicehunter]

Get a Schiit Magni 2. If you're not getting noise/interference from your onboard, don't waste money on a DAC. An amp like the Magni will more than "future proof" your audio setup.

 

I shall look into it thank you.