Soundcard tips

[pialia]

Hi folks,

I just got done with my new rig which includes an Asus Rampge IV Extreme and I'm currently using the onboard card, which I think it's pretty horrid(both sound and software). I was using a really old Creative card previously which I thought sounded way better, but the drivers always gave me hell so I figured I'd look for something new to match my new rig.

What I'm using is a 2.1 Logitech Z623 and Sennheiser 595 plus a Blue Snowball and I just want something that sounds clean that isn't a waste of money for what I have plugged in. I've been looking at the Xonar Phoebus and Essence STX but the reviews I've read aren't entirely positive, especially regarding the Phoebus.

 

Is there anything else I should be looking at? Does anyone have any experience with the onboard card on the Rampage IV Extreme? It's surprises me that it would sound quite this bad, compared to my old Creative card which was probably sub $100 when I bought it.

Any help is appreciated.

[MayflowerElectronics]

I highly suggest you read the audio FAQ at the top of the page before buying anything.

 

Can you tell me why the onboard is bad?

[Tmh85]

I thought the ROG sound was top class

[ShearMe]

If it's as terrible as you claim, it's probably defective.

Grab a FiiO E10 if you don't want to spend a lot, or an O2 amp + ODAC if you want the best solution possible.

[pialia]

I highly suggest you read the audio FAQ at the top of the page before buying anything.

 

Can you tell me why the onboard is bad?

Everything just sounds kind of hollow, there isn't really any depth to the music/movies I've watched. I don't really now if it's some setting I'm missing but all I usually do is just disable anything that alters the sound with some kind of "effect" to try and get as clean a sound as possible, but I've tried playing around with the software that comes with the mobo and I can't really find anything that sounds decent.

I'm sorry I can't really explain it better being a sound layman, I just like good sound with little effort from my part, which in my opinion I had with my other card(but had to live with the drivers being nasty which is why I'm not too keen on going on using it)

[ShearMe]

I thought the ROG sound was top class

That's what their marketing department wants you to believe.

[MayflowerElectronics]

Then something is defective or you have not disabled everything yet. The on-board should be fine for what you have.

[Krumm]

Fiio E7 & E9 combo is the way to go for me.

it cost around $150 USD. I have my KRK 6" studio monitors and my HD 600 doing very well in this DAC AMP combo. very crisp and clear even with Lost-less files. 

[pialia]

If we go by the assumption that something is wrong with my onboard atm, would f.e. the Fiio E10 change that? I guess basically what I'm asking is, assume I didn't have an onboard and wanted to have as good sound as I could for $150-200 using my current speaker/headphones - what would I get?

[MayflowerElectronics]

If we go by the assumption that something is wrong with my onboard atm, would f.e. the Fiio E10 change that? I guess basically what I'm asking is, assume I didn't have an onboard and wanted to have as good sound as I could for $150-200 using my current speaker/headphones - what would I get?

 

Why throw more money at the problem? I would triple check that all software enhancements are off, and if all else RMA the board. My money is on somewhere you have something turned on.

[mr moose]

When I see ads and people tech people talk about sound cards I am taken back to the days of ads for cigarettes.  They used to tell us on the tv that if you smoked, you'd have more friends and be more confident.  Marketing is marketing, It's all BS and it's sole purpose is to make you think that their product is the ducks nuts forsaking all reality.