Sound Card. Hmmm...

[Tom_Donaldson]

Hello, I was wondering if it worth investing in a budget sound card like the Asus Xonar DGX 5.1

I currently am using the onboard audio from my GA-990FXA-UD3 (rev. 1.2) motherboard with the Adobe Home Theater with my Sennheiser HD 202 headphones. I listen to music, play games and watch the occasional film. Do you think that I would benefit from the upgrade. Would I notice a big difference in sound quality, thanks

[Blade of Grass]

To be honest, your headphones would probably be the limiting factor in this situation. You'll probably benefit more from a headphone upgrade.

[h264]

To be honest, your headphones would probably be the limiting factor in this situation. You'll probably benefit more from a headphone upgrade.

+1 to this

[Tom_Donaldson]

Ahh right, thanks guys, any suggestions on a some headphones to pair with the Asus Xonar DGX 5.1 sound card, haven't got too much to spend mind, hmm, thanks

[h264]

Ahh right, thanks guys, any suggestions on a some headphones to pair with the Asus Xonar DGX 5.1 sound card, haven't got too much to spend mind, hmm, thanks

There's no "pair", we're suggesting you just keep what you've got and get a nice $100 pair like the AKG K240 studios, or the Audio Technica ATH M50s first..

Unless you already got the sound card? what's your budget?

[Tom_Donaldson]

I just came of eBay, won a ASUS Xonar D2X Sound Card (Mini pci-e), got it for £45 :))

Would do be able to look at the following website and pick the best headphones please ( I can get them very cheap from there )

[url=http://www.jgwindows.com/categories/hifi-%26-small-audio/hifi-%26-small-audio/accessories/headphones/]http://www.jgwindows.com/categories/hifi-%26-small-audio/hifi-%26-small-audio/accessories/headphones/[/url="http://www.jgwindows.com/categories/hifi-%26-small-audio/hifi-%26-small-audio/accessories/headphones/

My Budget is around £100, thanks

[h264]

I just came of eBay, won a ASUS Xonar D2X Sound Card (Mini pci-e), got it for £45 :))

Would do be able to look at the following website and pick the best headphones please ( I can get them very cheap from there )

[url=http://www.jgwindows.com/categories/hifi-%26-small-audio/hifi-%26-small-audio/accessories/headphones/]http://www.jgwindows.com/categories/hifi-%26-small-audio/hifi-%26-small-audio/accessories/headphones/[/url="http://www.jgwindows.com/categories/hifi-%26-small-audio/hifi-%26-small-audio/accessories/headphones/

My Budget is around £100, thanks

Whatever you can afford from there should be fine. The full sized Sennheiser headphones especially.

[Tom_Donaldson]

Thanks for all the advice, gunna save up for a little while and see what money i can come up with for some decent headphones, thanks :)

[Andrew666drew]

what sound card should i get i have a budget of 120.00

[NewKID]

wouldnt be necessary with your equipment

[Hyydrah]

It really depends on your budget. Sound cards are only intended for lower end setups, audiophile DACs like the ASUS Essence One is a good place to start if you're fine with the price.

[terrastrife]

When your onboard audio can't drive your headphones loud enough, that's when you know it's time for a source upgrade. Good heaphones aren't going to be very loud with (most) onboard audio due to them not being able to drive high impedance headphones very loud. This in turns means you turn it up well past 80% and stuff starts distorting.

However, if you're getting a sound card for a feature set that onboard doesn't have, is a different story. I use my Xonar D1 in Dolby Headphone mode exclusively for example (set windows/asus control panel to 6 channel 24 bit 44hz, then enable Dolby Headphone DH-2).