Asus Xonar 'Essence STX'...

[looper]

Considering buying this soundcard... (Xonar Essence STX)

I listen to a lot of music on my PC, and play quite a few PC games with my son as well. We currently have a Creative X-Fi 'Music' card. I have M-Audio AV40's for comp speakers, and sometimes use my inexpensive USB Logitech headset for gaming.(when wife is home, we use the headset).

If I get the above soundcard, would I have to use my very good headphones with a seperate mic to game with to get the benefit of the Xonar? Or, will the usb headset automatically utilize the features of the soundcard? (Have to use headset if wife home when we are gaming...)

My stereo headphones (not usb headset) and seperate mic will plug into the new soundcard, and I'll be able to use TeamSpeak in games as well?

Sorry for the 'beginner' question....

Thanks for any help...

 

[mfenn]

(1) The USB headset has its own sound card built in, so it doesn't matter what other sound cards that you have.
(2) No, you're not going to be able to tell a difference between the X-Fi and Xonor (though the placebo effect will probably tell you otherwise).

 

[looper]

(1) I know that about the Logitech usb headset.
(2) With music and gaming, using my VG headphones, (not usb headset), you think
my X-Fi won't be humbled by that Xonar Essence STX?
(3) My headphones and a seperate mic will connect to the Xonar and work w/
TeamSpeak?

 

[Rifter]

If you have a good enough audio setup you will notice the differnce in quality, cant comment on the M-Audio speakers as i have never herd them in person.

I noticed a large differnce in audio quality going from onboard realtek to the STX. I do however have a good pair of bookshelf spearkers and a mid to high quality stereo amp.

 

[borisvodofsky]

Considering buying this soundcard... (Xonar Essence STX)

I listen to a lot of music on my PC, and play quite a few PC games with my son as well. We currently have a Creative X-Fi 'Music' card. I have M-Audio AV40's for comp speakers, and sometimes use my inexpensive USB Logitech headset for gaming.(when wife is home, we use the headset).

If I get the above soundcard, would I have to use my very good headphones with a seperate mic to game with to get the benefit of the Xonar? Or, will the usb headset automatically utilize the features of the soundcard? (Have to use headset if wife home when we are gaming...)

My stereo headphones (not usb headset) and seperate mic will plug into the new soundcard, and I'll be able to use TeamSpeak in games as well?

Sorry for the 'beginner' question....

Thanks for any help...

IF you really care about good PC sound,, then mod your current x-fi with the "op-amp" mod.. You can do this at 0 cost, besides your time obviously. THe op-amps can be gotten for free..

AND it will be wayyy better than any xonar w/e.

 

[mfenn]

(2) With music and gaming, using my VG headphones, (not usb headset), you think
my X-Fi won't be humbled by that Xonar Essence STX?

The Xonar definitely is better, but I don't think that you will be able to tell a difference.

(3) My headphones and a seperate mic will connect to the Xonar and work w/
TeamSpeak?

Yes, they will work with Teamspeak; you'll just have to assign the appropriate inputs.

 

[videogames101]

You need good headphones ($100+) to notice any difference.

 

[looper]

I do have some pretty good mid-range Grado headphones.

What's really important to me in all this, is that I'd like to have both quality desktop speakers for music/gaming when the boss is not home, but also be able to use the inexpensive USB headset to 'game' with when she is home...and NOT have to disconnect anything when I want to switch from one to the other... (in gaming, it's so much easier with the USB headset...a headphone and separate mic combo is sometimes harder to setup & get it to work in TeamSpeak...which we use a lot in gaming)

Is that goal easier to achieve if I have either the MAudio AV40's / the AudioEngine A2's / the AudioEngine P4's / the AudioEngine A5's / or the Swan M200 MkII speakers, along with the AudioEngine N22 amplifier...with the new Xonar Essence STX sound card?

 

[Sheninat0r]

I do have some pretty good mid-range Grado headphones.

What's really important to me in all this, is that I'd like to have both quality desktop speakers for music/gaming when the boss is not home, but also be able to use the inexpensive USB headset to 'game' with when she is home...and NOT have to disconnect anything when I want to switch from one to the other... (in gaming, it's so much easier with the USB headset...a headphone and separate mic combo is sometimes harder to setup & get it to work in TeamSpeak...which we use a lot in gaming)

Is that goal easier to achieve if I have either the MAudio AV40's / the AudioEngine A2's / the AudioEngine P4's / the AudioEngine A5's / or the Swan M200 MkII speakers, along with the AudioEngine N22 amplifier...with the new Xonar Essence STX sound card?

I don't see the issue - the USB headset isn't running through your sound card, and you can toggle outputs in Control Panel pretty easily.

 

[looper]

A few yrs ago, before I got the USB headset, we could not get the Grado headphones and a separate mic to work together so we could use TeamSpeak. Maybe we just gave up too soon on getting them to work.

I'm close to deciding on the AudioEngine A5B speakers with the Xonar Essence STX sound card. The Swan M200 Mk ii's, are too big for my desktop.

 

[mfenn]

I don't see the issue - the USB headset isn't running through your sound card, and you can toggle outputs in Control Panel pretty easily.

Exactly. This is a pretty simple task to accomplish with the Windows mixer and/or Teamspeak's preferences dialog.

 

[Spikesoldier]

i was considering doing the op-amp mod to my original x-fi xtrememusic, but decided to pick up one of the lower-end xonars. i would consider even this low end xonar superior (in 2ch) to the x-fi without the mod. cant speak for with the mod applied though.