Need new sound card fast!

[Carfax83]

My Creative X-Fi Titanium died on me yesterday for some reason, so I've decided to get a new sound card. I should be able to get a replacement from Creative (hopefully), but I've also decided it's time to seek greener pastures as well.

In other words, I want a sound card thats not made by Creative..or maybe I do, because after doing a quick search, it seems that the Creative X-Fi titanium is still the most recommended sound card for gaming.

And I'm a gamer, not an audiophile. Sound matters to me, but I'm not going to obsess over it.

So, any recommendations? The one I'm looking at the most is the Asus Xonar Essence STX..

 

[Fhistleb]

Get the Asus. I have one and its darn near perfect.

 

[mnewsham]

unless you are using high end audio equipment or a 5.1/7.1(2) system just use your onboard sound, you wont notice the difference.

 

[penske2298977]

Despite all the hate on Creative I would just get another X-fi...great gaming cards and way better than onboard.

 

[mnewsham]

Despite all the hate on Creative I would just get another X-fi...great gaming cards and way better than onboard.

unless your motherboard doesnt have the inputs you need or you are using really good equipment ($300+ audio stuff) then honestly the onboard sound is going to work just fine and you will NOT notice a difference.

 

[theevilsharpie]

The Xonar Essence STX is an amazing sound card, but I don't think I'd consider it as a gamer's card. You may want to look at other cards in the Xonar line instead.

 

[Carfax83]

unless you are using high end audio equipment or a 5.1/7.1(2) system just use your onboard sound, you wont notice the difference.

I'm using my onboad sound right now, and there's a HUGE difference. First off, the volume doesn't sound anywhere near as high on onboard as it did on my X-Fi, despite having the volume pegged at 100%......but that could be because I'm using Msoft drivers.

I also miss the features I could get with the X-Fi, ie the crystalizer, and the 3D positional audio especially.

Despite all the hate on Creative I would just get another X-fi...great gaming cards and way better than onboard.

Yeah, I think I may as well just get another one.. I already have the I/O drive, so it would just go to waste if I got another sound card.

BTW, I think I figured out why my sound card died. Some of the gold contacts on the PCI-E connector look to be shortened or missing. I'm thinking that could be it.

And Creative won't RMA my card, since I've had it since 2009, which is way pass the standard warranty.

 

[mnewsham]

Well your onboard sound isnt all that bad

The ALC889 provides ten DAC channels that simultaneously support 7.1 sound playback, plus 2 channels of independent stereo sound output (multiple streaming) through the front panel stereo outputs. Three stereo ADCs and one stereo digital microphone converter are integrated and can support a microphone array with Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC), Beam Forming (BF), and Noise Suppression (NS) technologies. The ALC889 incorporates Realtek proprietary converter technology to achieve 108dB Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR) playback (DAC) quality and 104dB SNR recording (ADC) quality, and is designed for Windows Vista premium desktop and laptop systems.

What are you currently using for sound?

 

[Carfax83]

I'm using the ALC880 onboard chipset, but for some reason, the volume is really diminished..

I thought it was because I was using the OS drivers, but I just installed the Realtek drivers and the volume hasn't improved at all..

I've never used onboard on this motherboard before since I've always had a sound card, but after looking at the manual, I think I'm supposed to have a S/PDIF cable that connects to an input in the motherboard, enabling digital audio.

Without that, I'm stuck on analog, which I think explains why the volume sounds so muted compared to my X-Fi..

Trouble is, I can't find the S/PDIF connector

 

[mnewsham]

According to GIGABYTE your GA-EX58-UD5 should have the ALC889 codec. And you should have an optical and coaxial S/PDIF outputs.

Are you using speakers. headphones, etc? And what make/model.

 

[Carfax83]

I'm using headphones, Sennheiser HD-555 to be exact, so it's not like I'm using crappy cans or something..

*Edit* LOL, I just plugged my headphones back in again, and this time, the volume seems to have corrected itself.....weird!

Still not up to snuff with the X-Fi, but much improved..

 

[mnewsham]

I'm using headphones, Sennheiser HD-555 to be exact, so it's not like I'm using crappy cans or something..

*Edit* LOL, I just plugged my headphones back in again, and this time, the volume seems to have corrected itself.....weird!

Still not up to snuff with the X-Fi, but much improved..

I am using the same cans on my laptop right now so i know the difference when i use my AMP to my onboard sound. There IS a bit of a difference but honestly for gaming i switch out for my G35's.

 

[Carfax83]

I am using the same cans on my laptop right now so i know the difference when i use my AMP to my onboard sound. There IS a bit of a difference but honestly for gaming i switch out for my G35's.

The X-Fi has the CMSS-3D which does a good job of recreating surround sound, even with stereo headphones like the HD-555..

Not sure how it would compare to the G35, as that has it's own surround sound technology..

I actually considered buying a G35, but all the audiophiles said a good stereo headphone is better, because of the way the human audio sensory system works.

BTW, I just ordered another X-Fi Titanium.....not brand new, but close enough. The product itself was unused, but the package is opened so I got a pretty good deal I think....less than 100 USD.

My onboard should serve nicely until I get it..

 

[mnewsham]

The HD-555's would be better for pure sound but i wanted a boom mic so i opted for the G35's for gaming. On my desktop however I use Denon AH-D2000.

 

[Cerb]

I'm using headphones, Sennheiser HD-555 to be exact, so it's not like I'm using crappy cans or something..

*Edit* LOL, I just plugged my headphones back in again, and this time, the volume seems to have corrected itself.....weird!

Still not up to snuff with the X-Fi, but much improved..

Are you plugging them directly in to the mobo? If so, that would be why. The onboard won't have an amplification stage capable of handling decent headphones, while the X-fi will. The onboard will likely be just good enough to drive short cables.

 

[mfenn]

Are you plugging them directly in to the mobo? If so, that would be why. The onboard won't have an amplification stage capable of handling decent headphones, while the X-fi will. The onboard will likely be just good enough to drive short cables.

:thumbsup: I agree. OP, I know you've already ordered, but that $100 would have been much better spent on a headphone amp like the Total Airhead or Total Bithead. Better opamps than the X-fi, outside of the electrical noise of the case, and no shitty Creative drivers!