Xonar or Z-series or external USB?

giantpandaman2

Senior member
Oct 17, 2005
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So I've been thinking about upgrading from my motherboard sound to a discrete sound card. I haven't been keeping up with the latest in sound cards and am now debating what to get.

So far I've been thinking about a Xonar http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132010

or a Zxr http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102050

I'm running analog from my sound card-->Onkyo-->Jamo and will also be connecting my ATH-M50s periodically. Any recommendations or should I just stick with my motherboard sound? I could go with a cheaper sound card but that burr-brown DAC on the Zxr is very tempting. I also like the fact they are both emi shielded.

Thanks!

PS-Wasn't sure if I should post here or in A/V Theater. If I chose wrong, could a moderator move this thread?
 
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crashtestdummy

Platinum Member
Feb 18, 2010
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Is there a particular reason that you need a sound card? If you're going to a receiver anyway, why not connect by optical out or HDMI? The sound card doesn't really add much in terms of sound quality.
 

giantpandaman2

Senior member
Oct 17, 2005
580
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There are a lot of configuration issues that come up when plugging in my receiver via optical. Optical works great 90% of the time, but that 10% gets mighty annoying.

It's an old receiver and doesn't have HDMI connections.
 

T9D

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
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I got the ZxR and it sounds awesome. The software is really nice to. I've actually found that a high quality soundcard can beat out DAC's that cost thousands of dollars. But I also go directly to a high end amp and not a receiver. I don't use a preamp either. No need for one. Anyway you'll love the card either way.
 

giantpandaman2

Senior member
Oct 17, 2005
580
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I got the ZxR and it sounds awesome. The software is really nice to. I've actually found that a high quality soundcard can beat out DAC's that cost thousands of dollars. But I also go directly to a high end amp and not a receiver. I don't use a preamp either. No need for one. Anyway you'll love the card either way.

Going into a several amps rather than a "retired" receiver would be nice, but I just don't see myself spending quite that much on my computer setup.

How's recording using the ZXR? Also, do you use the ACM? I've heard bad things about it, but I don't mind plugging my headphones directly into the back of my computer anyway.
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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There are a lot of configuration issues that come up when plugging in my receiver via optical. Optical works great 90% of the time, but that 10% gets mighty annoying.

It's an old receiver and doesn't have HDMI connections.

Can you elaborate? Are you doing stereo or 5.1?
 

giantpandaman2

Senior member
Oct 17, 2005
580
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5.1

The lack of HDMI compatibility screws up Blu Ray playback due to the lack of HDCP. The receiver is old enough that sometimes it just doesn't seem to want to play nice via optical. It's been a long while since I configured it on an old build, but front center right sometimes got mixed up when doing optical. How does that happen? I have no idea.

Going analog fixed all problems though. Don't need to worry about the receiver decoding protected content and no longer had weird channel mix ups happening. Analog just works. :)