Help with new sound card! Asus Xonar D2X vs HT Omega Claro Plus

[JackeShan]

Hello guys!

I am gonna buy a new sound card and I don't know what I should buy. I have a Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer and I'm not really happy with it.

I listen to music, play games and watch movies etc..
Also I don't use speakers. I only use headphones (Sennheiser HD555, buying new headphones later..).

I have heard some good things about Asus Xonar D2X and HT Omega Claro Plus. I guess the Xonar D2X is a bit better for gaming because of the EAX 2.0 support, (the Omega Plus doesn't have EAX). I don't know if I would notice a big difference anyway.. so what sound card is best for music/ movies WITH headphones.

Pro's and Con's of the sound cards? Especially Xonar vs Omega Plus in games.

Help me out please :yepp:

[ROBSCIX]

Your close, The Claro+ DOES support EAX 1 and 2. The Xonar, thanx to GX 2.0 drivers should now support EAX 1,2,3,4+5 and OpenAL.
Both card perform these routines within software and how well they support these gaming standards is another question. For games between the D2X and Claro+ the Xonar would be better. The Xonar is a newer card and has better sound quality according to the specs and reviews and support for gaming audio -for what it is worth. The Xonar line has expanded
you can get the: D2
D2X -D2 with PCI-E
DX -Entry level D2 with PCI-E

[Donnie27]

Hello guys!

I am gonna buy a new sound card and I don't know what I should buy. I have a Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer and I'm not really happy with it.

I listen to music, play games and watch movies etc..
Also I don't use speakers. I only use headphones (Sennheiser HD555, buying new headphones later..).

I have heard some good things about Asus Xonar D2X and HT Omega Claro Plus. I guess the Xonar D2X is a bit better for gaming because of the EAX 2.0 support, (the Omega Plus doesn't have EAX). I don't know if I would notice a big difference anyway.. so what sound card is best for music/ movies WITH headphones.

Pro's and Con's of the sound cards? Especially Xonar vs Omega Plus in games.

Help me out please :yepp:

Here's an option.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=181267

I'll believe its support when I hear it for myself. I for one, glad Asus is shipping this no nonsense card, no matter what the Audiophile wanna-bes might say.:up:

[JackeShan]

So it's probably gonna be a Xonar card then :)
Thanks for reply.

What about that Xonar DX for only $89? Can't be as good as the Xonar D2X right?

[ROBSCIX]

So it's probably gonna be a Xonar card then :)
Thanks for reply.

What about that Xonar DX for only $89? Can't be as good as the Xonar D2X right?

Looks like a great option for people. It is a very new card, Not many shops have it yet. You can wait for the first round of reviews to come out and see what the good and bad points of the card are if the DX is interesting to you.

[JackeShan]

If we move on from gaming to music and movies. Would the Xonar D2X still beat the Claro+?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132005

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271003&Tpk=Ht%2bOmega%2bClaro%2bplus

Wow, this is so hard lol.

Dx2 = 118db SNR
Claro+ = 120db SNR

Also, the Claro+ is very expensive here in Sweden. The claro+ cost $370 and the DX2 cost $295.

[ROBSCIX]

I have never heard the Claro+, The Xonar D2 have great sound quality, they are very popular among the HTPC guys. Good luck with your decision.

[Donnie27]

Wow, this is so hard lol.

Dx2 = 118db SNR
Claro+ = 120db SNR

If you Game, it is an easy choice! Neither LOL!

You're going to be disappointed with Game performance with either of those cards. Like the other guy said, they're great for Home Theater. I'll tell you first hand, they're lacking when it comes to MOST* games. If you're going to spend that kind of money at least try the Prelude 7.1.

If not, you have to gamble that other features will be added to other cards via software. Then you have to still wonder if all of the features will be added. If would have been MUCH or A LOT easier for Asus to follow Auzentech and start with something like the X-Fi chip or another hardware version based on it.

[JackeShan]

I'm not ONLY into gaming. I'm giving priority to music and movies. The prelude really looks interesting too! I'm just not sure that's the card I want when I listen to music, (like I said, I have a Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer now and I'm not happy with it).

[ROBSCIX]

Yes, I noticed that. Make sure your shop has a good return policy and do some testing. Try a card, if you don't like it return it.
BTW, since your a headphone guy, the Prelude is a good bet for you because of the swappable front opamp. You can improve and.or tailor the sound to your liking. The Prelude and the X-Gamer aren't in the same league, the Prelude sounds much better.

[JackeShan]

I'm gonna try out the Prelude then :)
If I don't like it I'll return it and get the Xonar D2X.

[ROBSCIX]

Have fun testing.

[Keitosha]

I'm gonna try out the Prelude then :)
If I don't like it I'll return it and get the Xonar D2X.Happy testing. :) Please note to not install the drivers from the CD, but from Auzen's website.

It has the complete package and also comes with ALchemy and DDL support, unlike the outdated drivers on the cd.

http://www.auzentech.com/site/download/updates.php
Direct link to the latest drivers. (http://www.auzentech.com/data/20K1_Auz_RefCD1_RC5-1.zip)

[Donnie27]

I'm gonna try out the Prelude then :)
If I don't like it I'll return it and get the Xonar D2X.

Good choice and let us know your views on it.

[JackeShan]

Good choice and let us know your views on it.

Actually.. I couldn't make up my mind so I decided to stick with the Asus Xonar D2X. I wanted to go with something different than the X-Fi (although the Prelude is way better than the Xtremegamer Fatal Pro I had earlier).

If I don't like it then I'm returning it and buying the Prelude :)
I will tell you what I think about it when I get it.. should be here on friday (I hope).

[Donnie27]

Actually.. I couldn't make up my mind so I decided to stick with the Asus Xonar D2X. I wanted to go with something different than the X-Fi (although the Prelude is way better than the Xtremegamer Fatal Pro I had earlier).

If I don't like it then I'm returning it and buying the Prelude :)

That's always the best way to do it. No two different listener's tastes are the same. I'll give a ya' Thumbs up :up: to whatever sounds the best to YOU:D I still haven't heard the D2X but have the D2. I'd like to hear the $89 model compared to the Newest DX2. Since my next computer will be for HTPC duties, that $89 card has me thinking.

After I finish transferring music from my Reel to Reels, I will move my Prelude Back to my main system.

[JackeShan]

What do you think of the Xonar D2? It's basically the same thing as D2X except it's PCI instead of PCI-E

[ROBSCIX]

What do you think of the Xonar D2? It's basically the same thing as D2X except it's PCI instead of PCI-E

The D2 is a great sounding card. Uses high Quality Burr Brown DAC's Usually found in the higher end of the Denon receiver line. It has EMI/RFI shielding and decent opamp in the front channel position, I gave that card a extensive run through and it performed great and sounded great. The D2X is the PCI-E 1X version of the D2 aside from the Bus interface and requiring extra power through a floppy molex connector they are the same card. You should enjoy the D2X the Xonar cards have great sound quality. Give us your impressions when you get it installed and setup.

[Donnie27]

What do you think of the Xonar D2? It's basically the same thing as D2X except it's PCI instead of PCI-E

At least two reviewers who compared them both said the DX2 sound slightly better than the D2 so they say Asus did something to improve it some.

[JackeShan]

Hello!

My Xonar D2X arrived today and... wow! Did not expect this. The sound quality is amazing.. completely kills my X-Fi Xtremegamer.

I have only tested Call of Duty 4 and some music, and it's amazing. Never thought a sound card could make such a great sound quality! Still I haven't tested much, but I'm very happy and I'm gonna keep it.

Thanks all for help!

[ROBSCIX]

Hello!

My Xonar D2X arrived today and... wow! Did not expect this. The sound quality is amazing.. completely kills my X-Fi Xtremegamer.

I have only tested Call of Duty 4 and some music, and it's amazing. Never thought a sound card could make such a great sound quality! Still I haven't tested much, but I'm very happy and I'm gonna keep it.

Thanks all for help!

Yes, I figured you would enjoy that card. The Xonars have amazing sound quality as you have heard for yourself. Make sure your using the newest drivers from the ASUS site and you should be good. Enjoy.:up:

[Donnie27]

Hello!

My Xonar D2X arrived today and... wow! Did not expect this. The sound quality is amazing.. completely kills my X-Fi Xtremegamer.

I have only tested Call of Duty 4 and some music, and it's amazing. Never thought a sound card could make such a great sound quality! Still I haven't tested much, but I'm very happy and I'm gonna keep it.

Thanks all for help!

MaximumPC, April issue, Page 74.

Auzentech Prelude 7.1 = 9
Asus Xonar D2 = 8

Too bad they didn't have the DX2 to test. By some accounts it sounds better than the Prelude. Here's one that proves something I complained about. Auzen Negative "Must use Auzentech-provided drivers" :rolleyes: While some proclaim them great, I don't. I like the full set so I can pick and choose what I use.

Asus Negative, "Only EAX 2 support". Until it ships, the software version of EAX better than 2.0 is Vaporware.