Auzentech Sound Card announcement!

[RaZz!]

It sounds a lot better in Win 7 for me with Audigy 2 ZS and kX Audio drivers compared to Win XP, even clearer and more fine details in the sound but when I compared with Creative's drivers it was the opposite like you said. Perhaps you should give them a try, I could send some "starter" settings for you as newbies can easily get lost in kX Audio settings.

ah, if i remember correctly you've already told me the exact same thing quite some time ago. that was on my "i'll try that soon" list but obviously i forgot about it - time flies

Auzentech X-Fi Forte + WinAMP + Wumpus OpenAL output + Vista/Win7 = teh secks sound

sounds interesting (pun intended ).

mh, welly well... brb, reboot into win7 ;D

*edit*

what i don't like about win7 + winamp directsound output is that you always have the feeling the sound isn't coming from the speakers in front of you, but from a source 10m away. a lot of dynamic range and volume in sound is lost due to this strange behavior.
the wumpus openal output plugin works wonders though. the speakers appear more direct and powerful now - sounds almost like winxp, yay! however, i'm not 100% happy with teh sound yet , so i'll give the kx drivers a try.

[Bojamijams]

Sure is a lot of weird information here.

1) forte is crap. Emi noise leak like it was designed by a high schoolers

2) auzentech drivers are crap. I had the prelude and dropped it the second the STX came out. almost 3 years since in came out and they still can't fix the low gain issue of their mic

3) windows xp audio stack is VASTLY inferior to vista/7

4) for audiophile listening you should never use directsound. Wasapi/Asio/kernel streaming are all better choices. In that order too

[iddqd]

Just a guess, but I bet the new creative card with its huge Emi shield doesn't cackle like a maniac. Yeah, that's right..my Forte makes noises when moving the mouse. :-(

you're using the front panel audio headers, aren't you?

[generics_user]

i can't wait to drop my X-Fi card, EMI leak is a huge PITA as with the Auzentech card i had before it. Background noise is almost as present as on my laptop once i turn down the volume!

Next card is going to be a Xonar Essence STX as i don't need this 7.1 crap, it completely lacks EMI Background noise, has some proper DACs, real headphone support and RCA jacks

@iddqd: Auzentech Cards are overrated, they were the king of the hill some years ago but ASUS overtook them with the latest pcie Xonar cards

[mattkosem]

No transformer coupled SPDIF? I'll pass.

Auzentech Cards are overrated, they were the king of the hill some years ago but ASUS overtook them with the latest pcie Xonar cards

+1 on this, for cards that will be used for music playback at least.

--Matt

[geo]

xfi still has crystallizer godsend for old hard to find lowbitrate mp3s

[Jodiuh]

It all depends. For gaming, Creative 3D positioning wins hands down.

The only reason the Forte hasn't been canned right here. But I'm beginning to wonder if I can live without it. What does Asus offer in lieu of CMSS3D?

1) forte is crap. Emi noise leak like it was designed by a high schoolers

2) auzentech...mic

4) for audiophile listening you should never use directsound. Wasapi/Asio/kernel streaming are all better choices. In that order too

Sadly, I can confirm #1. My problem w/ the mic lies in the mini vibrator noise in the background. As for #4, can I go about this w/ the Zune software?

you're using the front panel audio headers, aren't you?

Lol...ur funny. From rear to PIMETA or directly from the headphone amp, it matters not...mouse noise and hiss/buzz/puke/crap can be heard very clearly.

I've wrapped the entire PCIe bracket w/ electrical tape, changed slots, mobos...nothing. The card's on too small a PCB w/ no shielding. AFAIK, the Bravura fixed this w/ some fancy smancy grounding.

[ripken204]

the 6970 will replace my x-fi prelude

[generics_user]

The only reason the Forte hasn't been canned right here. But I'm beginning to wonder if I can live without it. What does Asus offer in lieu of CMSS3D?


Sadly, I can confirm #1. My problem w/ the mic lies in the mini vibrator noise in the background. As for #4, can I go about this w/ the Zune software?


Lol...ur funny. From rear to PIMETA or directly from the headphone amp, it matters not...mouse noise and hiss/buzz/puke/crap can be heard very clearly.

I've wrapped the entire PCIe bracket w/ electrical tape, changed slots, mobos...nothing. The card's on too small a PCB w/ no shielding. AFAIK, the Bravura fixed this w/ some fancy smancy grounding.

a properly designed card doesn't need this EMI shielding at all

xonar DX lives without this shield and has n o noise issue...

you can remove the shielding from essence stx and have no problems, creative has a plastic cover on its new x-fi titanium HD and has no issues at all (great card BTW)

it's all about the card design

[Remior]

Then what could be the summary?
what it's the best option for mixed usage gamming/music?
what it's the best option for the price?

[ripken204]

Then what could be the summary?
what it's the best option for mixed usage gamming/music?
what it's the best option for the price?

well the x-fi is great for eax5...lol
you really can't go wrong with either auzentech of asus.
it also depends on analog/digital and what speakers you have/

[Jodiuh]

it's all about the card design

I said too small! That means crappy, right?

[Remior]

Then:
X-Fi EAX > Xonar GX for games; but on music better Xonar's? Creative drivers crappy vs Asus Drivers?
I have a Xonar DG and a Sennheiser HD555@HD595 ; and i'm very happy with that combo, but on shooters games Xonar GX 3D positioning it's not very good, on music all it's perfect and really surprising on a sound card under 30€ (sounds like a expensive sound card). I'm looking for a better one but it's a shame that Asus don't improbe their 3D GX, because then they would have the better options to buy with good drivers, good quality build, good prices, and finally good 3D sound.

[Jodiuh]

I miss my Diamond Monster Sound MMX300.

And that little bee...

[kadozer]

Sure is a lot of weird information here.

1) forte is crap. Emi noise leak like it was designed by a high schoolers

2) auzentech drivers are crap. I had the prelude and dropped it the second the STX came out. almost 3 years since in came out and they still can't fix the low gain issue of their mic

3) windows xp audio stack is VASTLY inferior to vista/7

4) for audiophile listening you should never use directsound. Wasapi/Asio/kernel streaming are all better choices. In that order too

Never heard of these, will check it out. Took a while to hunt down the app: http://www.foobar2000.org/components...foo_out_wasapi
From what I read about it on Hi Fi.org its getting good reviews.

[iddqd]

Lol...ur funny. From rear to PIMETA or directly from the headphone amp, it matters not...mouse noise and hiss/buzz/puke/crap can be heard very clearly.

I've wrapped the entire PCIe bracket w/ electrical tape, changed slots, mobos...nothing. The card's on too small a PCB w/ no shielding. AFAIK, the Bravura fixed this w/ some fancy smancy grounding.

Hm. Well, if you're using it on a fairly low volume setting, an attenuator might work for you.

[Jodiuh]

Yeah? I'm pretty sure the TF10's came with one. Thanks, I'll give that a shot. Volume's not a problem since the PIMETA's gain's tuned for the HD580's.

[ArcticOC]

I personally perferr the X-fi based soundcards, much more processing power and very suitable for highly compressed music

The problem with compressed music is that you lose the dynamics in the songs, X-fi CMSS® and Crystallizer put some of that back in the tracks. And with an exeptionally large mp3 collection I would not even consider the Xonar..

I own a Prelude and never had the problems metionend with backround noise and poor EMI shielding.. BTW, a plaine metal cover can't stop EMI interferance completly, lot of BS i this tread..

[Jaivan]

I run my auzentech prelude with no opamp to a SOHA II and have no hiss issue with either the Sennheiser HD650 or AKG 702, and when I want to hook up my Westone 3 I run it amped through a pico slim also no hiss.

[ripken204]

I personally perferr the X-fi based soundcards, much more processing power and very suitable for highly compressed music

The problem with compressed music is that you lose the dynamics in the songs, X-fi CMSS® and Crystallizer put some of that back in the tracks. And with an exeptionally large mp3 collection I would not even consider the Xonar..

I own a Prelude and never had the problems metionend with backround noise and poor EMI shielding.. BTW, a plaine metal cover can't stop EMI interferance completly, lot of BS i this tread..

the Crystallizer does help, alot

[BababooeyHTJ]

a properly designed card doesn't need this EMI shielding at all

xonar DX lives without this shield and has n o noise issue...

you can remove the shielding from essence stx and have no problems, creative has a plastic cover on its new x-fi titanium HD and has no issues at all (great card BTW)

it's all about the card design

My Xonar DX sounded like a bowl of rice crispies.

[ripken204]

My Xonar DX sounded like a bowl of rice crispies.

snap crackle and pop