Auzen Forte vs ASUS Xonar Essence STX

[RealTelstar]

As the subject says.

I want to replace my x-fi fatality gamer with something that sounds better and pci-express and get rid of creative drivers.
Looks like the two cards have similar components. The auzen is more versatile, but i use only headphones anyway.

Use: 40% gaming, 60% music listening while browsing/chatting/emailing.

The Forte is slightly cheaper (or so the preorder price says). Both are not available in europe, and I would have to order from usa/canada.

[Heretic]

I was under the impression that Auzentech used modified drivers from Creative, so going to the Forte wouldn't help in that regard.

[RealTelstar]

Dunno, when i tried to install auzen drivers, they didn't work. I also wonder if they use creative asio or their own.

Auzen forte:
+lower price
+EAX 5
+X-RAM

Asus xonar essence:
+possibly better SQ (not sure)
+better drivers
-EAX 3 (or 2 whatever) limited

[Helmore]

Auzentech gets its drivers from Creative, although Auzentech does dispose of most (if not all) of the bloat that the standard Creative drivers come with. So at the core you will have drivers that are made by Creative, but they are modified by Auzentech. (AFAIK, I'm no expert)

[flopper]

I would go essence stx.
but I preordered the card so I am biased.

[Monkey101]

Dunno, when i tried to install auzen drivers, they didn't work. I also wonder if they use creative asio or their own.

Auzen forte:
+lower price
+EAX 5
+X-RAM

Asus xonar essence:
+possibly better SQ (not sure)
+better drivers
-EAX 3 (or 2 whatever) limited

AFAIK, the X-Ram does nothing on most games, and not alot of newly released games use EAX 5 but lower price is always good. What speakers/headphones will you be using with it?

[Bradan]

I see you have Hd 595.

You would very much appreciate the amp built into the Xonar Essence STX.

edit: the forte has a amp too

Important
The xonar stx has a 1/4" jack like your 595's (big headphone jack, no stupid connector) -->STX is better
The xonar has an adjustable output impedance, the forte has 330ohm out (hd595 = 50ohm) -->STX is better
The xonar has a 110db SNR vs 109b SNR (Very close) -->STX is better
The xonar has really weak EAX suppourt (I've heard its buggy) --> Forte is better


The EAX is what it comes down to. Name the games you play that suppourt EAX, and justify the loss of the other advantages.
You also have to use creatives downloadable app to regain EAX suppourt in vista, in addition to creative's drivers, and manually add games to gain suppourt.
http://xfi.blogspot.com/2007/06/alch...i-edition.html

[RealTelstar]

I see you have Hd 595.

You would very much appreciate the amp built into the Xonar Essence STX.

edit: the forte has a amp too

Important
The xonar stx has a 1/4" jack like your 595's (big headphone jack, no stupid connector) -->STX is better
The xonar has an adjustable output impedance, the forte has 330ohm out (hd595 = 50ohm) -->STX is better
The xonar has a 110db SNR vs 109b SNR (Very close) -->STX is better
The xonar has really weak EAX suppourt (I've heard its buggy) --> Forte is better

The EAX is what it comes down to. Name the games you play that suppourt EAX, and justify the loss of the other advantages.
You also have to use creatives downloadable app to regain EAX suppourt in vista, in addition to creative's drivers, and manually add games to gain suppourt.
http://xfi.blogspot.com/2007/06/alch...i-edition.html

Thank you for the very accurate and useful post.

From some pictures i saw, it seemed that they had the same headphone amp, but I must be wrong.

I dont play much, but i hate when there is stutter in audio in crowded areas. I play only MMOs, single person RPG and strategy games. I'm currently playing fallout 3.

Overall, the prioriry is 60% music while surfing/writing/etc and 40% gaming.
I'd like more feedback about the Asus Essence.

[Bradan]

Thank you for the very accurate and useful post.

From some pictures i saw, it seemed that they had the same headphone amp, but I must be wrong.

I dont play much, but i hate when there is stutter in audio in crowded areas. I play only MMOs, single person RPG and strategy games. I'm currently playing fallout 3.

Overall, the prioriry is 60% music while surfing/writing/etc and 40% gaming.
I'd like more feedback about the Asus Essence.

Asus just recently changed the info on the headphone-out SNR, and it's 117 db SNR, 109-117 is HUGE!

Remember that dB is a logorithmic scale, so its allot better.
Head-Fi'ers are raving about this card, and there is a digital out for an external decoder.

Go for it. Hands down winner.

[RealTelstar]

I wonder when will be available in europe. I'm not really in a hurry

[Bojamijams]

STX is the new king of the hill in terms of sound quality.

I have a prelude that I ditched as soon as I heard this. I also hated auzentech drivers.. had huge memory leak issues and DDL didn't always work.

Couldn't be happier with the STX.

[RealTelstar]

Looks like ETA in italy is the first week of february. I can wait

[Bradan]

STX is the new king of the hill in terms of sound quality.

I have a prelude that I ditched as soon as I heard this. I also hated auzentech drivers.. had huge memory leak issues and DDL didn't always work.

Couldn't be happier with the STX.

I just got my Denon AH-D2000 .

What sound card did you upgrade from?

[16floz470ml]

The Xonar has only one pro as I see it. It might possibly sound better with music if you go by the specs. If I just wanted to listen to music I might buy it.

My thinking is that if I am going to buy a sound card I want it to add performance to my system. It is a fact that the Xonar is software based and will take cycles away from your cpu and decrease performance in games. The Forte will add performance in games no matter what. It is hardware based and the game does not have to support x-ram for this to happen.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

The forte is incredible, I have heard of many problems people have with the Xonar, my forte has none

[Donnie27]

Looks like ETA in italy is the first week of february. I can wait

I'll start by saying I'm X-Fi Biased. I like the Forte Better and the Xonars isn't Bad except I'd never install it in a Gaming Fig. I love Music too and also like to analog record from time to time. If the Forte can record as well as the Prelude, it will be hard to beat.

I just have to correct one thing mentioned in this Thread. Many First Shooters Do in FACT support EAX 4 or higher. EAX only adds to OpenAL that most new games use. Last Halflife 2 add on, Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway, STALKER CS, Fear 2, Crysis Warhead, Call of Duty 4 and World at War and many more. No, that Xonar hack doesn't work with them

Most folks I know complaining about bloat, never even tried this so called bloat. Anyway, Creative's drivers gives a Performance install option that installs only those must have controllers and drivers.

Music Wise? I just put a Burr Brown Opamp on my sound card and it was my 4th swap. I don't think anything about very SLIGHT differences to YOUR taste any sound will make that much difference=P My Cans (DT-770 Pro 80)sounds like I might blow them at about 65% volume Again, I'm X-Fi Biased. After Auzentech came up with a lower Price for the Forte, that makes it hard to pass up.

$129.99 ($109.99 after $20.00 Mail-In
Rebate )

The card I heard for Music and Games is well worth that price.

Off topic. If Creative doesn't improve its hardware, layout and yes drivers + apps, they'll not be around next year.

[Bradan]

I'm not sure about that. There's a large number of us completely sick of creatives bull. I bought a card less than 2 years ago, and the driver release for vista has only the console, no eq, no cal, no stereo surround, I need to use alchemy to get EAX aswell.

I'm fairly sure you've never heard EAX, because you have to have alchemy installed, and add games manually to use EAX in vista.

The xonar STX destroys the forte in terms of hardware, layout, components, DAC, amp section and overall sound quality from a good bit of reading I have done.

Go ask head-fi! (They might be a little crazy)

So EAX aside when considering the use of alchemy in vista, the forte doesn't have much going for it. It will be unsuppourted in a year or two, and that's a huge, lame dealbreaker to me.

[Blankeee]

Get the STX. Can't comment on Auzentech but have been using Creative cards including 2 X-fi's in the past. Noticed immediately a major improvement in sound quality with the STX. Simply put the sound sounds crisper, richer, and adds a whole new level of immersion in various multimedia. The campaign in Call of Duty 4 sounds insane! I've got Swans M10 speakers and they're finally reaching their potential.

Added to this the installation is no fuss no muss. No bullsh-t software, driver updates actually work, software has a very small profile; it really is a night and day comparison here. Also speaking for myself I always thought EAX was a little bit of a gimick and doesn't really add a whole bunch to the overall audio experience-but that's just me.

But to be fair this is Auzentech not Creative here. And from what I understand Auzentech really brings the X-fi chip to its full potential with cleaned up software and drivers among other things.

But if anything if price isn't a concern you could simply get the STX just based on the physical appearance of the card... It's a very classy and sophisticated looking piece of hardware.

Anyway this is my first ASUS card and I don't plan on going back to Creative any time soon.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

the Auzentech drivers are superb for vista....

also auzentech has the "What U Hear" unlike creative nowadays. its verynice (borat)

[Bradan]

the Auzentech drivers are superb for vista....

also auzentech has the "What U Hear" unlike creative nowadays. its verynice (borat)

leveling is nice for obnoxious apps I agree.

[Donnie27]

the Auzentech drivers are superb for vista....

also auzentech has the "What U Hear" unlike creative nowadays. its verynice (borat)

Maybe something didn't install right. I have Vista-MCE on my HTPC with X-Fi Platinum that has the "What You Hear" for Entertainment and Creation/Recording modes feature.

[Donnie27]

I'm not sure about that. There's a large number of us completely sick of creatives bull. I bought a card less than 2 years ago, and the driver release for vista has only the console, no eq, no cal, no stereo surround, I need to use alchemy to get EAX aswell.

I'm fairly sure you've never heard EAX, because you have to have alchemy installed, and add games manually to use EAX in vista.

The xonar STX destroys the forte in terms of hardware, layout, components, DAC, amp section and overall sound quality from a good bit of reading I have done.

Go ask head-fi! (They might be a little crazy)

So EAX aside when considering the use of alchemy in vista, the forte doesn't have much going for it. It will be unsuppourted in a year or two, and that's a huge, lame dealbreaker to me.

Just as there are large numbers who aren't having problems but who counting a few hundred quiet millions vs a few thousand nosey ones

Xonar distroys the Forte Right Yes, Head-fi is full of head cases.

[Soulburner]

Get the STX. Can't comment on Auzentech but have been using Creative cards including 2 X-fi's in the past. Noticed immediately a major improvement in sound quality with the STX. Simply put the sound sounds crisper, richer, and adds a whole new level of immersion in various multimedia. The campaign in Call of Duty 4 sounds insane! I've got Swans M10 speakers and they're finally reaching their potential.

Added to this the installation is no fuss no muss. No bullsh-t software, driver updates actually work, software has a very small profile; it really is a night and day comparison here. Also speaking for myself I always thought EAX was a little bit of a gimick and doesn't really add a whole bunch to the overall audio experience-but that's just me.

But to be fair this is Auzentech not Creative here. And from what I understand Auzentech really brings the X-fi chip to its full potential with cleaned up software and drivers among other things.

But if anything if price isn't a concern you could simply get the STX just based on the physical appearance of the card... It's a very classy and sophisticated looking piece of hardware.

Anyway this is my first ASUS card and I don't plan on going back to Creative any time soon.

Completely different hardware.

Too many people relate Auzen to Creative, and I can kind of understand why, but its getting old. Completely different companies. Auzentech cards are top notch and there is no justification to not buy one just because you are tired of Creative. They use the X-Fi chip to build their own implementation of a superior sound card with different components.

If the Forte is anything like the Prelude (and I'll assume it is, can't be that different), it will rock. The software is light and stable, mine has been set-it-and-forget-it for a long time now, save turning off CMSS whenever I game (so proper 5.1 is used).

[Blankeee]

Completely different hardware.

Too many people relate Auzen to Creative, and I can kind of understand why, but its getting old. Completely different companies. Auzentech cards are top notch and there is no justification to not buy one just because you are tired of Creative. They use the X-Fi chip to build their own implementation of a superior sound card with different components.

If the Forte is anything like the Prelude (and I'll assume it is, can't be that different), it will rock. The software is light and stable, mine has been set-it-and-forget-it for a long time now, save turning off CMSS whenever I game (so proper 5.1 is used).

That's why I said I, "can't speak for Auzentech" and "this is Auzentech not Creative here". I was basing my opinion more on my personal satisfaction for my own STX; sorry if it came off like I was bashing the Forte. I'm sure Forte and the Prelude are excellent sound cards but so is the STX.

But I should have also mentioned that I really don't play games all that much (but in the ones I do the STX is sublime) and most of the sound coming from my STX is from music or an occasional movie. In this regard I don't really think you could get much better than an STX without spending quite a bit more.

[16floz470ml]

But if anything if price isn't a concern you could simply get the STX just based on the physical appearance of the card... It's a very classy and sophisticated looking piece of hardware.

WTF?