Best sound card for the buck?

[MEgamer]

man werent that a long argument????

look im gonna say it plain and clear, when it comes to creative with their soundcard, its shite PERIOD

 

[mirf]

ASUS Xonar DX ($89.99) or HT Omega Striker ($89.99). Blows the old ExtremeGamer out of the water, quite frnakly.

My list of recommended cards:
ASUS:
Xonar DX
Xonar D2/D2X
Essence ST/STX

Auzentech:
Forte
Prelude

HT Omega:
Striker
Claro

Frankly, the Claro (HT Omega) and Essence ST/STX (ASUS) are the best soundcards on the market, bar none (with the Prelude not that far behind). The Striker (HT Omega) and Xonar DX (ASUS) take up the budget space, beating pretty much everything in Creatives arsenal quite handly.

Absolute nonsense. You've obviously never heard of, e.g. Lynx or RME

 

[gamerk316]

^^ Different market segment. Unless you are doing studio quality conversion, no reason to spend $600+ on a soundcard. And frankly, for playback, I'd still take the Essence ST/STX.

 

[outlw6669]

^ +1

 

[MEgamer]

woo ASUS WINS AGAIN

 

[gamerk316]

Actually, I favor the HT Omega Striker at $89 over the DX/D1 simply due to connectivity (Seperate SPDIF In/Out + Seperate Line in/Mic in ports, not unlike the ASUS Xonar D2/D2X...).

Really, the order is essentially:
ASUS Xonar DS (Low end)
ASUS Xonar D1/DX and HT Omega Striker (Budget)
ASUS Xonar D2/D2X and Auzentech Forte (Mid end)
ASUS Xonar Essence ST/STX and Auzentech Prelude and HT Omega Claro (High End)
ASUS Xonar HDAV 1.3 and Auzentech HT HD (HT Systems)

Note that the "low end" and "mid end" are just tiering I made up; its not like the D1 is that substantally better then the D2 or even the Forte...just comparing on Price/Performance really. Heck, the DS beats every Creative card for gods sake...

 

[outlw6669]

You have all the cards there but I might tier them slightly differently.
I would probably order them like this:

ASUS Xonar DS (Low End)
ASUS Xonar D1/DX and HT|Omega Striker (Midrange)
ASUS Xonar D2/D2X and Auzentech Forte (High End Surround)
ASUS Xonar Essence ST/STX, Auzentech Prelude and HT|Omega Claro (High End Headphone)
ASUS Xonar HDAV 1.3 and Auzentech HT HD (HT Systems)

 

[gamerk316]

Eh, I have the Prelude as more then a headphone based card (Same with the Claro), although all three in that group are good buys for that category. Just semantics though.

The best buys are almost certainly the ASUS Xonar DS (for about $50!) and the HT Omega Striker (Loaded card for about $89).

 

[MEgamer]

i guess u could say for the DS if ur only gonna use it as a 'glorified' DAC

 

[ashley_suican]

Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater HD
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD
ASUS Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe
ASUS Xonar D2X

 

[MEgamer]

Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater HD
this card has a lot of problems, apparently, according to some reviews on newegg,

 

[gamerk316]

^^ It had some driver issues when it came out [no shock; the drivers are supplied by Creative]. Most of them seem to have been resolved.

Again, the best cards for the money are the Xonar DS and Xonar D1/DX. The Prelude is probably next [as much as I love the Xonar D2/D2X, the Prelude makes more sense due to its price; The D2(X) desperatlly needs to drop to the $140 range...].

 

[Guest]

Jeez,

For time immemorial I have fought Creative crap. I have spent hundreds on their pathetic audio boards. Driver problems, software problems... you name it. They should admit they make crap and quit! Make some room for quality components.

 

[MEgamer]

thought that most of the creative problems have been solved now.

you tried daniel_k drivers?

 

[gamerk316]

^^ Don't always work. And the fact you NEED third party modded drivers says all that you need to know.

Nevermind Creative cards are lower quality anyways...(Still waiting for a Creative card which can handle 192KHz output @ > 110dB...)

 

[prljamm1]

Based on reading this thread, and my limited budget, my list is narrowed down to these 3 (not in order):

ASUS Xoner DX
ASUS Xoner D1
HT Omega Striker

I plan on purchasing one of these from NewEgg, and I have read the reviews, but am concerned about the 1 star/egg comments. Of these 3, could you please shed some more light on their performances, and whatever else you can offer? Also, which of these 3 are the best? I am a gamer, but not a "hardcore" gamer. Thanks in advance.

 

[MEgamer]

regardless of the connectivity, both of those provide you with similiar sound quality, now if u are gonna need both SPDIF and analogue jack connection, then get the HT omega otherwise get the ASUS, D1 or DX both the same, just different PCI interfaces.

 

[prljamm1]

Thanks "MEgamer." Based on that info, I am down to the 2 ASUS cards. At NewEgg, there is a $10 difference after the rebates. I am wondering why the regular PCI card is more than the PCI Express X!? Also, what is "SPDIF?"

 

[sarwar_r87]

^^ Don't always work. And the fact you NEED third party modded drivers says all that you need to know.

Nevermind Creative cards are lower quality anyways...(Still waiting for a Creative card which can handle 192KHz output @ > 110dB...)

actually i have no problems with.xfi and the latest driver from une this year. the console is beta, but it works gr8

what third party drivers u refering to.

but ya. quality of creativ is bello par. i got mine from a frnd for 35 dollar n though its worth. but otherwise i wouldn hav even considered it

 

[davcon]

I think the best value soundcard is the Auzentech Bravura which i notice hasn't been mentioned once.
It was $75 last week at NCIX and i'm sure it's as good if not better then the Asus and Omega offerings in that price range.
I know Asus and Omega make a quality product but Omega seems overpriced to me.
Until the new Creatives come out and redeem themselves i won't reccommend them.
Still a pretty good deal at this price for a Bravura.
http://www.ncixus.com/products/?sku=49090&promoid=1048&vpn=AZT%2DBRAVURA&manufacture=AuzenTech
I presently run a Forte which is very good and has been priced as low as $100 in recent months.

 

[prljamm1]

Thanks for the insight and link, Davcon. The rebate puts the card in my price range. Can you tell me a little more about this card?

 

[davcon]

Thanks for the insight and link, Davcon. The rebate puts the card in my price range. Can you tell me a little more about this card?

Well i don't know how much more i can describe that already isn't included in the link.
It includes many features of the latest Creative line like X-FI and some gaming features like EAX 4.0.
Doesn't include crappy drivers.
Has a great headphone amp full 1/4 inch input for real headphones.So you could use Grado's,AKG's,etc from your home hi-fi.
It's upgradeable with swappable opamp modules.
It really has alot of features for its price.
I know another highly regarded forum member has one and is very impressed.
I own the next model up the Forte and i'm very impressed for the performance and value.
I use my AKG's from my home hi-fi sounds pretty good considering i'm use to hearing them through my Quad hi-fi gear.
Auzentech make bloody good cards for the price beat the pants off the competition imo.

 

[prljamm1]

Good enough, Davcon...thanks a lot for the additional info! You have given me more to ponder! 🙂

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey