Question Sound Card suggestions to avoid having to use Realtek ALC4080 ?

[orodruin]

Hello everyone. I need your help regarding a sound card.
I am using the on-board audio on the Asus ROG B650E-E motherboard and I am not happy with the sound at all. It causes crackling in the sound especially in high basses. I tried different speakers but the result did not change at all. I have heard that there are many people who are using Realtek ALC4080 and are not happy with this audio codec.

My previous motherboard was the ROG Crosshair X570. And it was much better in terms of sound.
Now, coming to my question, I want to buy a sound card.

Frankly, I do not have a very high-end sound system. But I want to buy a sound card that I can give quality sound with 2+1 or 5+1 systems for many years to come. I can choose the models I have shared below in the stocks of the country I am in.
Which one do you think I should buy?

Asus XONAR AE 7.1
Asus XONAR SE
Creative Audigy FX V2
Creative Sound Blaster RX

Note: I do not want to buy a DAC because I do not want it to take up extra space.

 

[Lutfij]

I'd pick the Creative Sound Blaster RX or the Xonar AE.

 

[dwd999]

Have you installed all 3 of the patches to the ALC 4080 chip that ASUS released just in case one of them helps improve the situation?

 

[orodruin]

I'd pick the Creative Sound Blaster RX or the Xonar AE.

Is the Creative Sound Blaster RX compatible with Windows 11 drivers? I thought I would prefer that first.

 

[orodruin]

Have you installed all 3 of the patches to the ALC 4080 chip that ASUS released just in case one of them helps improve the situation?

There was only 1 fix patch on my motherboard's driver page. I installed it. But that fix was for digital audio output. There is a similar problem with the analog output. They made the audio interface a USB interface. My previous motherboard had a PCIE interface. For example, when playing AOE4, the sound cracks during battle scenes. Some games cause this problem. When watching music or movies, there are cracks in the BASS or interstitial sounds during some intense sound scenes.

 

[dwd999]

There was only 1 fix patch on my motherboard's driver page. I installed it. But that fix was for digital audio output. There is a similar problem with the analog output. They made the audio interface a USB interface. My previous motherboard had a PCIE interface. For example, when playing AOE4, the sound cracks during battle scenes. Some games cause this problem. When watching music or movies, there are cracks in the BASS or interstitial sounds during some intense sound scenes.

Its unfortunate that ASUS is so inconsistent at updating their website where updates are posted for one motherboard but not another motherboard with the same audio chip; perhaps they think that Realtek had already fixed those chips based on the date they received them. Since these updates only affect the audio chip they are independent of the motherboard:

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/...9_ASUS.zip?model=ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFI

Fixed Line In volume of sound

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/...5_ASUS.zip?model=ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFI

Fixed SPDIF playing music is noisy

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/...5_ASUS.zip?model=ROG STRIX Z590-E GAMING WIFI

The 3rd update says that "Fixed Line Out playing music is noisy" so it may improve your sound.

Note that when you run the update installer it will tell you if your chip is older or already the same as the update and abort.

You could try these as a last resort right before you finalize your order for a new sound card.

 

[orodruin]

Its unfortunate that ASUS is so inconsistent at updating their website where updates are posted for one motherboard but not another motherboard with the same audio chip; perhaps they think that Realtek had already fixed those chips based on the date they received them. Since these updates only affect the audio chip they are independent of the motherboard:

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/14Utilities/USB_Audio_FW_Update_Tool_PID1A52_PID1A97_PID1996_2023-05-19_ASUS.zip?model=ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFI

Fixed Line In volume of sound

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/01AUDIO/USB_Audio_FW_Update_Tool_PID1A52_1A53_2022-12-05_ASUS.zip?model=ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFI

Fixed SPDIF playing music is noisy

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/01AUDIO/USB_Audio_FW_Update_Tool_VID0B05_2021-11-25_ASUS.zip?model=ROG STRIX Z590-E GAMING WIFI

The 3rd update says that "Fixed Line Out playing music is noisy" so it may improve your sound.

Note that when you run the update installer it will tell you if your chip is older or already the same as the update and abort.

You could try these as a last resort right before you finalize your order for a new sound card.

Now I looked at the sound chip patch on my motherboard's web page, the file name is as follows;

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/..._ASUS.zip?model=ROG STRIX B650E-E GAMING WIFI

According to this file name, I noticed that it is the same file as the link in the "Fixed SPDIF playing music is noisy" section in the links you shared. Am I understanding correctly?

I will try the 3rd (Fixed Line Out playing music is noisy) link below it then. Because I have already downloaded and applied the "Fixed SPDIF playing music is noisy" fix in the 2nd link from the link I shared.

I think the patch in the 3rd link will solve my problem.
Would downloading this from another motherboard's page cause any problems?

 

[dwd999]

Now I looked at the sound chip patch on my motherboard's web page, the file name is as follows;

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/01AUDIO/USB_Audio_FW_Update_Tool_PID1A52_1A53_2022-12-05_ASUS.zip?model=ROG STRIX B650E-E GAMING WIFI

According to this file name, I noticed that it is the same file as the link in the "Fixed SPDIF playing music is noisy" section in the links you shared. Am I understanding correctly?

I will try the 3rd (Fixed Line Out playing music is noisy) link below it then. Because I have already downloaded and applied the "Fixed SPDIF playing music is noisy" fix in the 2nd link from the link I shared.

I think the patch in the 3rd link will solve my problem.
Would downloading this from another motherboard's page cause any problems?

The patches apply only to the Realtek ALC 4080 chip and are motherboard independent so it won't matter.

 

[orodruin]

The patches apply only to the Realtek ALC 4080 chip and are motherboard independent so it won't matter.

The latest firmware for ALC4080 is this;

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/...9_ASUS.zip?model=ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFI
Fixed Line In volume of sound

I installed this too. The problem seems to be fixed. I will test it for a few days. Whether it causes cracking in different sounds.The other 2 links you sent were not accepted in the installation.Because their dates are older versions.

 

[dwd999]

The latest firmware for ALC4080 is this;

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/...9_ASUS.zip?model=ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFI
Fixed Line In volume of sound

I installed this too. The problem seems to be fixed. I will test it for a few days. Whether it causes cracking in different sounds.The other 2 links you sent were not accepted in the installation.Because their dates are older versions.

At least you know before deciding to spend on a soundcard that you have the latest and supposedly greatest version of the firmware that Realtek has released for the 4080 chip.