Sound Cards. On board Realtek vs SB X-Fi Fatal1ty vs new sound card?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Darkmatterx

Darkmatterx

Distinguished
Apr 8, 2003
586
7
19,015
I'm currently using on board sound (Realtek) with my Asus Z97m-Plus motherboard but I do have a SB X-Fi Fatal1ty in my old computer. I wasn't sure which would produce better sound since the X-Fi is so old now. If I was to look at getting a new sound card what brand/type should I be looking for? I currently am using Logitech Z-5300 5.1 speakers that are about 15 to 20 years old probably, but they are still in great shape and I never cranked up the sound high enough to damage the speakers. OH I should say I'm using Windows 10 64x and rarely use a headset and don't own a high quality one.

Thanks!
 
Solution
D
They have the same drivers thus the same sound. The naming scheme is just based on looks. 598 ( burl ivory, discontinued ) 598 SE ( black, slightly more comfortable headband design ) and 598 SR ( revised headband and 2 cables, 1 with a mic for phone use ).

I always thought the original 598s were very comfortable but apparently they made them better in that department.

Sennheiser cans are also fully modular. So you can replace parts very easily. I replaced the ear pads on my 598s after 4 years of heavy use. They just snap out and back in. No tools required.

598s with new ear pads on the right. 600s on the left.

hRzgnoP.jpg
Sort by date Sort by votes
With your stated usage you're fine with onboard. With speakers you don't turn up and no good headphones you'll never notice a difference with a soundcard.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
While that saves me money its somewhat disappointing. lol I was hoping I could get better sound with the X-Fi or a new sound card but I don't feel like spending over $100 on a headset. Not only do I find them uncomfortable and makes my ears hot, I get migraines so I don't turn the volume up to high anyways. I also live in an apartment.

Thanks for the responses.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A soundcard isn't going to make lower end speakers sound good. I have an Asus Xonar Essence STX but I also have several pairs of high end headphones that need an amp and DAC. Those Logitechs are great speakers for the money but they aren't audiophile grade. I'm still using the Z2300s which are the 2.1 version of the ones you have. I only use them a few times a year though as 99% of the time I use my desktop it's with headphones.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
How much do you have to spend.. :)

I can wear both my Sennheiser HD 600s or HD 650s for hours and hours and I barely notice them on my head. Not at all hot or uncomfortable. Both are open back so they breathe. Closed back can get hot.

The best headphones I'd recommend without an amp/DAC of some type would be the Sennheiser HD 598s or the new 599s. A little cheaper would be the HD 558s or 579s that just replaced them. Sennheiser just introduced a bunch of new models in the 5xx series.

I LOVE open back Sennheisers. I own HD 598s, HD 600s and HD 650s.

So something like this.

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-579-Open-Headphone/dp/B01L1IIF1K/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

Not cheap but they aren't going to sound cheap either. They don't need an amp/DAC but they will benefit from one if you choose to add one later.

This might be a better deal..

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-SR-Open-Back/dp/B06WRMZZ45/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

598s with a mic so you can use them with a phone.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Just saw this deal. HD 558s for $79 at Best Buy. :)

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sennheiser-audiophile-over-the-ear-headphones-titan/1700513.p?ref=8575135&loc=2095dc7a8acf11e7848dfae05afd5f940INT&acampID=2095dc7a8acf11e7848dfae05afd5f940INT&skuId=1700513

That's half price. No idea how long the deal will last. These are very good. They say audiophile but in my opinion you need to move to the 6xx series with an amp and DAC before you can truly say that. They are VERY good though especially at that price.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks for the link. Does the wire get in the way? I'd love to go wireless but the cost skyrockets. 🙁 Also, I'm in Canada so I'm not sure if I can order them or if BB Canada will price match with exchange rate taken into account.

Edit: Google says they don't ship to Canada and they don't price match. 🙁 I can't even find that exact headset on the Canadian Site. 🙁

Edit 2: Strangely enough the ver with a mic is considerably cheaper then the one without on Amazon.ca

https://www.amazon.ca/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B06WRMZZ45/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503839236&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Sennheiser%2B-%2BAudiophile%2BOver-the-Ear%2BHeadphones%2B-%2BTitan&th=1

One thing I don't like is that the "over the head" connector piece isn't adjustable. How do I figure out if these will fit me comfortably? I live in a small town and the nearest BB is 1h20m away.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
They're adjustable. They have to be or they would have to offer different sizes.

Didn't realize you were in Canada so no that Best Buy link probably won't work for you.

Like I said above Sennheiser just released several new models in the HD 5xx series. The 598s with the mic are relatively new and the burl wood color without the mic ( what I have ) is being phased out for the newer HD 599. The 598 SR with the mic is still the excellent 598s where it counts. Pretty much the best headphones I would recommend without an amp/DAC or soundcard combining the 2 like I have. They WILL benefit from those things though so if you choose to upgrade in the future they will get new life so to speak.

They have a single cable that is high quality, long enough to not keep you from moving around and replaceable.

One good thing about Amazon is their return policy. If Amazon Canada is as good as Amazon here in the US you can always return them for any reason you want and it's free.

Edit: Just read it and that model comes with 2 cables. A short one with a mic for phone use and a longer one for computer/stereo use.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
They have the same drivers thus the same sound. The naming scheme is just based on looks. 598 ( burl ivory, discontinued ) 598 SE ( black, slightly more comfortable headband design ) and 598 SR ( revised headband and 2 cables, 1 with a mic for phone use ).

I always thought the original 598s were very comfortable but apparently they made them better in that department.

Sennheiser cans are also fully modular. So you can replace parts very easily. I replaced the ear pads on my 598s after 4 years of heavy use. They just snap out and back in. No tools required.

598s with new ear pads on the right. 600s on the left.

hRzgnoP.jpg
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
There is a huge Head Fi thread about the 598s if you want other opinions.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sennheiser-hd-598-impressions-thread.541039/

That's pretty much the headphone and headphone accessory site.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks. 1 Last question, I promise... probably.... lol Will my SB X-Fi Fatal1ty give good sound to the ones on sale or would I need a newer sound card, and if so, which one would be good but not overly expensive?

Thanks

Edit: Ok I lied. I don't see anywhere if its open backed or not, also it says right in the spec's that the headband is not adjustable, so it either fits, or it doesn't I guess.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The headband is fully adjustable. I promise lol.

All 598s except the 598C are open back. The C means closed back.

Link to what you're looking at?

Yep that X-Fi is fine. Like I said the 598s don't need anything more than a smartphone. But they will benefit from whatever you have beyond that.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Those are HD 558s the same model I linked above at the US BestBuy. Not the 598s. They are still very good but they are a step down from the 598s. Don't let that throw you off from getting them though. For the money you won't do better. I believe they actually have the same driver as the 598 just tuned a bit differently.

Here a great review. 1min in shows how they adjust.

[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2zlrGrqYL8"][/video]
 
Upvote 0 Downvote


All headphones and speakers aren't created equal. 😉
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom