Xonar D2X bad card?

[kemperkipie]

I've had my Asus Xonar D2X for more than 6 months now.
I noticed that it doesn't have a speaker fill build in, which is pretty bad imo. Luckily there are some programs which have it build in: Like VLC or iTunes.

Now I found out some crazy stuff:
It seems that my subwoofer gets ignored if I don't enable "Flexbass". Now you think; Why don't you just keep "Flexbass" enabled?
Well, the point is: somehow, when I play music with all channels, the bass is very weak, but when I set my "Center speaker" volume to 0, the bass get's stronger. So I guess the Center speaker interferes with my Subwoofer. Probably because they are on the same connector? I don't know
But when I turn down the Center volume on my hardware-controlpanel attached to my speakers to manage volumes, it doesn't have any effect on the bass..... So only the Xonar D2X Audio Center has effect on it..

Can someone explain why this happens or if I can fix it. It really annoys me that I can't listen to my music like I want it.
It's either only front-speakers with full bass power, or all speakers with weak bass...

(When I test my subwoofer in Windows Audio Control Panel, it still works, even if I turn off "Flexbass")

 

[mightymaxio]

I would honestly recommend the new creative labs sound blaster Z line if you want "better" audio since they have more refined software and have better DAC's than Asus's line now.

 

[kemperkipie]

Then what would I have to do with my Asus Xonar D2X? I mean, I don't have unlimited money 🙁

 

[festerovic]

That is a fantastic card, Actually there is a speaker fill option on the card, its called Dolby virtual speaker, you can get to it through the settings in the Xonar control panel. You have to enable 4+ speakers to see the option.

I am guessing you have the speakers set up with 3x RCA to 3.5mm cables? If so, try swapping the Center and the Subwoofer.

 

[photonboy]

What SPEAKER system do you have?

An audio card can only do so much. If the speakers aren't great then it's not going to matter what card you get. In general for audio software I recommend:

DISABLE anything in the audio software that alters the audio. The ONLY thing I allow is to adjust the relative VOLUME strength of channels though in general even these should be at default.

 

[kemperkipie]

I have the "Razer Tiamat 7.1"
I can't have speakers, only a headset.
But this headset is connected with analog 3,5mm jacks.
Now I know this headset isn't loved by audiophiles, but I love it... if it works properly.

If I disable everything, and only adjust volumes per channel. (and use a 7.1 file to test) I notice that all channels work, but the subwoofer doesn't. When I turn on "Flexbass" (The option that redirects in my case <70HZ from all channels to the subwoofer) the subwoofer works. But it doesn't give full bass power. Somehow, when I now turn my Center speakers volume to 0 in the Xonar Control Panel, the bass gets to full power. But now I don't have Center audio.

The thing with "Dolby virtual speaker" isn't what I need. I do have 7.1 speakers, and don't need it virtually. I just want all channels to work

Just to be clear: Razer Tiamat 7.1 has de subwoofer channel directed to 2 woofers (1 in each cup) and the center also has 2 drivers (1 in each cup).

 

[festerovic]

From the Razer site:

How do I make the Subwoofers work in my headset? I have no bass response!

By default Windows has the Subwoofer channels disabled. Here are a few Windows settings we would like you to check and change to give you a better audio experience. By default Windows dose not send any signal to the sub channels.

To enable this we would like you to go to your Sound settings in the Control Panel and right click on your audio out-put device and click configure. Make sure to select 7.1 in each menu and click next and finished at the end.
Next right click your audio out-put device and go to Properties and click on the Enhancements tab. Now put the check mark in the box that says Bass Boost, then click Apply and OK. You should see a dramatic change in how your headset handles bass.

Please note this only applies to the default windows sound driver. If you have an aftermarket high end sound card please consult the manual or manufacturer on how to enable this feature.

 

[kemperkipie]

Please note this only applies to the default windows sound driver. If you have an aftermarket high end sound card please consult the manual or manufacturer on how to enable this feature.

So I don't have this function 🙁
Any other options? (When click the subwoofer to test in windows control panel, it does actually work even without Flexbass)

 

[festerovic]

I see. Try this:

On the Xonar DX Audio Center application, on the Main tab, it lets you set up all the settings for the output.
I use digital out, but you use analog, so I changed the Analog Output to 5.1, and then a Hammer icon appears next to the field. If you click it, it gives you the option to Swap Center/Subwoofer.

Try this, I really think its the problem.

 

[photonboy]

Please note this only applies to the default windows sound driver. If you have an aftermarket high end sound card please consult the manual or manufacturer on how to enable this feature.

So I don't have this function 🙁
Any other options? (When click the subwoofer to test in windows control panel, it does actually work even without Flexbass)

There should be no issue getting the proper output from your sound card, however I don't know how to help you further over the internet.

Perhaps you are actually getting the BASS in the headphones but due to the fact they're headphones it's not very noticeable.

 

[kemperkipie]

No, the center and woofer aren't swapped. The sound isn't swapped, the woofer is just disabled when I don't turn on "Flexbass"
I tested it with playing music and movies, and setting all channel volumes to 0 and the subwoofer on 100. There is no sound, when I put on FlexBass, it only displays bass. So this means the subwoofer is connected to the right channel, and the control panel actually indentifies which channel it is.

The problem is, that it interferes with center (by lowering bass output when center volume is 100, when center is 0 the bass is optimal.. but then I have no center)

And I think it should be able to display bass without enabling Flexbass at all. So far it only works in windows control panel to test the subwoofer. But any other audio program, such as VLC, iTunes or WMP don't output bass at all if I don't have Flexbass. And if Flexbass is enabled, it only shows optimal bass when I set Center to 0.

I currently listen to music with WMP, because WMP doesnt fill speakers. It just plays the audio through the front speakers, and the flexbass gives the optimal bass. But the Rear, Side and Center speakers are just sitting there doing nothing

 

[festerovic]

Ok, this problem of yours was fascinating me for a while, but I think this may help.

I was able to simulate the exact same effect when I switched my 5.1 system to use 2 channels (from the Xonar app) and also switching on Dolby Pro logic. Dolby Pro logic uses an algorithm based on the stereo spread of a 2 channel sound file. Because it is generating 6 channels from 2, there are certain limitations, one of them is that the subwoofer track is not pulled from the frequencies of the track, but is instead created from the differences between the left and right channels. I have seen this work a couple ways: 1) when the bass is panned on both sides, and is prominent, say in dubstep or hip hop, the bass gets transferred to the subwoofer channel via pro logic in a way that limits the bass output. 2) when the bass is panned to the center, and is prominent, like in a rock tune (i used Suffocation's latest album) it has a better chance of being louder in the mix. The fact that you turn up Center channel and get less bass means to me that the 2 channels are phasing each other out based on the spread that DPL is looking for when it creates the center and Subwoofer channels.

^ that doesn't always work out that way exactly, just my observations on some music. But the concept is there. I think that VLC or other players that offer a speaker fill are just using some variation of DPL and that's the effect you hear. Now if you wanted full frequency sound out of each speaker, my Sony receiver has a sound mode called "Multi ST" where it sends the FL and FR channels to the RS and LS speakers, and continues to use subwoofer based on low frequencies in the track, not based on the audio spread like DPL. Not sure what speakers or audio system you are using or if that's possible for you, though.