Asus Xonar DGX Sound Card: Worth It?

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Garbo86

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I've read that some cheap cards use the same chip or codec as those available in a newer mobo, so they won't actually increase sound quality. Would this sound card be one of those?

Here's the one I'm looking at:

SOUND: * ASUS Xonar DGX 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCIe Sound Card [+45]

And here's the mobo I would be using:

MOTHERBOARD: ASRock Z97 Pro4 ATX w/ Intel GbLAN, 2 PCIe x16, 2 PCIe x1, 2 PCI, 1 x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gb/s (All Venom OC Certified)

If this sound card isn't any good, what's the cheapest one available that actually makes a difference in sound quality? Here's the rest of my (CyberPower, yes I am lazy and wretched for not building my own but it's actually quite reasonably priced) build: http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/saved/1GE2DL

Thanks.
 
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I don't know about this card in particular, however, there's much less of a need to buy a dedicated sound card these days - modern motherboards already have far superior audio solutions than they used to. Games developers have for a long time used software algorithms for SFX e.g. reverb, delay, etc - these are primary effects and the developer can't rely on the end user possessing a dedicated audio card.
I've used the motherboard solution for 3-4 years (used to have a Creative card before).
On the other hand, dedicated cards can offer additional features. It's up to you if you think you'll need them.
As usual, read on line reviews e.g:

http://techreport.com/review/23358/asus-budget-xonar-dgx-and-dsx-sound-cards-reviewed...
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juanrdp

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The Xonar DGX 5.1 is better in several aspects, the motherboard use the ALC892 audio chip from Realtek that personally i found lacking in several areas.

You need to compare the ASUS AV66 chip with the Realtek ALC892 that the mainboard use.

Still, is a low budget card, don't expect a wonderfull sound within that price range.

 
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Jim90

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I don't know about this card in particular, however, there's much less of a need to buy a dedicated sound card these days - modern motherboards already have far superior audio solutions than they used to. Games developers have for a long time used software algorithms for SFX e.g. reverb, delay, etc - these are primary effects and the developer can't rely on the end user possessing a dedicated audio card.
I've used the motherboard solution for 3-4 years (used to have a Creative card before).
On the other hand, dedicated cards can offer additional features. It's up to you if you think you'll need them.
As usual, read on line reviews e.g:

http://techreport.com/review/23358/asus-budget-xonar-dgx-and-dsx-sound-cards-reviewed
http://www.head-fi.org/products/asus-xonar-dgx
http://www.legitreviews.com/asus-xonar-dgx-and-xonar-dsx-audio-cards-reviews_2176/2

If you are into music recording/production then that's a different matter - check out 'audio interfaces' for that.
 
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juanrdp

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Althought that it's true, the motherboards solutions (even high-end ones) are still lacking in several ways.

Of course if you use cheap headphones or speakers you will get no improvement or very minor one from getting a dedicated sound card, but with good headphones/speakers you will get a very good improvement from a dedicated soundcard, specially with headphones and card with good headphones amps.

Take into consideration that to get a measurable improvement from a soundcard you need to have good speakers/headphones, from them alone you will get more improvement on the sound quality for the money you expend.

For example, i use mainly three headphones, for music an AKG K550 for bass light sound and an old Sennheiser hd598 for more bass heavy music (i like more the clear sound of the 550s but they are still a bit laking in bass) and a gamming headphone (Roccat Knave) and they get a nice improvement with a card like Asus Essence over any other, but we are talking of headphones (less for the gamming one) in the 100+ euros range.

And ofc, is critical your personal taste (some persons like bass-heavy and blurrowed sound, another like cristaline sound, etc...) and your own hearing range (for example to be able to discern sound diferences between 44KHz to 192KHz DAC rates and between 8 to 24 bits)
 
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Jim90

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Absolutely true! While I've been happy enough with MB solutions recently, in reading the reviews above, I might have a rethink on dedicated cards. As you say, to fully benefit you absolutely need no weak links from sample playback to speaker/headphone, and even then, you need to make sure your ears can notice the improvement in fidelity, spacial separation, etc. I'm not sure if proprietary features e.g. Creative EAX are still supported, but yes, higher quality components will still make a difference. Ok...more Googling :)
 
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Garbo86

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Thanks for the info! I think with the options available to me on my build-a-computer site I'll pass on the card. If it comes up later I might spring for an STX Essence or something, depends on whether or not I like what's coming out of my speakers.
 
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juanrdp

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The card uses an PCIe x1 slot that your MB have (if you are not using it), and the Realtek 662 of the MB is trully trash.

But again, the DXG card is the lower end one from Asus and you are using your only x1 slot, im not sure about it.

I will rate the choices:
- If you use it to listen music, have a good speaker/headset and want to spend a bit more of money i will purchase an Xonar Essence card
- If you also play videogames and want to spend a little less money i will purchase an Xonar Phoebus Solo
- I will also value the purchase of an external sound card, Asus Xonar u5/u7 to avoid using the only PCIe you have available, a bit worse sound than previous solutions but have advantages like not using the slot, easier installation and portability.
- If none of the avove fulfill i will avoid purchase anything

Due the fact you are using a really low end MB with very little upgrade capabilities, if you have a decent speakers or headset i will purchase the Asus Xonar u7 to be able to use it also on other equipments (or the u5 if the price gap is small) but i will not purchase neither a high end card (that could cost 2x the price of the MB) or a cheaper one that offer only a small improvement at the cost of your only slot.
 
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