Sound card suggestion

Darthenn · May 22, 2017

Hello,
I'm thinking about buying a PCI soundcard for my computer. I don't know if it's worth buying some budget card or using onboard. I have MSI H97 mobo if I'm not mistaken. I'd mostly like to improve my mic quality. I currently have Zalman ZM-MIC1 and I'm planning on improving that one too.
What sound card would you suggest? I wouldn't want to spend much, I'd want a budget one. It can be a used one, I don't mind. I just need some directions of which one I should search for.
Thanks

faalin · May 22, 2017

Depends on what you call budget, I would look at any of the asus xonar cards.

Darthenn · May 22, 2017

Not sure what to call it, since I use PLN currency. So let's say half the price of new Asus Xonar? Something around that.

Lkaos · May 22, 2017

faalin :

LOL...You have an SoundBlaster ZxR and you recomend a Xonar!? The ZxR is superior to any Xonar available...

Darthenn · May 22, 2017

Lkaos :

SoundBlaster ZxR is not budget at all.

Lkaos · May 22, 2017

Darthenn :

Budget or Onboard is worth about the same in sound quality...so no use buying a budget card! So there, i just saved you $30...

faalin · May 22, 2017

Lkaos :

That's why I didn't recommend the SoundBlaster, because my card is not budget in any way shape or form. That's why I suggested the Xonar, some of them can be picked up in the $30-$40 range. Some you can pick up on ebay for $10.

What I may consider budget might be completely different to someone else.

faalin · May 22, 2017

Take this card https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-XONAR-Headphone-Audio-Card/dp/B003ZXDOL6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495458328&sr=8-1&keywords=asus+xonar $30 and is going to be better then onboard. Also comes with software to help balance out settings which onboard does not come with.

alceryes · May 22, 2017

I'll second the Xonar. Pretty decent card for the money. Yes, it's better than onboard.

Lkaos · May 22, 2017

alceryes :

Not worth the price upgrade, no...

Deleted member 217926 · May 23, 2017

Lkaos :

No, it competes with the Xonar Essence STX and STX II. The Asus cards I'd argue are better just because you don't have to deal with the terrible Creative drivers and support. Just check the huge threads on Head Fi for a real comparison.

https://www.head-fi.org/f/threads/the-xonar-essence-stx-q-a-tweaking-impressions-thread.421890/page-371

https://www.head-fi.org/f/threads/creative-sound-blaster-new-series-z-zx-zxr.623079/page-228

I have a Xonar Essence STX with Sennheiser HD 600s ( also own HD 598s ).

Lkaos · May 23, 2017

A sound card better than the other just "better because you don't have to deal with the terrible Creative drivers and support", never mind the sound quality which is the thing you should be whorried about....As if Asus drivers and support are any better... :sarcastic:

I have the Zx optically wired to my Receiver + AKG Q701 and wouldnt change it for anything else...

Deleted member 217926 · May 23, 2017

Most comparisons look like this.

https://www.head-fi.org/f/threads/asus-stx-ii-vs-creative-zxr.728124/

If you recheck those sound quality numbers...

https://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/asus_xonar_essence_stx_ii_7_1_review,6.html

https://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/asus_xonar_essence_stx_ii_7_1_review,7.html

Slight edge to the STX.

I owned Creative cards for 15 years. First hand experience with how terrible their drivers and support are. Of course sound is subjective, my only complaint was your blanket statement about the ZXR being better than any Xonar. That's obviously not true.

faalin · May 23, 2017

So I've had my ZxR for almost 3 years now, not a single issue with drivers and have never had to call support so cant comment on that. Also have a Sound BlasterX G5 that is plugged into my work computer (Asus Rampage iii Extreme) for about a year now, again no issues with drivers and haven't had to call support.

I know just off the top of my head I have a SB 16, SB AWE32, SB live, SB Audigy, and SB X-Fi card sitting on my shelf (some of them multiples) along with a Zen mp3 player. Of any of those the 16 and AWE32 were the only ones that gave me fits but that was early to mid 90's and what computer part didn't give you fits.

Lkaos · May 23, 2017

faalin :

Only trouble i had was with an AWE, in those days we had to configure things manually...

Darthenn · May 23, 2017

I found a Xonar DG for 10 bucks. I'm not an audiophile but any sound card is still better than onboard sound.

Lkaos · May 23, 2017

I stand by what i said...Out of the box, the ZxR is way better than any Xonar, i dont need to search the net for Unofficial and Tweaked drivers or change opamps to make it sound as good.or better..Did you know about that?

Lkaos · May 23, 2017

Darthenn :

That's right, but you wouldnt believe the amount of people that will say otherwise...

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