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Review: ASUS Essence STX II 7.1 Sound Card
Join us as we review the ASUS Essence STX II 7.1 Sound Card. The Xonar Sound Machine decided to switch gears and once again has aimed their design prowess at the high end add in soundcard market. The Xonar soundcard line started with the early D series card, with their last contributions being the premium STX and PCI 7.1 version, the ST Deluxe. Both these premium cards are considered high grade products to the PC audio world. That being said, it begs the question; Can ASUS truly surpass these earlier heavy weight products with their new Essence STX II 7.1?
Read our full review right here.
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War child
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Posts: 330
Joined: 2013-01-03
Senior Member
Posts: 330
Joined: 2013-01-03
#4875219 Posted on: 07/17/2014 09:53 AM
Loved the STX I,
Things can only get better.
Loved the STX I,
Things can only get better.
Ven0m
Senior Member
Posts: 1800
Joined: 2005-08-12
Senior Member
Posts: 1800
Joined: 2005-08-12
#4875222 Posted on: 07/17/2014 09:56 AM
Thanks for the review, Hilbert.
It looks like an awesome card. I wonder if it would be an upgrade over D2X big enough to let me appreciate it. Also, I think I might rather like an external USB DAC (I'm not sure), but they cost even more.
Thanks for the review, Hilbert.
It looks like an awesome card. I wonder if it would be an upgrade over D2X big enough to let me appreciate it. Also, I think I might rather like an external USB DAC (I'm not sure), but they cost even more.
mackintosh
Senior Member
Posts: 476
Joined: 2012-11-28
Senior Member
Posts: 476
Joined: 2012-11-28
#4875223 Posted on: 07/17/2014 09:56 AM
I'm curious, who buys these products? For a few of whatever is your local currency more wouldn't it make more sense to just buy a receiver and run an HDMI cable from your GPU and let it do the heavy lifting? I used sound cards for years but finally got tired of driver problems, incompatibilities, etc and just bought a mid range receiver. Everything still sounds just as good as it did before and I haven't looked back since.
I'm curious, who buys these products? For a few of whatever is your local currency more wouldn't it make more sense to just buy a receiver and run an HDMI cable from your GPU and let it do the heavy lifting? I used sound cards for years but finally got tired of driver problems, incompatibilities, etc and just bought a mid range receiver. Everything still sounds just as good as it did before and I haven't looked back since.
Ven0m
Senior Member
Posts: 1800
Joined: 2005-08-12
Senior Member
Posts: 1800
Joined: 2005-08-12
#4875226 Posted on: 07/17/2014 10:01 AM
It's another viable option. The initial cost would be greater, but in a long run it might be better.
Picking a random receiver is definitely a no-no for me. When I was buying headphones recently, I was given a receiver that was said to be good to test a few sets of cans, and finally at home a pair of Xonar D2X + custom amp wiped the floor with that store's receiver. It wasn't even close.
Thank you for suggestion. When I have some free time, and/or decide to get some quality speakers, I'll definitely have to dig it more.
I'm curious, who buys these products? For a few of whatever is your local currency more wouldn't it make more sense to just buy a receiver and run an HDMI cable from your GPU and let it do the heavy lifting? I used sound cards for years but finally got tired of driver problems, incompatibilities, etc and just bought a mid range receiver. Everything still sounds just as good as it did before and I haven't looked back since.
It's another viable option. The initial cost would be greater, but in a long run it might be better.
Picking a random receiver is definitely a no-no for me. When I was buying headphones recently, I was given a receiver that was said to be good to test a few sets of cans, and finally at home a pair of Xonar D2X + custom amp wiped the floor with that store's receiver. It wasn't even close.
Thank you for suggestion. When I have some free time, and/or decide to get some quality speakers, I'll definitely have to dig it more.
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Senior Member
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Joined: 2009-02-25
Nice, will be interesting to read.
(So this is some upgraded/improved version of the STX then?)
EDIT: This sounds interesting as well.
We have decided to produce an in depth test/modification guide for various high end opamps and the STX II card. Look for it coming soon from the Guru3D Audio Lab. We will be testing high end integrated opamps aswell as well known discrete units and a few lab tips and tricks. Stay tuned, it will be worth the wait!