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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: 327
Joined: 2013-01-03
#4875219 Posted on: 07/17/2014 08:53 AM
Loved the STX I,
Things can only get better.
Loved the STX I,
Things can only get better.
Ven0m
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Joined: 2005-08-12
Senior Member
Posts: 1764
Joined: 2005-08-12
#4875222 Posted on: 07/17/2014 08:56 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
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Joined: 2012-11-28
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Posts: 245
Joined: 2012-11-28
#4875223 Posted on: 07/17/2014 08:56 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
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Senior Member
Posts: 1764
Joined: 2005-08-12
#4875226 Posted on: 07/17/2014 09:01 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.
nikavelli
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Posts: 426
Joined: 2010-01-01
#4875251 Posted on: 07/17/2014 09:37 AM
The big, gaping question left after reading this review: How does the STX II compare to other sound cards on the market? More specifically, how does the STX II (stock OPAMPS) compare to a ST (LME49720x2 OPAMPS)? Would you say the sound is clearer and more refined? Fuller? Warmer? Hard to distinguish differences?
I ask because most of us sound Guru's already own sound cards and would like to know if this is an upgrade/sidegrade from what we have.
The big, gaping question left after reading this review: How does the STX II compare to other sound cards on the market? More specifically, how does the STX II (stock OPAMPS) compare to a ST (LME49720x2 OPAMPS)? Would you say the sound is clearer and more refined? Fuller? Warmer? Hard to distinguish differences?
I ask because most of us sound Guru's already own sound cards and would like to know if this is an upgrade/sidegrade from what we have.
moab600
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Senior Member
Posts: 6130
Joined: 2004-09-30
#4875263 Posted on: 07/17/2014 09:55 AM
STXII Vs ZXR, who is better? that is the Q
STXII Vs ZXR, who is better? that is the Q
Ven0m
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Posts: 1764
Joined: 2005-08-12
#4875272 Posted on: 07/17/2014 10:09 AM
+1, also with 5.1 -> headphones mixing capabilities in games
STXII Vs ZXR, who is better? that is the Q
+1, also with 5.1 -> headphones mixing capabilities in games
PinchedNerve
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Senior Member
Posts: 232
Joined: 2012-10-23
#4875319 Posted on: 07/17/2014 11:56 AM
ASUS Essence STX II 7.1 = $419.99 U.S.
Might as well pick up a couple Titan Z's as well.
ASUS Essence STX II 7.1 = $419.99 U.S.
Might as well pick up a couple Titan Z's as well.
War child
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Posts: 327
Joined: 2013-01-03
#4875332 Posted on: 07/17/2014 12:11 PM
I returned my ZXR.
Horrible latency on the line in input. made it impossible to use tools like Guitar Rig.
I returned my ZXR.
Horrible latency on the line in input. made it impossible to use tools like Guitar Rig.
moab600
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Posts: 6130
Joined: 2004-09-30
#4875350 Posted on: 07/17/2014 12:41 PM
ASUS Essence STX II 7.1 = $419.99 U.S.
Might as well pick up a couple Titan Z's as well.
419$ lol, which means in my country, Israel it will be more like 600-700$. i rather suicide and buy two Titan Z
ASUS Essence STX II 7.1 = $419.99 U.S.
Might as well pick up a couple Titan Z's as well.
419$ lol, which means in my country, Israel it will be more like 600-700$. i rather suicide and buy two Titan Z
Ven0m
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#4875390 Posted on: 07/17/2014 01:58 PM
I've just checked the prices. Perhaps it'll be similar in your countries - over here in Poland, it's actually cheaper to get regular STX II non-7.1 and buy extra Xonar H6 module. It's still a lot, at least for me, but it's around $330-$350 converted to USD, and we have 23% VAT.
I've just checked the prices. Perhaps it'll be similar in your countries - over here in Poland, it's actually cheaper to get regular STX II non-7.1 and buy extra Xonar H6 module. It's still a lot, at least for me, but it's around $330-$350 converted to USD, and we have 23% VAT.
LesserHellspawn
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Joined: 2010-03-27
Senior Member
Posts: 640
Joined: 2010-03-27
#4875398 Posted on: 07/17/2014 02:04 PM
Might well go Asus once I build my next rig. Ever since Creative dropped 7.1, they're no longer an option. And EAX is legacy.
Might well go Asus once I build my next rig. Ever since Creative dropped 7.1, they're no longer an option. And EAX is legacy.
GenClaymore
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Posts: 6151
Joined: 2004-06-17
#4875402 Posted on: 07/17/2014 02:09 PM
ASUS Essence STX II 7.1 = $419.99 U.S.
Might as well pick up a couple Titan Z's as well.
Only reason it cost that much is because asus is not selling the STX II in the usa atm. So you gonna have to pay a arm and a leg just to get it imported. That cost more then my Bifrost uber, that alread pretty close to the price I paid for my T90. For that price to get it imported, it wouldn't even be worth it.
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.
Receivers take alot of room at the desktop, also these sound card's have features that GPU audio's doesn't have as well usually work better with muiti channel in games that do not have Xaudio2 as in games that are FmodEX or openAL or custom API, I had a friend who originally used his GPU HDMI for audio with his receiver's but had dozen of games outputting in 2 channel over the few he had that was Xaudio2 outputting in 5.1, so he had to grab a Cheap Z to get 5.1 in all of his games and not few of them, he didn't use optical but what U hear to get PCM 5.1 sent to his Receiver HDMI as it comes up as a audio device.
Also people also have headphone's that req a lot of power to be driven correctly which a lot of receiver's headphone jack wont do a good job with, I tried my self with a couple of headphone's that was 250ohms a one that was 600ohm's my receiver headphone jack drove them poorly. A lot of people prefer to use analog over HDMI and Toslink because of the sound card's that they are using. Some times people do run out to a external headphone amp from the card or even send the functions of the card's to their external dac/amp. Tho some receivers do have a line out connection that will let people plug headphone amp's into the receiver's.
I have a receiver my self but I don't use it any more as I tend to use headphone's and my receiver is no match for my desktop setup. You would need to spend a lot of money on a higher end receiver and then speakers to get the performance of a lot of these external dac/amp setups that people use , to pull the dsp features from cheap sound cards. Like Dolby headphone that some receiver's actually have and then CMSS3D headphone and SBX surround headphone.
ASUS Essence STX II 7.1 = $419.99 U.S.
Might as well pick up a couple Titan Z's as well.
Only reason it cost that much is because asus is not selling the STX II in the usa atm. So you gonna have to pay a arm and a leg just to get it imported. That cost more then my Bifrost uber, that alread pretty close to the price I paid for my T90. For that price to get it imported, it wouldn't even be worth it.
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.
Receivers take alot of room at the desktop, also these sound card's have features that GPU audio's doesn't have as well usually work better with muiti channel in games that do not have Xaudio2 as in games that are FmodEX or openAL or custom API, I had a friend who originally used his GPU HDMI for audio with his receiver's but had dozen of games outputting in 2 channel over the few he had that was Xaudio2 outputting in 5.1, so he had to grab a Cheap Z to get 5.1 in all of his games and not few of them, he didn't use optical but what U hear to get PCM 5.1 sent to his Receiver HDMI as it comes up as a audio device.
Also people also have headphone's that req a lot of power to be driven correctly which a lot of receiver's headphone jack wont do a good job with, I tried my self with a couple of headphone's that was 250ohms a one that was 600ohm's my receiver headphone jack drove them poorly. A lot of people prefer to use analog over HDMI and Toslink because of the sound card's that they are using. Some times people do run out to a external headphone amp from the card or even send the functions of the card's to their external dac/amp. Tho some receivers do have a line out connection that will let people plug headphone amp's into the receiver's.
I have a receiver my self but I don't use it any more as I tend to use headphone's and my receiver is no match for my desktop setup. You would need to spend a lot of money on a higher end receiver and then speakers to get the performance of a lot of these external dac/amp setups that people use , to pull the dsp features from cheap sound cards. Like Dolby headphone that some receiver's actually have and then CMSS3D headphone and SBX surround headphone.
Ven0m
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Joined: 2005-08-12
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Posts: 1764
Joined: 2005-08-12
#4875404 Posted on: 07/17/2014 02:11 PM
You should definitely listen to some interviews about sound design in games. The most of them are mixed for 5.1, not 7.1, and using 7.1 may actually decrease the sound quality and positioning.
Might well go Asus once I build my next rig. Ever since Creative dropped 7.1, they're no longer an option. And EAX is legacy.
You should definitely listen to some interviews about sound design in games. The most of them are mixed for 5.1, not 7.1, and using 7.1 may actually decrease the sound quality and positioning.
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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!