Product Description The ASUS Xonar DX audio card is impeccably designed for fine-tuned audio quality with 116dB SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) in comparison to most motherboard onboard audio with only 85dB SNR. It is equipped with innovative technologies like Dolby Home Theater Technologies and DS3D GX to provide crisp and clear audio quality and rich gaming sound effects. The Xonar DX dramatically reduces the amount of background noise, producing as little as 1/32 (-105dB) of the total harmonics distortion versus traditional motherboard audio (-75dB). By adopting the CirrusLogics CS4398 audio DAC (120dB SNR & 117dB THD+N) that is often used in Hi-Fi devices, the Xonar DX provides at least 30% better quality sounds than the average onboard audio. With the new audio architecture in Vista, users will sometimes be unable to achieve multi-channel sounds, DirectSound; and EAX 5.0 sound effects in EAX 5.0 Titled PC games. VocalFX is an innovative voice processing technology for users' voices to enter into the realistic gaming landscape (VoiceEX), or to emulate the background scenes in online chats (ChatEX). It also allows them to disguise their voice pitches (Magic Voice). With all these features, users will have boundless entertainment while utilizing voice communications on the PC. Audio Processor - ASUS AV100 High-Definition Sound Processor (192KHz/24bit) 24-bit D-A Converter of Digital Sources - Cirrus-Logic CS4398 for Front-Out (120dB SNR, 192kHz/24bit) Cirrus-Logic CS4362A for other 6 channels (114dB SNR, 192kHz/24bit) 24-bit A-D Converter for Analog Inputs - Cirrus-Logic CS5361 (114dB SNR, 192kHz/24bit) Analog Playback Sample Rate and Resolution - 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz at 16/24bit Analog Recording Sample Rate and Resolution - 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz at 16/24bit S/PDIF Digital Output 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz at 16/24bit, Dolby Digital, DTS
Could it be any better? NoOctober 24, 2008 I love this sound card. I have never built a computer without getting a stand alone sound card. I have never had experience with onboard sound, but I have had, Creative Sound Cards and Bluegears Sound Cards. This card beats all! The drivers are up to date and work without problem. I have this coupled with a pair of Sennheiser headphones and gaming has never sounded so real!
SweetOctober 9, 2008 This is a sweet sound card, works perfectly fine under Ubuntu 8.04, sound is crisp and clean.
Only 4 stars because of it requiring a floppy power connector.
Great SoundSeptember 15, 2008 1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I am using WinXp Service Pack 3, with my Xonar Dx Channel Pcie sound card. The Sound Card produces extraordinary sound that is both robust and very clear. There is no distortion or clicking sounds coming from the speakers. I have a 5.1 speaker system in my 10'X12' foot PC gaming room, and the surround sound adds great immersion to all my Flight Simulation games. When I use Fraps to record my gaming action, I no longer hear breaks in the sound as I did with my Creative Sound Blaster card. I am very satisfied with this card. The only negative is with the documentation. I could not get my center speaker, rear speakers and sub-woofer to work properly by following the instructions. After switching the plugs around and using the speaker test program, which is part of the Sound Card software, I was able to get the speakers to work properly. I highly recommend this card.
Great alternative to Creative CardsAugust 26, 2008 This card is quite a leap from Realtek HD integrated sound on my P6N SLI board. If you are fed up with Creative's buggy drivers and wonky support, then this is a viable alternative. My only complaint is the seeming lack of positional 3d sound in games. Diablo II and Source engine games see no improvement in positional sound (there is hardly any in the first place!). If there is a setting for this, then it isn't exactly out in the open.
Before you buy, keep in mind that this is a PCIE-1 1x card, not a plain old PCI. Drivers for 32 bit Vista have given me no problems so far. Sound quality is very good.
Excellent value under $90 - beats Creative TitaniumAugust 22, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am really impressed by this audio card. I had to return Creative Titanum because it no longer offers the record "what u hear" option for Vista and their support was just pathetic. I really didn't know ASUS sells the sound card until this one but hereare the PROs:
- a great price at $89 - high quality capacitors - offers alternative recording options such as wav, stereo mix, aux - comparable or better sound quality as compared to Creative Titanium - driver support Vista x64
