Hello all,
I have a gaming rig that I plan to expand for use as a home theater PC, and I am having some trouble picking a soundcard. If I could find an inexpensive 5.1 speaker set with an SPDIF input, it would solve all my problems. However, the only similar thread I've found was from somebody with a radically different concept of "inexpensive" than my own.
Here is my situation...
■ I am leaning toward the ASUS Xonar Essence STX, as it has a built-in preamp and 6.5mm jack for my studio headphones. However, it does not have analog outputs for 5.1 audio, hence the need for a system with an SPDIF input.
■ Assuming I cannot find a reasonably inexpensive 5.1 system, I will likely go with the ASUS Xonar DX, as it has the more-common analog outputs and will still drive my headphones better than my onboard sound.
My stipulations...
■ I'd like the 5.1 SPDIF system to cost less than $300. If I spring for the Essence STX I'm not going to have much money left to throw around. A soundbar with virtual 5.1 surround will be fine, provided it has good sound quality and a SPDIF input.
■ I will not buy a standalone AV receiver. It would be needlessly expensive and complicated compared to my current setup. I also will not buy an external SPDIF-to-analog converter, as I could just buy the Xonar DX with analog output and get the same effect for much cheaper.
If anybody can give me some suggestions or insight here, I would love any feedback you can provide. If there are any audiophiles in the house, or anybody with direct experience with these cards, please feel free to chip in. If I'm way off base and there is a much better solution, by all means tell my why I'm wrong and what I should do instead.
Thanks again,
Alex
I have a gaming rig that I plan to expand for use as a home theater PC, and I am having some trouble picking a soundcard. If I could find an inexpensive 5.1 speaker set with an SPDIF input, it would solve all my problems. However, the only similar thread I've found was from somebody with a radically different concept of "inexpensive" than my own.
Here is my situation...
■ I am leaning toward the ASUS Xonar Essence STX, as it has a built-in preamp and 6.5mm jack for my studio headphones. However, it does not have analog outputs for 5.1 audio, hence the need for a system with an SPDIF input.
■ Assuming I cannot find a reasonably inexpensive 5.1 system, I will likely go with the ASUS Xonar DX, as it has the more-common analog outputs and will still drive my headphones better than my onboard sound.
My stipulations...
■ I'd like the 5.1 SPDIF system to cost less than $300. If I spring for the Essence STX I'm not going to have much money left to throw around. A soundbar with virtual 5.1 surround will be fine, provided it has good sound quality and a SPDIF input.
■ I will not buy a standalone AV receiver. It would be needlessly expensive and complicated compared to my current setup. I also will not buy an external SPDIF-to-analog converter, as I could just buy the Xonar DX with analog output and get the same effect for much cheaper.
If anybody can give me some suggestions or insight here, I would love any feedback you can provide. If there are any audiophiles in the house, or anybody with direct experience with these cards, please feel free to chip in. If I'm way off base and there is a much better solution, by all means tell my why I'm wrong and what I should do instead.
Thanks again,
Alex