Asus Xonar D2 - bit-tech.net Forums

Da Dego · 3rd Sep 2007, 04:20

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...sus_xonar_d2/1

Asus has hit the sound card market with all guns blazing, but should the mighty Creative start sweating as another computing behemoth lands the heavyweight Xonar D2 into the PC audio market?

glaeken · 3rd Sep 2007, 05:19

First!

Edit: But seriously. Good review. I remember being interested about this a while back. In the end though, since I'm no audiophile, integrated hd audio is fine for me.

wafflesomd · 3rd Sep 2007, 06:14

The Midi Inputs are a surprise to me.

pejcaofrito · 3rd Sep 2007, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by glaeken

integrated hd audio is fine for me.

I second that! Linux user here, I don't care/need/have support for EAX or any Dolby stuff :P
Any1 knows if NV will launch a SoundStorm again?

Duste · 3rd Sep 2007, 10:19

Microsoft are trying to rid themselves of the red ring of death, and ASUS are trying to display it with arms wide open.

[USRF]Obiwan · 3rd Sep 2007, 10:34

I think there is no more inventions and performance inmprovement to gain with any soundcards/onboard audio since about 5 years ago. In fact there is nothing improved/changed/different. They all perform the same, all have the same features and options. the 0,0004 % difference is not going to be heard by anyones ears. (not on pc speakers anyway) You can only see visual differences on the computergenerated graphs. (see! brand B is better then brand A, it has a 0,000001% higher spike in loudness graph) It is just gimmicks, kitch whatever you want to namen it. Like; orange/green/bloo glowing cards, gamer-names branding and the useless "plug-led-indicators" for your wirings, because you setup your speakers and let it be there for years unless you change a mobo, or are moving your gear to a new house whatever. But then its still useless, because why would you move stuff around in the absolute dark, hitting your head against anything under you desk, tripping over your officechair or some lost footpeddals from your racing steer...

ComputerKing · 3rd Sep 2007, 13:34

THIS IS THE Best sound card I ever saw! **** Creative cards.. WOW I want one. DAM, Thanks so much.

Mother-Goose · 3rd Sep 2007, 13:43

Hmmm, not everything it was billed to be, maybe the encoding will be faster on the D3 version!?

Not entirely sure what to go for now, Bindi, from what you have said, it is a good allround card, but the Sondigio (sorry if the spelling is wrong) one sounds like it is just as good, but half the price (from what I have found after the googeling).

Am I to take it that the Creative offerings are not worth it at all?

As a casual gamer I am more concerned about movie and music quality, the games I just need to hear it and not get distorted, and from that view the Xonar sounds pretty good, but is there a better option for less? Because this looks pretty solid

DXR_13KE · 3rd Sep 2007, 14:03

that asus card is really pimp.... and those leds in the back really help

Kipman725 · 3rd Sep 2007, 14:42

spdif was specificly designed for cheap fiber connections and 75ohm phono cable. Oxygen free cables are a scam, they have never been shown to be any better than non oxygen free cables (it's claimed that oxygen free is better as patches of copper oxide form diodes inside the cable and so the cable has a different impedance for one phase of the ac signal to the other producing distortion but this is complete BS). The included cables should be fine, most of the time spdif works without proper 75ohm cable anyway.
Regardless spdif is more of a consumer digital audio standard, the clock is derived from the data stream (to save money by just using two stand wire) and as such it's quite common to have the reciving device sensing the signalking level at the wrong time and thus getting incorrect data (thus distortion). I2S is a better standarrd and is what is used between cdplayer transports and their DAC's but I don't see any consumer cards with this connection standard (probobly because it would use the entire back plate up).

Kipman725 · 3rd Sep 2007, 14:51

btw does this thing have linux support?

wafflesomd · 3rd Sep 2007, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kipman725

btw does this thing have linux support?

I hope so.

Bluephoenix · 3rd Sep 2007, 16:16

that 0,000001% percent can actually make a difference when you're outputting mixes at 2900 watts

the midi is good, and I might get one because of that (more ASIO outputs!

)

MoRBiD · 3rd Sep 2007, 17:37

I have been looking around for a decent sound card that "LOOKS" good.. hehe.. might install one of these in the HTPC ... might not also.

Kewl review.

Bindibadgi · 3rd Sep 2007, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kipman725

btw does this thing have linux support?

Not yet, but I've just spoken to Asus and the guy believed it was in the pipeline.

OleJ · 3rd Sep 2007, 20:34

I couldn't seem to tell from the pics and text. Where do you plug in the optical spdif?

Secondly: Does this board output surround over spdif optical? Did you test it with a surround reciever?

Thanks

Bindibadgi · 3rd Sep 2007, 20:40

I don't have a surround receiver but it does support it as well as Dolby Live and DTS:Connect.

The RCA jacks are dual jack with optical, the adapter for a Toslink is supplied in the box.

vegettoxp · 3rd Sep 2007, 21:23

After I am doing reading the reviews on this soundcard and if everything is GOOD, you better believe that I will be ordering it as soon as I get some money in my hand. The hell with creative. they god some serious problems over there.

Thx for the Review!

P.S. Fusion

p3n · 3rd Sep 2007, 22:00

Those backlit jacks are amazing, setting up under a LAN desk and at home is a pain in the arse!

Hamish · 3rd Sep 2007, 22:22

no pci-e version?

3rd Sep 2007, 04:20	#1
Da Dego Brett Thomas Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH USA Posts: 3,906	Asus Xonar D2 http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...sus_xonar_d2/1 Asus has hit the sound card market with all guns blazing, but should the mighty Creative start sweating as another computing behemoth lands the heavyweight Xonar D2 into the PC audio market? __________________ "Frankly that seems overkill. iluvtrees2 arguing with spec is the intellectual equivalent of a bunny rabbit taking on a pissed-off lion." - Nexxo

3rd Sep 2007, 05:19	#2
glaeken Yehehehessss! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indy, US Posts: 1,428	First! Edit: But seriously. Good review. I remember being interested about this a while back. In the end though, since I'm no audiophile, integrated hd audio is fine for me. __________________ I drink your milkshake! I drink it up! My Graphics Blog

3rd Sep 2007, 06:14	#3
wafflesomd Hypermodder Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 994	The Midi Inputs are a surprise to me. __________________ http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/1466/goldie.gif

3rd Sep 2007, 10:34	#6
[USRF]Obiwan Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,220	I think there is no more inventions and performance inmprovement to gain with any soundcards/onboard audio since about 5 years ago. In fact there is nothing improved/changed/different. They all perform the same, all have the same features and options. the 0,0004 % difference is not going to be heard by anyones ears. (not on pc speakers anyway) You can only see visual differences on the computergenerated graphs. (see! brand B is better then brand A, it has a 0,000001% higher spike in loudness graph) It is just gimmicks, kitch whatever you want to namen it. Like; orange/green/bloo glowing cards, gamer-names branding and the useless "plug-led-indicators" for your wirings, because you setup your speakers and let it be there for years unless you change a mobo, or are moving your gear to a new house whatever. But then its still useless, because why would you move stuff around in the absolute dark, hitting your head against anything under you desk, tripping over your officechair or some lost footpeddals from your racing steer... __________________ Mascleta: "The most accurate simulation of thunder, humans can simulate..." The answer is 42, so... whats the question again? If you know what 'Peek' and 'Poke' represents, then you are probably as old as me.

3rd Sep 2007, 13:34	#7
ComputerKing Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dubai\|Alexandria Posts: 4,100	THIS IS THE Best sound card I ever saw! ** Creative cards.. WOW I want one. DAM, Thanks so much. __________________ GigaByte Triton 180\|GigaByte EP45-UD3LR\|Intel Q9450\|Transcend 4GB 1066Mhz\|Sapphire 3870X2\|Creative X-FI ExtremeGamer\|Enermax Galaxy DXX 1KW\|Samsung 2220WM\|Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme\|3TB WD Green The King Of CK Appreciation Society** Group

3rd Sep 2007, 10:19	#5
Duste Sierra my delta, bravo! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: WA, Australia Posts: 812	Microsoft are trying to rid themselves of the red ring of death, and ASUS are trying to display it with arms wide open.

3rd Sep 2007, 13:43	#8
Mother-Goose Tories ftw! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: England - Surrey Posts: 3,750	Hmmm, not everything it was billed to be, maybe the encoding will be faster on the D3 version!? Not entirely sure what to go for now, Bindi, from what you have said, it is a good allround card, but the Sondigio (sorry if the spelling is wrong) one sounds like it is just as good, but half the price (from what I have found after the googeling). Am I to take it that the Creative offerings are not worth it at all? As a casual gamer I am more concerned about movie and music quality, the games I just need to hear it and not get distorted, and from that view the Xonar sounds pretty good, but is there a better option for less? Because this looks pretty solid __________________ Goose Q6600, Striker Extreme, 4GB 6400C4 Dominator DHX, Raptor X, 2x400GB spinpoints, BFG 8800GTX OC, Stacker 830 Evo, HX620, Nova T 500, Freezer 7 Pro Last edited by Mother-Goose; 3rd Sep 2007 at 13:57.

3rd Sep 2007, 14:03	#9
DXR_13KE Madeira's banana is the best!!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Madeira ; Portugal Posts: 6,476	that asus card is really pimp.... and those leds in the back really help __________________ *Renegade X - 0.40 Release!* <---- CLICK!

3rd Sep 2007, 14:42	#10
Kipman725 When did I get a custom title!?! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,753	spdif was specificly designed for cheap fiber connections and 75ohm phono cable. Oxygen free cables are a scam, they have never been shown to be any better than non oxygen free cables (it's claimed that oxygen free is better as patches of copper oxide form diodes inside the cable and so the cable has a different impedance for one phase of the ac signal to the other producing distortion but this is complete BS). The included cables should be fine, most of the time spdif works without proper 75ohm cable anyway. Regardless spdif is more of a consumer digital audio standard, the clock is derived from the data stream (to save money by just using two stand wire) and as such it's quite common to have the reciving device sensing the signalking level at the wrong time and thus getting incorrect data (thus distortion). I2S is a better standarrd and is what is used between cdplayer transports and their DAC's but I don't see any consumer cards with this connection standard (probobly because it would use the entire back plate up). __________________ Sn45g game server mod My Electronics Site Hardware: 3400+ Sempr0n, 1GB RAM, 1.28TB local storage, x1950pro,Razer Viper,M$ comfort curve 2000,L70S + 17", Fujitsu 17" CRT Audio: HD-650's, PE congress amp, Sound Blaster AWE64, Soundblaster 24bit

3rd Sep 2007, 14:51	#11
Kipman725 When did I get a custom title!?! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,753	btw does this thing have linux support? __________________ Sn45g game server mod My Electronics Site Hardware: 3400+ Sempr0n, 1GB RAM, 1.28TB local storage, x1950pro,Razer Viper,M$ comfort curve 2000,L70S + 17", Fujitsu 17" CRT Audio: HD-650's, PE congress amp, Sound Blaster AWE64, Soundblaster 24bit

3rd Sep 2007, 16:16	#13
Bluephoenix Spoon? What spoon? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 936	that 0,000001% percent can actually make a difference when you're outputting mixes at 2900 watts the midi is good, and I might get one because of that (more ASIO outputs! )

3rd Sep 2007, 17:37	#14
MoRBiD Multimodder Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Canada Eh! Posts: 168	I have been looking around for a decent sound card that "LOOKS" good.. hehe.. might install one of these in the HTPC ... might not also. Kewl review. __________________ *DiBRoM*

3rd Sep 2007, 20:34	#16
OleJ Me! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 1,986	I couldn't seem to tell from the pics and text. Where do you plug in the optical spdif? Secondly: Does this board output surround over spdif optical? Did you test it with a surround reciever? Thanks __________________ Quickr! Clickr to my Flickr! Canon camera stuff. Some aluminium PC, an HTPC and a MBP 17"..

3rd Sep 2007, 20:40	#17
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,276	I don't have a surround receiver but it does support it as well as Dolby Live and DTS:Connect. The RCA jacks are dual jack with optical, the adapter for a Toslink is supplied in the box. __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!

3rd Sep 2007, 21:23	#18
vegettoxp Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 200	After I am doing reading the reviews on this soundcard and if everything is GOOD, you better believe that I will be ordering it as soon as I get some money in my hand. The hell with creative. they god some serious problems over there. Thx for the Review! P.S. Fusion __________________ CM Stacker 830 Case\| Corsair 620HX Power Supply\| Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 at 3.2GHz \| Asus Maximus Formula SE Motherboard\| 4GB G-Skills System Ram \| EVGA 8800GT Graphic Card \| Asus Xonar D2X PCI-E Sound-Card \| Hauppauge HVR-1800 MC \| 4 WD Hard-Drivers Total Storage 2.4TB \| Logitech DiNovo Keyboard and Logitech MX Revolution Mouse (Air Mouse Coming Soon) \| Logitech Z-5500 Digital Sound System \| And So On...

3rd Sep 2007, 22:00	#19
p3n Hypermodder Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 736	Those backlit jacks are amazing, setting up under a LAN desk and at home is a pain in the arse!

3rd Sep 2007, 22:22	#20
Hamish I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: London Posts: 3,587	no pci-e version?