Sound card to replace X-fi XtremMusic that is already 8 years old

[rul3s]

Hello!

I have a Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic from a few years ago (8 to be exact) and it's increasingly asking to be replaced, sometimes it stops working suddenly, the drivers for new windows are not wonderful, it goes by PCI, etc…

The thing is that a while ago I got an Asus Xonar DSX and it didn't convince me at all, I tried both the official and alternative drivers, and I still think it sounds "weak" and with lower quality compared to the X-Fi, although obviously it's better than the integrated one on my Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 5 motherboard (Realtek ALC 1150).

The thing is that I would like to buy a good sound card that works via PCI-e and that will last me another good season.
I use it mainly for listening to music with good quality (minimum MP3 at 320kbps, AAC, FLAC...) and playing CSGO, although I don't need "gaming" features. I don't do any music creation.

I was thinking of getting the Sound Blaster Creative Z, but since I'm a bit disconnected from the topic, I'm asking you to see if anyone can guide me a bit more on whether with this I will have enough or better to go for something better.

Best regards and thanks!

[Espinetenbolas]

I retired it two years ago… the X-Fi was just giving me problems... with the integrated one everything was OK

Maybe the Sound Blaster Z is what you're looking for but in the end it's all about software filters… the audio track is what it is and good headphones or good speakers matter more than a card that alters it with filters to make it seem like the audio has more body.

At first I noticed it a lot but then you get used to the fact that what the X-Fi does is artificial so I decided to stick with the integrated one.

The integrated ones of old were a pain because they didn't isolate well and many suffered from electrical noise from the CPU or the mouse but at least my Asrock doesn't do that and the audio quality is good even though I only use headphones... a pair of JVC HA-FX102-B-E that for in-ear headphones are a bit chunky but sound really good for the price they have.

[rul3s]

@Espinetenbolas:

I retired it two years ago… the X-Fi was just giving me problems... with the integrated one everything OK

Maybe the Sound Blaster Z is what you're looking for but in the end it's all about software filters… the audio track is what it is and it matters more to have good headphones or good speakers than a card that alters it with filters to make it seem like the audio has more body.

At first I noticed it a lot but then you get used to the fact that what the X-Fi does is artificial so I decided to stick with the integrated one.

The integrated ones of the past were a disaster because they didn't isolate well and many suffered from electrical noise from the CPU or the mouse but at least my Asrock doesn't do that and the audio quality is good even though I only use headphones... some JVC HA-FX102-B-E that for being in-ear headphones are a bit bulky but they sound very good for the price they have.

Well, regarding the integrated one on my motherboard, which is supposed to be one of the good ones in terms of motherboards, I notice a big difference in quality and volume, the music sounds much flatter…
For speakers I have some Logitech Z623 that sound great and for headphones some SteelSeries Siberia V3 that aren't far behind.
I find it hard to believe that everything I notice is just effects, since I've always been very picky about audio, even in the car the difference between a good radio and a mediocre one in terms of quality….

Best regards!

[Espinetenbolas]

Compare the X-Fi and the integrated with Rightmark

In the tests your board gives good results:

http://www.eteknix.com/gigabyte-z97x-gaming-5-lga-1150-motherboard-review/11/

Gigabyte GA-Z97N-Gaming 5 Review - Gaming and Audio Performance | bit-tech.net

The human brain deceives us with the senses… we get used to a taste, a smell, a tone or an intensity of light and then if it is different we perceive it but we end up getting used to it... the rightmark does not lie.

[rul3s]

@Espinetenbolas:

Compara la X-Fi y la integrada con Rightmark

En los test tu placa da buenos resultados:

http://www.eteknix.com/gigabyte-z97x-gaming-5-lga-1150-motherboard-review/11/

Gigabyte GA-Z97N-Gaming 5 Review - Gaming and Audio Performance | bit-tech.net

El cerebro humano nos engaña con los sentidos… nos acostumbramos a un sabor, un olor, un tono o una intensidad de luz y luego si es diferente lo percibimos pero nos acabamos acostumbrando... el rightmark no miente.

Se me escapo una cosa en el anterior comentario, con la integrada, cuando la grafica va a tope, se puede apreciar perfectamente el ruido electrico, cosa que con la dedicada no me pasa jejeje

Un saludo!

[rul3s]

Well in the end I got myself a second-hand Xonar STX for 80€, I'll let you know how it goes!!

[Feriko]

@Rules:

Well, in the end I got myself a second-hand Xonar STX for 80€, I'll let you know how it goes!!

If you're referring to the Xonar Essence STX, I got mine about half a year ago, also second-hand, and I'm very happy with it.