mustangdaren Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 I just wanted to share my recent experience. After reading many forums on the subject of computer audio I recently purchased a Asus Xonar Essence XTI sound card for a new PC build. All I can say is wow, it was worth every penny. It really does sound as good as they say it does. It has the option to customize with optional op-amps to tailor the sound. I am using the factory basic op amps right now but even with them the sound is night and day better than anything I have listened too from a PC. The outputs on the card are 1/4 for headphones and two gold rca outputs for 2 channel audio. It has the option for a daughter board for 7.1 audio and a 124db signal to noise ratio. I am running two Klipsch RF-82s with a Onkyo P-304 preamp and M-504 amplifier with a y connector on the preamp outputs to an Infinity 12 inch subwoofer. I spend most of my time in front of the PC so I wanted some good tunes while doing so. Anyway, just wanted to let my fellow Klipsch owners know about the Asus sound card and yes, it is a little high on cost but if you love music from your PC it is worth every penny. I will let you know how it sounds with some upgraded op-amps in the future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Thanks for the review. I can't find anything on the XTI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiey60 Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 I too spend A LOT of time in front of the PC and enjoy music through my setup. I am running hdmi out from my gtx970 into my old onkyo and 2ch music is bliss through my rf83s. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete H Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 I have "0" complaints about the ASUS Xonar Phoebus card I put in my last build. I agree, they're a little pricey, but no regrets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Here: https://www.asus.com/us/Essence-Hi-Fi-Audio/Xonar_Essence_STX/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustangdaren Posted March 28, 2016 Author Share Posted March 28, 2016 The software that comes with it is nice also. I like the EQ function. I don't use any of the DSP settings. For a player I am using AIMP3. I like it because it has some really cool skins that look like vintage audio tape decks, amplifiers and equalizers. I just wish they had one that looked like the Onkyo or Macintosh amps. I might put in a request on their forums to see if someone is up for creating one. I am using one that looks like a classic Technics amplifier with the huge meters on the front right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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