essence STX or Xonar phoebus

[steverebo]

Ok having been bought a sbx Zxr card by my wife I'm now looking to change it. I was looking at the sbx Zxr but have since been convinced to give asus a go instead.

I've narrowed it down to 2 cards, the essence STX and the Phoebus.

Now which is better, I'm using senheiser HD598's as my headset and microlab solo 1c speakers.

 

[tinytomlogan]

Pheobus is a gaming card - STX is for audio

 

[steverebo]

That's where I'm stuck as a do a bit of both. I have over 10,000 tracks on iTunes but I also game quite a bit.

 

[Thelosouvlakia]

That's where I'm stuck as a do a bit of both. I have over 10,000 tracks on iTunes but I also game quite a bit.

I think you will love the STX. RCA for your speakers and the quarterinch plug for your headphones.
Unless you have some fancy 5.1 or 7.1 audio solution the STX is better

 

[SieB]

Get the STX, the Phoebus is only good for games. The STX is good for both music and games.
I used to have the STX myself and there is a noticeable difference in audio both in games and music.

 

[Feronix]

Yeah, the Phoebus will be a lot more bass-oriented, which is great for gaming (nice heavy explosions/engine noises and hearing footsteps) but in my opinion absolutely ruins music.

With the STX you're going to have a really great music experience, although games won't benefit much, at least it won't ruin the sound in them.

 

[steverebo]

ok so the STX is the better all round card, I would say I do 40 percent music 60 percent gaming

 

[SieB]

ok so the STX is the better all round card, I would say I do 40 percent music 60 percent gaming

It is also a higher quality one. You can also change the oamps on it to improve the sound even more.

I used 3x LME49720 in mine and there was a noticable difference.

Check out this thread for more details.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/421890/the-xonar-essence-stx-q-a-tweaking-impressions-thread

 

[tinytomlogan]

Id get the STX - audio in gaming doesnt matter - when youve got your tunes on it does

 

[Kei]

Depending on your playback system, you can get a normal STX to output 5.1 surround using bitstream via the coaxial/optical connection. If you need analogue 5.1 (or 7.1) out, you need an STX II which has the H6 daughter board. I've got the H6 with an older ST.

As to opamps, I wouldn't waste the time again. I've tried tons of different combinations and could not hear or measure a difference. I think I left it as LME49720 & 2x AD826 in the end as I got tired of taking the card out to change them.

 

[SieB]

As to opamps, I wouldn't waste the time again. I've tried tons of different combinations and could not hear or measure a difference. I think I left it as LME49720 & 2x AD826 in the end as I got tired of taking the card out to change them.

I noticed a difference with mine, although I guess it depends on what you are using the card with. The better headphones or speakers you have the less of an overall improvement you will get. I was using mine with a basic Phillips 5.1 home theater system and there was a difference with the LME49720 compared to the stock oamp.
Wasn't a massive difference though, but it definitely improved the soundstage and the mids.