Need help selecting a sound card

[Morphevz]

Hi peeps,

I just bought a X-Fi Titanium - Fatal1ty Professional sound card, but my Windows 7 Pro 64-bit doesn't seem that happy about it.

At first, the OS would just recognized the card as a generic "High Definition Audio Device". Now I managed to force the proper drivers to install but, sometimes I don't have sound, and sometimes the Control Panel tells me that the sound it's coming from the 5.1 jacks, when in fact I only have the optical cable plugged.

Long story short; Creative X-Fi on Windows 7 64-bit seems to be more trouble than what is worth and therefore I'm looking for an alternative solution.

Now, what I need is to know what's the best option for my setup. I've been through a few forums already, but it seems that most gamers are using headphones, or have different sound systems, so it was time to create my own thread for my issue.

Hardware setup:

CPU: i7 920

RAM: 6Gb DDR3 Triple Channel

Graphics: 2x HD 6950

PSU: Corsair 1000W

Surround: Logitech Z5500 (Optical connection)

Operative System:

Windows 7 Pro 64-bit

I use the PC mainly for gaming (triple AAA titles, not browser shovelware), but also to listen to music and watch movies/series.

Even though I will seldom use headphones; the main output source is the 5.1 surround system that I want to take full advantage of while gaming, listening to music or watching movies.

The preferred connection is optical, but if you tell me the direct 6 way channel through the jacks is a better connection for surround, I can just my preference. =)

With the wall of text above, which sound card would you recommend for:

- Mainly gaming, but also music and movies

- 5.1 surround sound

- Optical connection to 5.1 surround system

- Supported by Windows 7 64-bit so the device is properly recognized instead of a generic HD audio device

I would like to keep the budget below 200; but wouldn't rule out the Xonar Xense if it is THE™ option to go for.

The options I've been looking at are:

- ASUS Xonar Essence ST

- ASUS Xonar Essence STX

- ASUS Xonar Xense

- AuzenTech X-Fi Bravura 7.1 (read that cards can act up and Auzen support is lacking)

- AuzenTech X-Fi Forte 7.1 (read that cards can act up and Auzen support is lacking)

I'd love to get some feedback before upcoming Monday as I need to contact the store as soon as possible to let them know I'm not satisfied with the X-Fi and need to trade it.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

Creative sound cards seem to always have an issue with optical. mine does the same thing.

The Xonar essence ST and STX are the best ones, the ST i think is a little better quality. The Xense card comes with headphones i believe but is more of a gaming card than an audiophile card such as the ST and STX. If you are looking for REALLY high fidelity stay away from Creative gear unless you go with the Titanium HD. IMO i think AuzenTech is cheepo stff.

I have the Essence ST and it is AMAZING!

 

[Morphevz]

Turns out... I was the one being the problem...

After surpassing the issue regarding the Windows 7 generic drivers being detected over the relevant X-Fi drivers (The solution for this one is updating the audio drivers through the Device Manager). I came across a new issue, where certain applications would tell me that the sound card was already in use.

Brace yourselves... I went to the Sound options in Windows Control Panel and set the SPDIF Out as the default device. I was so obsessed in having audio output through optical signal that I was overlooking the fact that I was removing the speakers (in this case my 5.1 surround system) as the default device.

This caused two issues:

- Whenever I did a 5.1 surround test, the sounds would come from the front speakers instead of the whole surround

- When starting certain audio applications (Spotify, Windows Media Player, etc.), it would trigger the message saying that the audio device was already in use, even though I was not running anything else with audio.

Nevertheless, thanks for your feedback.

I'll keep ASUS in mind if I come to change sound cards again. But for now, the X-Fi Titanium - Fatal1ty Professional is working and from all I read while finding an alternative for itself, this is one of the best gaming sound cards out there.

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

i still cant get my optical to work. it will work for 5 min then stop.

 

[Excalabur50]

I have found that with my creative on windows 7 make sure you first install PID_W7PCAPP_US2_11_01 from creative web site which basically is an identifier program then install the drivers and such and you will have less problems. Also DON'T use drivers from windows update get them from creative themselves. I stiil have problems but found I have less if I follow this format. Hope this helps.