The Xonar 7.1 Thread - Page 5

Thanks for the reply, can't wait to install it.

P

How's the Xonar card been treating you?
Any up to date experience you've had with the card and driver version your using would be appreciated.

Yeah, I opened the Xonar D2 Audio Center. When I use the keyboard's Volume +/- buttons it also changes the Audio Center's volume dial. Under Mixer, I have the Front Left and Right speaker level at about the half-way point. I might have to drop it down abit. In the Window's Volume Control panel, I have the Volume level at 3 (out of 7).

i have the same problem too with the channels getting messed up. If I go to the control panel and repeatedly press the left speaker icon, the sound jumps from speaker to speaker rather than coming out the left speaker only. I resolved this by swithching to SPDIF output.

out of the 2 xonar cards available, which one is better? i do realize one is pci and the other pci-e. any advantages of one over the other?

PCI-E has a smaller connector... easier to insert into the motherboard


sorry.... couldn't resist

Getting my card in today. I'm hoping there is a clear difference in sound with my onboard p5e-vm. I've been pleased with everything on my HTPC, except the noticable sound quality compared to my xbox HD-DVD.

If you have an HDMI (1.2+) receiver then you don't need a Xonar to get the best possible sound from that motherboard.

I do have a hdmi 1.2+ receiver (Onkyo 805). Unfortunately, Intel hasn't released a driver yet that will allow me to send video from HDMI->AVR->TV without AnyDVD installed.

Also, I was able to test speaker configurations with the HDMI, but it was very inconsitent. During tests, sounds would come out of different speakers then it should (eg: FL out of BR).

It is a pain I know, I used the 805 until recently and have switched to the 875 which functions identically with the P5E-VM. I never had any problems with PDVD/805/875 and channel swapping, although I have heard people using TMT have...

The best thing about HDMI is being able to use Audyssey and of course being able to setup speakers and bass managment in the Receiver but you know all this already I am sure

I have been happy enough using AnyDVD HD as I rip most of my discs to HDD it doesn't really effect me. Does it prevent some discs playing? I can't remember what the negatives are for using AnyDVD??

Xonar is an awsome card though, I have mine now sitting in my work PC with some cheap arse speakers, what a waste...

Adam

Actually, I am completely underwhelmed by Audyssey. Three tries with my Onkyo 885 and the last is the best but none them compare to Pure mode. Messing around with the signal using DSPs is not always better.

Many reviewers are gaga over this but I sometimes wonder if they didn't get a little to close to the sales reps

I do not want to start a flame war, but I just want to point out there are other views on the matter.

- Rich

ROB,

You were right, I notice a definite difference with the Xonar D2X over ALC88x (24/96). Not only with the "clarity" of the audio, but also with equalization between sources (DVD/ATSC to Mpeg/NTSC to WMA) and power output (don't have to turn the dial as high on the Logitech pod). I used to have to run AC3Filter at +7db Master Gain, and DRC enabled. Now I'm at -3.2db Master with DRC inactivated. This is with 100 on the Xonar knob and the Mixer levels at 80 (this keeps everything out of the red in AC3Filter and the Xonar level meter ((I assume anything above +20db in the Xonar panel is clipping))). SVN is deactivated. Satisfied user (no driver problems and they installed fine).

P

the Xonar's frequency response curve in RMAA as pointed to in the comparison thread sure looks suspicious... at 20khz it hits a brick wall...

Alright, I got the Xonar installed and made sure everything was working before playing 3:10 to Yuma. I have already seen this movie with my onboard sound.

The difference....WOW. It's hands down the best sound I've heard out of my system yet. I'm definately glad I invested the money on this card.

I made my own rmaa info, using the results in these links and just reformatting them so they are easier to understand.

Rmaa tests taken from these sites:
http://www.cluboverclocker.com/revie...lude/Page5.asp
http://sg.vr-zone.com/articles/Asus_...ts/5135-9.html
http://guru3d.com/article/sound/363/6/

but without the graph, you don't see the lack of extension past 20khz like all the other cards, and which is to be expected. That cliff at 20khz for the zonar is more than suspicious.... my gut instinct tells me it's a measurement error, but.....

edit: the other thing I noticed is that the elite pro (unmodified?) beat them all in the numbers.... maybe my XM will stay in the drawer in deference to my elite pro with LM4562's....

This what your tslking about?

yup.... scarry

It is certainly true there is nothing 'plug & play' about Audyssey despite the claims. You have to work at it and use all 8 positions and be very careful about mic placement to get the best results, avoiding boundarys and placing around half the sweeps at least 1m in front of your listening positions. A lot also depends on your room and the relatively limited processing power of the 'basic' Audyssey in most Receivers. It took me about 10 attempts to get it sounding really good and quite a bit of swatting up but it really helps reduce reflections and smearing, I am very happy in my room


If you are referiing to my post then don't worry it is definately full LPCM, plenty of info about it here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=938473

Adam

Wow. Looks like the Elite Pro measured best. I figured the Prelude would be at least as good with it's higher grade opamps. Makes me wish I left well enough alone with my late Elite Pro.

pjavan: What software were you using for 3:10 and was it DVD or HD format?

Cyberlink 3730 build with a blu ray 3:10 to Yuma disc

Ok, I'm stumped. I have the MDP-130 tuner with the DVI daughter card. I was using the VGA loopback cable which has the input connectors: S-video, RCA video, and RCA audio left and right. I was using the 3 RCA connectors to connect my VCR to the tv tuner. The audio was very low, so I had to turn up the volume to hear it right.

Well, I bought a new monitor and now I want to connect the MDP-130 to the new monitor using DVI. This means losing the VCR connections. I then tried to plug the VCR's RCA video cable to the videocard's DIN connector using an adapter - it wouldn't work since the DIN connector does not support VIVO, it's tv out only. So, I connected the RCA video cable to the monitor - video problem now solved.

The audio problem is giving me a headache. I got a RCA audio left and right to 1/8" stereo cable. The RCA left and right connectors are connected to the VCR and I want to connect the 1/8" stereo connector to LINE IN on the Xonar. I went to both the Windows Volume Control and the Xonar D2 Audio Center and under Playback - there is no LINE IN indicator. It's only listed under Record. I've played around both the Xonar's and Window's control panels and cannot get LINE IN listed under playback.

Under Volume Control > Options > Properties > Mixer device >
1) ASUS Xonar D2 Audio
2) ASUS Xonar D2 Audio Converter
3) SoundMAX Digital Audio

When I chose SoundMAX Digital Audio, under Playback and Record, both show LINE IN and when I click OK, Volume Control now displays LINE IN. So it looks like I can only get LINE IN for playback under the motherboard's built-in audio. I don't know how I can fix this.

Hi all

Just recently got this card, but I'm already going nuts about the bass redirection and the stinkin surround modes Asus wants me to use!

Is there ANY possible way to get bass redirection coupled with stereo sound for music playback WITHOUT any Pro Logic crap etc? As it is now, I enable Flexbass, set it to 80Hz and speakers to small (just to test, I have full-size fronts in my home cinema system) but the subwoofer isn't doing anything.. If I change setting to 5.1 I get bass redirection, but then I also get music from all speakers, which is something I do not want.

Anyone who's gotten this to work?


EDIT: Installed Vista instead, now I can use the 5.1 speakers all the time without getting Virtual Speaker, Pro Logic and all that crap + Flexbass now works. Getting more and more satisfied with this card the more I use it!

Card looks great. But to be completely sure before I pick it fpr my HTPC rig I have a few questions...

I'm gonna use this in my HTPC setup with 7-channels analogue connected to 7-channel Rotel poweramp and the last channel for powered sub.

What I'm looking for that the realtek onboard chipsets don't handle (except for much improved sound quality ofcouse..) is settings for speaker distance/delay like in a separate surround reciever.

I couldnt find any screenshots of how this setup looks in the software for the xonar.. would be much appreciated.

What I need is... 1. software settings for speaker distance/delay and speaker volume for up to 8 channels. Preferably also some kind of LFE setting crossover etc.

I also would like to be able to use the HTPC/soundcard as a preamp for my Nintendo Wii (stereo RCA output/Dolby pro logic IIx sound.)

Is this the card for me? I would love gull hd audio from bluray discs outputted in the analogue outs with allready set speaker distance, speaker volume etc. and with the possibility to control the master volume with the Antec fusion volume knob. simply as a preamp.

OS/Front end:

Windows XP
Mediaportal with integrated Power DVD Ultra and TVEngine3
AnyDVD HD

What other soundcards would fulfil my needs. Preferably PCI-express ones because the two pci ports onboard are occupied with 2 x DVB-S2 satellite TV cards.