Xonar vs X-fi?

[Yojimbo]

Hey guys i've had both an x-fi xtreme gamer and a x-fi titanium. Both cards have died, the titanium only a month or two after I bough it the pc stopped booting with it in there. While these cards were great performers, the fact they keep breaking ensures I'll never buy creative again. I still want a good soundcard tho, so ive been taking a look at the Xonars, preferably the DX as its not too expensive. This card is quite old now, so does anyone know how it stacks up the the titanium quality wise?

If there's other cards i should get instead feel free to suggest any. I just want something other than broken low quality creative for games and music.Thanks!

[Yojimbo]

anyone please? I'm going to buy one of them today.

[Jaketh]

its your environment not the cards fault, im using a used Titanium thats over 2 years old and it works fine, Xonar's are nice soundcards to but a little pricey imo

[mrmouth]

The Xonar's are said to be a bit better for pure music, with the X-Fi's better for gaming, but still no slouch for music. I have an Auzentech X-Fi forte which uses the proprietary X-Fi bits, but it is built by Auzentech, and I think that is where your problem stems from. I would never buy a Creative manufactured card if I had the choice. Auzentech simply builds a better card over what Creative offers. Better components, and they have their own set of drivers based on the X-Fi software, that are worlds better.

And I would agree that the Xonar's are too pricey.

[Yojimbo]

Thanks! Yeah the worst thing about Creative is their horrible drivers. So this would be the one to get right? This site seems to describe all their cards besides this one as htpc focused.

edit: Duh forgot link!

[mrmouth]

Some confusion about whether the Bravura uses a genuine X-Fi chip or simple emulation with EAX 4.0. The Forte has a genuine chip and EAX 5.0, and it should be more than enough for anyone unless your PC is also a HTPC and you have a really serious home theater. At which point spending $200+ shouldn't be an issue

Unfortunately, the Forte is way overpriced on that site, and it looks as if it might be discontinued, having driven the price up. Im sure they are going to run it again, but maybe a new version or something. I think I got mine early last year for $140.

So on that site, I think the Meridian 7.1 2G is the best deal, but it looks like it was designed with music in mind first. It is over $200 at most US retailers because it literally just came out, and the only drivers available now are Creative drivers. The MSRP is $160...

At $190 you are getting into Xonar price range.

This is the thread that made the decision for me:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/...ar-essence-stx

Something to also consider is HT Omega