TR Forums

EDIT: Nevermind, I forgot I had a topic on this from before. Thanks though!


So I'm trying to pick an external sound option for my gaming PC and HTPC. I plan use whichever one I purchase with each system, so that's why I want the external, USB, option. Basically, I'll use it on my gaming PC when gaming, then on my HTPC when I want to watch a movie.

I'm choosing between these two:

The Creative X-Fi 5.1 SB1095

and

The Asus Xonar U3

So, I'm looking for better performance than the sound options on my MoBos which are both Realtek. I have a set of Seinnhesier 429s, and a Zalman mic for my gaming PC. My HTPC would use the optical out to connect to my older 5.1 Sony surround sound system.

Budget is $50.

I like the X-Fi since it has volume control right on the box. My headphones don't have volume control built in. The X-Fi also has a remote which is nice. So I'm leaning towards the X-Fi as the better all around solution.

What do you all think?

I'm just curious why you're not using HDMI in your HTPC?

Movies/music and other HTPC-ish stuff will be dependent on the quality of your TV or receiver, surely? The source signal from your movie or music should reach the speakers in digital form without even touching your onboard sound anyway.

Chrispy_ wrote:

I'm just curious why you're not using HDMI in your HTPC?

Movies/music and other HTPC-ish stuff will be dependent on the quality of your TV or receiver, surely? The source signal from your movie or music should reach the speakers in digital form without even touching your onboard sound anyway.

No hdmi on my receiver unfortunately.

Well, review sites rate the Xonar over he X-Fi

User reviews on the big etailers slate the Xonar for being a complete **** to get working properly.

You're choosing between a dog and turd in the $50 analogue audio category but I'd probably agree that the X-Fi makes more sense.

Chrispy_ wrote:

You're choosing between a dog and turd in the $50 analogue audio category but I'd probably agree that the X-Fi makes more sense.

Yeah, I was actually thinking that a $50 USB sound adapter probably isn't going to be significantly better than the onboard, unless you happen to have especially crappy onboard. (And yes, Realtek definitely used to qualify as "especially crappy" but they seem to have gotten better in the past few years.)