ASUS PCI 5.1 Channel Sound Card XONAR_DG

The ASUS Xonar DG is an excellent sound card, especially when you realize it's roughly $20 (or cheaper with rebates) just about everywhere it's available for purchase. With the included features, built-in headphone amplifier, and excellent audio quality, you just can't go wrong.

The card comes with everything you need for music, gaming and movies. With the Toslink audio jack, you get digital pass-through to any home receiver or optical audio setup. For analog you have six 3.5mm jacks to support major PC gaming audio setups. The Xonar DG comes with Dolby Headphone for immersive movie audio when using headphones or any two-speaker output.

The drivers were a breeze to install and come with many features. You can use the headphone amp if desired, built in EQ, and several cool features like voice effects, bass boost, and microphone gain control. There are also DSP modes which allow you to use hi-fi (unfiltered/no DSP processing) mode or GX (simulating EAX) mode or both at the same time.

I've had it almost a year and I can't recommend it enough. Most PC gamers will use headphones and casual movie watchers will enjoy the 5.1 output. The only issue I have is that it lacks DD Live! licensing - which means any games using this feature will not produce 5.1 audio over the optical link. If you have analog inputs, you're fine. The Dolby Headphone feature is also well implemented including virtual 7.1 output. Music, movies, and games alike all sound incredible through speakers or headphones, and the digital-pass-through adds functionality beyond the PC.

Reading reviews on other sites some people felt they heard a muddy tone in sound. I do not hear any thing muddy or muddled with this card. With flat response and good quality speakers (and headphones) I find the quality quite excellent - good bass and boom, warm mid tones, and clear highs - nothing overcompensating by any means. Adjusting the EQ for some headphones doesn't hamper the sound either. For games I find the audio crystal clear. I can discern sounds from all around me and very clearly identifying those particular sounds too. Movies sound great too, just as clear as music. To say the least I am overly impressed with the quality of this card. It's just superb.

Excellent card - hard to beat - well worth putting in any system.

Works great with my headphones