[Domino]

Any updates?

 

[RallyMaster]

I'm aiming to get an update out by this weekend. I'm probably working overtime every night this week because software development takes way too much time and energy.

 

[dr.noob]

bump for this great thread

 

[RallyMaster]

I added some music impressions from this week to the OP but it isn't complete just yet. Overall, both sound cards are very good in this area but the STX does seem to have harsher treble compared to the TiHD.

 

[Domino]

You thinking the HD is more geared towards gaming with the STX is more geared towards Music where the HD can still holds it own against it?

 

[steven88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domino You thinking the HD is more geared towards gaming with the STX is more geared towards Music where the HD can still holds it own against it?

this is what i've gathered from all the research i've done prior to buying my TiHD

gaming is primary for me, while music/videos is secondary....TiHD works beautifully...I'm also running win 7 x64 and drivers are perfect....the only real complaint is that every time you have RCA (aka speaker plug) and headphones plugged in at the same time, you will only get sound out of the headphones....speakers are automatically muted, and theres no way to fix it. It's hardware related, not software per Creative Labs forum...thechris2233 previously mentioned this

its a real pita to switch between speakers and headphones with the TiHD. and sadly, it can be a deal breaker. some have suggested using a y splitter to connect pc speakers and headphones using the same line. this might be the way to go

 

[161029]

The TiHD would be the perfect card if it had the mechanical switch so you don't have to unplug your headphones to use your speakers. For once I actually like a card better than the STX. Why I like the TiHD is because I only use headphones.

 

[Scrumptious]

I'm kinda disappointed with the STX's performance in BFBC2...I was expecting at least some marginal quality in positional audio for FPS gaming...hopefully it's just this game that's an outlier and no others.

 

[Paradigm]

I still own the my STX and what eventually forced me to switch over to the Titanium HD was better positional audio for games. Yes DH can sound really good on certain titles, but based on my experience after owning the card, I prefer Creative Labs EAX>OPENAL and CMSS over the ASUS solution. BC2 which i primary play sounds much better than the STX with Dolby Headphone.

 

[161029]

Now that I look at this, I think we have a new top card with just 1 minor inconvenience, no mechanical switch to change audio outputs.

 

[steven88]

Rally, keep us posted on the op amp replacement. I'm betting current and future TiHD owners would be very interested in a cheap/easy upgrade

 

[lb_felipe]

I was inclined to Xonar, but after I see the bad performance in BF, I reconsidered.

Does anyone recommend a switcher (like that Plantronics that is discontinued) for headphone? Because is ridiculous to have to unplug and to plug the hp every time I want to change between them.

Although it does not matter, having to push a buttom or to plug/unplug a plug is the same crap.

Does the front panel jack on the computer case get the same power than rear in TiHD?

Is there any excitation to plug the hps on back jack instead of front panel case?

 

[chalkbluffgrown]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lb_felipe I was inclined to Xonar, but after I see the bad performance in BF, I reconsidered. Does anyone recommend a switcher (like that Plantronics that is discontinued) for headphone? Because is ridiculous to have to unplug and to plug the hp every time I want to change between them. Although it does not matter, having to push a buttom or to plug/unplug a plug is the same crap. Does the front panel jack on the computer case get the same power than rear in TiHD? Is there any excitation to plug the hps on back jack instead of front panel case?

The front panel can do 33 ohms or less, the back headphone out can do 330 ohms.

The front panel is often subject to case noise or lack of EM shielding.

 

[steven88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chalkbluffgrown The front panel can do 33 ohms or less, the back headphone out can do 330 ohms. The front panel is often subject to case noise or lack of EM shielding.

so does that mean running it through the front panel is a bad idea?

 

[chalkbluffgrown]

its a bad idea if your cans require a much higher impedance. Some people have no problems whatsoever with case noise being heard in their front panel audio jacks, some do. So if you are using low impedance cans and you have no case noise problems, then use your front panel.

I used an X-Meridian 2G sound card, and it has an excellent front panel headphone out conection. No noise whatsoever.

 

[BackwardPawn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chalkbluffgrown;13328158
its a bad idea if your cans require a much higher impedance. Some people have no problems whatsoever with case noise being heard in their front panel audio jacks, some do. So if you are using low impedance cans and you have no case noise problems, then use your front panel.

I used an X-Meridian 2G sound card, and it has an excellent front panel headphone out conection. No noise whatsoever.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the SNR also worse on the front panel?

 

[Simca]

Just an FYI in case you hadn't realized or whatever, but if you're using headphones that don't need to be amped, sometimes they'll sound better without the headphone amp. Try plugging HD555s or whatever headphones you're using to test the STX with the "Line Out" jack.

It supposedly better that way.

 

[DiegoAK]

off topic, this one says Onkyo's SE-300PCIE sounds better than Essence STX.

http://club.coneco.net/user/14407/review/62673/

 

[Simca]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiegoAK off topic, this one says Onkyo's SE-300PCIE sounds better than Essence STX. http://club.coneco.net/user/14407/review/62673/

 

[RallyMaster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiegoAK off topic, this one says Onkyo's SE-300PCIE sounds better than Essence STX. http://club.coneco.net/user/14407/review/62673/

I would definitely try that except those aren't readily available in the US market.