Most sound cards are all about how many discrete channels of audio they support and their fancy spec sheets that tout features which will make your speakers sound like the top notch audio equipment that they are. The reality is that users have different plans.
Gamers and music lovers are more likely to put on their expensive headphones to block out external noise and enjoy the experience. The Tech Report has a look at a pair of sound cards, the Asus Xonar Essence STX and Auzentech X-Fi Forte 7.1, and puts them to the test with their trusty headphones:
Asus’ DS3D GX software pulls a similar trick with the Oxygen HD, and in the process, takes the liberty of emulating EAX 5 effects that had previously only been available on X-Fi cards. The Oxygen chip doesn’t have nearly the horsepower of the X-Fi. In fact, it can only accelerate EAX 2 effects in hardware. However, it also has the necessary transistors for real-time DTS and Dolby Digital Live encoding. This capability lets users pass multi-channel game audio over a single digital cable to compatible speakers and receivers, neatly delivering pristine sound unfettered by analog conversions.
Two very capable cards but the integrated chipset makes a strong showing as well so you’ll have some rationalizing to do.
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