Comparison Asus Xonar Essence STX II 7.1 vs Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro

— Ordinary. This category includes all sound cards that do not have a pronounced specialization and do not belong to any of the types described below. Usually, they have a set of characteristics of an entry-level or intermediate level and are designed for simple everyday tasks: listening to music and game sound through ordinary speakers or headphones, communicating on the Web through a microphone, etc. Conventional sound cards are equipped with both digital-to-analogue and analogue-to-digital converters, they can be either internal or external.

— Audiophile (Hi-Fi). Sound cards designed for lovers of high-quality sound; they can also be useful for professionals who are engaged in professional audio processing and need the most accurate reproduction of the received signal. Accordingly, models of this type are distinguished by high build quality, advanced components, as well as the presence of additional equipment, an abundance of interfaces and advanced customization options (both software and hardware, including even the ability to replace individual circuit components). However, these cards cost accordingly.

— Gamer's. Sound cards originally designed as components for advanced gaming systems. Accordingly, the main purpose of such models is high-quality transmission of game sound, including three-dimensional and multichannel. Typically, gaming audio ca...rds are equipped with advanced DACs and support various special standards (see below); in addition, they may have additional equipment such as remote control modules (see below). The vast majority of models of this type are made internal, but they often have a rather original design (which is useful for modding enthusiasts who use transparent cases).

— CAP. Abbreviation for "Digital to Analogue Converter". Usually, this term refers to the constituent element of a sound card, but in this case it refers to a separate type of audio cards, the distinguishing feature of which is the absence of an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC). Accordingly, DACs are only capable of transmitting sound from a computer to headphones, speakers, etc., and cannot be used to digitize sound from a microphone or other external signal source. Note that this category includes a variety of models — from the simplest USB-headphone adapters, the size of a flash drive, to advanced audiophile-class solutions.

— Audio interface. A kind of opposite to the DAC described above: audio interfaces are designed primarily to digitize the sound coming to the input (for example, from a microphone or an electric guitar). Accordingly, they are not only necessarily equipped with analogue-to-digital converters — usually, these ADCs have very advanced characteristics and extensive sound tuning capabilities (and in some models even hardware switches are provided for this). At the same time, audio interfaces can also work in the digital-to-analogue audio conversion mode (in other words, to output sound to headphones/speakers). The cost of such devices is usually quite high, so it makes sense to purchase them only for those who plan to work a lot with sound recording.

The type determines how the sound card is installed and connected.

— Internal. Such models are designed to work as a permanent component of the system. They are installed in the computer's system unit, in a slot on the motherboard (PCI or PCIe, see "Connection interface") in such a way that usually only a panel with inputs and outputs is located outside. One of the main advantages of internal cards is compactness — they do not take up space outside and practically do not affect the dimensions of the system unit. At the same time, in terms of functionality, such models can vary from the simplest low-cost options to advanced professional solutions. On the other hand, in connection, internal cards are less versatile and more complex than external cards: this requires at least disassembling the PC case, and installation options are limited both by the characteristics of the motherboard and by the availability of space inside the case. It is also believed that cards of this type are more susceptible to electromagnetic interference, as they are in close proximity to the electronic components of the computer.

— External. As the name implies, models of this type are located outside the PC case during operation and use the appropriate connection interfaces — USB or FireWire (see below). Of the advantages of external cards, first of all, it is worth noting the convenience of connection: after al...l, connecting a plug to an external socket is much easier and faster than fiddling with the hardware of the case. Due to this, one card can be easily used on several computers, reconnecting if necessary. In addition, they are indispensable for laptops and some desktop computers, where the installation of internal audio cards is not structurally provided. Another advantage is the remoteness from the hardware of the computer, which reduces the level of interference. The main disadvantage of this type of cards is the need for additional space for them near the computer; while more advanced models, usually, take up more space. In addition, for devices with additional power (see below), you will need a separate outlet.

The main interface used to connect a sound card to a computer or other device.

Like the sound cards themselves, the interfaces used in them are divided into internal ( PCI, PCI-E USB, USB C, FireWire, Thunderbolt, 3.5 mm mini-jack, Bluetooth). Here is a more detailed description of each of these options:

— PCI-E. The main modern interface for connecting internal peripherals (including sound cards) to computer motherboards. Used in most internal type models (see above). The main advantage of solutions with PCI-E is that connectors for their connection can be found on almost any modern motherboard. True, these connectors may be needed for other components - a video card, a TV tuner, or even an SSD drive; however, even on the simplest motherboards, there are usually several PCI-E slots, so this point cannot be called a serious drawback.

— PCI. Interface for connecting expansion boards to the PC motherboard. It is the forerunner of PCI-E, has significantly lower bandwidth and more limited features, so is generally obsolete. Nevertheless, in our time, motherboards with such connectors and sound cards for the PCI interface (including quite advanced ones) continue to be produced. This is due to the fact that a relatively low bandwidth...is sufficient to work with sound; and installing an audio card in the PCI slot leaves PCI-E slots free, which may be required for components that are more demanding on connection speed. In any case, before buying such a sound card, it does not hurt to make sure that the "motherboard" has a connector for connecting it.

— USB. Connection via standard USB port. Until recently, this was the most popular interface for external peripherals, found in almost all PCs and laptops. It was under USB that most external sound cards were made. The disadvantage of this connection method is that USB connectors may be required for other devices, which creates problems with a small number of ports and an abundance of peripherals. On the other hand, such situations do not occur so often, and to solve them, it is enough to have a USB splitter (hub) on hand.

Separately, we note that the full-sized USB sockets in modern PCs and laptops have been replaced by more compact USB C (see below).

- USB C. Peripheral connector with a symmetrical contact group, which is often replaced by full-size USB ports on board modern PCs and laptops. Many new models of external sound cards are made for this interface. The exception to the rule are only individual instances for Thunderbolt (see below) - for them, it is Thunderbolt, and not USB C, that is indicated as a peripheral connection connector.

— Thunderbolt. A universal peripheral connector used primarily in Apple computers and laptops. It should be borne in mind that different generations of Thunderbolt differ in the type of physical connector: versions v1 and v2 use a miniDisplayPort socket, version v3 uses a USB C socket. So, when choosing a sound card with such a connection, you must definitely clarify this point. On the other hand, versions of Thunderbolt with different connectors are quite mutually compatible through the appropriate adapters.

— FireWire. It is also IEEE 1394. An interface for external devices, which some time ago enjoyed a certain popularity, but today it is practically obsolete.

- 3.5 mm (mini-jack). Mini-jack is one of the most common audio connectors. However, it is usually provided as one of the audio inputs (see below) and is rarely used as the main interface for connecting a sound card to an external device. Such a connection is found mainly in specialized gaming models, including those designed for use with consoles. At the same time, in such models, the mini-jack connector can be made combined, with the ability to connect both a linear (analog) signal via a conventional electrical wire, and an optical (digital) signal via a TOSLINK cable. Recall that the optical interface is notable for its complete insensitivity to external interference, it allows you to transmit multi-channel sound, however, cables for such a connection require care in handling.

— Bluetooth. Wireless connection according to the Bluetooth standard. It is found mainly in models designed for use with smartphones and tablets - there are few wired connectors in such gadgets, but Bluetooth modules are almost guaranteed. True, initially, with such a transmission, the sound is greatly compressed, which noticeably affects its quality; however, modern Bluetooth audio cards usually include support for aptX to remedy this shortcoming. Of course, the signal source must also support this technology - you should make sure of this before buying.

The most advanced multi-channel audio format that a sound card is capable of outputting.

— 2. Standard stereo sound on two channels — left and right. This format allows you to provide a sense of surround sound (especially when using headphones), which is quite enough for most simple tasks. However, it noticeably loses to multi-channel sound in terms of the "immersion effect", which can be critical for demanding gamers and audiophiles.

— 5.1. The classic and most popular multi-channel surround sound format today: a centre channel, two front and two rear channels allow you to achieve a full-fledged “surround effect”, and a separate subwoofer channel provides rich bass sound.

— 7.1. The 7.1 format differs from 5.1 by the presence of two additional channels. There are several options for localizing these channels — for example, a pair of side speakers, a pair of additional speakers above the front ones, etc. Anyway, the 7.1 format provides a more reliable surround sound transmission than 5.1, but such cards are more expensive, and there is less specialized content for 7.1.

When choosing a sound card by the number of channels, it is worth considering such moments. Firstly, multi-channel options are capable of producing sound in simpler formats (for example, a 7.1 card can be used for 5.1 acoustics), and stereo sound output is support...ed by all models in general. Secondly, modern multimedia software (in particular, codecs) allows you to output multi-channel audio through a card with fewer channels — for example, play 5.1 sound through a two-channel card with stereo speakers without quality loss. Thirdly, for the full-fledged operation of multi-channel sound, you will need not only a card, but also appropriate acoustics; therefore, it makes no sense to specifically look for a multi-channel model if you plan to use exclusively stereo speakers.

Brand of the audio chip installed in the sound card.

The audio chip is one of the most important parts of a sound card, a kind of "heart" of the whole circuit, and it is on its characteristics that the sound quality and other capabilities of a particular model largely depend. Knowing the brand of the chip, you can easily find various information on it — official specifications, test results, reviews, etc. — and based on this, draw a conclusion to what extent this sound card is able to meet your requirements. Of course, for ordinary video cards (see "View") there is no need to delve into such details, but when choosing a gaming or audiophile model, they can be very useful.

Various standards and special digital audio technologies that the sound card is officially compatible with. For example, the Dolby and DTS standards in various variations are used primarily for multi-channel audio tracks in films, while DirectSound and EAX provide high-quality “surround” sound in games. In fact, the ability to work with one or another standard is largely determined by the software part of the system, and not by the characteristics of the sound card; however, official compatibility means at least the full compliance of the card with the requirements of the standard and the minimum risk of conflicts at the hardware level.

Sound card compatible with ASIO standard.

ASIO (an abbreviation for Audio Stream Input/Output, i.e. “audio stream input-output”) is a technology designed for professional work with sound in the Windows environment; in particular, it reduces latency and improves the accuracy of the audio stream. If you do not plan to seriously engage in recording, mixing tracks, etc., most likely you will not need this function, but for musicians, sound engineers and other similar professionals, it can be very useful. The ASIO standard provides both software and hardware requirements; therefore, to fully use it, you must have a compatible audio card.

The need to connect additional power to the sound card.

Most of both internal and external (see "Type") sound cards are powered directly through the connection connector (see "Connection interface"). At the same time, for normal operation of advanced models (for example, audiophile and gaming, as well as some DACs; see "View"), this power may not be enough, which requires an additional power source. In internal audio cards, it is carried out from the computer power supply, in external ones — directly from the 230 V network.

The highest sampling rate provided by the digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) of the audio card. For more details on the role of the DAC, see paragraph "Bit depth" above. Here we note that the quality of its work directly depends on the sampling frequency: the higher it is, the less distortion occurs when converting sound.

Usually in sound cards there are standard values for the maximum sampling rate:

44.1 kHz — corresponds to the sound quality of Audio CD;
48 kHz — DVD;
96 kHz — DVD-Audio 5.1;
192 kHz — DVD-Audio 2.0 (two-channel audio has a higher sampling rate than multi-channel audio for a number of reasons), the highest value in modern consumer-grade sound cards.

Another specific point is that the quality of sound played on a computer cannot be higher than the capabilities of a sound card. In other words, if an audio file is recorded at a higher sampling rate than the audio card can provide, its sound quality will be reduced: for example, on a 44.1 kHz card, even DVD-Audio sound will sound like an Audio CD. Therefore, if you want to fully enjoy high-quality sound, you should choose a model with a high sampling rate.