ASUS Xonar U7

Advantages: Pretty good localizes tools, plays quite clean and, in spite of everything, pulls headphones up to 150 ohms.
Like a sound card for a pair of speakers playing very well.

Disadvantages: In general, all the same, the Xonar U7 is rather high on high when using low-impedance headphones due to the near and non-zero resistance of the amplifier.

Comment: A good card for your money, and in fact, is now fairly easy to set up.
Much better than the built-in sound, no worse than other sound of the same price category, the whole question is which interfaces you need.
UPD A new driver for the card, A-Volute UI beta, has been released. It is recommended to put it, it is extremely convenient complete.

Advantages: 1) Digitality
2) Frequency 192 Khz
3) Convenience of use, in particular, an extremely convenient wheel for me to adjust the sound level. Now I control only sound
4) Small size and design
5) USB power (no problem, both with a laptop and with a regular PC)
6) The required minimum of popular connectors

Disadvantages: Not found

Comment: USB connection to PC. Speakers through jack 3.5 mm. Drivers from here: http://support.asus.com/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=Xonar+U7&p=21&s=2.
Installation of Xonar U7 + Dolby Home Theater software is required. Fine simple tuning (minutes 5) + high quality of the material being listened to = a stunning sound output.
I do not understand the geeks who write that they do not feel the difference with the built-in sound. If you can not do anything - do not hold.

Advantages: Compact, practical, discreet design, easy to connect - no need to open the PC case, look for an extra mollex connector. Drivers from the complete disk "rolled" absolutely trouble-free.

Disadvantages: Some "thoughtfulness" when switching between speakers and headphones.

Comment: I use it in conjunction with F & D SPS-611 speakers, Sennheiser HD419 headphones and Sennheiser e825s microphone. The result is impressive! The realtech audio chip built into the motherboard frankly loses in quality and clarity of sound processing.

Advantages: Price-quality super, great sound, mobility, versatility

Disadvantages: For this price there is no

Comment: I liked everything, for its price, the functionality and quality are at a very high level. Improved path on the stereo (front channels via CS4398) and RCA outputs. The sound is soft, transparent, the scene is clear, there is enough detail, I really like clean unobtrusive high and velvet basses. True, I use a separate headphone amplifier, because I have high impedance headphones. On the built-in "ear" output, they of course also "play", but quieter and a bit harder. On acoustics everything is ok. In the end, for a little money, I got a mini-DAC).

Advantages: Great sound and most importantly (before that was Audigy SE), ease of use (you no longer have to climb under the table and switch acoustics to headphones and back), support ASIO, volume control for a microphone

Disadvantages: Headphone amplifier only up to 150 ohms - weak. I would like to see the signal source switch separately from the volume control - sometimes you can accidentally change the sound source.

Comment: Price / quality is an estimate of 5. There are no competitors in this price range, so if you decide to purchase an external 7.1 card with good sound and a headphone amplifier + ASIO and everything for 100 bucks, the choice is more than obvious.

Advantages: Great sound
Appearance
Location and number of connectors
Convenient volume controls
ASIO 2.0
Ability to output in 7.1

Disadvantages: A little bit damp Softwares and Drivers

Comment: I bought it as a replacement for the integrated top-end Realtek, now I can't live without it!)) The sound gets excellent quality anywhere - movies, games, DAW applications ... by the way a separate topic ... In games, the sound has become much cleaner and more multifaceted if compare with the built-in then this is like heaven and earth! The music has become more pleasing to the ear, due to the large number of any equalizers and add-ons ... And yes, DAW applications! ASIO 24bits 4ms lat. clicks like nuts, but should then stock up on the computer more brightly! For the load on the process is considerable .... In general, I am very pleased with the purchase! Now I really can't live without her)

Advantages: The sound is more open in comparison with the built-in sound. Good replacement for built-in sound, but no more
You can cling ears to 150 ohms.
Dolby Home Theater v4 (in fact, is an analogue of Dolby on discrete xsonars, but with alignment, enhanced dialogue, etc.) is an excellent thing.
For someone, ASIO 2.0 will be a plus.
Beautiful appearance, neat.
USB 1.5m cord, convenient.
It is convenient to use (line-in on the front side), the wheel is spinning easily, you can twist endlessly :).
The LED is not bright, does not interfere at all.
Convenient and understandable software.

Disadvantages: The volume control wheel has a backlash, resulting in an eight-spin (one side is higher, the other is lower). MB only in my instance so, but where one is there and the second. But apparently this is due to the small area of ​​the axis of the regulator.
Loud change audio output (when you press the wheel). Compared with the sound * In the keys on the gamepad Logitech F * 10.
The power cable enters the USB socket freely, locks in, but dangles quite easily there (forward, backward, in a directional direction), does not affect the work.
When changing the sampling rate, it is better to stop playback (and hello to the xsonars again).
There are minor problems with frequent switching modes (ears, speakers), in particular in the picture, but I think this is a software flaw, they will fix it.

Comment: Took exclusively for headphones.
The wheel turns in steps (noticeably when you turn slowly), and is synchronized with the driver control panel. It was similar in Plantronics gamecom. On the lover.
Clicks when turned on (again, familiar from discrete xsonar).
All the flaws are constructive by and large (the software will be corrected, but the jammers are hardly), but they are so stupid that you don’t understand how you waited so much, but in the end there are such ridiculous flaws.
The software is sympathetic.
DHTv4 in games and movies is a cool thing, but it's not bad for music, rather flexible settings. The only enhancement that you really want to use.
If you do not take into account buns like DHTv4, ASIO, then in fact it sounds better than the built-in ones, but I would not say that it is three heads taller. But the price (if you close your eyes to the assembly) is quite adequate.

Advantages: price-sound-quality-convenience

Disadvantages: imkho no!

Comment: - I decided to buy this sound device for my Edifier R2700 and SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset v2, I am very pleased with the result, I now have a really awesome sound, at least one of my friends has never heard a better sound!
- specifically the device: well assembled, pleasant to the touch (soft-touch plastic like), compact and convenient to operate a small box, I have to the right of the monitor ... the LEDs are weak and do not strain at night!
- volume control (wheel) rotates in steps and is tied to the sound scheme of the system, the front panel (+/-) to control the microphone volume, do not rummage through the settings when you do not hear in Skype, just reached out and added :)
- a very important thing, an adapter with s / pdif coaxial to s / pdif optical in the kit, and there are no problems with connecting acoustics!
- Dolby Home Theater v4 is a good chip, but it is only in fresh firewood downloaded from the site asus!
PS zvukovuhy pleased, I recommend it to everyone!

Advantages: Inexpensive and high-quality map, mobility, light weight and size, the work of the drivers and native software, connectors and their location, support for ASIO

Disadvantages: They are not (the card corresponds to its value), except that it does not interfere with clicks when turning on and off the card

Comment: We needed a card to replace the built-in one (top-end ritek by the way), as well as the sold audiophile 2496 (its professional functions were no longer needed). I was afraid that Asus U7 would not be very different in sound (if only because the audiophile 2496 is also still internal and not external and the sound was only slightly better than built-in), but in the end it turned out that everything is ok. Without drivers in Windows 7, it was not defined, after installing the firewood, it worked like clockwork. Drivers and native software allow you to make a large number of sound-enhancing settings. No problems were identified under any operating conditions, except for the click that is characteristic of some external cards when the computer is turned on and off (this is nonsense). I liked the location of connectors, as well as the fact that there are tulips. The volume knob changes it programmatically, pretty smoothly. In general, in general, I chose this card because: 1 — at the moment, the asuses are one of the first in inexpensive multimedia sound cards, 2 — this card is universal, good in function and fully corresponds to its value, 3 — it has a good DAC, and There is a built-in headphone amplifier. In general, it turned out very balanced quality device. Just like a Toyota car))). If you decide to take this card or the like, consider such a thing that you don’t have to wait for something incredible from it, it’s just a regular multimedia card that can perfectly replace the built-in sound card.