Is the Asus Xonar AE as good as I thought it was? The two year anniversary edition!

It's been two years since I first started making my very first video! There and then, Antons Hardware was born! And today, I'm wondering, is the Asus Xonar AE, the card that I reviewed back then, still any good!? Let's give it a new review and go more indepth with the ESS Sabre DAC's, look at the Realtek 1220 and find out why I even started Antons Hardware in the first place.

[@mcethos8678]

great channel just subscribed!! Keep up the good work!

[@tzad2104]

year ago i decided to buy this card because the audio for my 10 year old 1150 motherboard which onboard audio was very poppy and hissy. was not dissapointed. very good review!

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you Tzad!

[@adrianr.s.9956]

I subscribed to your channel because, like you, I also like sound cards; I currently have an Asus Essence STX ll, recently I changed the Op-Amp for some Burson V5i and the sound improved, now it is clearer and I can notice even more details than before, I really enjoy listening to music and playing video games with an excellent sound, My headphones are currently a Sony MDR-XB920 and I also have the sound card connected to the Logitech Z625 and I have to say that the sound is beautiful, the headphones taking advantage of the Op-Amp burson V5i, as for the optical output with the speakers Z625

[@AntonsHardware]

I still want to update my opamps, just to hear what kind of effect they have! Would be an interesting video as well! Maybe you should also take a look at your headset. That could be upgraded as well. I'm a huge fan of the Beyerdynamic MX-300! Made a video about that one here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIubcn6ohLakhrM Thank you for the subscription! I really appreciate it!

[@ratulmukta]

How to work aux port in this sound card and how much different between aux & optical port, please tell me.

[@JorgeAlarconL]

I have been rocking an Asus Xonar DX since 2012 and I'm looking for an upgrade, especially because the driver department where Asus left support long time ago and for sure the next Windows won't be supported by this card. In your opinion which card would be a good and better replacement? I know the SB AE-5 is a really nice option, but I want more opinions and options. Nice channel! Not a lot of people care this much about sound quality on PC. Keep the good work!

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you! I do like getting these comments!

[@AZTCuRe]

you can go for unixonar drivers, they keep them updated

[@JorgeAlarconL]

@@AZTCuRe those are like refinements of an existing drivers. I doubt Asus will update the drivers for Windows 11. In any case, I just went for other options. I'm using right now the Sennheiser GSX 1200 and SMSL Sanskrit 10th Mk.II as DACs with Schiit Magni Heresy and Xduoo MT-602 Amps. Very pleased with the sound of these products.

[@procopy]

Hey. I just upgraded my old Xonar DG SI to AE and all this time, the only option I was using was the hi-fi mode. No effects, equalizers and stuff. And it sounded fine and natural. There doesn't seem to be easy one-button solution with this new control center, so which settings would you recommend as optimal for music? Played a bit with bass boost, vocal enhancer and compression and kind of like them better than preset EQ settings, just have the feeling it's all a bit superficially pumped. I pair it with Sennheiser HD555 headphones and Acoustic Energy Aego M 2.1 speakers. Thanks.

[@TheJBftw]

Hi Anton. The hissing of your on-board audio is a valid reason for RMA.

[@AntonsHardware]

I agree, but I wanted to keep on gaming and not wait for a replacement board, which may also have the same problems.

[@hypergalaxyhoover]

Thanks for your reviews! I'm going to get the Sound blaster AE-5 along with the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohms tomorrow :D

[@AntonsHardware]

And? Does it perform as good as you thought?

[@hypergalaxyhoover]

@@AntonsHardware Oh yeah. It is extremely comfortable, the bass is beautiful, and I love everything about it. The ear pads mold to your head after around 5 minutes and creates a perfect fit.

[@AntonsHardware]

Good to hear! I might upgrade to the DT770 as well!

[@error4159]

@@AntonsHardware I also have a pair of 80ohm DT 770's and I agree with Ho Chun Wong, they sound amazing

[@Leo-ng6bo]

Glad i found your channel. You deserve much more subs.

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you very much! Your comment is one of reasons i create content! 😁

[@dtsdigitalden5023]

I really enjoy your videos, all way way across the pond in Canada. :)

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you a lot! :D

[@JohnNoizz]

Nice video and good review! Can you tell me about the headphone amp? It is powerful enough? Thanks in advance!

[@AntonsHardware]

It can drive headsets upto 150 ohm. So it's not the most powerful, but better then most onboard solutions.

[@Bloodysugar]

Thanks a lot for your reviews, it's hard to find so much informations elsewhere and you deliver greatly. May I ask your advice ? If so here it comes... ^^ I'm looking for a descent card to get good 5.1 with my Z906 set (and maybe something better later). I'll use it for gaming and movies. Having good mic in and headset out is a plus but not my main concern (got an OK audio interface for that), I really just want to get good 5.1, no matter if the source (games, Netflix etc) is DTS, Dolby or discrete (though I prefer discrete as I connect through analog cables and the less compression, the better). I can't decide if I should go for Xonar AE or SB AE5. If Xonar can do it twice cheapper I'm all for that, but does it ? Thanks a lot by advance. :)

[@AntonsHardware]

If you have the money, I'd choose the AE5. But the Xonar AE is a good choice as well. Neither card is bad in my opinion!

[@Kilzu1]

You should go for any soundcard which you won't be replacing for a while. Also do keep in mind that 5.1 surround sound card will bring difference to sounds if you are using headphones which has 1 for center, 1 for bass, 1 for back right and 1 for back left cables, just single cable means you are using virtual surround which will work without having 5.1 sound card.

[@user-ri1mb1td6w]

Hello, I bought the Xonar AE thanks to your review. I have a weird issue - after installing the latest 1.1.19 drivers from the Asus website, I have audio and the Xonar system tray icon where I can change the language and Asio but attempting to open the UI itself just won't do anything. I tried reinstalling, restarting, opening through the icons in the installation directory but the UI just won't open. Do you maybe have any suggestion? I'm on the latest Windows 10. Thank you

[@AntonsHardware]

Hi ブリ, I haven't tried those latest drivers yet, since I don't have the AE in a system at this moment. Be sure to delete all folders that may contain settings, like in the appdata folder. I found that drivers are hidden deep down in the system and are very hard to remove. Even when you think you've uninstalled everything, there always is a setting that you've overlooked. For every review I just use a clean install, just to avoid these kind of issues. Good luck!

[@hectorcastanon6910]

Anton, I'm not a gamer but I listen to music and watch videos while I'm working. I have an Asus Z40 ProArt 10G mobo and I'm looking for a sound card with volume normalization. Does this card or the Xonar SE) offer that feature? I can't seem to find a definitive answer? Any help would be appreciated!

[@samdemangec2869]

congratulations for your MU ,you won't be disappointed.

[@AntonsHardware]

How did you know ;)

[@yagizcagan]

is this better than the DX? they use different sound chips and this one has lower DB output. Could you tell any difference when you tested both of these ? My Xonar DX just broke and I'm looking to buy either Xonar AE, Sound Blaster AE5 or the Strix Raid DLX. I'm running a good sub + 2 passive HIFI speakers, so sound quality is important.

[@AntonsHardware]

I have all three of those cards, and the AE5 is the best one of them all. The components used are really good, the software is good and the overall sound quality is excellent! This doesn't mean that the other two are bad. The AE5 is just a bit better. Check if you can connect all speakers and sub before you buy!

[@gottaslay8827]

Hey! Do you have any idea on how to change the headphone amplifier setting on this card? Old Xonar DGX had a dedicated setting for this but I can't find anything similar on Sonic Studio.

[@AntonsHardware]

Ahh good question! :D If you right click on the headphone in Sonic Studio, you can change the impedance. The higher, the louder.

[@neilcox1911]

Don't Be so Hard on Yourself you do a fine job great reviews and as long as you are Happy

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you! I am very happy with creating content!

[@jonassoderstrom4880]

I just got this card in combination with Beyerdynamic DT770 80 ohm headphones. I'm experiencing low output volume. Changing the impedance setting in the sonar program between low, medium and high does change the volume, but isn't that setting simply a gain?

[@AntonsHardware]

It's in the same corner. :D I had the same thoughts about this when making the video. But then I found that headsets with higher impedance need more power to achieve the same sound level. So it is more gain.

[@jonassoderstrom4880]

@@AntonsHardware Thanks and also, great video!

[@pmosly1578]

Hallo Anton, I have a question, I have an Edifier C3X system. I used to have a Xonar DS/D1 card in the past and its sound for music was just way better or "normal" compared to Creative products. Now I want an Asus card again with the same sound spectrum as the Asus Xonar DS/DX/D1. I have to decide between these 3 cards: Xonar DSX (currently available for 25 euros from Amazon and Asus), or Xonar AE, or Strix Soar 7.1 (80 euros). Is the Xonar AE a further development of the good old cards or does it sound more like a creative card??? Creative is good but I almost only listen to music through my 2.1 sound system. Maybe you can help me. Thanks. Greetings from Speyer :) P.S. the DX or DGX i not want :) The DSX because i like the Wolfson D/A Wamdler. And good Sound get not old ;)

[@AntonsHardware]

Hi Speyer! The Xonar AE isn't a further developments of the Asus series D cards. Those cards were nearly all identical, but from the ADC and DAC. But they all had the C Media Codec and board layout. The differences were also whether it had an opamp, supported Dolby/DTS or PCI or PCI-E. The Xonar AE is a really good budget card and hardware wise very similair to the Strix Soar! The differences between those cards are very small. The Soar has just a bit better Signal to Noise (110 vs 103), a couple more outputs and the possibility to attach a volume knob. If it was me, I'd get the Xonar AE. Good luck! :D

[@pmosly1578]

@@AntonsHardware thx you helped me👍

[@AntonsHardware]

Glad to have helped!

[@slenderman4779]

Young man ! in the low end would you recomend the Asus DGX or the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Fx ?

[@AntonsHardware]

Thanks for the young man :D Please check out my video about the FX: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXfNonRsr82qotk

[@slenderman4779]

@@AntonsHardware Thank you Anton,

[@raresail]

Hey, i want to use a sound card with optical cable (For an audio system), and is this a good one to also work with Dolby Atmos for Gaming? I know you have yo use the Dolby App from Windows Store. Also, thank you for the review :D.

[@AntonsHardware]

I don't have any experience with Dolby Atmos, as there are just a handfull of games that support it. So I don't know whichones support that. Have you looked at the Creative AE-7 or 9? Not really sure. Sorry :(

[@mrvapor4791]

I thought you seemed natural in your first videos thats why I subscribed.

[@AntonsHardware]

Why thank you!

[@rygar74nl]

Blooons! congrats, you are doing god's work.

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you!

[@4us829]

I'm looking for something like this to improve my Logitech Z623 Speakers, and i have Fantech MH82 Echo headphones, will i get big improvement by Asus Xonar AE from my motherboard which has a Realtek® ALC892/ALC897 Codec, and one more question can i connect speakers and headphones and mic at the same time on the asus xonar ae? Sorry for bad English :) I can get this card for 55 euro in my country

[@AntonsHardware]

If I were you I'd get a better headset. The fantech isn't one of the best out there. You will get a lot of improvement if you get something like a Steelseries, Sennheiser or a Beyerdynamic! If you have one of those, the AE will imprive the audio somewhat. The ALC892 is a staple code, but it's average. You can connect both the headphone and speaker output, but you cannot use them at the same time.

[@opinion8033]

Hi. For an even lower budget. Would you recommend the Asus Xonar SE? Thanks for all your entertaining videos :)

[@AntonsHardware]

I did a video about the Xonar SE! :) You can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKW6amxqh5plras

[@opinion8033]

@@AntonsHardware Thank you .

[@opinion8033]

@@AntonsHardware ops, but is not de same. I talk about the Asus Xonar SE, and the video is the Sound Blaster Audigy SE.

[@45eno]

@@opinion8033 I just noticed that as well as I was looking for the Xonar SE review. I can tell you I installed one today to replace the on board sound on the MSI Tomahawk B450 board and with the headphone amp gain setting up on HIGH the headphones are clearly louder. I might bump it down to MEDIUM as it will be plenty loud at 100 / Win10.

[@opinion8033]

@@45eno Thank you so much for your advice. I finally bought this card ( Asus Xonar SE) and I am quite satisfied with its performance. For the price it is very good Greetings from Chile

[@Godspeed961]

Hi namesake ! After 13 years with my beloved Asus Xonar D2 its time to buy new ! Choose this or Se? Iam running an 2.0 studio monitor speakers. Iam considering also to buy something like Tascam US-1x2HR to connect an instrument . DO you have opinion about these? Worth to mention, i see how a xonar chip gets fire :D , put it on wrong input on the motherboard .

[@AntonsHardware]

I always think that the SE is the Stupid Edition :D So get the AE! I don't have any experience with audio interfaces. On the second hand site I'm on I see a lot of focusrite stuff, but never bothered to get one. Maybe I shouild...

[@jeremyniels]

Yes this soundcard is worth it even in 2021. I personally just put my new PC together with one of the newest Asus Prime B560m-a motherboards that supports intel 11th gen. You would assume that tech has come so far that soundcards are no longer relevant over onboard audio but this is simply not true. Paired with my HyperX Cloud 2 for gaming the sound is noticably more clear / less muffed and cleaner/more bass on my Xonar AE 7.1 Card. Also the software allows for easy tuning though you should keep it at default with Reverb/Virtual Sound both Off. And if that aint enough yet you can even amplify the sound to blow your ears off if the default max volume aint enough for you.

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you for your comment!

[@TheTomy03ful]

Hi, I have a xonar d1 which is pci and my new motherboard will have only pci e, so I have to buy a new sound card. The xonar ae would be a step back?

[@AntonsHardware]

No definitly not! It will be a step forward!

[@uncleclaps44]

Convinced me to get one. Some pc fanatic must be freaking the hell out seeing the pci-express lane being used for a sound card lol

[@AntonsHardware]

Lol Yes, and getting in the way of airflow!

[@45eno]

Just picked this AE up open box from Amazon for $42 shipped to be installed my daughters PC with SHP9500 headphones and old Yamaha w/ Polk book shelf speakers. Just installed the SE for $23 in my son's PC for his Phillips SHP9500 headphones as the MSI Tomahawk B450 onboard does not have enough juice to push these headphones loud enough for my tastes. Not happy with the new SE software compared to the old Xonar Audio Center on the DX & DG cards. There is no way to select my 2ch input and 5 channel output so I can send the same signal to fronts/rears. That's why I needed to order the AE as it has a dedicated headphone/front jacks.

[@AntonsHardware]

Hope the AE will satify your needs!

[@kyleadonis5451]

I use my pc for music connected to preamp then power amp then the floor standers. So at the moment I am in the market for a sound card because the onboard audio on the motherboard lacks bass, will this sound card improve in that regard? FYI They only sell Asus Sound cards locally

[@AntonsHardware]

I still have a weakness for this card. It's the one that started my channel and I have so many fond memories. Maybe that is clouding my judgement. :D So yes, this is a great card, with a great DAC on it.

[@gopalns2162]

Hi, nice review. I wanted to know if this sound card can output 7.1 through optical spdif out. I heard in some blog that, it output only 2 channel through spdif out.

[@AntonsHardware]

It doesn't seem like the Xonar AE is supposed to support Dolby Digital Live. So it'll probably do AC-3 passthrough only. :(

[@gopalns2162]

@@AntonsHardware Thanks, I just needed this sound card to play surround sound 5.1 dts through spdif for my Logitech z906 system. I will be receiving this card this weekend. I hope I will be able to get 5.1 through it. Will update later.

[@mindrover777]

@@gopalns2162 did it do 5.1

[@6434SUNIL]

Not through spdif

[@mindrover777]

@@6434SUNIL how did that happen? Is dts working.

[@linker75]

hi , i see your video of creative blaster z se and after I decide to buy Asus Xonar Ae .....it's a good choice ? THX

[@AntonsHardware]

Both are great budget cards, but I did enjoy the AE a bit better!

[@tonyfluertynaturephotograp5272]

So if it came between the Asus AE and the Creative Z you would take the Asus? I am not a gamer and my focus is on music. I have Sony 1000x M3 headphones that are heavy on the bass and subdued treble, plus Im a bit deaf so the treble and mid-tones need to be bought forward. Which soundcard do you think would suit my needs best, please?

[@AntonsHardware]

If you're looking for audio quality I'd go for the AE. I wasn't that much impressed by the audio quality of the Z.

[@tonyfluertynaturephotograp5272]

@@AntonsHardware taaaa

[@AntonsHardware]

Hahaha, thats a real British answer. :D

[@tonyfluertynaturephotograp5272]

@@AntonsHardware Im a Kiwi living in Northern Ireland lol

[@AntonsHardware]

Haha, well not british then! I loved NZ when I was there 20 years ago as a backpacker. It is my wish to go there again, now with my wife!

[@vbmanick]

Hi, thanks for the review, will I be able to use this for mini tower casing Dell ?

[@AntonsHardware]

I couldn't say as I don't have an idea about the size of the case and the available PCI Express slots.

[@xeneizefc]

Hi, i have a problem whit this souncard buy recently, S/PDIF (optical) sound output work in 7.1 or 5.1 on windows 10? because i have this soundcard and not working, only appear Stereo option when i choose sound output optical, I hope you can helpme, thanks

[@cihan.kurucu]

From your writing, really couldnt understand; what kind of problem do you have?

[@AntonsHardware]

I would love to help you, but I don't understand your question.

[@mindrover777]

This card supports 2ch though optical.

[@PixelPolishTV]

I just bought this card second hand for €40 only because of your videos, despite the fact that I've had some bad experiences with my old PCI Xonar DG. I hope it will not disappoint. My old Xonar sounded OK, but the card would randomly stop working after waking up PC from sleep mode, which I use all the time, so every morning it was a coin flip if the card will work or disappear from the device list, forcing me to reboot. Also turning off my computer would make damn laser explosion sound every time, coming from the speakers :P I'm trusting you, brother 😎👍

[@AntonsHardware]

And? Have you installed it yet?! Really anxious to hear what you experience is!

[@PixelPolishTV]

@@AntonsHardware Coming in later today, will test it whole evening and I'll be sure to drop a comment :)

[@AntonsHardware]

@@PixelPolishTV Looking forward to this! If you don't like it also tell me why! :D

[@PixelPolishTV]

@@AntonsHardware Well, my impressions so far: sound is great - I could hear the difference between Xonar AE and on-board chip immediately, even on my ancient set of Creative Inspire T6100 5.1 speakers (still kicking ass!). The software is also great compared to the old Xonar one I've been using for years and it's very much up-to-date (last version from December). Dedicated headphone jack with amp is a very good idea, so is the dedicated line-in jack which was missing in older cards. That being said, the backplate is - just as I suspected - a bit of a joke. It probably does "something" but the EMI is still there. Thankfully not a lot and I can only really hear it in the middle of the night when the world sleeps, there's almost no background noise and even then it's probably only because I've got bat ears. Definitely better than my old Xonar DG, which whined like a goat before I have made my own cardboard+copper tape shroud. There is a HUGE negative though - and one that is very important for content creators, so I'm surprised you have never mentioned it. In recording devices, there is no Stereo Mix / Wave Out! It's quite honestly outrageous. Now I have to use virtual cable software if I want to record sounds from my desktop. I have definitely not expected that, as being able to select Stereo Mix in Adobe Audition for example was always a given. Not anymore with this card. Maybe there is a way of restoring it with some of the UniXonar tools, but the fact that it's not there right from the get go is shocking. My other option was Sound Blaster Z which was ~€25 more expensive (2nd hand) and right not I'm not entirely sure if I have made the right choice tbh. I'm not entirely dissatisfied, but even though I was not expecting perfection it still managed to let me down in some ways.

[@AntonsHardware]

That is a huge negative! I've never mentioned that, because I never use that option. Sorry to hear that your not completely happy! Are you sure that there is no such an option in the driver interface? Some option are kind of hidden. Also, the stereo mix may be switched off in the device manager. Have you checked for hidden devices? The backplate is a joke indeed! If it's supposed to work properly, it should shield the components, not the back of the card. Now it's just a way to make the card look a bit more cool. But it did solve the EMI issue in my system, so it was good enough.

[@emveezee]

Unfortunately I have had a streak of bad luck with Xonar cards, my first DX card stopped working all of a sudden - the click when powering on also was no longer audible, so probably a relay. Then I bought a Xonar AE which also just no longer gets detected in Windows all of a sudden. If the pc has been powered on for a week or so it shows back up again.

[@AntonsHardware]

Weird. Isn't there a problem with your motherboard? Have you tried another PCI express slot?

[@xgf122]

have this card almost for 3 years, but I must admit I never tried put different speakers then Creative Gigaworks T20 II in front port, they got damaged cable over the time and I decided for different combination of 2.0 and 2.1 after a long time, I bought Edifier X6MBT instead of my almost 10 years old Logitech Z313 and later I bought 2.0 wooden speakers with range 60Hz-20KHz to it. I must use audio splitter (jack male with two females) connected to headphone jack, since on front jack everything is distorted. my question is, it is dysfunctional card or rather too strong signal for PC speakers coming through that port, since Gigaworks T20 II are also studio monitors...

[@AntonsHardware]

Audio cards give a standard output, that has to be amplified if you use it with speakers. My guess is that the speaker amplifier isn't working properly.

[@Undetected.Dimensions]

sound card is very rare now a days. but for 7.1 Home theater system sound card must be needed

[@Umbhaki]

How would this compare to the Sennheiser Epos GSX 300 external USB sound card? In terms of upgrading sound quality, in 2 channel stereo, not interested in the bogus surround sound...

[@AntonsHardware]

I LOVED the GSX300! Check out my review here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ombHfKKXeZ2biqM

[@Umbhaki]

@@AntonsHardware OK Great thanks nice Review, ive ordered one, i dont want surround sound, just clearer, and better stereo separation which this does quite well apparently. And also just helps me separate my headset from my speakers, my pc set up is weird and cant seem to have the speakers and headset plugged in the same time.. With this it should sort that out...

[@abeltje57]

Does this card have stereo mix? I want to record pc sound.

[@heksogen4788]

Are you electrical engineer with designing/building sound inteface experience? Just asking to know if you are a professional in the field of audio design.

[@AntonsHardware]

No I am not an electrical engineer. I'm just an enthousiast who likes sound cards. When I was younger I was that guy who was in some HiFi store listening to different setups, speakers, amps and sorts. I loved the analogue record player and would do listinging sessions with other audiophiles. What speakers do you like. What amp sounds better to you. But these days, everything is digital and I'm trying to find that analogue sound, that I enjoyed so much when I was young.

[@heksogen4788]

@@AntonsHardware BTW, where can i get these test results as a page from rightmark analyzer? I can only get a table raw data results, no marks like "good" or "average"? Nevermind, i found it, had to export as .html :D

[@johnwest6224]

@@AntonsHardware same here.. Endless hours of testing and discussing back in the past with friends they bought and changed many equipments... I was a bit restrained.. I've the fx II Supreme with upgraded caps. Sounds far better than every card I used before.. Not expensive card.. They all were clinical, frozen sound.. I keep my mobo till it spit it out... I would buy a card that gives me that sound and a bit more.. I guess if the ess dac is on the "analog" way of sound..

[@johnwest6224]

Hi good day! In a review in Amazon someone said that xonar dx sounds better than xonar ae. Is it true?

[@AntonsHardware]

Yes it is, since the AE has a better dac and amplifier on it.

[@johnwest6224]

@@AntonsHardware??

[@kungfujiujitsufliptrick4832]

could u show what it looks like plugged in? tryna build a pc

[@4us829]

I bought Logitech Z906 5.1 System, and i have Z490 Msi A-Pro with ALC892/ALC897 Codec, will i get any improvement with this Asus Xonar AE card in sound quality?

[@AntonsHardware]

yes you will! The ALC892 isn't that good. It's average at best.

[@truonganh9734]

I am looking to buy Xonar AE, ASUS Xonar U5 Compact DLX. I'm running 2 speakers, so sound quality is important. Which one should I choose? thank you

[@AntonsHardware]

I'd go for the AE! The U5 has issues.

[@truonganh9734]

@@AntonsHardware thank you!

[@ponvannansubramani5473]

Hello Sir, Am using Asus Xonar AE 7.1,,,,i have Razer Tiamat 7.1 v2,,,,am plug this headset in my sound card via analog ,,,,but sub-woofer not working ,,,any fixes??

[@AntonsHardware]

HAve you tried setting the card to 7.1 and not 2.0?

[@Johnz0rrr]

conclusion does or does not? which one would you recommend me to buy? buy this? will it be better than the onboard audio of my asrock b550 steel legend?

[@AntonsHardware]

Conclusion: Yes it does! :D I would definitly recommend in getting one. With one side note: I have heard that it may give issues with AMD motherboards! Like yours! So in your case: I wouldn't recommend it. If it did work correctly, yes it will be a leap forward!

[@mirekgliwa291]

Hi. Did you buy this card? share your impressions.

[@Johnz0rrr]

@@mirekgliwa291 I bought it, very good, not how to compare with the onboard sound ... it's another level!

[@Johnz0rrr]

@@AntonsHardware I bought it, very good, not how to compare with the onboard sound ... it's another level!

[@kevinriches9427]

im really confused now i want to buy a new graphic card around 50 - 60 pounds gbp ive always loved creative i listen to alot of music through my headphones as i only have onboard sound with no sound controls that i need like treble controls at least, my last card xfi no longer worked with windows 10 thats how long i havent bought one help would be very appreciated thanks

[@AntonsHardware]

Which X-Fi card are you reffering to? I've done a lot of testing on X-Fi cards and I got them all working. Ok, the driver interface look ancient, but still they worked. If you want a new card, check out the Asus Xonar AE. It's a really decent card, with excellent components for that price. But, you can also look at second hand cards. Nearly all cards I review are second hand and I've never had any issues. Maybe this video will help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/amLMlGBmiLCIopo

[@kevinriches9427]

@@AntonsHardware I really liked the comments on the Asus xona ae as I've always used creative but the rx said drivers unpredictable so I was hopeing the Asus xona would be the one for me last card I had was creative xfi or something but the windows 10 came along and end of life for the card I had it years before that too

[@hsynsrky]

I just bought Xonar Se and i have a question about the software. It starts on Hi-Fi Mode but i wanna change some options there. When i do so, it is on my preset mode. Is it not Hi-Fi after that? 2. question: it was 48 khz i changed it to 192khz is it ok?

[@AntonsHardware]

Have you checked the drivers? And yes, you should change it to 192 kHz! Audio quality will be improved a lot!

[@hsynsrky]

@@AntonsHardware Only problem i have is now I cant get sound from Reaper. I tried everything but It just doesn't work. Guitar rig works

[@AntonsHardware]

@@hsynsrky Sorry to hear that! I wish I could help you! You could try to see if the reaper works on the onboard sound? Then you know if it's an issue with the soundcard or the reaper.

[@hsynsrky]

@@AntonsHardware I have behringer hd202 and only connection is through the USB cable comes with it. I don't know why but there is something wrong something.

[@hsynsrky]

Pretty positive there is a confusion with the pci sound card and exterior sound card.

[@vinodhdd2094]

You mentioned a better creative card if i have more money. Could you please tell the card name?

[@vinodhdd2094]

Is it creative AE 5 you mentined? Thats way out of my budget. Xonar AE vs Creative Sound Blaster Audigy PCIe RX 7.1? Pray tell, which one is better?

[@AntonsHardware]

Sorry for the late reaction. I'd go for the Xonar AE. The RX is just an old Audigy 4 with another sticker on it!

[@vinodhdd2094]

@@AntonsHardware Already purchased Xonar. Its a great card for me. I have never used sound card. so this is super. Gaming also outputting little bit more frames. Thank you so much for responding.

[@xmaxon]

Can I connect via spidf port to get surround sound from my 5.1 home theater ?

[@AntonsHardware]

I'm not sure, bit I think you can!

[@bogusbyte]

Hi... i just got this card and used the latest drivers... you can connect it... but sofar i have just gotten STEREO and no multichannel sound...

[@HABIBULLAHxZed]

Is it better than x-fi titanium fatal1ty pro for music?

[@ravis1ngh]

Would you recommend this for Razer Tiamat 7.1 v2 Headphone. It works will my current motherboard Z490 UD AC (ALC887). Is it going to make a difference?

[@AntonsHardware]

The ALC887 is an ok codec. Not the best, but ok. The Razer is a good headset and the Xonae AE will benefit from it. But keep in mind that there are issues with AM4 motherboards and this sound card.

[@ravis1ngh]

@@AntonsHardware I am using the Z490 UD AC Motherboard with only three audio connectors at the back. I have retasked the Audio Channels via Realtek Audio Console and using the front two in combination with the back three to get 7.1 audio. I made it to work with the Razer headset somehow. It sounds great with Music and game but there's static noise.

[@AntonsHardware]

Ahh too bad! I think that the static is EMI. Something a lot of motherboards suffer from. If you want to get rid of it you could try an internal or external sound card. Love your video about the Tiamat by the way!!! Thumbs up!

[@ravis1ngh]

@@AntonsHardware Thanks for all the info. Appreciate it! 👍 Also, I ordered this card and will receive by 21 May. Will update.

[@AntonsHardware]

Thanks! Looking forward to it!

[@alinpop7314]

Hello. I want you to recommend me a PC audio card. The budget is around $ 200-300. One of the conditions would be to have a decent driver with EQ settings and the ability to configure two stereo outputs. I only use it to listen to stereo music in the active speakers and in the amplifier with the floor speakers. Thank you.

[@AntonsHardware]

Hi Alin Pop, For that budget I'd recommend the EVGA NU! One of the best sound cards out there. Another one is the Creative AE-5 of which I released a video last week! Hope this helped!

[@alinpop7314]

@@AntonsHardware It helped me a lot. Thank You !

[@SAZZADEMU]

Creative x fi titanium or Asus Xonar AE which one is best ?

[@HABIBULLAHxZed]

Bro, did you get an answer to this question anywhere? Which one do you have now?

[@testdirver]

so how good are the new drivers they release back in january in w10

[@AntonsHardware]

I didn't ran into any issues, but I have read that some people have run into them. Why that is, I couldn't say. Different hardware versions, maybe?

[@testdirver]

@@AntonsHardware odd, my new xonar ae arrive today so crossfinger work great, cuz my onboard sound gave me some trouble

[@testdirver]

@@AntonsHardware hi just install but the sound isnt any good now all sound flat and far, cant believe 4 ELNA Audio Caps sound better; btw in the taskbar yours say speakers (usb)

[@ThamilNesan]

Hi Anton is this Asus AE very compatible with Windows Dell i7 computers to have 5.1 sound system pls let me know Thanks

[@hardcorehardware361]

I run a Sony Muteki 6.2 system I got for $220 second hand, I run my PC Cassette Deck VHS LP player through my AMP. When I want to use my headset I just plug it into my AMP, works great for me. Edit: I have an Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula motherboard ( ESS ES9023P High Definition DAC ) (120dB SNR stereo playback output) I thought I would need a sound card but you don't, you just need a decent AMP then you're good to go imo. I only use 2x Tall speakers and 2x Subs so 2.4, I prefer stereo sound for my HIFI setup and in Game sounds are very good. I can hear people creeping up on me from far, very good and it only cost me $220AUD so I'm very happy.

[@AntonsHardware]

The Sabre DAC's are very good indeed! Got to hear what your setup looks like!

[@hardcorehardware361]

@@AntonsHardware Thanks for taking the time to read my comment mate.

[@tonlangenbach4881]

Hello Anton youre Englisch is not bad infact its Perfect to hear , Zo nu even in ons taaltje leuke en leerzame reviews, maar die kaart is ie beter dan de XFi pro die ik nu heb ik ben geen gamer , maar muziek moet perfect zijn, de alc-892 is bagger vind ik With compliments Ton Rotterdam...

[@kaviyarasumanoharan1557]

Does it decode Dolby digital Plus or DTX? Is it good for watching movies? Someone please answer.

[@AntonsHardware]

No it does not support dolby or dts.

[@kaviyarasumanoharan1557]

@@AntonsHardware Any recommendation for Dolby 7.1?

[@AntonsHardware]

I'm not sure, but the Asus Soar is 7.1 capable. But I don't know if it can handle Dolby or DTS.

[@nirajmarathi]

Do this card have DDL DTS support ...

[@AntonsHardware]

Sorry, it does not :(

[@nirajmarathi]

And sadly they have stopped productions for dolby based cards like xonar dx d2x dsx etc etc .. Atleast in my country India

[@AntonsHardware]

Creative is implementing Dolby into their cards. Maybe they are an option?

[@user-kz6st5of8d]

you are a very nice person

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you!

[@raymondhachmishvili2483]

greetings from Israel ,best dude on KZbin ,honest reviews

[@AntonsHardware]

Thanks! Best dude on youtube is a great title!

[@benqusan]

can anyone tell the difference between ASUS Xonar AE and Xonar DX? its worth to change it? and anyone have problem with ASUS Xonar DX with lower volume on right channel?

[@AntonsHardware]

The Asus Xonar D series are basically all the same cards, with just some minor flavor changes (like Dolby and DTS) or with 600 ohm support. These are getting pretty old and driver support from ASUS is lacking. The newer Xonar AE is a pretty decent card with great components. In my opninin the AE is far better that any D card. But there are some that disagree with me.

[@ketxxx1]

Adding some Rightmark Audio Analyser (RMAA) results would really level up your sound card reviews ;) Truth be told there really isn't many audio cards worth considering, on modern mainboards the only audio thats really any good is the Realtek ALC1220 or a semi custom ALC1200 upgraded with a headphone opamp. Outside of that add-in audio boards your options are the Xonar DGX, Xonar DX (what I currently use - looking for something with better features now) if you need something with an FPA header just be sure to download and use unixonar drivers they are FAR better than the crap Asus shart out for the cards. If you don't need an FPA header or your on-board audio can do a servicable job of that then the Xonar AE and Strix SOAR are good options. Creative have some audio cards that have decent hardware but their software and drivers are garbage so not worth considering IMO. Damn shame a few more audio card manufacturers can't pop up a fully customised design built around the ALC1220/1200 would actually be really good (and cheap) which would certainly shake things up and somewhat relight an audio race I think.

[@AntonsHardware]

I have a motherboard with the ALC1220, but that one suffered from a lot of EMI. Even to such an extend that my friends couldn't hear me when gaming. So I was sort of forced to use a sound card. And that was the reason I started my youtube channel! But sticking on a ALC1220 on a soundcard, coupled with some decent opamps and a nice dac, is a really good idea.

[@RatatouillE_999]

Xonar DGX is good bro but it broken i buy xonar ae 7.1 now i hope it will good

[@paolosilva8024]

I am buying because of this guy 🤣

[@f0nd4c54]

hello, some video of an asus xonar se?

[@AntonsHardware]

Im not planning on making a review on that card. Sorry 😟

[@javaguitar]

Who the best , XONAR AE vs XONAR DX?

[@AntonsHardware]

AE hands down! :D

[@Magorto]

Just buy that card, let's see if it's good, but i'm subscribing

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you!

[@tycoon7885]

Hey was it good? can you tell your experience was it worth it?

[@Magorto]

@@tycoon7885 if you're looking for analog audio this is your card, 7.1 works perfectly, and in the future you can spend less money in a motherboard, no need for the onboard audio

[@manuel12ox]

Ass right my boy! keep it up. this is how you get better!

[@AntonsHardware]

Thanks!

[@GamingLiveHDChannelPH]

KONAMI's beatmania iidx uses that sound card RN

[@AntonsHardware]

Wow that's cool!

[@miosz8531]

Is it better than Xonar DX?

[@AntonsHardware]

Yes, definitly!

[@DieselHead]

you seems like a nice chap, video is like mine used to be 2 years back, a piece of advice, color grade your videos, lower the exposure and try to make them a little cinematic. Stay to the point if possible. Regards Vivek aka VivekRj.Dieselhead (fellow youtube creator)

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you for your advice! I will try to do that in my next video!

[@DieselHead]

Thanks for considering 👍🏻👍🏻

[@JustRelx]

People are trying to glorify themselves on the internet, but it's about a soundcard - and the sound card itself is a total disappointment. This way the review has failed - but it wasn't your intention, so fully forgiven. Your not in the Linus crowd and thats a big thumbs up to you.. RandomGaminginHD is the King of good reviews, as his manner is on the dot. best of luck in the future.

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you for you comment! I do also think RandomGaminginHD is a really good channel. He's one of the guys who got me into making video's. As for the Xonar AE, I still think it's a really good card for that price. Why do you think it's a total disappointment?

[@k-peezy2723]

Irony. I get all the pops and crackles with the AE. Used to have a DX which was awesome (with UniXonar drivers). But the AE is nothing but trouble in my current machine to the point where I'm about to pull it. You talk about pops and crackles? That's what the AE gives me vs the onboard chip. The drivers fail so often that I have to restart my computer or play games with them like switching from speakers to headset and back to actually GET AUDIO. I'm going to an HT as soon as I can because this thing is simply "not all it can be". Edit: For the love of F, I had to do that switching trick just now after posting this comment. It's gone. I'm done with this.

[@aerocatia]

I wish I saw this before I got one. What a piece of crap. Pulled it and replaced it with a Audigy Rx, at least those have support. Asus should have just kept making the D* cards, wtf are they doing?

[@ramanbhadu1]

God bless you

[@AntonsHardware]

Thank you! Bless you too!

[@SloulDesTucs]

I used to have a Xonar Xense which came with Xonar Audio Center and it was the BOOM. I bought the AE, and it does have Sonic Studio as replacement, which is extremelly crapy. At least for Headphones. I don't see the point to having spent such money on something that is samy as the motherboard. I am extremelly frustrated and simply don't understand why the Xonar Audio Center isn't a thing anymore.

[@AntonsHardware]

Good to hear another perspective. I disliked the xonar audio center and love the Sonic Studio. In the defence of Asus; the driver interface isn't really made by asus or those companies. It's made by the DSP company. Asus just applies it's branding to the interface and presto. It now looks like Asus did all the work.

[@SloulDesTucs]

@@AntonsHardware By any chance, do you know a way to increase the volume through Sonic Studio or else? That's actually my main concern, the sound is very low on headphones. Cheers.

[@AntonsHardware]

If I remember correctly there is an option to rightclick somewhere to open an additional menu. But it has been some time since I used the software the last time.

[@SloulDesTucs]

@@AntonsHardware Wow. You just fixed my issue I think. I right clicked on Headphones and there are 3 options Low impedance, Medium Impedance and High Impedance. Thanks a ton sir :D

[@Aranimda]

I don't like it. Basic sound quality may be fine but the software settings are very limited. Upmixing stereo to 7.1 is very bad. Asus seems to be using some dumb AI for this. Mono is routed to the center channel only. Voice is routed to the center channel as well. Which is annoying when listening to speech / podcasts on KZbin and other media. I prefer my old X-Fi but I cannot use it anymore because the drivers crash my PC. I now use the Teratec Aureon 7.1 PCIe.

[@jonnyc2.047]

help me is this battter than rx sound baster pcie an is it batter than the new sound balster v2 i just got it it has hisssing on the head phones an i hot spowp it an it broke i am sanding it back tomorrow do i buy the sound blaster v2 a gane or do i i get the one in this video or do i get the r Creative Sound Blaster Audigy PCIe RX 7.1 idk what one is bast for gameing aN PLAYING SONG I AM STREAMER ON TWITCH HELP I HAVE A LOW BUGET NOW BUT LATTER I GEET BATTER ON EBAY CHEEPER I NEED IT FAST NOW

[@AntonsHardware]

I want to help, but I have no idea what you are talking about.

[@11xxDIMAxx11]

Hello Anton. Nice video like and sub. I watch and read a lot of review about the sound card. Any way I have a question I wanna a try to buy the sound card. I never have one. I just use integrated sound card of motherboard. Now I have Motherboard z370 MSi Tomahwk . And a few mounts ago I buy for really good price Razer Tiamat 7.1 V.2 Headphones . I used they and I love they , some pepole doesn't like they but I like !!! Sow I wanna try this buy headphones with a sound card. They have 5 Jack 3.5 for real 7.1 The question is.. What buy Asus Strix soar vs Asus Xonar AE The problem it's the price.. I can Buy Asus Sonar AE from Amazon( Used) for just 43€ AND Asus strix sonar cost like Moore !! Like 92€ New. Sow I don't know if wait and add more money and buy Strix sonar or just buy AE .. Yeah I prefer Strix sonar.. but 92€ spend for just a sound card.. hmm.. I don't know I like it's because it's closed card when other it's open .. And I like software he have sonic radar. Sow tell me please what you think ?? EDIT! UPDATE ;; Man i cant wait .. I check now amazon in my country and YHUUUUUUU ASUS PCI-Ex Gaming Strix PRO. Scheda Audio a 7.1 ----- FOR JUST 86 Euro !!! From Amazon Warhouse ! YEAHUUUUUU!!! Iam really happy i see that card for 63 Euros last week on warhouse but unfortanaly som one buy it. but io check and for just 86 Euros i but A PRo!!! Yeahu!!

[@AntonsHardware]

Thanks a lot! It means alot to me! If I were you I'd go for the Soar. That card is a step up from the AE!

[@11xxDIMAxx11]

@@AntonsHardware Hi . Yeah I buy it for just 86 Euros , on Amazon warehouse cool price just because the box not original. Sow yeah the audio it's super cool now , with my headphone Tiamat v.2. 7.1 it's super cool!! And with Dolby souround home system 5.1 Yeah the difference its huge especially when I play games or listen a blue ray concert of rammstein :) For that price the strix soar pro it's super cool !! thanks for videos !!!

[@shereder-one]

With all the respect I have for Anton (love all his material)...but, I don't recommend this soundcard there is nothing special about the Xonar AE. I'm a casual player but I like playing music (flac and I always try to find the best quality 320kbps) recently I bought this card and haven't noticed almost any improvement over x570 realtek onboard sound. Having hiccups and weird random stutters ever since I installed this card. Could say a lot more but I hate my English and for that I apologize.

[@shereder-one]

Maybe is something with my setup but i've been experiencing delays, hiccups, stutterrings, sound stops randomly for 15 seconds and uses more cpu then a onboard sound (I have a Ryzen 5900x in a x570 motherboard). The software is just as good or as bad as ROG SupremeFX8 (x370 onboard). But the onboard doesn't give you sound delays, sound stutter, sound freeze... Very disappointed actually. But Maybe is some issue with my windows10 version, idk.

[@AntonsHardware]

I was wondering why you have these hiccups and I found that AMD motherboards suffer from PCI-express issues, which may cause the hiccups. So it maybe to investigate further. Edit: Ahh there you have it: Yes, it's an AMD thing and there are a lot of complaints. It isn't a Windows issue by the way! Hope you solve it!

[@AntonsHardware]

Hi Hélder, I think I have found the cause of the Xonar AE and hiccups issue. :D Check out my new video, coming out this afternoon. (it's called Does a sound card give you more FPS?)

[@stanisawszczypua9076]

If you have 75$... Well if you happens to have that kind of money, and you do not need 7.1 then by all means go for external solution(from cheapest to most expensive): FX-Audio DAC-X3 mk2 FX-Audio DAC-X6 MK2 FiiO E10K FiiO K3 iFi Zen Dac FiiO K5 Pro Aune X1S

[@AntonsHardware]

I'm curious, why would to go for external? There is one issue with nearly all external solutions and that is that they don't have a Mic input. I did love the Fiio E10k by the way, a very compact dac, with excellent sound! I'm trying to get the Fiio K5 and Aune for a review, but they are harder to get.

[@stanisawszczypua9076]

@@AntonsHardware First of all, I don't need a microphone input because I don't use one (and if I needed one there are very good USB mics on the market). Secondly, the external DAC / AMP has a physical volume knob - something without which I cannot imagine using headphones anymore.

[@stanisawszczypua9076]

@@AntonsHardware And on top if that there are some power hungry headphones that most PC sound cards (except maybe AIM SC808) can't properly power.

[@AntonsHardware]

The volume knob is a big thing indeed! On my keyboard there is one and I couldn't do without it. But for the mic part, well I enjoy using my Beyerdynamic MMX300 headset with the microphone attached! I also own a Yeti blue mic, which is usb and has a lot more quality, but I enjoy the headset better. Still, I understand your considerations! Good to hear another view!

[@AntonsHardware]

There are soundcards out there, especially those who are powered, like the AE-5, or the Asus Raid Strix Pro, can drive 600 ohm headsets. But they are more upper class cards then entry level. By the way, the Raid Strix Pro has an external volume knob! :D Check out my video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYaxZ4RqotZ8esk I am going to create a couple of videos in the near future about external soundcards. One of them is very high end!

[@jonnyc2.047]

WAY I HJAVE NOT GOT IT YET IS I NEED A AMP WHITH 300 PHMS OR MORE

[@AntonsHardware]

Get an external dac like the Creative G6. That will work.

[@ekapobnintem5852]

You Forget to Mention the Nightmare Installation. LOL

[@AntonsHardware]

I havent had any issues with installing it. And ive installed it on several machines!

[@ekapobnintem5852]

@@AntonsHardware Mine Can't Installed the Driver It just show it didn't found the Sound Card I have to Re-Install the Window before I can installed the Driver (Sonic Studio) Other also found this Issue with the Card You can see in Amazon Review from Mr. Kathryn Watts sir. www.amazon.com/Asus-Xonar-AE-Sound-Board/product-reviews/B077DGQFTF

[@AntonsHardware]

Wow! A complete reinstall of Windows! Now that is nightmare installation indeed! I haven't run into any issues (and I've installed a lot of cards!) to date. Fingers crossed!

[@testdirver]

this or the xonar se

[@AntonsHardware]

I would always choose the AE. Better components!

[@rovlad]

dude, less critiquing yourself, more reviewing

[@AntonsHardware]

Lol! Thanks! Will do!

[@rovlad]

@@AntonsHardware I say it with love, I would have never known you did anything wrong if you wouldn't have said it. It's not doing you or me any favors if you do that.

[@konradtomaszewski1677]

because you're after improving the technical quality of your clips - my hint would be to work with proper lighting, your face is heavily overexposed;)

[@JesusChrist-em1iz]

Is it true Asus has horrible driver support and don't have good driver support for that awful operating system Windows 11?

[@AntonsHardware]

I haven't tested Windows 11 just yet, so I couldnt say :(

[@mindrover777]

It does work now

[@SOLTYGAMINGS]

i need to no watch card is bbatter an fast sir pleezz asa[ ;,l this card in the video or this card or this card i all ready have the v1 Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Fx V2 Upgradable Hi-res Internal PCI-e Sound Card with on sell not rilly but i need a new card an it a tiy thay allso have the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy PCIe RX 7.1 Sound Card with High Performance Headphone Amp Creative Sound Blaster Audigy PCIe RX 7.1 out of alll 3 whats the bast the v2 has a tag of 2021

[@AntonsHardware]

Dear Solty, I have no idea what you are asking. Please use Google Translate :D