EVGA NU Audio Sound Card

[Prima.Vera]

This was the last best sound card ever produced from all points of view:

Has everything that's needed.

 

[SetsunaFZero]

This was the last best sound card ever produced from all points of view:

Has everything that's needs.

I have an old Creative Xfi Ti from 2008. Some months ago i replaced all Cap due to ageing failure.
Next I'm gonna try this mod https://www.head-fi.org/threads/almis-x-fi-mod-hotrodding-sound-blaster-x-fi-models.589078/

 

[hat]

This was the last best sound card ever produced from all points of view:

Has everything that's needs.

Still using mine. Mostly because my soundbar's optical input is now used by my ps3, and I wanted higher quality analog output to the soundbar from my PC. Maybe it saves a few CPU cycles on sound processing as well? Not sure.

 

[Inle]

Can be some interference from mobo or PSU. Audio is picky about this.
Mostly the Win 10 is biggest obstacle in getting good audio.. :/
There should be PSU listed in the article.

My PSU is the Asus ROG Thor 1200P, basically a Seasonic Prime Ultra Platinum with beefier heatsinks, quieter fan and some RGB/OLED display nonsense. The sound card is as far from the graphics card as it can possibly be. It's very hard to determine what's causing the buzzing on the mic input or why certain plots look like they do. That's one of the reasons why I'd much rather spend 100+ hours doing A-B testing and comparing than do a 1 minute RMAA test and draw all of my conclusions from that. I ran across a DAC/amp with mediocre measurements but great actual sound quality more than once. Having said that, I'd never say anything bad about someone who's focusing strictly on measurements - I absolutely understand and appreciate your point of view. For what it's worth, the EVGA NU Audio sound card is now my go-to choice for all of my headphones, even though I have some pretty nice external DAC/amps (mentioned in the review) sitting on my table. The NU Audio just drives my headphones better than any of them.

I wonder how this fares x the Asus Xonar Essence STX and does anybody know if soundcards like this or the Asus xonar are better to drive lets say a hifiman 4xx better than amps/dacs?

I have both the Asus Xonar Essence STX and the HiFiMan HE4XX. EVGA's NU Audio has more power and makes the headphones sound better than the Xonar Essence STX. I actually wrote about my experience with those exact headphones and the NU Audio in my review:

It's not all about the power, though. The sound produced by the EVGA NU Audio is crystal clear even at very high volumes, with rich dynamics, a great balance of depth and bite, and wonderful musicality. When the sound card is combined with a good pair of headphones, you're in for a real treat. But there's hope even if your headphones of choice are lacking in some department because of he 10-band equalizer offered within the NU Audio software driver. The equalizer is handled by the xMOS xCORE-200 DSP. One particular pair of headphones I own, the Massdrop-exclusive HiFiMan HE4XX, are excellent in almost every regard, but they don't go as low or hit as hard in the bass region as I'd like. At the same time, their planar magnetic drivers respond very well to equalization; it's very hard to get them to distort regardless of what you do with the equalizer. Thanks to that, the EVGA NU Audio allowed me to permanently tune those headphones to my liking, effectively giving me an even better pair of headphones I now enjoy using even more.

So... that EVGA or an RX-V385?

Now that's quite a dilemma What do you plan to use it for? The NU Audio sound card has a better headphone output (I'm comparing it to the RX-V483, which I own). The RX-V385 has more features but it's a completely different type of product. For a living room, where you'll likely use passive hi-fi speakers and connect your AV receiver with your TV/STB/Chromecast, RX-V385 all the way. The YPAO calibration can do some nice things in terms of room correction as well. For PC usage, I'd stick with the NU Audio, even though I'm writing this from my office, with the RX-V483 sitting on the table next to me and driving my (passive) speakers

 

[Mescalamba]

My PSU is the Asus ROG Thor 1200P, basically a Seasonic Prime Ultra Platinum with beefier heatsinks, quieter fan and some RGB/OLED display nonsense.

Based on tests also worse in everything. I sincerely doubt they improved filtering, more like other way around. :/

Would definitely try it with different PSU. Or different PCIe slots.

I wonder how this fares x the Asus Xonar Essence STX and does anybody know if soundcards like this or the Asus xonar are better to drive lets say a hifiman 4xx better than amps/dacs?

Asus Xonar essence has the "
High quality DAC
The Burr-Brown PCM 1792A Digital-to-Analog Convertor (DAC) converts signals at 127dB signal-to-noise ratio.
Swappable OPA Sockets
Tune up your unique sound - OPAMP sockets allow simple, solder-less alteration for user-preferred sound color.
"
The marketing headline says "124 dB SNR / Headphone Amp card for Audiophiles "

"Equipping the Xonar Essence STX with the best components and the finest design, the STX delivers a top-of-the-line audio experience with a 124 dB SNR rating. With a built-in headphone amp that can power headphones up to 600 ohms and 6.3 mm headphone jacks, the STX makes a perfect pair with high-end headphones. "

https://www.asus.com/us/Sound-Cards/Xonar_Essence_STX/

I have a denon AH-d5000 and together with the xonar is really good. I wonder if it would be better with an dedicated proper headphone amp or if the xonar essence would do just good.

some references, https://www.head-fi.org/threads/xonar-essence-stx-as-headphone-amp.436613/
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/better-external-dac-amp-than-essence-stx.683474/
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/3l5kiz

If you want to game with 3D sound, then its Creative or nothing.

If you dont need that, then maybe. But word of advice, ASUS has horrible drivers and even modded ones solve only a bit of issues. Best sound solution for PC will be most likely DAC outside PC.

I do have Xonar Essence STX and I do like (really like) sound output, but drivers and overall issues.. unsure if its really worth it. Also it has slight heat problems, if you dont have enough ventilation near it. It develops over time (year or so). Definitely bit of moving air towards it is helpful.

 

[15th Warlock]

This was the last best sound card ever produced from all points of view:

Has everything that's needed.

Still have mine, it’s useful when gaming with headphones, it has true 7.1 analog outputs

https://img.techpowerup.org/190109/20190109-081112.jpg

It doesn’t look out of place next to an RTX 2080 Ti if you ask me

 

[Mistral]

If you want to game with 3D sound, then its Creative or nothing.

I'm sorry, when was the last time any game did anything sound specific to Creative? And I'm someone still running an Auzentech Forte.

 

[Metroid]

I have both the Asus Xonar Essence STX and the HiFiMan HE4XX. EVGA's NU Audio has more power and makes the headphones sound better than the Xonar Essence STX. I actually wrote about my experience with those exact headphones and the NU Audio in my review:

It's not all about the power, though. The sound produced by the EVGA NU Audio is crystal clear even at very high volumes, with rich dynamics, a great balance of depth and bite, and wonderful musicality. When the sound card is combined with a good pair of headphones, you're in for a real treat. But there's hope even if your headphones of choice are lacking in some department because of he 10-band equalizer offered within the NU Audio software driver. The equalizer is handled by the xMOS xCORE-200 DSP. One particular pair of headphones I own, the Massdrop-exclusive HiFiMan HE4XX, are excellent in almost every regard, but they don't go as low or hit as hard in the bass region as I'd like. At the same time, their planar magnetic drivers respond very well to equalization; it's very hard to get them to distort regardless of what you do with the equalizer. Thanks to that, the EVGA NU Audio allowed me to permanently tune those headphones to my liking, effectively giving me an even better pair of headphones I now enjoy using even more.

I checked the specs and from what I saw, the evga nu audio seems much better than the xonar essence, component wise and sound wise, overall it looks a much better product, its an updated hardware product and this is good cause asus will have to do something to improve to compete x it. I purchased the asus xonar essence stx when it was launched in 2009 - 2010.

This is a good reference for people to understand onboard x dedicated sound card.

https://www.tomshardware.co.uk/high-end-pc-audio,review-32894-11.html

 

[MrAMD]

No backplate EVGA? Was ready to upgrade / sidegrade from my current Creative sound card purely due to aesthetic reasons.

 

[SetsunaFZero]

Still have mine, it’s useful when gaming with headphones, it has true 7.1 analog outputs
View attachment 118181
https://img.techpowerup.org/190109/20190109-081112.jpg

It doesn’t look out of place next to an RTX 2080 Ti if you ask me

Put the sound card in the lowest PCI-e slot possible. The heat from your Gfx card will dry up the capacitors on your soundcard, you will first notice failed caps by clipping and cracking audio. That's the reason i had to replace all my capacitors on my xfi Ti. cheers

 

[CityCultivator]

16bit/48KHz sampling rate is an important metric - Windows spatial audio API outputs at that sampling rate.
That means that any game on PC with Dolby Atmos for Headphones is affected by 16bit/48KHz.
Some additional testing for 16bit/48KHz with possible added Dolby Atmos for Headphones might be a useful addition for the review.

 

[yeeeeman]

Nice name. NU Audio means no audio in my language...
So why would I pay money for no audio?

 

[bug]

Nice name. NU Audio means no audio in my language...
So why would I pay money for no audio?

Maybe in case you want to listen to the sound of silence? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_of_Silence)

 

[kilis]

Hi Inle, thanks for the review,

İ have Asus essence stx2 card and i am planning to purchase Adam A7X active speaker and connect it to asus with unbalanced rca cables.
Assuming you did same with Evga and Adam A7x during the listening test,
Did you experience any noise,hiss or similar unpleasant sound from Adam speakers due to unbalanced connection ?

 

[Slacker]

I wonder how this would stack up against the Sound blaster zxr w/ Burson V6 vivids

 

[Kovoet]

Look even nicer with a back plate

 

[Prima.Vera]

I'm sorry, when was the last time any game did anything sound specific to Creative? And I'm someone still running an Auzentech Forte.

I might be wrong, but the latest Metro:Exodus is using Dolby Atmos tech via Hardware OpenAL.
And it's the best sounding game I've played in the past 10 years.

 

[CityCultivator]

I might be wrong, but the latest Metro:Exodus is using Dolby Atmos tech via Hardware OpenAL.
And it's the best sounding game I've played in the past 10 years.

Not so sure about the underlined part. Usually Windows spatial sound API is used for atmos.
Google do not mention nothing for metro eexodus openal.

 

[Inle]

Hi Inle, thanks for the review,

İ have Asus essence stx2 card and i am planning to purchase Adam A7X active speaker and connect it to asus with unbalanced rca cables.
Assuming you did same with Evga and Adam A7x during the listening test,
Did you experience any noise,hiss or similar unpleasant sound from Adam speakers due to unbalanced connection ?

Sounds like a plan, the Adams are monsters I didn't have any such issues when connecting them to the EVGA NU Audio through RCA. Do keep in mind that many studio monitors do exhibit a tweeter hiss, which can be heard pretty much whenever they're turned on (even when not connected to anything). On the A7X it's extremely quiet though - I can only hear it if I press my ear against the tweeter. Completely inaudible from a normal sitting distance. A friend of mine got himself the new Adam T7V recently and claims that the tweeter hiss on them is annoyingly loud. I didn't check it out in person so I can't comment on it being true or not. The A7X is a better speaker though, compared to anything from the T-series.

 

[bug]

I might be wrong, but the latest Metro:Exodus is using Dolby Atmos tech via Hardware OpenAL.
And it's the best sounding game I've played in the past 10 years.

What's "hardware OpenAL"? It sounds like "hardware DX" or "hardware Vulkan" to me.

 

[Ferrum Master]

What's "hardware OpenAL"? It sounds like "hardware DX" or "hardware Vulkan" to me.

Are you joking, right? You know what a dedicated hardware DSP means.

 

[bug]

Are you joking, right? You know what a dedicated hardware DSP means.

Read the examples I gave. I am not joking.

 

[skates]

Do I need to add this to my custom water loop?
Will this run without incorporating some type of RGB?
Will I finally hear foot steps in Battlefield V?

 

[John Naylor]

I remember J J from Asus answering a question during an AMA IIRC, in which he responded that their on board sound on the enthusiast boards w/ Whatever supreme moniker they used for their ALC 1150 implementation was equivalent to their $75 - $90 sound cards. I find them all well and good for the intended usage/ As for investing in higher proceed options, it's akin t listening to music on a $500 pair of headphones thru an iphone's $12 sound subsystem. Just not worth the investment.

The starting point for a quality audio sound systm is " the room" and placement. With the toical desk in corner of rooms scenario, spending money doesn't improve room acoustics.

 

[SetsunaFZero]

Inle could you give us a high res Pic of the PCB with out the PCB shielding?