Mounting and installation:
Now, the installation proved to be, as with all PCI cards as completely unproblematic. For this you need not actually write much. On the positive side, I noticed that the ASUS Xonar D1 also attaches equal a slot bracket for low-profile housing. Many manufacturers do without it and often require 'nen chunk of money for sending such a panel, if at all available.
7 answered immediately the Add New Hardware Wizard and wanted to look for the startup of Windows drivers for Xonar. This I broke and the latest drivers from the ASUS support site installed. Setup starts, runs, finished. While it is recommended to restart, but is also available without such the XONAR D1 Audio Center immediately in the notification area of the taskbar. What the heck, I did not let me splash out and obediently carried out a restart. You never know! ;-)
Operation:
After restarting's then went to the settings of the sound card. Curious, I've opened and been amazed the Audio Center! All inclusive takes the driver package just around the 30MB - and the Audio Center is really nice opened. A click on the small arrow at the bottom right of the screen, and you are applying all their functions Price: The speaker configuration, the mixer, the environmental effects and the EQ, a (not quite as sparkling) karaoke function, as well as the bass redirection, echo cancellation and vocal effects for applications such as Teamspeak, MSN or Skype (nice gimmick).
As speaker configuration I have 6 channels (5.1) selected (the map fired a vicious motive 5), the bass I let the subwoofer redirect. First, I have the same time angeschmissen Winamp and AC / DC inserted. "Hmmm ... a little thin, the sound ...", so my first impression. After some tinkering in the bass redirection and EQ but I have now found the right settings for my place and have to say that the part makes really tasty sound! I'm (almost *) fully satisfied. Clean, well-defined bass, clear highs, unobtrusive middle. So I like that!
* FAST (Attention, subjectivity in its purest form!): Only I am almost happy, because my bass redirection does not taste quite as 100%. Even after a few gimmicks and experiments the music sounds in the lower midrange is not quite as bold and supple as the rest of the spectrum. Somehow it seems to me, as if that were solved with Creative better, possibly by the fact that the frequencies that overlap to the subwoofer and those who are sent to the satellite, in a small area. Well, today is not every day, I still tinker around diligently, no question ... or something!
Conclusion:
For his money here you get a very good sound card that delivers a for my ears (almost) perfect sound. It works without any grumbling, Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit with more than 4GB of RAM. Since Creative likely times cut a thick slice! The X-Fi Extreme Music went after a short time getting down the drain, but the system utilization to 100%, and there were quite unpleasant noise from the speakers. There was only a courageous press on the Reset button. Now everything is in butter, Angus can ausreizen his solos again in full length and I like stung by a tarantula sweep back through the booth. Very fine, I'm happy!
What remains to say in conclusion? Anyone who is looking for a fine sound card, can strike without scruples here! These are new items, a super product from ASUS.
I hope my review was helpful to you! If so, please click -Yes. Many Thanks.