ASUS Xonar D1 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

Pros: 1. Cheap
2. Quality

Cons: 1. Mic/Optical share a jack
2. Software could be better

Other Thoughts: The soundcard I had was the DSX but I didn't notice much improvement over my onboard using that. I decided I made a mistake and bought this instead which after hearing I noticed a definite change. Here's the difference, when set to FLAT it sounds more clear than the DSX did. Using the equalizer on the DSX did make a huge different but I prefer a FLAT response. In this case it's pretty amazing the sound difference. You can also buy an add-on spdif optical bracket that has fiber and optical outputs. I got a few online so I didn't need to share the mic/fiber ports on the card itself.

Pros: Much better sound quality over my motherboard's internal one. Really brings the sound out and allows my computer to play louder than before.

Everyone always says that sound cards don't do anything but this card proved them all wrong for me. And you can't beat the price, especially for 7.1 capability!

Also very easy installation and if confused just look up a YouTube video for help.

Cons: Haven't really found much besides maybe it is a plain looking sound card.

Other Thoughts: If you are thinking about getting a sound card and this is in your price range then buy it!

Pros: Significantly improved sound/clarity
VocalFX make for some fun skyping
Excellent compatibility with different DAWs
Supports digital/fiber optic input or analog
Gold plated sockets
Internal SPDIF and case headers for other input
Bragging rights
Even came with a 3.5 mm headphone jack to RCA connector cable for easy connection to my stereo amp

Cons: Can't seem to make VocalFX work in games -- might just be my stupidity
Driver feels poorly translated, but only a little

Other Thoughts: I used to scoff at people who bought sound cards and was secretly a little jealous. I used to not be a believer. Wow, was I wrong. It truly does make a significant difference. As an audiophile, I regret not buying one for my build years ago. With a phenomenal sound and clarity in all frequencies like this, I'm hard pressed to try and find a reason not to buy a card. As a music buff, it's worth it.

Pros: Massive improvement over onboard sound in an older HTPC. Running two channel sound through a pair of Infinity Beta 10s and an analog receiver.

Newest drivers got me up and running in W7x64 in just a few minutes. Very impressed with the playback of several FLAC tracks; subtle nuances of a couple live performances came through that were missing with the onboard chipset. Cleaner sound during Blu-Ray playback via PowerDVD10.

Cons: None with the product itself, though it is curious why ASUS only provides driver downloads in .rar format....little more of a pain than a normal .exe for those of us that don't have a reason to run WinRAR otherwise.

Other Thoughts: For the money, you won't be disappointed if you have even decent speakers or a good set of cans.

Pros: best card for the money... great EQ options...

Cons: not one

Other Thoughts: if you are worried if it will work with win 7 then after install, go to asus website and dl newest drivers for win 7...

Pros: Crisp treble, heavy bass. This sound card transcended my 2-piece speakers into something more clear and powerful.

Cons: The card wiggles in the PCI slot after installation. Be sure to lock the card in place with a screw to the case.

Other Thoughts: I'd like to see Asus, perhaps, color code the plugs in the back. The etched writing in the metal is very unclear -- even with a flashlight. I needed to refer to the instruction manual for plug clarification.

Pros: High quality sleeved cables

Cons: Writing on heat shrink, but is kind of cool in an industrial sort of way

Other Thoughts: Would recommend, very high quality, but more rigid than expected.

Pros: I know it sounds silly to buy a sound card for a "budget" gaming computer but I'm one of those sticklers for sound quality. Motherboard sound still doesn't match the quality of a good sound card paired with solid speakers. The difference in clarity, contrast between bass and treble, etc. is noticeable. Even for gaming. I have another ASUS sound card in my own computer and it's never had a problem.

This card is fully compatible with Windows 7, no problem with drivers at all.

Cons: None.

Pros: * clean sound
* great headphone sound
* easy installation
* good price

Cons: * non color coded inputs

Other Thoughts: Windows 7 64-bit. I deactivated realtek in bios-- downloaded driver from asus and used 7-zip (sourceforge) to decompress the .rar. Plugged in sound card (30 seconds) and setup the drivers. I use icemat audio headphones and wow!!! mobo sounds sucks-- and I had an old soundblaster card that I didn't want to put in my new build-- this sounds much better. I am going to use it primarily for gaming so I set it on 8-channel mode.

Pros: The Asus Xonar D1 is the best audio card I have ever had, including cards from many of the medium to high-end suppliers as well as numerous motherboard audio systems. The sound is detailed, balanced, and smooth. Using good headphones, individual sounds within complex music are clearly revealed without sounding analytical or edgy. Bass is full without being boomy, and highs are clear without harshness.

I downloaded the latest driver for Windows 7 X64 from the ASUS site (though a driver CD is included) and had no trouble installing it. You will need to unzip the driver download to a saved location, then install from there. As with any driver, it is best to uninstall the old driver before doing a new install, and also to disable the motherboard audio in the BIOS.

Overall, this is a very high-quality card, both in sound and construction. The price with rebate was very reasonable, making it a terrific value.

Cons: None so far.

Other Thoughts: I have done numerous custom builds with ASUS motherboards, but had never used an ASUS audio card before. I'm happy that the audio card is the same high quality that I'm used to with the motherboards. So far I have never had a single problem with an ASUS product. Service from Newegg was also of the same high standard I am used to.