Question 1

can you use 2.1 stereo with this or does it have to be surround?

Accepted Answer

By stereo 2.1, I am assuming that you are referring to speaker configuration. left, right and subwoofer rather than a specific digital encoding format.  You will notice that this card does have an RCA, XLR or other analog pre-out designed specifically for a subwoofer.   I selected this card to use in a computer this functions as a hifi audio transport to stream master quality audio from Tidal, to a home theater receiver with subwoofer preouts.  Alternatively, you could get the 7.1 expansion card if it is still available, but I do not know if you can run 2.1 on that expansion card. I recommend you find appropriate drivers first.  Though Asus drivers  apparently work with windows 7, I use this card in a Windows 10 OS environment, and neither Asus nor Microsoft had compatible drivers.  Fortunately, you can probably locate what you require online, as I did.

Good luck.

Question 2

Does the drivers for this card support Windows 10?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  Asus provides the Windows drivers for whatever Windows OS you're on.  If you go to the ASUS support site, they provide the drivers for both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows 10.  That's where I downloaded them from.  Have installed them on my rig and they work fine without any hiccups.

Question 3

I just bought a Gigabyte Aorus GA-AX370 K7 MOBO for a build I,m doing, and wanted too be sure this card worked with it before I drop 250 bucks on it ? Any insight would be highly appreciated.

Accepted Answer

works great. bought it for my wifes build. she watches a lot of videos etc. and loves the sound quality. is it expensive? yes. but you get what you pay for. and I would buy it again. eh my wife would have me buy it again.

Question 4

Any long term or 6months and longer users experience the high pitch screech 6kHz that head-fi org users experienced?

Accepted Answer

I'd chalk that down to a driver issue or interference from other components. I've used heavily for almost 6 years without hardware issues.

Question 5

Is this type of card good for using with active monitors such as KRK's or JBL LSR series? 
Can you run 1/4" jacks straight from the card to the speakers?

Accepted Answer

The 1/4" jacks are for headphone output and microphone input. AFAIK, you cannot change them to line-level output or re-assign their function, so you would be double-amping if you tried to use it (not that you would, unless you were only planning to use only one monitor).

You would need to use the RCA outputs to connect to an external device like your monitors with a proper line-level output, which would entail an RCA to 1/4" adapter if you must connect with 1/4' jacks.

Other than that, it outputs one of the cleanest signals I've ever heard, so you shouldn't have any issues with that.

Question 6

Are there Linux drivers for the Essence STS II?

Accepted Answer

Yes i have booted it into linux and it works

Question 7

Can you use this card as an input device for audio production? In other words, can I connect my electric guitar/bass to this thing with an instrument cable?

Accepted Answer

I believe the answer is yes if your instrument cable is a line output source via a 6.3mm or 3.5mm phone-type connector. The card's software can then be used to adjust the volume level for recording or direct playback in monitor mode. There is also a microphone input and karaoke mode. However, there is no midi input for connection to an instrument with midi output. You can also play midi songs via software and the card's synthesizer.

Question 8

Is this card compatible with the H6 expansion card that was for the Essence ST?

Accepted Answer

As long as there is pci express availible is will work fine. made sure hook up molex cable to power the card.

Question 9

Hi, I have a few questions:  How are the drivers (compared to sound blaster zxr)?  I didn't see DTS in the specs, but figured I'd ask anyways, does this card support DTS?  And how is the software?  Thanks in advance.

Accepted Answer

Essence STX II supports DTS Interactive technologies, which transcode any audio, including games
and music, into industry-standard DTS surround bit-streams. This makes playback through your
home theater system possible, creating an immersive and impressive cinema surround sound
experience. A single digital cable connection can carry high-quality DTS digital audio from any of
your PC audio sources to any digital speakers or AV Receivers with DTS 5.1 decoding capabilities

these are the direct quats from the Manul I hope this helps.

Question 10

will it run ASIO?

Accepted Answer

Perfectly.

Questions & Answers