diff --git a/src/spice2x/games/sdvx/sdvx.cpp b/src/spice2x/games/sdvx/sdvx.cpp
index 0e15b3c..802b51e 100644
--- a/src/spice2x/games/sdvx/sdvx.cpp
+++ b/src/spice2x/games/sdvx/sdvx.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace games::sdvx {
     SdvxOverlayPosition OVERLAY_POS = SDVX_OVERLAY_BOTTOM;
     bool ENABLE_COM_PORT_SCAN_HOOK = false;
 
-    std::optional<std::string> SOUND_OUTPUT_DEVICE = std::nullopt;
+    bool USE_ASIO = false;
     std::optional<std::string> ASIO_DRIVER = std::nullopt;
 
     // states
@@ -57,13 +57,22 @@ namespace games::sdvx {
     static HKEY real_asio_device_reg_handle = nullptr;
 
     static LONG WINAPI RegOpenKeyA_hook(HKEY hKey, LPCSTR lpSubKey, PHKEY phkResult) {
-        if (lpSubKey != nullptr && phkResult != nullptr) {
-            if (hKey == HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE &&
-                    ASIO_DRIVER.has_value() &&
-                    _stricmp(lpSubKey, "software\\asio") == 0)
-            {
-                *phkResult = PARENT_ASIO_REG_HANDLE;
+        if (lpSubKey != nullptr &&
+            phkResult != nullptr &&
+            hKey == HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE &&
+            _stricmp(lpSubKey, "software\\asio") == 0) {
 
+            // prevent the game from randomly picking an ASIO device
+            if (!USE_ASIO) {
+                log_info(
+                    "sdvx::asio",
+                    "game tried to access HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\ASIO but ASIO is disabled; "
+                    "access prevented, ASIO init will fail");
+                return ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND;
+            }
+            // convince the game to use our hook (so we can swap in the preferred device)
+            if (ASIO_DRIVER.has_value()) {
+                *phkResult = PARENT_ASIO_REG_HANDLE;
                 return RegOpenKeyA_orig(hKey, lpSubKey, &real_asio_reg_handle);
             }
         }
@@ -110,7 +119,7 @@ namespace games::sdvx {
             lpSubKey != nullptr && phkResult != nullptr &&
 	        _stricmp(lpSubKey, "HARDWARE\\DEVICEMAP\\SERIALCOMM") == 0) {
             log_info("sdvx::io", "hook access to HKLM\\HARDWARE\\DEVICEMAP\\SERIALCOMM to force COM1 ICCA");
-            return 2; // ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND
+            return ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND;
         }
 
         return RegOpenKeyExA_orig(hKey, lpSubKey, ulOptions, samDesired, phkResult);
@@ -230,6 +239,32 @@ namespace games::sdvx {
         return false;
     }
 
+    void SDVXGame::detect_sound_output_device() {
+        USE_ASIO = false;
+        // if the user specified a value for -sdvxasio, use asio
+        if (ASIO_DRIVER.has_value()) {
+            log_misc(
+                "sdvx",
+                "-sdvxasio is set to \"{}\"", ASIO_DRIVER.value());
+            USE_ASIO = true;
+        } else {
+            // see if XONAR AE is present; if so, use that
+            HKEY subkey;
+            LSTATUS result;
+            result = RegOpenKey(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "SOFTWARE\\ASIO\\XONAR SOUND CARD(64)", &subkey);
+            if (result == ERROR_SUCCESS) {
+                RegCloseKey(subkey);
+                USE_ASIO = true;
+                log_misc(
+                    "sdvx",
+                    "found HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\ASIO\\XONAR SOUND CARD(64)");
+            }
+        }
+        if (!USE_ASIO) {
+            log_misc("sdvx", "asio not configured");
+        }
+    }
+
     typedef void **(__fastcall *volume_set_t)(uint64_t, uint64_t, uint64_t);
     static volume_set_t volume_set_orig = nullptr;
     static void **__fastcall volume_set_hook(uint64_t vol_sound, uint64_t vol_woofer, uint64_t vol_headphone) {
@@ -323,6 +358,10 @@ namespace games::sdvx {
         }
 #endif
 
+#ifdef SPICE64
+        this->detect_sound_output_device();
+#endif
+
     }
 
     void SDVXGame::attach() {
diff --git a/src/spice2x/games/sdvx/sdvx.h b/src/spice2x/games/sdvx/sdvx.h
index 98b7440..e6fa328 100644
--- a/src/spice2x/games/sdvx/sdvx.h
+++ b/src/spice2x/games/sdvx/sdvx.h
@@ -39,5 +39,6 @@ namespace games::sdvx {
         // not depend on the fact that SDVX module is active (since it can be
         // inactive on cabs or partial I/O setup)
         bool VALKYRIE_MODEL = false;
+        void detect_sound_output_device();
     };
 }