High End PC Soundcards

[Lizard]

Hi
As far as I am aware (or are their others? ), the top two soundcards at the moment is the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude 7.1 and the Creative X-Fi Elite Pro, but I have no idea which is the best and was hoping someone on here can help?

I’m am not interest in their capabilities when it comes to Games, nor in recording music or the software they come with (will happily buy sep if needed), what I am purely interest in, is in which card will give me the highest Fidelity for DVD and Blu-Ray/HD DVD playback.

So can anyone help please?
Thanks

[drummerjohn]

Also the Asus Xonar. The Xfi is not for Hifi. I have had two and neither were as good as my Maudio Revo for music.

Here's an interesting review...

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/13874

I would go for the Xonar personally.

[Lizard]

Originally Posted by drummerjohn

Alos the Asus Xonar. The Xfi is not for Hifi. I have had two and neither were as food as my Maudio Revo for music.

Here's an interesting review...

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/13874

I would go for the Xonar personally.

Thanks for the reply and link
Having gone through it all, i've decided to follow your advice and go for the Xonar.

Just leaves one question now that i should have posted before
Does anyone know were i can get hold of higher 3.5mm to RCA cables from? Their are no shortage of cheap PVC type, but i'm strugling to find a more upmarket version. Thanks

[drummerjohn]

Originally Posted by Lizard

Thanks for the reply and link
Having gone through it all, i've decided to follow your advice and go for the Xonar.

Just leaves one question now that i should have posted before
Does anyone know were i can get hold of higher 3.5mm to RCA cables from? Their are no shortage of cheap PVC type, but i'm strugling to find a more upmarket version. Thanks

The problem is finding quality cables that have 3.5mm jacks that fit close proximity to each other as the sockets on all these soundcards are so close together. I need to make a set as I can't find anything suitable.

[Gixxerblade]

It depends on your budget and partnering equipment but the Lynxtwo(B) card is apparently superb for films and music.

I just use spdif from the mobo in to a decent processor and I'm happy.

[Embarker]

My mate used the RME with a daughtercard to get 5.1 balanced out of a PC years ago, but he hated the lack of "remote" volume control and general 2.1 output with out mxing channels

I was just thinking if there is a "HI END" card that can output 7.1 balanced.

The RME was compared to a lexicon processor for sound.

[ralphmalph]

Depends on how much you want to spend on cables, but when I was using a sound card i got some cable kits from the missing link (do a google search) if you can solder, they are easy to make.

[drummerjohn]

Originally Posted by Gixxerblade

It depends on your budget and partnering equipment but the Lynxtwo(B) card is apparently superb for films and music.

I just use spdif from the mobo in to a decent processor and I'm happy.

I think the OP wants to benefit from the high res sound found on the hidef formats as I do. You cannot do that over SPdif.

[drummerjohn]

Originally Posted by Embarker

My mate used the RME with a daughtercard to get 5.1 balanced out of a PC years ago, but he hated the lack of "remote" volume control and general 2.1 output with out mxing channels

I was just thinking if there is a "HI END" card that can output 7.1 balanced.

The RME was compared to a lexicon processor for sound.

I hear good things about the Maudio 2496 as well. Maudio are a good manufacturer.

[Gixxerblade]

Originally Posted by drummerjohn

I think the OP wants to benefit from the high res sound found on the hidef formats as I do. You cannot do that over SPdif.

True but it is debateable whether analog outs and high res soundtracks are any better than spdif and a decent processor and the op wanted high fidelity. The Asus is a good card but is it high-end?
The Lynxtwo, however, definitely is according to some and should be for the price.

[drummerjohn]

Originally Posted by Gixxerblade

True but it is debateable whether analog outs and high res soundtracks are any better than spdif and a decent processor and the op wanted high fidelity. The Asus is a good card but is it high-end?
The Lynxtwo, however, definitely is according to some and should be for the price.

It is not debateable as there isn't a software decoder that will downmix the high res formats to 5.1 over SPdif as yet.

As it stands, with my limited range of HiDef media, I can definitely say the analogue out of my Maudio sounds better than the SPdif output when using Standard Definition material. Using PowerDVD 3730 which doesn't downmix at last.

The Lynxtwo does look good.

[Gixxerblade]

Originally Posted by drummerjohn

It is not debateable as there isn't a software decoder that will downmix the high res formats to 5.1 over SPdif as yet.

As it stands, with my limited range of HiDef media, I can definitely say the analogue out of my Maudio sounds better than the SPdif output when using Standard Definition material. Using PowerDVD 3730 which doesn't downmix at last.

The Lynxtwo does look good.

I'm sure you already know but there are a lot of factors to take in to account i.e. what are you feeding the spdif in to? Are the soundtracks calibrated I've noticed hd ones are louder sometimes (some people associate loud and quality).
HD discs should have dts at 1.5mbps which in double-blind tests (whatever the merits of those) have proven indistinguishable to the master recordings recorded at 24bit 48khz. I don't have PDVD but I'm presuming you can send dts over spdif from an hd disc so there should be some room for debate.
I also think sd dd and dts via spdif in to a decent processor/receiver would also give hi-res via analog and software a run for its money - all other things being equal.

[Embarker]

Sorry, i found it night and day between spdif and analogue or even PCM 7.1, especially the low end - may have been just cranked up at the mixing desk though !?!

I built a new PC just to get 7.1 PCM audio over HDMI, just a shame no mobo does HDMI 1.3a to get native DTS HD, TrueHD etc.

Another excuse for a PS3

[Lizard]

Hi, Thanks for all the replies

In regards the question that have come up.

1. The card does not need to have 7.1 out as 5.1 will be fine (using my back rears to bi-amp front speakers)
2. Using the Anologe outputs on the card is a must as I will be using the card 90% of the time for listerning to and accessing the HD sound formats.
3. Will be feeding an Arcam AVP700 (will be within the year an AV9) and P1000 combo, so can not access the HD sounds via HDMI, and have no wish to feed the Arcam the signal via coaxil as i am currently doing that via standalone players.
4. Price wise, I'm prepared to spend as much as it costs (within reason ), but have no issue with going upto the £300 mark at least, but will go more if justified.

Hope this info helps,

[Embarker]

Originally Posted by Lizard

Will be feeding an Arcam AVP700 (will be within the year an AV9) and P1000 combo, so can not access the HD sounds via HDMI

What audio can the 7000 handle via the HDMI in?