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Topic: Soundcard w/great output quality (Read 3157 times) previous topic - next topic
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Soundcard w/great output quality

Basically, I'm just looking for a soundcard with:

- Transparent output quality
- Surround support

I don't need to do any recording, I don't need extra game support, nor do I need DVD-A support (you guys seem to think DVD-A's "features" are bloated anyway).

Is resampling really all that bad?  I've heard that the Audigy 2 resamples everything to 44.8kHz, but is there a seriously noticable difference?

Or if resampling is nessesary, are there soundcards that do it much better than others?

Soundcard w/great output quality

Reply #2 –
I'm editing this post because I was typing it as lucpes was posting his, and I didn't see his suggestion.  I'm glad he posted, and I think that the card he's suggested is truely remarkable.  The supported features, digital output, SNR and sampling rate make it a big win.  You can't beat the software bundle with an armored tank battalion, either.  I would suggest it above either of the cards that I have suggested below, especially for the applications it's to be used for.  I'm glad someone has finally made a card built for us  I'm leaving the post in tact, however, because I still feel that some of the links (and points made) are valid.

Basically, a few things you should know: there are very few consumer-priced cards on the market today that will have the aural quality you're looking for.  However, Echo Audio has two solutions you might want to look at.  Of course, don't just take my word for it (or any single other person).  Visit Bay View Pro Audio and check out what they offer, I believe they have reviews (or links to reviews) on all of their equipment.  They also have some of the best prices (and, most importantly to me, the best support and service) of anyone I've dealt with.

1)First off, you might want to try out Echo's Mia.  Their entry-level card, it still supports the 96khz/24bit input and output as they're professional solutions which cost upwards of a thousand dollars.  I've had one for about a year now, and it's one of the best cards I've had the pleasure of owning.  Clear as a bell and with a SNR lower than anything that Creative Labs puts out, you really can't get a better sound for your money.  They're about $180, which is comparable to most upper-end consumer cards.  There is, however, one consideration: the outputs are balanced 1/4" jacks.  This is a technique to allow recording engineers to cancel out line noise, and use longer cables.  However, this is not compatible with your average 1/4" headphone jack.  In fact, I had a friend of mine build an adapter to use my Sennheiser headphones with it.  When I plugged my headphones into one of the output jacks (there are two), I only got a left or right signal, not both (the balanced outputs send only a mono signal, because in a balanced cable the other channel is used as a duplicate signal, so that the noise can be cancelled out).  The adapter combined these two signals together.  I'm not sure if you can buy an adapter at Radio Shack, but I'm sure the people at Bay View would know, and if they didn't, Echo would (both have excellent telephone tech support).  I still stand behind this card.  I searched for weeks to find a card that would have the sound quality I wanted, and this was what I ended up buying.  It's light on the pocket book, and easy on the ears (plays games great, too).

2)Next, if you want to try out something more expensive and elaborate, you could try out the Aardvark Direct Pro LX6.  It costs about $400, but with features like a shielded pci card (minimalizes computer noise in the signal), realtime DSP and effects processing, and 4-in 6-out capabilities, it could easily support even the most elaborate of surround-sound systems.  And hey, if you ever wanted to set up a recording studio in your house, you'd already have a major component

In any case, I hope that this sends you at least to places where you can find a suitable solution.  I try to steer audiophiles away from Creative.  Their cards are some of the best gaming cards out there (EAX is a feature I hope will continue to develop, it reminds me of Hardware T&L in video cards), but often have line noise that comes out in challenging situations, like when you're quietly listening to well-recorded music.  This is a simple fact that Creative's cards are not built for audiophile or pro-level applications, so you can't blame them for cutting a cost or two.  Not everyone agrees with me, of course, but that's my opinion on the matter.

As far as resampling goes, you might want to check out the other posts here, there have been quite a few questions about it over the years.  Just do a search (top right-hand corner of this screen) for "resampling" (without the quotation marks), several pertinent results will pop up.  Good luck on your purchase, I know that the search for a card with excellent sound built for consumer use is difficult.  You often find yourself getting an entry-level pro audio card.  Echo's getting into the consumer business now, but it will still be some time before the audiophiles get their card.

Soundcard w/great output quality

Reply #3 –
I assume the digital output of the M-Audio Revolution means that it's incompatible with analog speakers?

Soundcard w/great output quality

Reply #4 –
The Revolution has 8 analog outputs plus a digital output.

Soundcard w/great output quality

Reply #5 –
Many soundcards, and this applies to some 'audiophile' cards, sound as if they have a low pass filter on and dynamic compression.  I have various cards in different price ranges and have found my Tascam US-428 offers excellent sound out put.  It is USB so it is suitable for laptops.