This summary is based on a review in c't magazine, issue 11/2002, p. 156-165. It compares 10 different upper-class soundcards. c't doesn't make a "ranking" or gives out awards, like other magazines. It just shows you all the results and lets you be the judge. Because c't is not available everywhere, and is written in german, i decided to make this summary. However, this is no substitute for reading the test, if you really want to know all the details. This should only provide a first overview. Please buy c't magazine to support them. Their homepage is http://www.heise.de/ct/ .
Valuation is as follows, from best to worst: Very good > good > okay > poor > very poor.
Here is a glossary with pictures of the connectors (Phone, RCA...), because they have different names in some countries: http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/theater/Conn...torGlossary.htm
Without further due, here are the summarized test results.
Audiotrak Maya 44:
Recording: 18 bit / 48 KHz
Playback: 20 bit / 48 KHz
Analog INs: 4 (Phone, unbalanced)
Analog OUTs: 4 (Phone, unbalanced)
Digital INs: -
Digital OUTs: SPDIF optical/coax
MIDI Interface: optional
DVD output analog/digital: Stereo / AC3
Game output analog/digital: Stereo / Stereo
Audio quality: good
Installation: poor
Equipment/Extras: poor
Documentation: good
Operation/Usability: good
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 2/6
(Measured with Cubase VST/32 5.1r1, Win XP)
Notes: Excellent frequency response. Can provide 12V Phantom-voltage for high-end Microphones.
ca. 179 Euro
Audiotrak Inca 88:
Recording: 18 bit / 48 KHz
Playback: 20 bit / 48 KHz
Analog INs: 8 Line (Phone, unbalanced)
2 can be switched to Mic
Analog OUTs: 8 Line (Phone, unbalanced)
2 can be switched to Headphones
Digital INs: -
Digital OUTs: SPDIF optical/coax
MIDI Interface: optional
DVD output analog/digital: 5.1 / Stereo
Game output analog/digital: 5.1 / Stereo
Audio quality: okay
Installation: poor
Equipment/Extras: good
Documentation: good
Operation/Usability: good
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 2/6
Notes: Comes with Breakout-Box, but the box isn't shielded good enough. Can provide 12V Phantom-voltage for high-end Microphones.
ca. 399 Euro
Creative Soundblaster Audigy Platinum EX:
Recording: 16 bit / 48 KHz
Playback: 24 bit / 48 KHz
Analog INs: 2 (Phone/RCA)
can be switched to Mic/Line
Analog OUTs: 2 Line (RCA),
Headphones, 5.1 (Mini-Phone)
Digital INs: SPDIF optical/coax
Digital OUTs: SPDIF optical/coax
MIDI Interface: 1 IN, 1 OUT
DVD output analog/digital: 5.1 / AC3
Game output analog/digital: 5.1 / 5.1
EAX
Audio quality: okay
Installation: poor
Equipment/Extras: good
Documentation: poor
Operation/Usability: very poor
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 2/10
Notes: 5.1 digital output only with Creative speakers. Comes with external box and remote control. Recording with 24 bits not possible (at least with ASIO). Mic-IN has horrible quality.
ca. 283 Euro
ESI Waveterminal 192L:
Recording: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Playback: 24 bit / 192 KHz
Analog INs: 2 (Phone, unbalanced),
Mic (stereo), Line (Stereo)
Analog OUTs: 6 Line (Phone, unbalanced)
Stereo, one pair can be switched to Headphones)
Digital INs: -
Digital OUTs: SPDIF optical
MIDI Interface: optional
DVD output analog/digital: 5.1 / AC3
Game output analog/digital: Stereo / Stereo
Audio quality: okay
Installation: poor
Equipment/Extras: okay
Documentation: good
Operation/Usability: good
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 2/6
Notes: Bad frequency response linearity for Line-IN and Mic-IN. Can provide 12V Phantom-voltage for high-end Microphones.
ca. 229 Euro
M-Audio Delta 66:
Recording: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Playback: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Analog INs: 4 Line (Phone, unbalanced)
balanced signals can be connected
Analog OUTs: 4 Line (Phone, unbalanced)
balanced signals can be connected
Digital INs: SPDIF coax
Digital OUTs: SPDIF coax
MIDI Interface: -
DVD output analog/digital: Stereo / AC3
Game output analog/digital: Stereo / Stereo
Audio quality: good
Installation: good
Equipment/Extras: good
Documentation: good
Operation/Usability: okay
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 1/3
Notes: Comes with Breakout-Box that is well shielded. Omni-I/O Box optional. Low ASIO latency possible.
ca. 439 Euro
M-Audio Delta 410:
Recording: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Playback: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Analog INs: 2 Line (RCA)
Analog OUTs: 8 Line (RCA)
Digital INs: SPDIF coax
Digital OUTs: SPDIF coax
MIDI Interface: -
DVD output analog/digital: 5.1 / AC3
Game output analog/digital: Stereo / Stereo
Audio quality: very good
Installation: good
Equipment/Extras: okay
Documentation: good
Operation/Usability: okay
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 1/3
Notes: Low ASIO latency possible.
ca. 359 Euro
M-Audio Delta 1010LT:
Recording: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Playback: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Analog INs: 8 Line (6 RCA,
2 XLR balanced, can be switched to Mic)
Analog OUTs: 8 Line (RCA)
Digital INs: SPDIF coax
Digital OUTs: SPDIF coax
MIDI Interface: 1 IN, 1 OUT
DVD output analog/digital: 5.1 / AC3
Game output analog/digital: Stereo / Stereo
Audio quality: very good
Installation: good
Equipment/Extras: very good
Documentation: good
Operation/Usability: okay
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 1/3
Notes: Low ASIO latency possible.
ca. 499 Euro
ST Audio DSP 2000:
Recording: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Playback: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Analog INs: 8 Line (Phone, unbalanced,
2 can be switched to XLR balanced/Mic)
Analog OUTs: 8 Line (Phone, unbalanced),
Headphones
Digital INs: SPDIF optical/coax, AES/EBU
Digital OUTs: SPDIF optical/coax, AES/EBU
MIDI Interface: 1 IN, 2 OUT
DVD output analog/digital: 5.1 / AC3
Game output analog/digital: Stereo / Stereo
Audio quality: very good
Installation: good
Equipment/Extras: very good
Documentation: poor
Operation/Usability: okay
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 3/7
Notes: Comes with 19" external box. Can provide 48V Phantom-voltage for high-end Microphones. A/D-D/A chips are in external box. Excellent audio quality.
ca. 511 Euro
Terratec DMX 6Fire 24/96:
Recording: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Playback: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Analog INs: 2 Line (RCA),
2 Phono (RCA), 2 Line (Mini-Phone)
Analog OUTs: 2 Line (RCA),
Headphones, 5.1 (Mini-Phone)
Digital INs: SPDIF optical/coax
Digital OUTs: SPDIF optical/coax
MIDI Interface: 1 IN, 1 OUT
DVD output analog/digital: 5.1 / AC3
Game output analog/digital: 5.1 / Stereo
EAX, A3D
Audio quality: very good
Installation: okay
Equipment/Extras: good
Documentation: good
Operation/Usability: good
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 4/4
Notes: Comes with Breakout-Box. Excellent Mic-IN. Phono can be directly connected.
ca. 255 Euro
Terratec DMX 6FireLT 24/96:
Recording: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Playback: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Analog INs: 1 Line (Mini-Phone),
1 Mic (Mini-Phone)
Analog OUTs: 5.1
Digital INs: SPDIF optical
Digital OUTs: SPDIF optical
MIDI Interface: -
DVD output analog/digital: 5.1 / AC3
Game output analog/digital: Stereo / Stereo
EAX, A3D
Audio quality: very good
Installation: okay
Equipment/Extras: good
Documentation: good
Operation/Usability: good
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 4/4
Notes: Lite-Version: no Breakout-Box.
ca. 149 Euro
Terratec EWS 88MT:
Recording: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Playback: 24 bit / 96 KHz
Analog INs: 8 Line (RCA)
Analog OUTs: 8 Line (RCA),
Monitor (Mini-Phone)
Digital INs: SPDIF coax
Digital OUTs: SPDIF coax
MIDI Interface: 1 IN, 1 OUT
DVD output analog/digital: 5.1 / AC3
Game output analog/digital: 5.1 / Stereo
Audio quality: very good
Installation: poor
Equipment/Extras: good
Documentation: good
Operation/Usability: good
Latency in ms (minimum/realistic): 4/4
Notes: Comes with Breakout-Box that can also be used as an external box. Excellent audio quality.
ca. 408 Euro
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I hope this was valuable information. I put quite some time into writing this, so please link to this thread instead of copy&paste to other forums. If there are any questions left about the article, just reply, i'll do my best to answer them.