Just need clean analog output.
I'm thinking of getting this: http://www.audiotrak.net/maya44usb.htm
Currently using an Nforce2 Ultra 400 with Soundstorm (Soundstorm is no use for analog), so my analog out is most probably a Realtek AC-97 chip. Also, what do you suggest in terms of drivers? Do I need to use any kernel streaming or ASIO with whatever analog out solution I get, or is kmixer perfectly fine/analog out doesn't benefit from any of this? Thanks in advance!
Full Version: What's the best sound card/DAC to power my Swans M-200
There is no percievable sound quality differences, but only a theoratical one, from using DirectKS(WDM Kernel Streaming) or ASIO outputs as kmixer.sys only mangles the least significant bit, which effects is totally in-audible and which occures because of the built-in volume-control DSP in kmixer.sys.
For technical interested people, then here is a quote from an MS employe, which explains why this "bit-mangling" of kmixer.sys really happens :
Since most PCM data is 16 bits, on MMX systems the KMixer uses 16 bit math to take advantage of the SIMD parallelism of MMX. 15 bits are used for multiplication and 1 bit for sign. This means that the KMixer can not represent an amplitude of 1.0. The best it can do is 7FFF/8000. So on MMX systems, when the volume is set to 0dB attenuation, KMixer still attenuates the signal slightly - so the bits are changed.
On non-MMX systems, the KMixer uses floating point math to handle volume. This results in higher CPU usage, but allows the KMixer to reach an amplitude of 1.0. The floating point numbers are then converted back to integers (because that's what the sound card is connected with) and ends up dithering the stream in the process.
Source : http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthr...mp;pagenumber=7
CU, Martin.
For technical interested people, then here is a quote from an MS employe, which explains why this "bit-mangling" of kmixer.sys really happens :
QUOTE
Since most PCM data is 16 bits, on MMX systems the KMixer uses 16 bit math to take advantage of the SIMD parallelism of MMX. 15 bits are used for multiplication and 1 bit for sign. This means that the KMixer can not represent an amplitude of 1.0. The best it can do is 7FFF/8000. So on MMX systems, when the volume is set to 0dB attenuation, KMixer still attenuates the signal slightly - so the bits are changed.
On non-MMX systems, the KMixer uses floating point math to handle volume. This results in higher CPU usage, but allows the KMixer to reach an amplitude of 1.0. The floating point numbers are then converted back to integers (because that's what the sound card is connected with) and ends up dithering the stream in the process.
Source : http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthr...mp;pagenumber=7
CU, Martin.
I drive my Swans with a Chaintech AV-710 (Wolfson DAC). Foobar2000 w/ASIO output.
unfortunately, the Chaintech AV-710 is out of stock right now in my country. How about the aforementioned USB Sound Card? Is the headphone output good enough? http://www.audiotrak.net/maya44usb.htm
You could consider an outboard DAC fed by the digital out on your sound card, then the card itself would be less important.
I use an Entech which is great deal at $50. I've also heard good things about the less expensive DAC's from this company: http://pacificvalve.us/index.html
I use an Entech which is great deal at $50. I've also heard good things about the less expensive DAC's from this company: http://pacificvalve.us/index.html
@UrbanVoyeur
What Entech? Can you post a link please? Thanks!
What Entech? Can you post a link please? Thanks!
QUOTE(carlcamper @ Jan 15 2007, 17:58) 
@UrbanVoyeur
What Entech? Can you post a link please? Thanks!
Monster Cable/Entech 203.2 DAC
It is discontinued item. I was able to get two from Amazon a couple of months ago. They also pop up on e-bay from time to time.
http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Cable-Crunch...p;s=electronics
Here is an excellent link regarding kmixer, http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/t.pl?f=...dio&m=17331
If you are looking at headphones as drivers you can't go past value for money Sennheiser's, such as the HD555s or HD595s. As a source for headphones, checkout my signature.
Let us know what you decide on.
If you are looking at headphones as drivers you can't go past value for money Sennheiser's, such as the HD555s or HD595s. As a source for headphones, checkout my signature.
Let us know what you decide on.
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