Best currently avaialble PCI sound card for stereo music (under $300)

[New2TheScene]

Like many, I'm putting together a PC as a high quality source component. I would like to keep the analog audio stage in the same "box", and am hoping to use an internal sound card instead of an external DAC. I only have PCI available.

So I'm hoping for some help in idnetifying the PCI sound card that provides the best sound quality for music listening. I know that there are many threads with different flavors of this question throughout head-fi. But none completely address what I'm trying to answer.

In order to narrow things down, here are the criteria to my question:
1. I'm concerned about sound quality as a line level source. I don't want to confuse the discussion with a requirement that it drive headphones directly (though a built in headphone amp would be a bonus).
2. The music played will be a mix of WAV, FLAC and Apple lossless. No MP3's or lossy compression.
3. It will end up driving a reavealing amp/headphone combo, and eventually a nearfield system (possibly a pair of audioengine's or maybe later a SET amp with monitors)
4. I don't mind/care if it can support surround sound modes, games, headphones, etc. but line level stereo sound quality is the most important aspect.

Here's the list of card's I've come up with.
HT Oemga Claro Halo
Asus Xonar D2
Audiotrak Prodigy HD2

Ive pretty much ruled out anythung X-Fi. Not sure if I'm missing anything else. I've read good things about the M0

All offer a high quality DAC. All are CMedia based. All claim to use high quality components. So of the three, which offers the best overall sound quality?

-Everyone who tries the Claro Halo seems to like it.
-The Prodigy HD2 is not as well known, but has a similar architechture to Claro Halo (differntial signal from the DAC, 2 stage replacable outpu buffers.
-RMAA measurements seem to give the Asus Xonar the edge despite the fact that the card is indented for surround applications. I know the least about this card's architecture and potential.

Another spin on this would also be to discuss "bang for the buck". The selling price of the list I provided ranges be over $100.

Any an all input is welcome and appreciated. Let the debate begin....

[Mr.Duck]

I would narrow things down a lot by saying don't get a PCI soundcard, get a USB one. PC generates noise which can ruin the output. Line output is only like 1 or 2 volts peak to peak, making things even worse.

I used to have a ESI Juli@. Great little card but I would look at USB now, not a PCI one because of the noise.

[New2TheScene]

Mr. Duck,

Thanks for your input. I respect your opinion, but would really like to keep the discussion grounded to evaluating/rating/discussing PCI sound cards.

The "sound card vs. external DAC" is a complex one. I find that these threads are more informative is they stay grounded.

[Hookem]

I have the AudioTrak...Nice sounding card and bang for the buck it certainly has...Kinda hard to get...Florida Music has them cheap cheap.

The ESI Juli is worth a look also...A buddy has one and it sounds pretty good.

For the money in my humble opinion the AudioTrak is pretty hard to beat.

Warning...Rolling opamps is highly addictive.

[Mr.Duck]

In that case I can recomend the ESI Juli@. Sound is very lively and detailed. The bass is also punchy and overall it is pretty darn good. Hardware and drivers are both excelent. Also has spdif out at which includes 24/192 and 88.2khz support. I used the RCA output of the card and had some problems with noise from the PC. I think if you use the balanced outputs, they are at pro level so SNR should be much better and hence, reduces the problem of a noisy PC. I don't have the card anymore tho.

BTW I also had an ASUS U1 sound card. I really hate their drivers. The interface is dreadful and installs several system services. I destroyed that card after a couple of weeks with 230v electricity. It was an accident lol. But anyway I don't miss it much. But I do wish I still have my Juli@.

[leeperry]

put your money on the Asus ST, except for pesky drivers it's right on!

[New2TheScene]

Are the Asus drivers really that bad? I'm planing on using this in an Atom based system inteded as a music server, so I'm hoping for a driver with low CPU overhead. Will the ASUS cards be a problem?

Also, leepery, is the Essence ST/STX better than the Claro Halo?

What about the Xonar D2. That can be had for about $100 these days. Should I even consider that one?

[Mr.Duck]

Yes the drives really are that bad. Overheads will not be a problem tho, even with an Atom.

[leeperry]

Originally Posted by New2TheScene

Are the Asus drivers really that bad? I'm planing on using this in an Atom based system inteded as a music server, so I'm hoping for a driver with low CPU overhead. Will the ASUS cards be a problem?

Also, leepery, is the Essence ST/STX better than the Claro Halo?

What about the Xonar D2. That can be had for about $100 these days. Should I even consider that one?

well the ST has a 1ppm clock, so it's like the STX I own...just ever so slighty better!

what bugs the hell outta me is that there's a fixed samplerate in the drivers, and if it doesn't match what you're playing it will resample...so I spend my life switching between 44.1/48/96, and sometimes simply forget to switch

and I've had a few BSOD's, apparently AC3Filter is known to crash the card ?! CoreAVC CUDA does that too...so playing movies on it is more an art than a science.

but the SQ is mind blowing, especially w/ some 49720

there's no review/RMAA reports or ANYTHING on the Claro Halo....so I can't tell, but it will -most likely- also resample ASIO/KS...as the culprit seems to be the dodgy C-Media 8788 drivers

[Kurotetsu]

I've heard nothing but good things about the Asus Xonar series when it comes to music. If you can afford it, I'd give it a shot.

A good friend of mine and I both purchased HT Omega Striker sound cards, and I'm quite pleased with it so far (it replaced a Creative X-Fi Titanium Pro). I imagine the HT Omega Claro would sound at least as good if not better.

[1UP]

Emu 0404, 1212m, Asus Xonar, ESI Juli@ - can't think of much reason to look beyond these - though I think I saw a Lynx L22 either on ebay or here? for $400

[New2TheScene]

When you guys are recommending the Asus Xonar, are you referring to any of the models. The STX seems to be the best, and I know that the ST is coming out soon, but the is the D2 a recommended card as well?

[leeperry]

there's also this one actually : Infrasonic Quartet Pro-Audio Interface

but from what I see, it's got JRC4580 op-amps...that's not good.

well the D2 is yesterday, the STX is today, and the ST is tomorrow...well in a few weeks anyway.

[Mr.Duck]

Yeh if you must go for a PCI soundcard, get one with pro level +4dBu outputs. Not consumer level (aka RCA line outputs) at -10dBv. Higher level means the noise will be lower - relatively speaking.

[leeperry]

Mr.Duck, we're not in the 80's anymore...Asus knows how to build perfectly shielded PCB's. look at the RMAA results of the STX if you don't believe me.

what you're saying is true for the Prodigy HD2, it gives very poor results on this Japanese site :
DOS/V POWER REPORT | Impress Japan
DOS/V POWER REPORT | Impress Japan
DOS/V POWER REPORT | Impress Japan
DOS/V POWER REPORT | Impress Japan
DOS/V POWER REPORT | Impress Japan
DOS/V POWER REPORT | Impress Japan
DOS/V POWER REPORT | Impress Japan
DOS/V POWER REPORT | Impress Japan

and these liars boast about the AK4396 SNR on their website, when their PCB shielding is so lousy...they also forget to say that the crappy op-amps on the headphones output are soldered can't be swapped.