M-Audio Revolution 5.1

[rti1000]

Ok, I'm new here so to ask a dumb question..... Why would I want an analog soundcard when I could use an outboard USB DAC? like the Benchmark DAC.... (Just for Example) ? Im not trying to start a war here... I just really don't know, and I thought a USB DAC was supposed to be better ... all of this is new to me and it's making my brain hurt....... :>)

[joe_cool]

I am interested in hearing the details about bugs in the new driver.

I noticed that the coax SPDIF now works in Foobar v0.9.5 when using foo_out_asio. Previously I had to use foo_out_ks.

I haven't tried the analog outputs with the new driver but I know there were some bugs in the old driver relating to the control panel for multichannel analog outputs.

[shannobn]

Originally Posted by rti1000

Ok, I'm new here so to ask a dumb question..... Why would I want an analog soundcard when I could use an outboard USB DAC? like the Benchmark DAC.... (Just for Example) ? Im not trying to start a war here... I just really don't know, and I thought a USB DAC was supposed to be better ... all of this is new to me and it's making my brain hurt....... :>)

Use the soundcards digital out to bypass the onboard DAC to ur snazzy new external DAC

[RedLeader]

Originally Posted by rti1000

Ok, I'm new here so to ask a dumb question..... Why would I want an analog soundcard when I could use an outboard USB DAC? like the Benchmark DAC.... (Just for Example) ? Im not trying to start a war here... I just really don't know, and I thought a USB DAC was supposed to be better ... all of this is new to me and it's making my brain hurt....... :>)

Just because its a "USB DAC" doesn't mean it's automatically better. The Rev5.1 will best an Alien DAC IMO, but a Benchmark will likely best a Rev5.1. There are some amazing soundcards that shouldn't be counted out.

[HisoKa]

Originally Posted by RedLeader

There are some amazing soundcards that shouldn't be counted out.

mm.. that's interesting... do u mind sharing what might those amazing sound cards be...? if Revo 5.1 is inside the list... looks like i make a good purchase


regarding the bug... in my case.. it will always go to mute everytime i reboot.. and if i played any music / movies before i un mute the card, the sound would not come out... so i have to make sure i un mute everytime after reboot before opening up media player or winamp or other player...

also.. it seems to bypass my volume control entirely.. i dont know if this is intentional or a bug.. but i can still open my volume control.. but only the wave button works.. others have no effect incl the master volume.

those are the bugs for the latest driver on the web..

for the driver that came with cd.. none of the above happens.. but my pc crashed if i tried to enable SRS...

[Iostream]

Originally Posted by rti1000

Ok, I'm new here so to ask a dumb question..... Why would I want an analog soundcard when I could use an outboard USB DAC? like the Benchmark DAC.... (Just for Example) ? Im not trying to start a war here... I just really don't know, and I thought a USB DAC was supposed to be better ... all of this is new to me and it's making my brain hurt....... :>)

One thing to consider... I have 2 USB DACs available to me, my Corda Aria has a USB DAC for headphones only, and my Musical Fidelity X-DACv8 has a USB input. For the general case (Benchmark DAC-1 is a rare exception right now) USB DACs are not capable of 24bit 96kHz input. I use a Revolution 5.1 SPDIF -> X-DACv8 so that I can play 96kHz. USB DAC is certainly not universally capable, even on the X-DACv8 there is a different chip handling the USB path and it is not on par with the SPDIF inputs.

[RedLeader]

RME, Onkyo, HT Omega, EMU, ESI Juli@, Revolution. All good cards/lines. Some much more expensive than others of course, but I would stick to those when buying. Personally I upgraded from a Rev5.1 to an EMU0404 because of the midi capabilities.

I haven't heard the new Asus Xonar, but apparently it's pretty good for the price.

[karn1911]

Arghh these new Revolution drivers are so badly riddled with bugs, how can they justify releasing something so broken.