M-Audio Revolution 5.1 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

HisoKa · 04-22-2008, 10:48 AM

hello everyone, this is my 1st post here!

just wonderin if anyone in this forum have used or at least tried M-Audio Revolution 5.1? how does it sound and how does it stack up against other cards for music playback (mainly chaintech AV-710, AudioTrak Prodigy HD2 and ESI Juli@) ?

Fungi · 04-22-2008, 06:43 PM

I can only comment on it as a digital transport (using digital out) but the drivers for it were overall horrible in my experience. Can't say anything about the analog out, but this review might be able to provide more insight.
M-Audio Revolution 5.1

yossi126 · 04-22-2008, 08:13 PM

I used it's analog out before i bought my OMZ.
great for stereo playback, gives a nice soundstage and crispy sound for my HK Soundsticks.
For surround it's too old now and creative's cards offer much more in drivers and effects.

As for headphones, it is no match for OMZ, but until it came it was a nice, temporary solution.

Oh, and Juli@ is better for stereo, but it has no headphone out.
Chaintech not as good as the revo.

HisoKa · 04-23-2008, 12:15 AM

what's an OMZ...?

triggerc · 04-23-2008, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by HisoKa

what's an OMZ...?

It's a heavily modded Zhaolu DAC.

HisoKa · 04-23-2008, 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by Fungi

this review might be able to provide more insight.
M-Audio Revolution 5.1

ive read that review.. but it seems to be so technical and focused solely on revo 5.1 in its entirety... im trying to look for some opinions on revo's comparison agaisnt other notable soundcard for high quality playback result...

and i understand that the revo 5.1 have a pretty decent AKM4358 DAC.. do u think such DAC will be good enough to skip purchasing external DAC?

RedLeader · 04-23-2008, 03:02 AM

I enjoyed the 5.1 because it actually provided decent amplification on-board. If you want to keep things simple and are using an easy to drive can, buy one!

HisoKa · 04-23-2008, 03:28 AM

thanks redleader! i also went around and read that the AudioTrak Prodigy HD2 have 3 opamps or something that can be changed to suit the headphones... im not sure what does that mean.. but will it be significantly better than revo 5.1 ?

Hookem · 04-23-2008, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by HisoKa

thanks redleader! i also went around and read that the AudioTrak Prodigy HD2 have 3 opamps or something that can be changed to suit the headphones... im not sure what does that mean.. but will it be significantly better than revo 5.1 ?

The Audiotrak HD2 is geared more toward's audiophile type stereo...One of the more interesting features is that you can roll (change) the op-amps out and change how the card sounds...That and it has a built in headphone amp.

The M-Audio is a great sounding "consumer" pci sound card...VIA Envy chip with a AKM DAC...VIA does not have the greatest driver's...I think the latest version is from like 2004...But I like em...Directron was out of stock and sent me searching for something else...That is when I stumbled onto Head-Fi.

Seems for stereo/headphone use, a USB DAC with a headphone amp like the Fubar III is the preffered setup...I am new to all this business and could be wrong.

I am waiting on the Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 to come off backorder from the factory...But am trying to figure out which USB/DAC with a headphone amp is best suited for my application...Powering Audioengine 5's and driving my Grado RS60's...Then in the very near future adding a T-Amp that will power some bookshelf speakers.

DAC's are certainly supposed to have much better sound quality versus a PCI sound card...Much cleaner sound because they are less likely to be affected the electrical stuff going on inside the computer...That and jitter is taken out of the sound quality picture.

So it really depends on what speaker's you are using...2.0, 2.1, 5.1's ???

Tell us what speakers and you will probably get some more detailed recommendations.

HisoKa · 04-24-2008, 02:14 AM

Originally Posted by Hookem

So it really depends on what speaker's you are using...2.0, 2.1, 5.1's ???

Tell us what speakers and you will probably get some more detailed recommendations.

actually i am mainly using headphone (which is Audio Technica ATH-AD900) that is why revo 5.1 and HD2 caught my attention since both of them have their own headphone socket..

i am currently on an onboard AC97 sound and buying a separate DAC+AMP seemed to be out of my budget for the time being.. so i though a good soundcard will be a wise decision