Introductory Background
As I burned out my 0202 card more than a month ago, I had it RMA'd to EMU. I was thrilled that EMU sent out a replacement two weeks after I had the faulty card shipped - but it somehow got stuck in customs here as they marked the package's value at $300, and I am now requested to pay $150 for customs fees. What?!? That is almost what I paid for the new 1212m.
I guess I am stuck with the Audigy 2 ZS, ad least until I confirm the true value of the 0202 to the customs office.
An Old [New] Find
I quickly realized the A2ZS won't do - not after I've sampled the 1212m. I remembered the TerraTec Phase 22 that I tested several months back when I was trying to decide whether the CS4398 in the 1212m is worth double its price. I had little time to listen to it [a couple of days] and I had to send it back, as I got a good deal on the E-MU, and thought I would never look back.
Well, little more than a week ago, I got the Phase 22 back in [managed to get it for ~$90]. As I found little information on the card on the forums, I decided to share my limited experience with it so far.
Overview
This is a single card solution, with the digital and analog portions on the same PCI card. It comes fitted with the CS4382, which has a slightly reduced dymanic range than the flagship CS4398, but retains the differential outputs. The A/D is an AKM variant, but I will need to get it out and recheck the exact model number. The main sound processor is the I.C.E. Ensemble Envy HT-S [now acquired by VIA].
The card is fitted with two balanced inputs, two balanced outputs, as well as a breakout featuring MIDI and S/PDIF I/O's.
I have it connected to my Rotel RC-03 via a modified AudioQuest Quartz interconnect [RCA with Oehlbach TS], and then to my RB-03 for the speakers, as well as to a DIY prototype balanced amp I am having built [more about that later on, as it takes shape].
Drivers & Setup
Here comes the big surprise - ad least to me. I was only too happy to have the A2ZS drivers removed from my system - I am quite surprised as to how long I've managed to live with them.
I downloaded TerraTec Control Panel & Driver Package 5.42. The entire package is just 3MB (!). Installation was a snap, and I now have a properly working Phase 22 [both WDM & ASIO devices]. No messy sessions to setup, so devices to patch through - simply working. And best yet - the Phase 22 can pass through DTS and DD tracks via S/PDIF.
Some might miss the bunch of tweaking controls - but I know I don't. I opened foobar2000 [0.8.3] setup both KS and ASIO and was off [I later found I prefer ASIO, so that is what I am sticking with].
Enough! What About Sound?
Remember I am only about a week in with the Phase 22. More in-depth impressions are bound to come later. All of the listening is done via foobar2000 [ASIO] to FLAC's and 320kbps MP3's.
Albums included, but not limited to are: Dire Straits [Dire Straits, Platinum], Pink Floyd [Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, Echoes], Al Di Meola [Elegant Gypsy, Electric Randevous, Friday Night in San Francisko], Air [Moonsafari, Talkie Walkie], Orbital [In Sides, Brown & Green & Blue], The Clash [Combat Rock, London Calling], The Cure [Staring at the Sea - the Singles]. Also some classical works [Vivaldi, Beethoven, Orff]. And some more.
Impressions
Well, it is better than the Audigy 2 ZS. Way better. Noise floor has dropped consiredably, dynamics are now apparent, and I am finally enjoying some instrument separation. It is definitely musical and much more enjoyable.
What really surprised me was how it reproduced the tracks on Combat Rock. With the Audigy, I was convinced I had poorly ripped the tracks - but no matter what I did, it still sounded the same. Noisy and congested. Turns out the issue was with the Audigy, not the recording.
Generally speaking, bass is tighter. Quick and present and not overwhelming. My perceived image of the soundstage has widened and I've gained more instrument separation and air.
I can now understand why some people are labelling the 1212m as laid-back and even boring. There is no question the Phase 22 is more fun to listen - but I still wonder as to how am I going to feel after more time with the card. I hope to retrieve the 0202 from the customs office early next month. I should be able to do more direct comparisons with the two cards in the same system, and report back.
Conclusions
Well, up to this point, I really like it. And what's not to like? Clean drivers and good sound, and I figure, either way, I will have a good card in the system, and feel free to mod the other one and try to squeeze more out of it.
As I burned out my 0202 card more than a month ago, I had it RMA'd to EMU. I was thrilled that EMU sent out a replacement two weeks after I had the faulty card shipped - but it somehow got stuck in customs here as they marked the package's value at $300, and I am now requested to pay $150 for customs fees. What?!? That is almost what I paid for the new 1212m.
I guess I am stuck with the Audigy 2 ZS, ad least until I confirm the true value of the 0202 to the customs office.
An Old [New] Find
I quickly realized the A2ZS won't do - not after I've sampled the 1212m. I remembered the TerraTec Phase 22 that I tested several months back when I was trying to decide whether the CS4398 in the 1212m is worth double its price. I had little time to listen to it [a couple of days] and I had to send it back, as I got a good deal on the E-MU, and thought I would never look back.
Well, little more than a week ago, I got the Phase 22 back in [managed to get it for ~$90]. As I found little information on the card on the forums, I decided to share my limited experience with it so far.
Overview
This is a single card solution, with the digital and analog portions on the same PCI card. It comes fitted with the CS4382, which has a slightly reduced dymanic range than the flagship CS4398, but retains the differential outputs. The A/D is an AKM variant, but I will need to get it out and recheck the exact model number. The main sound processor is the I.C.E. Ensemble Envy HT-S [now acquired by VIA].
The card is fitted with two balanced inputs, two balanced outputs, as well as a breakout featuring MIDI and S/PDIF I/O's.
I have it connected to my Rotel RC-03 via a modified AudioQuest Quartz interconnect [RCA with Oehlbach TS], and then to my RB-03 for the speakers, as well as to a DIY prototype balanced amp I am having built [more about that later on, as it takes shape].
Drivers & Setup
Here comes the big surprise - ad least to me. I was only too happy to have the A2ZS drivers removed from my system - I am quite surprised as to how long I've managed to live with them.
I downloaded TerraTec Control Panel & Driver Package 5.42. The entire package is just 3MB (!). Installation was a snap, and I now have a properly working Phase 22 [both WDM & ASIO devices]. No messy sessions to setup, so devices to patch through - simply working. And best yet - the Phase 22 can pass through DTS and DD tracks via S/PDIF.
Some might miss the bunch of tweaking controls - but I know I don't. I opened foobar2000 [0.8.3] setup both KS and ASIO and was off [I later found I prefer ASIO, so that is what I am sticking with].
Enough! What About Sound?
Remember I am only about a week in with the Phase 22. More in-depth impressions are bound to come later. All of the listening is done via foobar2000 [ASIO] to FLAC's and 320kbps MP3's.
Albums included, but not limited to are: Dire Straits [Dire Straits, Platinum], Pink Floyd [Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, Echoes], Al Di Meola [Elegant Gypsy, Electric Randevous, Friday Night in San Francisko], Air [Moonsafari, Talkie Walkie], Orbital [In Sides, Brown & Green & Blue], The Clash [Combat Rock, London Calling], The Cure [Staring at the Sea - the Singles]. Also some classical works [Vivaldi, Beethoven, Orff]. And some more.
Impressions
Well, it is better than the Audigy 2 ZS. Way better. Noise floor has dropped consiredably, dynamics are now apparent, and I am finally enjoying some instrument separation. It is definitely musical and much more enjoyable.
What really surprised me was how it reproduced the tracks on Combat Rock. With the Audigy, I was convinced I had poorly ripped the tracks - but no matter what I did, it still sounded the same. Noisy and congested. Turns out the issue was with the Audigy, not the recording.
Generally speaking, bass is tighter. Quick and present and not overwhelming. My perceived image of the soundstage has widened and I've gained more instrument separation and air.
I can now understand why some people are labelling the 1212m as laid-back and even boring. There is no question the Phase 22 is more fun to listen - but I still wonder as to how am I going to feel after more time with the card. I hope to retrieve the 0202 from the customs office early next month. I should be able to do more direct comparisons with the two cards in the same system, and report back.
Conclusions
Well, up to this point, I really like it. And what's not to like? Clean drivers and good sound, and I figure, either way, I will have a good card in the system, and feel free to mod the other one and try to squeeze more out of it.
