Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › Chaintech AV-710 Setup Thread, Including True 44.1kHz Wolfson Output in XP
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Chaintech AV-710 Setup Thread, Including True 44.1kHz Wolfson Output in XP - Page 4

post #46 of 502
5/25/07 at 12:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pengoo View Post
Yes, im using the 4.73b drivers.
I switched Audio Deck from "2" onto "Hi Sample Rate Digital Out" and then tried "KS : Envy24 Family Audio (WDM)" as foobar output with resampler DSP enabled and set to 96000Hz. Still only got white noise. Same story with using "DS : Envy24 Family Audio (WDM)" with no resampler DSP enabled. All I get is white noise from this socket it seems :/
With the original setup as described I also get white noise for the analog output when playing DTS encoded wave files. The optical output is sending out a "non-resampled" signal at the same time.
Reply
post #47 of 502
5/25/07 at 4:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brewmaster
With the original setup as described I also get white noise for the analog output when playing DTS encoded wave files.
What are you using to decode DTS? If you don't have a decoder (ex. optical output -> DTS-capable receiver), it'll just sound like static. The "DTS test" is only valid and applicable for a sound card's digital output.

pengoo and Brewmaster, do you both have cards where the spot normally labeled "Alt. Out" is labeled "Back Surr"?

Here's a test... With Hi-Sample rate enabled (just to be sure that the Wolfson DAC is being used) and music playing, try plugging into each of the jacks. Maybe this is a newer or different revision of the card, and the output might be re-routed. If you can open up your computer(s), try looking for a revision number or letter on the card, and also look for the Wolfson DAC itself. In the picture I posted, it's the small black chip directly to the right of output #8.
Reply
post #48 of 502
5/25/07 at 4:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by infinitesymphony View Post
What are you using to decode DTS? If you don't have a decoder (ex. optical output -> DTS-capable receiver), it'll just sound like static. The "DTS test" is only valid and applicable for a sound card's digital output.
.
Doh!!!!

Seems kind of obvious now that you point that out. Maybe all that beer did kill some brain cells.

p.s. Thanks for your patience, and this guide in the first place.
Reply
post #49 of 502
5/25/07 at 5:28pm
Thread Starter 
You're welcome... The AV-710 is a nice ultra-budget card, but with the low price comes a few disadvantages, one of which is that the card doesn't "just work." It needs some understanding and tweaking to reap the true benefits, both analog and digital.

Plus, all of these "bit-perfect" tests can be confusing... Everyone wants the best quality from the sound card, but it's not always clear whether they're testing its analog or digital capabilities.

Now we just need to fix pengoo's problem...
Reply
post #50 of 502
5/25/07 at 8:19pm
Well.

Top right of the card (left of the green CD-in 4pin connector) says "AV-710 M101 430"

Chipset -
"VIA ICEnsemble
ENVY24 HT-S
VT1721-0408CD
2IA0000001"

Wolfson DAC-
"WM
WM8728
46AVVXV"

White sticker on the top left of the back of the card says
"VT1721
AV-710-0040D
FRAS2-312038"

Green warranty sticker on the back says 2005.


When i put it on "Hi Sample Rate Digital Out" in audio deck, then change foobar to "DS : Envy24 Family Audio (WDM)", i get no sound from my speakers when i plug them in to any of the sockets, apart from the "back surr" one, which just gives static.
Any bright ideas?
Reply
post #51 of 502
5/25/07 at 8:23pm
Thread Starter 
That sounds to me like a possible hardware problem. The next step is to try testing different drivers (ex. 5.00b) to see if you can get the Wolfson DAC output working at all.

Always remember to restart the computer after uninstalling drivers, and again after installing the new drivers.
Reply
post #52 of 502
5/25/07 at 8:40pm
Is there not anything I could be doing stupid with foobar or the drivers? I'm using the latest foo_output_ks as a plugin. I have a DFI Lanparty Ultra-D motherboard, so when i bought the AV-710, i first removed the installed karajan 7.1 sound module on the board. Could the old NVidia drivers for that be messing things up somehow? (though they don't seem to be running).
I'll uninstall 4.73b and install 5.00b. Yes, I've restarted throughout. Gimme a min to put the soundcard back in
Reply
post #53 of 502
5/25/07 at 8:47pm
Thread Starter 
You should get output through the Alt. Out ("Back Surr") even when using something without mixer bypassing, for example playing files in plain old Windows Media Player. So, if you're not getting any output at all from any program, something's not right.

It doesn't sound like a hardware conflict because you're still able to use the regular VIA outputs (right?). But, it couldn't hurt to go into the BIOS and disable the onboard sound if that's an option.
Reply
post #54 of 502
5/25/07 at 9:01pm
Disabled the on-board sound in the BIOS just now.
Yeah im still able to use the green "line out" jack fine, (#5 on your pic).
And no, I don't seem to be able to get any output from the back surr jack, however much I fiddle with settings.
Reply
post #55 of 502
5/25/07 at 9:25pm
Also noticed that, while red light still comes out of my S/PDIF socket, the "sticky out bit" on the S/PDIF output seems to be missing. In http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggIma...120-103-01.JPG for example, there's a "sticky out bit" on the S/PDIF output. Now i've never used optical out in my life, so I couldn't tell whether this could just be a small card revision, or whether mine has been damaged.
Any thoughts?
Anyway, going to bed now. Brain hurts. :/
Reply
post #56 of 502
5/25/07 at 9:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pengoo View Post
Also noticed that, while red light still comes out of my S/PDIF socket, the "sticky out bit" on the S/PDIF output seems to be missing.
That's just the protective cover. The fact that it wasn't included with your card suggests a possibility that the card was opened and/or used before you purchased it. I hope it's not the case, but it sounds like the high quality portion of the card might be broken or otherwise nonfunctional.
Reply
post #57 of 502
5/26/07 at 6:52am
Well like i said, i bought it used off ebay since it is virtually impossible to buy the card new in europe. I'll try a reformat sometime, to eliminate the possiblility of other drivers/software interfering. But for now, i'll just use the line out :/
Reply
post #58 of 502
5/27/07 at 3:34am
Sorry to intrude upon your discussion with my massive ignorance disruption field. I've just bought and installed an AV710 following this board's advice actually and I'm wondering exactly what tweaks would benefit me and how.

I've moved a couple jumpers and I'm getting audio from the black output next to the toslink.

I've also replaced the latest drivers with the 4.73 model. I still don't have access to the audiodeck (need to reboot first). but the sound is working.(that also took a reboot).

I'm not sure how bit-perfect sound is beneficial.

Isn't upsampling to 96 Khz a good thing?
It most definitely is 99% of the time in video. Isn't it in audio also?
Is it only beneficial to people who are plugging the sound into amps or other devices first before getting to the speakers?

Anyways, I have a set of 2.1 promedia and I listen to lossy music. What is the best setup for me? Thanks!
Reply
post #59 of 502
5/27/07 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gozu View Post
...I'm wondering exactly what tweaks would benefit me and how.
There are other threads that would be better suited to your questions... This one is mainly for setting up the card without relatively untested tweaks.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gozu
I've moved a couple jumpers and I'm getting audio from the black output next to the toslink.
What was the reason for changing the jumpers? Several people have said that the "jumper mod" does not affect the Wolfson DAC's output--it only affects the VIA output.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gozu
I'm not sure how bit-perfect sound is beneficial.

Isn't upsampling to 96 Khz a good thing?
It most definitely is 99% of the time in video. Isn't it in audio also?
Is it only beneficial to people who are plugging the sound into amps or other devices first before getting to the speakers?
Some people believe that upsampling sounds better, but with a sound card, you'll either be relying on a software upsampling plug-in (as in Foobar) or the algorithms built into VIA's drivers, neither of which is a great implementation of upsampling. I've tried the card both ways and found 44.1 kHz output to sound more neutral and realistic. Also be sure that you aren't confusing upsampling vs. oversampling. Most DACs, including the Wolfson DAC present in the AV-710, automatically oversample.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gozu
Anyways, I have a set of 2.1 promedia and I listen to lossy music. What is the best setup for me? Thanks!
Assuming you want to use the AV-710... Foobar/Winamp/etc. -> Kernel Streaming Plug-in -> 4.73b drivers setup for Auto 44.1/48 kHz playback.
Reply
post #60 of 502
5/27/07 at 5:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by infinitesymphony View Post
There are other threads that would be better suited to your questions... This one is mainly for setting up the card without relatively untested tweaks.
The one I found that didn't involve replacing capacitors and what have you was very old and potentially out of date. It's the one that advocated moving the jumpers. Here it is: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75454

Quote:
Assuming you want to use the AV-710... Foobar/Winamp/etc. -> Kernel Streaming Plug-in -> 4.73b drivers setup for Auto 44.1/48 kHz playback.
What about other applications that are not ASIO compatible? Media Player Classic and so forth? Do I change the settings for those?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Computer Audio
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › Chaintech AV-710 Setup Thread, Including True 44.1kHz Wolfson Output in XP