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New soundcard or DAC?

post #1 of 7
4/20/10 at 7:59am
Thread Starter 
I just built a new rig and my new motherboard doesn't have room for the 2 PCI slots that my E-MU 1212M takes up. I'm thinking of getting an AuzenTech X-Fi Forte but it occured to me that I could just keep the E-MU 1010 card and get a DAC instead. So should I get a new soundcard or a DAC? My Budget is ~$150.
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post #2 of 7
4/20/10 at 1:46pm
If you game lots, or want to eventually do surround sound, just bite the bullet and grab a Forte. If not, and if your EMU has an analog line out, what about an amp instead?
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post #3 of 7
4/21/10 at 3:28am
Dac man
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post #4 of 7
4/21/10 at 8:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hybrys View Post
If you game lots, or want to eventually do surround sound, just bite the bullet and grab a Forte.
I don't really plan on going surround sound at any point; The card is mostly for music.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hybrys View Post
If not, and if your EMU has an analog line out, what about an amp instead?
Sorry, I didn't explain well enough in my first post. The E-MU 1212M is a two card system (One card for digital out, one for analog.). I don't have room for two PCI cards anymore and the analog card can't work by itself.
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post #5 of 7
4/21/10 at 8:52am
You can go with a DAC but you will lose many features that soundcard offer. Also, you have a pretty limited budget for a quality external DAC unit/
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post #6 of 7
4/21/10 at 8:58am
Well those features are not needed for listening to music. If that is what you are interested in (as your earlier post suggests) then I would say go with a dac. There are some good options in your price range including the udac and musiland monitor 02 etc.
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post #7 of 7
4/21/10 at 11:14am
i propose to sell the card, use the proceeds towards your DAC, skip the auzentech. Use the sound device built into your motherboard if you want the benefits of a standard soundcard (it really isnt a noticeable difference if you harness the digital outputs on it for a DAC) and get a DAC (toslink or coax).

Get a AMB Gamma1/Gamma2 DAC in the FS forum or have mrx build you one. (the gamma2 might be expensive depending on features included but it's good stuff)

You don't have to spend a lot to get good stuff if you know what youre doing.
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