[gyrodec]

I was just browsing NewEgg soundcards while a process finiished on my machine and I found this: Newegg.com - DIAMOND XtremeSound XS71 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Sound Cards

According to the reviews, if you download the CMedia drivers off the web its bit-perfect. It has real RCA spdif sockets and its only about $25.

Just though you all should know, because I remember people asking what card and I didn't remember anybody suggesting this one. If you know of any issues, please post them as I'm thinking of picking one of these up based on what I just read.

 

[Dr Def]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gyrodec /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was just browsing NewEgg soundcards while a process finiished on my machine and I found this: Newegg.com - DIAMOND XtremeSound XS71 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Sound Cards According to the reviews, if you download the CMedia drivers off the web its bit-perfect. It has real RCA spdif sockets and its only about $25. Just though you all should know, because I remember people asking what card and I didn't remember anybody suggesting this one. If you know of any issues, please post them as I'm thinking of picking one of these up based on what I just read.

It only does 16bit though - so as I understand it, it will downsample a 24-bit recording.

 

[leeperry]

more like 14 actually

: Homebrew CMI 8738 drivers - Hydrogenaudio Forums

that was on the CMI8738, but don't trust C-Media

 

[metreonfuture]

how good is the sound quality from the headphone spdif out on this thing? i have xp

 

[leeperry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by metreonfuture /img/forum/go_quote.gif headphone spdif

eeeeh, that's gonna hurt.

 

[Hybrys]

This thread is awesome.

 

[ManuLM]

indeed ...

gyrodec, having bit perfect driver does not make the sound good ...
This card would only be worth for its SPDIF out, and if you connect the headphones to it, make sure you have a DAC and headamp in between.

 

[joe_cool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManuLM /img/forum/go_quote.gif indeed ... gyrodec, having bit perfect driver does not make the sound good ... This card would only be worth for its SPDIF out, and if you connect the headphones to it, make sure you have a DAC and headamp in between.

aww man, there's always a catch with this audio stuff...

 

[ROBSCIX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManuLM /img/forum/go_quote.gif indeed ... gyrodec, having bit perfect driver does not make the sound good ... This card would only be worth for its SPDIF out, and if you connect the headphones to it, make sure you have a DAC and headamp in between.

Your right about that.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by metreonfuture /img/forum/go_quote.gif how good is the sound quality from the headphone spdif out on this thing? i have xp

You try to listen to a digital audio stream (S/PDIF) using a headphone? Good luck!

You will at least need to convert the digital audio signal to analog using a DAC, then run the analog through a headphone amplifier. The end result will highly depend on the quality of these units.

 

[Dr Def]

I imagine S/PDIF -> headphone might sound like an R2D2 sex tape....at least that's how I'd like to imagine it.

 

[joe_cool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif You try to listen to a digital audio stream (S/PDIF) using a headphone? Good luck!

But what about the "digital" headphones I saw at the store?

On the other hand I played some DTS-encoded music files through my DAC and THAT was rather informative.