JAG87
100+ Head-Fier
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- Aug 18, 2007
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[size=xx-large]Auzentech X-Fi Prelude[/size]
The retail box art. Very nice!
The card fresh out of it's plastic casing
The booty shot. Take a look at the IO solder points, the PCB is nicely labeled
The perspective of good sound.
[size=large]I/O Connections:[/size]
[size=small]If you are used to Creative cards, this will be a huge change. At the back we find Optical/Coaxial SPDIF Input, Optical/Coaxial SPDIF Output,
MIC Input, LINE-IN Input, and 4 sets of stereo 3.5mm minijacks (Front LR, Center/SW, Surround LR, and Rear LR).[/size]
The card comes with a free TOSLINK cable, and 2 optical adapters. Nice!
[size=large]
Components:[/size]
[size=small]
Creative X-Fi CA20K audio processor
One AKM AK-5394 super high performance 96kHz 24-bit ADC for analog input
Four AKM AK-4396 96kHz 24-bit advanced multi-bit DAC for analog output
64Mbytes of memory for audio processing
High fidelity audio OPAMPs for analog input and output (TI OPA2134)
Front L/R output OPAMP is replaceable by end-user (National LM4562NA)
Dual mode S/PDIF receiver and transmitter[/size]
The 64MB of X-RAM. In case any of you memory freaks are wondering, those are MICRON ECC SDRAM ICs
More X-RAM pornography
The Texas Instruments OPA2134 op-amps and the AKM AK4396VF DACs
The National LM4562NA high performance op-amp, with its interchangeable socket
[size=large]
Audio Performance:[/size]
[size=small]Signal-to-Noise Ratio (20kHz Low-pass filter, A-Weighted)
Stereo Output : 120dB (part spec)
Front and Rear Channels : 120dB (part spec)
Center : 120dB (part spec)
Subwoofer and Side Channels : 120dB (part spec)
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1kHz (-3dBFS, A-weighted) : 0.001% - part spec
Frequency Response (+/-0.01dB, 24-bit/44.1kHz input ) : 20khz (part spec)
Frequency Response (+/-0.01dB, 24-bit/96kHz input ) : 43.5 khz (part spec)
16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz
To give you an idea, most Creative boards have a Stereo Output S/N ratio of 109 dB, while the Elite Pro is 116 dB.
The Total Harmonic Distortion is 0.004% while the Elite Pro is 0.0008%.
[/size]
[size=large]Drivers:[/size]
[size=small]The only drivers available at the moment are the drivers that come with the CD. I have installed the Windows XP drivers, I have no idea how the Vista drivers behave.
In any case I wouldn't expect them to be much better than the Creative's Vista drivers everyone has "loved" so far.
The drivers are extremely easy to install, you just pop in the CD, and click the install drivers button. The routine installs the Auzentech Audio Console, and the Console Launcher.[/size]
The Auzentech Audio Console. Look familiar?
The Console Launcher
[size=small]If you are buying this card for its Dolby and DTS capabilities, you will be left with a sour tooth. With the current drivers the card has no Dolby/DTS decoding capabilities.
You can clearly see from the screenshots that there is no Dolby/DTS tab, and using SPDIF in programs will not work.
I have a feeling all Dolby and DTS features will come with the Q4 driver release.
This release should add all Dolby and DTS decoding features as well as encoding (Dolby Digital Live, DTS Interactive and DTS Neo).[/size]
Please check this link for more information
http://www.auzentech.com/data/prelud...tus_082807.pdf
[size=large]
Sound Testing:[/size]
[size=small]The following tests were conducted with the sound card hooked up to a Technics Stereo Amplifier and a pair of JBL towers.
For headphone testing the Sennheiser HD280 Pro were used (wish I had 595 or 650s to test with)
DD 5.1 448 kb/s through PowerDVD Ultra (set to 2.0)
DD Plus 5.1 640 kb/s through PowerDVD Ultra (set to 2.0)
DD TrueHD through PowerDVD Ultra (set to 2.0)
MP3 @ 256 kb/s through iTunes
Battlefield 2 (all settings max)[/size]
[size=large]
The Dolby results:[/size]
[size=small]
To be honest, there is not much difference here between the Creative card, and the Auzentech card.
With the mode set to Audio Creation and the bit-matched playback enabled, the two cards sound nearly identical.
The most difference is shown in the TrueHD soundtrack, where the Auzentech card seems to have more clarity and deeper bass.
But otherwise, the cards are both excellent. Liquid gold in, liquid gold out
[/size]
[size=large]
The MP3 results:[/size]
[size=small]With a flat listening experience (bit-matched) the Auzentech card has a crisper, less veiled sound.
The Creative card has duller highs and bass. Still, it's not night and day, they are pretty evenly matched.
Where the Auzentech card really excells is the post processing. The Creative card just doesn't stand a chance.
Where before the Crystallizer was a hiss/bass distortion feature, it now becomes a fantastic feature.
The Crystallizer gives your flat MP3s a much needed extended bass and high range that is clean and crisp, not distorted and uncomfortable.
To measure this difference, I will show you an example with numbers.
With the Xtreme Music, as soon as you raise the Crystallizer level above 0% you can already start to hear bass distortion at high volumes.
With the Auzentech I find myself enjoying up to 50% Crystallizer at high volumes with absolutely pristine bass and highs. Clearly the better components on the card are paying off here.[/size]
[size=large]
The Battlefield 2 results:[/size]
[size=small]This deserves a 10/10 for improvement, there is just no comparison. With the Crystallizer enabled now that its actually worth using, the sound is just insane.
If I even try to raise the Crystallizer above 0% with the Xtreme Music, the distortion is evident. With the Prelude the Crystallizer is everything it should be.
Im not sure I can portray with words the fact that when you fire a shell from your Abrahams tank, your ears ring.
It actually feels like your inside the tank, thats how amazing it is. Its not flat and dull, its punchy and crisp.[/size]
[size=large]
Wrapping things up:[/size]
[size=small]This card shows clear improvement over the cheaper Creative cards, when the card is stressed to its limits.
These limits are reached by using the Crystallizer at high volume, because this feature enhances the bass and the highs so much
that if the components are not up the task the resulting sound is actually worse than the original pre-processed signal.
[size=large] So who should purchase this card? [/size]
[size=small]You should not be purchasing this card[/size]
1) if your speakers or headphones are worth less than the card. Its as simple as that.
You will not notice the difference with sub 200 dollar speakers or cheap headphones, it just wont happen.
2) if you like low volumes. You need the right amount of sound pressure to hear the difference,
at low volumes the card does not sound 100 dollars better than the Xtreme Music or the Xtreme Gamer cards.
[size=small]You should be purchasing this card[/size]
1) if you have a nice set of speakers (like the Logitech Z5500s) and you frequently turn them up for good listening sessions or movie watching,
or if you connect your PC to a receiver/amplifier with good quality speakers.
2) if you have high-end headphones like HD595s, HD600, HD650, Beyerdynamic DT-880 and 990s, AKG K701s.
If you have an amp for your headphones you will enter PC-as-source audio nirvana.
I hope you enjoyed my review of the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude, if you have any questions please dont hesitate to ask! I will do my best to answer them.[/size]
The retail box art. Very nice!
The card fresh out of it's plastic casing
The booty shot. Take a look at the IO solder points, the PCB is nicely labeled
The perspective of good sound.
[size=large]I/O Connections:[/size]
[size=small]If you are used to Creative cards, this will be a huge change. At the back we find Optical/Coaxial SPDIF Input, Optical/Coaxial SPDIF Output,
MIC Input, LINE-IN Input, and 4 sets of stereo 3.5mm minijacks (Front LR, Center/SW, Surround LR, and Rear LR).[/size]
The card comes with a free TOSLINK cable, and 2 optical adapters. Nice!
[size=large]
Components:[/size]
[size=small]
Creative X-Fi CA20K audio processor
One AKM AK-5394 super high performance 96kHz 24-bit ADC for analog input
Four AKM AK-4396 96kHz 24-bit advanced multi-bit DAC for analog output
64Mbytes of memory for audio processing
High fidelity audio OPAMPs for analog input and output (TI OPA2134)
Front L/R output OPAMP is replaceable by end-user (National LM4562NA)
Dual mode S/PDIF receiver and transmitter[/size]
The 64MB of X-RAM. In case any of you memory freaks are wondering, those are MICRON ECC SDRAM ICs
More X-RAM pornography
The Texas Instruments OPA2134 op-amps and the AKM AK4396VF DACs
The National LM4562NA high performance op-amp, with its interchangeable socket
[size=large]
Audio Performance:[/size]
[size=small]Signal-to-Noise Ratio (20kHz Low-pass filter, A-Weighted)
Stereo Output : 120dB (part spec)
Front and Rear Channels : 120dB (part spec)
Center : 120dB (part spec)
Subwoofer and Side Channels : 120dB (part spec)
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1kHz (-3dBFS, A-weighted) : 0.001% - part spec
Frequency Response (+/-0.01dB, 24-bit/44.1kHz input ) : 20khz (part spec)
Frequency Response (+/-0.01dB, 24-bit/96kHz input ) : 43.5 khz (part spec)
16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz
To give you an idea, most Creative boards have a Stereo Output S/N ratio of 109 dB, while the Elite Pro is 116 dB.
The Total Harmonic Distortion is 0.004% while the Elite Pro is 0.0008%.
[/size]
[size=large]Drivers:[/size]
[size=small]The only drivers available at the moment are the drivers that come with the CD. I have installed the Windows XP drivers, I have no idea how the Vista drivers behave.
In any case I wouldn't expect them to be much better than the Creative's Vista drivers everyone has "loved" so far.
The drivers are extremely easy to install, you just pop in the CD, and click the install drivers button. The routine installs the Auzentech Audio Console, and the Console Launcher.[/size]
The Auzentech Audio Console. Look familiar?
The Console Launcher
[size=small]If you are buying this card for its Dolby and DTS capabilities, you will be left with a sour tooth. With the current drivers the card has no Dolby/DTS decoding capabilities.
You can clearly see from the screenshots that there is no Dolby/DTS tab, and using SPDIF in programs will not work.
I have a feeling all Dolby and DTS features will come with the Q4 driver release.
This release should add all Dolby and DTS decoding features as well as encoding (Dolby Digital Live, DTS Interactive and DTS Neo).[/size]
Please check this link for more information
http://www.auzentech.com/data/prelud...tus_082807.pdf
[size=large]
Sound Testing:[/size]
[size=small]The following tests were conducted with the sound card hooked up to a Technics Stereo Amplifier and a pair of JBL towers.
For headphone testing the Sennheiser HD280 Pro were used (wish I had 595 or 650s to test with)
DD 5.1 448 kb/s through PowerDVD Ultra (set to 2.0)
DD Plus 5.1 640 kb/s through PowerDVD Ultra (set to 2.0)
DD TrueHD through PowerDVD Ultra (set to 2.0)
MP3 @ 256 kb/s through iTunes
Battlefield 2 (all settings max)[/size]
[size=large]
The Dolby results:[/size]
[size=small]
To be honest, there is not much difference here between the Creative card, and the Auzentech card.
With the mode set to Audio Creation and the bit-matched playback enabled, the two cards sound nearly identical.
The most difference is shown in the TrueHD soundtrack, where the Auzentech card seems to have more clarity and deeper bass.
But otherwise, the cards are both excellent. Liquid gold in, liquid gold out
[/size]
[size=large]
The MP3 results:[/size]
[size=small]With a flat listening experience (bit-matched) the Auzentech card has a crisper, less veiled sound.
The Creative card has duller highs and bass. Still, it's not night and day, they are pretty evenly matched.
Where the Auzentech card really excells is the post processing. The Creative card just doesn't stand a chance.
Where before the Crystallizer was a hiss/bass distortion feature, it now becomes a fantastic feature.
The Crystallizer gives your flat MP3s a much needed extended bass and high range that is clean and crisp, not distorted and uncomfortable.
To measure this difference, I will show you an example with numbers.
With the Xtreme Music, as soon as you raise the Crystallizer level above 0% you can already start to hear bass distortion at high volumes.
With the Auzentech I find myself enjoying up to 50% Crystallizer at high volumes with absolutely pristine bass and highs. Clearly the better components on the card are paying off here.[/size]
[size=large]
The Battlefield 2 results:[/size]
[size=small]This deserves a 10/10 for improvement, there is just no comparison. With the Crystallizer enabled now that its actually worth using, the sound is just insane.
If I even try to raise the Crystallizer above 0% with the Xtreme Music, the distortion is evident. With the Prelude the Crystallizer is everything it should be.
Im not sure I can portray with words the fact that when you fire a shell from your Abrahams tank, your ears ring.
It actually feels like your inside the tank, thats how amazing it is. Its not flat and dull, its punchy and crisp.[/size]
[size=large]
Wrapping things up:[/size]
[size=small]This card shows clear improvement over the cheaper Creative cards, when the card is stressed to its limits.
These limits are reached by using the Crystallizer at high volume, because this feature enhances the bass and the highs so much
that if the components are not up the task the resulting sound is actually worse than the original pre-processed signal.
[size=large] So who should purchase this card? [/size]
[size=small]You should not be purchasing this card[/size]
1) if your speakers or headphones are worth less than the card. Its as simple as that.
You will not notice the difference with sub 200 dollar speakers or cheap headphones, it just wont happen.
2) if you like low volumes. You need the right amount of sound pressure to hear the difference,
at low volumes the card does not sound 100 dollars better than the Xtreme Music or the Xtreme Gamer cards.
[size=small]You should be purchasing this card[/size]
1) if you have a nice set of speakers (like the Logitech Z5500s) and you frequently turn them up for good listening sessions or movie watching,
or if you connect your PC to a receiver/amplifier with good quality speakers.
2) if you have high-end headphones like HD595s, HD600, HD650, Beyerdynamic DT-880 and 990s, AKG K701s.
If you have an amp for your headphones you will enter PC-as-source audio nirvana.
I hope you enjoyed my review of the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude, if you have any questions please dont hesitate to ask! I will do my best to answer them.[/size]
