[OverlordXenu]

Would it be a hardmodded X-Fi, an M-Audio, a Chaintech, an EMU? What?

Thanks.

 

[SR-71Panorama]

I cant speek to mods, but stock internal soundcards's current king-of-the-hill seems to be Auzentech X Meridian. Linky.
I have not heard it myself, but it is what I would get if I wanted an internal card, and decided not to get the Emu 0404 (which, btw, recently got a new DAC, AKM 4396 - the same one as the external 0404 which is favored more)

Auzentech is supposed to be releasing a new card fairly soon though. It is called the Prelude. I believe they are discontinuing the Meridian, and using this as a replacement.

 

[ezkcdude]

E-MU 1212M.

 

[stevenkelby]

If your using an external DAC, they should all sound the same. I'm using the AV710 right now into my Xin SMACRO IV and it sounds good. Much better than the onboard sound and zero hiss. Without the Xin it's not too hot though.

But to answer your question, I don't know.

 

[sinsiang]

i think that the lynx l22 should be the best.

siang

 

[MaloS]

A vote for E-MU 0404.

 

[Drag0n]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SR-71Panorama /img/forum/go_quote.gif I cant speek to mods, but stock internal soundcards's current king-of-the-hill seems to be Auzentech X Meridian. Linky. I have not heard it myself, but it is what I would get if I wanted an internal card, and decided not to get the Emu 0404 (which, btw, recently got a new DAC, AKM 4396 - the same one as the external 0404 which is favored more) Auzentech is supposed to be releasing a new card fairly soon though. It is called the Prelude. I believe they are discontinuing the Meridian, and using this as a replacement.

Your "LINKY" isnt working because it needs ".php" after it

Edit added: Also i noticed the board isnt in production any longer because they cant get the chip-set.

 

[Drag0n]

I wanted to ask ....If i have a usb dac such as a Corda Move plugged into my USB, would i need a sound card at all? (Just curious,even though my board also has a built-in sound card anyway....Hope this question didnt hi-jack the thread,sorry).

 

[ROBSCIX]

No. The USB DAC works as the "soundcard"

The current X-Meridian is the champ for analog sound within that price range.
You slap in a set of LM4562's and it can compete with alot of mid level receivers for sound quality. It is and has been compared t alot of gear on a regular basis by the guys at AVS. It is a very hard card to beat for the price...

 

[OverlordXenu]

Anyone know if the Prelude will be better or worse?

 

[ROBSCIX]

Stock it will be better as the Prelude uses LM4562's for the fronts channels and OPA2134's for the remaining channels. Either of those amps are better then the stock X-Meridian opamps. That being said most owners don't leave a X-M stock, they didn't use the best amps possible to save costs. Most use a full set of LM4562's. You can see they would be very close given that fact. I think they will sound very,very similar which is to say fantastic. Alot better then any current offering from CL.

 

[OverlordXenu]

Hmmm...

I was planning on getting a LaRocco PRII MkII amp and using it for a transportable rig...But I don't have headphones, just IEM's (and I plan on using IEM's only for a while). I'm wondering, would $400 be better spent on a soundcard or external DAC or something?

 

[infinitesymphony]

When you say "sound card," do you mean internal? If not, the sky's the limit. Lynx, RME, Digidesign, Benchmark, etc.

 

[OverlordXenu]

Well, I was thinking more of going with an external DAC now...For like $400.

 

[infinitesymphony]

I can't think of any good values in the $400 region, unless you're also into recording music, in which case I'd recommend the E-MU 1616M. IMO, you're better off looking in either the $250 or less range or saving until you get to the ~$1,000 range. In the sub-$250 range, the E-MUs are my pick.