Computer audio: Audio - Audiophile 2496 or Revolution 7.1

[itza2mer]

Long time lurker, first time posting a question.

I'm currenty using a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz soundcard in my computer. I've got a DB-9 headphone Amp hooked up to the line out of the soundcard, and I'm using Senn 600 headphones.

I've read that the M-audio Audiophile 2496 outputs a cleaner signal than any other soundcard available, however M-Audio has just introduced a new card called Revolution 7.1. I like the price and the features that the Revolution 7.1 has, however I'm mainly interested in having the cleanest stereo signal output for my headphone amp.

My question: which soundcard would you buy based on these specs?

https://m-audio.rjmg.com/index.cfm?pid=3255

or

https://m-audio.rjmg.com/index.cfm?pid=3351

Thank You for your time

 

[aeberbach]

At $99 (CompUSA) the choice of M-Audio Revolution is pretty clear.

Welcome, and don't forget to use the search feature, there have been a few discussions about this card in the last week.

 

[Audio-Me]

specs don't mean squat
but based on the fact alone that the revolution is a consumer targeted product, I'll bet that it's rather poor in comparison to the audiophile 2496.

 

[itza2mer]

Quote:

Originally posted by aeberbach At $99 (CompUSA) the choice of M-Audio Revolution is pretty clear. Welcome, and don't forget to use the search feature, there have been a few discussions about this card in the last week.

Thanks. Yeah I should have searched because a few minutes after posting I saw another thread about Revolution cards.

 

[dd3mon]

Quote:

Originally posted by Audio&Me specs don't mean squat but based on the fact alone that the revolution is a consumer targeted product, I'll bet that it's rather poor in comparison to the audiophile 2496.

Thanks for your (very uninformed) opinion

It is targetted towards consumers, but in both specs AND performance (based off several comparisons made on avs forums) this card surpasses any other card in the delta line that M-Audio makes.. The more expensive M-Audio cards offer more features (more ins/outs, etc), but the DACs of the revolution is supposed to be better. The digital output is clean, and to my ears the analog output is very very nice - although I have very little to compare it to (leaves my audigy in the dust). I'm basing these opinions I express on the reviews of others who have other M-Audio cards to the Revolution.

-dd3mon

 

[Audio-Me]

specs, and spec related "performance" tests don't tell you to how good something will sound. Many of these reviews are done by indiscriminating ears who's point of reference is a Bose system.

I used to own the DiO 2496, I assume the audiophile is not far behind it. I highly doubt this new 99 cent value wonder will sound better, unless crappy sound is your thing.

 

[dd3mon]

Quote:

Originally posted by Audio&Me specs, and spec related "performance" tests don't tell you to how good something will sound. Many of these reviews are done by indiscriminating ears who's point of reference is a Bose system. I used to own the DiO 2496, I assume the audiophile is not far behind it. I highly doubt this new 99 cent value wonder will sound better, unless crappy sound is your thing.

if anyone can tell the difference between the different M-Audio cards, and find one better than the other, I'd say they probably had somewhat discriminating ears. I value their real world testing (backed up with specs mind you) alot more than your accusative speculation either way.

99 cent wonder? hm $99 vs. $150 for the audiophile 2496.. whoa! so much difference

.. and the target market for the Revolution is ALOT bigger - hence higher volumes and lower production costs.. honestly the profit margin on the audiophile is probably huge due to the lack demand. The Revolution on the other hand has been preordered and/or sold out at every vendor I've seen carrying them.

-dd3mon

 

[Spiffyis5150]

Quote:

Originally posted by Audio&Me specs, and spec related "performance" tests don't tell you to how good something will sound. Many of these reviews are done by indiscriminating ears who's point of reference is a Bose system. I used to own the DiO 2496, I assume the audiophile is not far behind it. I highly doubt this new 99 cent value wonder will sound better, unless crappy sound is your thing.

I agree that specs don't always tell the story, but your audiophile snobbery immediately makes me discount anything you have to say. I just bought the Revolution and I'm still forming my opinions on this card, so the only things I've said here are based on first impressions. With that said, I've never owned a Bose system, nor have I been wowed by Bose's products. I bet that many here have bought the Revolution don't use it as their point of reference either.

Since you haven't heard either of the sound cards that the poster asked about, I don't believe your opinion is valid anyway. You may have owned the DiO 2496 and maybe it is similar to the Audiophile 2496, but I, nor the original poster don't know that for sure. We also shouldn't assume that what you think is audiophile really is audiophile. If there's one thing I've learned here on this message board, it's that audiophile sound is in the ears of the beholder. What I think sounds fantastic may sound like a 128kbps MP3 to you.

Now to the original poster, I think you can't go wrong with either of these cards. I just installed my Revolution this week and the little bit of time that I have put in listening to it has really impressed me. If I had the money, 2496 would certainly be a nice card and no doubt make me happy too, but I think the Revolution is a very nice card for the price. Given the card that you're using now, it would be a nice step up and make you happy. Would you be happier with the 2496? Maybe, but then again you might not hear any difference. I hope some of the more knowledgable people here are able to compare and report their findings rather than submit to audiophile snobbery and just make blanket statements about stuff which they do not know as fact.

 

[radrd]

Here's an Ars thread on the Revolution:
http://arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenT...5&m=9210988745

I would take it for music, but not for gaming.

 

[Audio-Me]

It's amazing how significant $50 is to the consumer world. My suggestion was to go with the lower profile "safe" solution. I take it that you think hype means better, ok, no need to argue with you.

spiffy, you lost me, this is your first post on this thread... Would you still have been offended if I told the original poster to just get the DiO 2496 instead without telling him why I think he should?
Quote:

What I think sounds fantastic may sound like a 128kbps MP3 to you.

Good point, just realize that I wasn't trying to intimidate anyone, simply informing on my opinion. Snobbery? I think you took it the wrong way, I was responding to the comment of my opinion being "unimformed". I wish people would atleast try to notice some humor, even if it is cynical.