[nleahcim]

Hi - I'm thinking about getting a USB sound card for my lappy (Dell 600M/D600 [it is sort of a combination of both...]) - but I'm not sure which to get. I've been eyeing the diy usb dac in the diy section - but I'm not sure just yet. Which cards have head-fiers had the most success with? And do any support 5.1 sound? (I'm thinking about getting some klipsch 5.1s...)

 

[thomaspf]

It would be great to get a little more info from you.

What type of output do you want analog or digital
If analog how many channels.

What type of material do you want to play? CDs, DVDs, hires audio material

Do you have a surround sound decoder and want to pass through encoded multi-channel surround trackd AC3, DTS?

Do you want to pass through DTS or HDCD encoded audio discs?

Do you want to drive a headphone directly of the sound card?

Just a bit more data will help. There are plenty of USB solutions out there all with a slightly different focus.

Cheers

Thomas

 

[nleahcim]

Analog out is all I need. I do plan on driving my headphones (soon to be A500 - they should arrive tomorrow!) with it.

I'm thinking about getting some either 4.1 or 5.1 analog speakers - so I'd like to see what is available that can handle that (if there is anything that can)

But their primary use (and possibly only) would be for headphones.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomaspf Just a bit more data will help. There are plenty of USB solutions out there all with a slightly different focus.

Wow, please tell us.

 

[Chinchy]

I've had good results with the M-Audio USB Audiophile. There is no hiss/background noise with my headphones, and the sound is just wonderful. The Transit is good as well.

 

[thomaspf]

Here are two cards with headphone + 5 channel analog outputs that should fit your needs

http://productsen.terratec.net/modul...icle&artid=319

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...r-focus-1.html

The Terratec solution has a dedicated headphone jack while the M-audio solution shares a jack with the speakers.

Cheers

Thomas

 

[nleahcim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomaspf Here are two cards with headphone + 5 channel analog outputs that should fit your needs http://productsen.terratec.net/modul...icle&artid=319 http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...r-focus-1.html The Terratec solution has a dedicated headphone jack while the M-audio solution shares a jack with the speakers. Cheers Thomas

Thanks - both of those look very interesting - and seem fairly reasonably priced (looks like about $100 for either)

So can USB really hande 5.1 surround? I mean that seems like a lot of information for such a slow interface...

Also - would your reccomendation be different if I were to decide that I only want to use my headphones with the USB sound card? Thanks again!

 

[ixeo]

yes it would differ a little if it was headphones only.

the M-Audio Sonica Theatre 7.1 doesnt sound as good as the Transit & Sonica - least according to all the impressions posted by others on the board,
i haven't read any reviews nor feedback on the terratec so i have no idea.

anyway i'm using the same laptop, 600M/D600..me thinks the D600 looks better, the blue on the 600m just makes it not-so-professional looking.

 

[thomaspf]

If you would want to use the headphones on the laptop only I personally like the Echo Indigo best.

Very good sound with my Etys and no addtional box or cables to worry about.

I assume your Dell does have a free PCcard slot?

Cheers

Thomas

 

[ixeo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomaspf If you would want to use the headphones on the laptop only I personally like the Echo Indigo best. Very good sound with my Etys and no addtional box or cables to worry about. I assume your Dell does have a free PCcard slot? Cheers Thomas

yup, just one. but i think it -should- be free, unless he is using a pcmcia -> firewire or some pcmcia gps thingy

 

[nleahcim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomaspf If you would want to use the headphones on the laptop only I personally like the Echo Indigo best. Very good sound with my Etys and no addtional box or cables to worry about. I assume your Dell does have a free PCcard slot? Cheers Thomas

Well - I could probabaly free it up if needs be. Right now - I often use a PCMCIA CF adapter, and I also sometimes use a Orinoco Gold PCMCIA card (though I don't use it too often anymore - as I have a minipci G card)


But damn that card is expensive...

 

[thomaspf]

The street price on the WEB seems to be $129 which is in my books a steal for this kind of performance.

http://www.musiciansbuy.com/echo_ind...io_indigo.html

Up to 24bit 96Khz with an ASIO driver.
Built-in high quality headphone amp AD-SSM2135 which drives my ER-4S just fine
Pretty good DACs AKM 4393
True analog volume control

Cheers

Thomas

 

[nleahcim]

so how do those two external usb cards compare to the Creative Labs Audigy 2 NX USB? http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-167&depa=0 at $77.50 it don't look too bad!

edit: or what about one of these:?
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...126-001&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...126-101&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...123-002&depa=0

By the way - take a look at the pictures for the last. I bet making that PCB was a PITA - I mean those connectors go around the board. Damn that would suck to have to layout...

Anyways thanks for the help everybody!

 

[commando]

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=87165

The sonica theatre's terrible, I had it and sold it again right away. Sonica's not bad.