[tktran]

I just upgraded my computer and it's got the Nforce APU onboard. It's gooooood. Except they had to cripple it by using a Realtek ALC650 for the analog i/o. (45dB SNR)

But it's only a $60 mobo, so coaxial & digital S/PDIF output (and Nforce's real-time Dolby Digital encoding) was a bonus.

Does anyone have the new Guillemot/Hercules soundcards?

I am interested in the Fortissimo III 7.1 or Game Theater XP 7.1
but my local computer shop also has the Sonic Fury for US$90 (OEM).

Would this be a better buy?

With my PC's case fan whistling away I don't know if it's even worth it.

 

[lini]

tktran: I've only tried the GameTheater XP, which was fairly good. But the Videologic SonicFury should be a clone of the Turtle Beach SantaCruz, which I haven't tried myself yet - but it is highly regarded in this forum, from what I've read...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[DanG]

Lini, have you compared the new GTXP to the older version?

 

[ingenious28]

my understanding is that all the game theater xp's are the same hardware, just new software
my friend owns the original one, and i own the "6.1' version
with new drivers both of out soundcards are now 7.1 capable

 

[tktran]

I've just read a review about the Audigy2 at digit-life.

Seems Creative have finally made a good card.

"Audigy Service Pack 1" digit-life called it. Everything the Audigy claimed to be, only 1 year later.

Still resamples 44.1Khz to 48Khz tho

 

[LobsterSan]

Quote:

Originally posted by tktran Does anyone have the new Guillemot/Hercules soundcards?

I have a Guillemot ISIS (the one with a breakout box and is 24-bit). The sound quality is pretty good, but the drivers and support kind of suck. Pesonally, I am a little wary of Guillemot, but they may have gotten better.

Quote:

With my PC's case fan whistling away I don't know if it's even worth it.

If you are interested in quieting your computer down a bit, check out the link below. I don't have any experience with their products yet, but it looks promising.

http://www.quietpc.com/products.html

 

[tktran]

Hmmm.

I know it's been only a few hours, but I've got another idea.

Perhaps I should make use of the Nfoce APU. Spend a bit extra and get a DAC or integrated amp with digital inputs.

Or better still, does anyone know any devices similar to the Stereolink, but offers connection via S/PDIF?
ie. requirements: smallish, fair/good headphone section.

 

[lini]

DanG: That was just the XP - old 5.1 version.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: tktran, stereo amps with a dac section are very rare - you'd probably better look for a ht amp or receiver...