[ROBSCIX]

Yes that is right. These are official. They come from Auzentech's support team. I asked questions regarding the cards components and got these. The card looks rather impressive given the specifications. I know alot of people want to see these so....


Key Components
Creative X-Fi CA20K audio processor
One AKM AK-5394 super high performance 192kHz 24-bit ADC for analog input
Four AKM AK-4396 192kHz 24-bit advanced multi-bit DAC for analog output
64Mbytes of memory for audio processing
High fidelity audio OP-Amps for analog input and output
Front L/R output OP-Amp is replaceable by end-user
Dual mode S/PDIF receiver and transmitter

IO Connectors
One 3.5mm MIC input connector in rear panel
One 3.5mm line input connector in rear panel
One 4-pin AUX connector on board
Four 3.5mm 8 channel line output connectors in rear panel
(FL/FR/C/SW/RL/RR/RSL/RSR)
One S/PDIF combo input connector in rear panel for receiving either coaxial
or optical digital
One S/PDIF combo output connector in rear panel for transmitting either
coaxial or optical digital
16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32,
44.1, 48 and 96kHz
One 10-pin front panel connector on board for MIC input and headphone
support
One 40-pin digital extension header on board to support AD-Link and other
digital functionality

Technical Specifications
24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs at 96kHz sample rate
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96kHz to analog
7.1 speaker output
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources at 192kHz to
stereo output
16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32,
44.1, 48 and 96kHz
ASIO 2.0 support at 16-bit/44.1kHz, 16-bit/48kHz, 24-bit/44.1kHz
24-bit/48kHz and 24-bit/96kHz with direct monitoring.
Enhanced SoundFont support of up to 24-bit resolution
64MB of X-RAM

 

[chris_ah1]

Very nice because my x-fi music has just broken I think!
Weird noise out of the left channel.

 

[ROBSCIX]

Alot of people are waiting for this card. It is said to have the gaming standards of the X-fi with the sound quality of the X-Meridian.

 

[Ahriman4891]

A lot of people are worried about the drivers, too. Hopefully everything will turn out all right.

 

[Progenitor]

If I am right, those two amps are very high quality amps people have been modding the x-fi with. This could be the card for people who have no ability with the soldering iron!

 

[ROBSCIX]

I modded my card with LM 4562's and they are very high quality amps.
This card will have all the gaming features of the X-fi and the sound quality of the X-Meridian. That's a very good combo of cards...

 

[Ice Max]

now its time to wait and hear the price...

 

[ROBSCIX]

The X-Meridian was $200 when released and when I bought it and listened to the card for the first time -it was worth every penny.

 

[cotdt]

AKM DACs! should sound much better than the cards using the CS DACs.

 

[fierce_freak]

My Presonus has an AKM AK-4394 (as opposed to the 4396 in this card)...I know implementation has a lot to do with it, but I definitely like the Presonus.

-edit- here I am being greedy, but I wish there were balanced connectors available for the card ;D

 

[cotdt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fierce_freak /img/forum/go_quote.gif My Presonus has an AKM AK-4394 (as opposed to the 4396 in this card)...I know implementation has a lot to do with it, but I definitely like the Presonus. -edit- here I am being greedy, but I wish there were balanced connectors available for the card ;D

this card will use the updated DAC chip with better opamps than the Presonus

 

[DSlayerZX]

balanced? I think Juli@ support that feature, but not sure how does the DAC quality compare to the other card....

 

[fierce_freak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotdt /img/forum/go_quote.gif this card will use the updated DAC chip with better opamps than the Presonus

Like I said, if only it had balanced outs. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get a Zhaolu and zapfilter already

 

[chris_ah1]

So what is the beneift of getting this over the EMU-0404? That has the same AKM chips. Yes, it doesn't have as good opamps inside, but does that matter if you are outputting via coax line out into a headphone amp?

I guess what it does mean is that you have a good DAC+headphone amp all in one though which might surpass the 0404 amp.

What an irony they announce this right when my own x-fi dies but I have a DAC and amp on the way....I could've waited for this and got it all on one board.
Oh well. time to get a dac, headphone amp and the x-fi prelude. *sigh*

 

[ROBSCIX]

If your going digital, your soundcard has little to do with the actual sound -this is produced by the DAC's in the device your connecting the line to.
As for Balanced outputs this is a consumer card aimed at gamer and HTPC guys. I don't think balanced outputs are required on this card.
If you check their forum they are running a Poll right now to see if their customers want HDMI 1.3 Maybe they will have this on the prelude or a add-on board?
up to 24/196khz discrete Digital, I know alot of guys waiting for this...
sounds nice to me. We can hope can't we