PCMCIA card with optical output

[steaxauce]

Hello, I'm looking for an inexpensive PCMCIA card with an optical output to connect to my Lavry DA10, but not having any luck. The thing is, I don't need any features but the optical output. I don't want to pay extra for multichannel DACs, headphone amps, recording software, etc. Can anyone help me? It seems like it would be a pretty simple project to build one, for someone who knows how. I'd pay someone to build me one if I can't find one to buy. Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

 

[steaxauce]

Oh, and everybody knows about the Audigy 2 ZS. Don't suggest that one.

 

[gsteinb88]

Is USB not acceptable? Because you could always go for a turlte beach usb at best buy for $30. I have one and its optical output to my zhaolu is pretty good.

 

[steaxauce]

Thanks, but I'm trying to stick with PCMCIA.

 

[steaxauce]

Does nobody know of one?

 

[kitaoji]

gstein I like the Turtle Beach, but it seems to only output at 16 bit (as opposed to 24 bit).

Nothing to offer from myself, either... sorry. >_< I'm in the same boat as you are.

 

[steaxauce]

I know of the E-MU 1616 and some other expensive cards, but does anyone know of anything cheaper? All I need is a bitperfect, low jitter optical output. That should be less than $50.

 

[echo1]

I have tried to find this myself. I have allmost came to the conclusion that there isnt one. I have only been able to find USB solutions.
I have a Echi Indigo and I wish they would of added the SPDIF optical out as its a nice sound card. Maybe a write in campaign to a manufacturer like Echo will get some results.
There is a demand, and I dont now why Echo missed the boat on this one.

 

[thomaspf]

Since you plan to run it into the DA10 why do you need low jitter? The Lavry will reclock it in any case if you are using crystal lock mode and the resulting jitter is almost completely determined by the clock in the Lavry.

I assume low jitter would be a nice to have in your case?

Coax S/PDIF with ASIO is available on a couple of the Digigram cards but as far as I know no one has toslink or mini-toslink

Cheers

Thomas

 

[steaxauce]

Ok, I've just bought a digigram VXpocket V2. I did a search for it on ebay, and there was one for real cheap with 18 min remaining, so I was like, AHHH!!! I'm a little worried about using bus powered coaxial, but I'm sure it won't be terrible. Thomaspf, do you mean to say that jitter doesn't make any difference at all with the DA10? If this is true, why has no one told me this before?!! That would've made my life a lot easier. BTW, if the DAC completely eliminates jitter, what transport you use shouldn't make any difference at all, either. Also, no need to rip using EAC.

 

[steaxauce]

http://digigram.com/pdf_brochure/Dig...t_Brochure.pdf

I just read on that brochure that the V2s power consumption is 400mA at 5V! Via the bus? How on earth does that work? Is there any other way to power this thing? I'm sure there's not much demand for AC powered PCMCIA cardbuses that connect to your computer via PCMCIA cardbus. I just can't see how my laptop will power it well.

 

[echo1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by echo1 I have tried to find this myself. I have allmost came to the conclusion that there isnt one. I have only been able to find USB solutions. I have a Echi Indigo and I wish they would of added the SPDIF optical out as its a nice sound card. Maybe a write in campaign to a manufacturer like Echo will get some results. There is a demand, and I dont now why Echo missed the boat on this one.

I was wrong. I should of said a affordable pcmia solution with SPDIF out.

 

[steaxauce]

Yeah, there are a few, and at least one affordable one; The Audigy 2 ZS. Unfortunately, the Audigy resamples to 48 KHz no matter what you set it to. Even if you set it to output 44.1KHz, it will resample to 48KHz and resample again to get it back to 44.1KHz. By doing this, it does a lot of damage to the digital signal.

 

[echo1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steaxauce Yeah, there are a few, and at least one affordable one; The Audigy 2 ZS. Unfortunately, the Audigy resamples to 48 KHz no matter what you set it to. Even if you set it to output 44.1KHz, it will resample to 48KHz and resample again to get it back to 44.1KHz. By doing this, it does a lot of damage to the digital signal.

The Audigy 2zs is what I started with. Then I found head-fi. Bought a PVA2v2 to go with the Audigy.Sold the Audigy 2zs and the PVA2v2 and bought a Echo Indigo DJ. Then a tube amp.Waiting on a DA7.2 DAC from Eddie WU.Now trying to find a way to get it from my laptop to the dac.When will it end?

 

[thomaspf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steaxauce I just read on that brochure that the V2s power consumption is 400mA at 5V! Via the bus? How on earth does that work?

That is well below the average power any PC card slot must provide

http://www.pcmcia.org/pccard.htm#08

This value is probably a maximum level that you hit when you use the all the many features of this card at the same time.

In digital output mode you will only need a fraction of that power but a PC card audio card does reduce the battery time on your laptop.

My Indigo gets extremely hot when used with my Etymotic ER-4S.

With regards to the jitter and the DA10. This topic has been discused many times and yes the crystal lock reclocking circuit it is one key features of the DA10 which makes it particularly attractive for PC users.

The analog volume control, strong measurements, and excellent sound are others...


Cheers

Thomas