PCMCIA card with optical output

[steaxauce]

Quote:

Originally Posted by echo1 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?

Hey, notice that I joined head-fi in the same month you did. When I joined, my setup was an iPod >> K701, no amp. I've been pretty progressive. Look at my sig!

 

[steaxauce]

oh gosh, I forgot the DA10 in my sig.

 

[J-Pak]

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.

How do you know this for sure? Has there been any listening tests to prove it's detrimental to sound performance? Or are you basing this off myths started on audio forums?

 

[steaxauce]

If it's just a rumor, it's a pretty widespread rumor. But yeah, you're right. I don't know for sure. I own one, and when I bought the DA10, I was told that I should find another digital output, or I wouldn't get much benefit from the DA10. If y'all are interested, I can compare it to the digigram when it arrives. I don't have the means for a blind test, unfortunately.

 

[J-Pak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steaxauce If it's just a rumor, it's a pretty widespread rumor. But yeah, you're right. I don't know for sure. I own one, and when I bought the DA10, I was told that I should find another digital output, or I wouldn't get much benefit from the DA10. If y'all are interested, I can compare it to the digigram when it arrives. I don't have the means for a blind test, unfortunately.

I would love to see the results. Honestly I don't care about that blind/non-blind/perfect testing atmosphere junk. Really I'm just curious if theres a difference or not. I'm planning on getting a DA10 soon as well, hope you're enjoying it

 

[thomaspf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-PAK I would love to see the results. Honestly I don't care about that blind/non-blind/perfect testing atmosphere junk. Really I'm just curious if theres a difference or not.

Here is a link to some RMAA measurements that the author of the RMAA test suite has performed for the Audigy cards.

http://audio.rightmark.org/test/audigy/creative-audigy-rear-1648.html

http://audio.rightmark.org/test/audi...rear-1644.html

Have a look at the intermodulation distorton. This is an indicator of the distortions that happen when multiple frequences are playing at the same time (music!).

Another test that you can do for yourself is the infamous udial clip. But try this first at lower volumes until you feel comfotable you will not blow your speakers, headphones or ears.

udial.wav

A bit perfect and non resampled output to a DA10 produces an absolut black background in the dual tone test.

Cheers

Thomas

 

[steaxauce]

These tests look like they're for the Audigy's Analog outputs. We're comparing digital outputs. Thanks, nonetheless. I'll compare analog outputs as well.

 

[jiiteepee]

Audigy 2 ZS Notebook review - http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mul...udigy2-zs.html

Also,

- those RMAA results, thomaspf linked, are for Audigy 1 which is a whole different card from Audigy 2

- Audigy 2 ZS Notebook features - http://us.creative.com/support/kb/ar...p?l=2&sid=7460 (Bit-Accurate Playback (44kHz, 48kHz and 96kHz)), but SB cards are just crap.


jiitee

 

[thomaspf]

So, has anyone checked whether you can play DTS encoded 16/44.1 WAV files through the digital output unharmed?

Cheers

Thomas

 

[steaxauce]

you can't

 

[thomaspf]

Thanks, please report when you get the Digigram.

Given the Creative advertizing of Bit-Accurate playback at 44Khz, 48Khz, anbd 96Khz this is rather surprising. Have you tried this in the required high-performance mode?

Cheers

Thomas

 

[steaxauce]

Will do, the digigram should be arriving tomorrow. I don't know how to test this, but a lot of people have said that it's impossible. If you know of a way of testing this, let me know and I will do it.

 

[thomaspf]

A quick and easy way is to send a DTS encoded WAV file to a digital receiver.

http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/mall/index.asp?programid=2445

If the card sends the stream intact the receiver will decode it into a surround sound stream otherwise it will be a hissing noise. You probably have some DTS capable receiver in your house or know someone who has.

If it works at all it will probably only work with an ASIO interface unless the mme/directsound drivers somehow circumvent the kmixer but this should be the same for the digigram card.

Cheers

Thomas

 

[jiiteepee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomaspf A quick and easy way is to send a DTS encoded WAV file to a digital receiver. http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/mall/index.asp?programid=2445 If the card sends the stream intact the receiver will decode it into a surround sound stream otherwise it will be a hissing noise. You probably have some DTS capable receiver in your house or know someone who has. If it works at all it will probably ony work with an ASIO interface unless the mme/directsound drivers somehow circumvent the kmixer but this should be the same for the digigram card. Cheers Thomas

... remember turn all 'extra' fearures OFF (EAX/CMSS/etc.) while doing this test.

jiitee

 

[steaxauce]

I'm sorry, but I live in a dorm and don't have a digital receiver. I can do this test when I get home, probably in a few weeks, or someone else can try it now.