Trying to choose, at last.

[PhoenixOSU]

I've decided to get two sound cards, one for listening, one for recording.

I've looked at the following cards, all within about the same price range. For listening and seperately recording, which card is the best of the list I've come up with?

ESI Juli@
M-Audio Audiophilia 192
E-MU 1212M
M-Audio 1010lt
M-Audio revo 7.1

I will be listening to lots of music, using both headphones, 5.1 speaker system, and possibly other systems in the future, maybe with an amp.

I will be recording from all types of devices, phonograph, cassete, mic, and guitar (I'm just starting out, but my family has some good players I would like to record.)

And any other cards you might know of are wealcome contenders. I've decided I don't trust Creative, since mine died, and also, these cards are all better then an Audigy. I wan't the result to be the best sound quality for each, over a wide range.

My budget is flexible, but don't go over $300 per each card please.

 

[PhoenixOSU]

Ok, I've narrowed it down some more, the revo5.1 I've read has a better DAC, and better quality sound then the 7.1, and is about on par with the audiophilia 192.

I'm still not sure if the audiophilia 192 can do 5.1 can it?

As for the 1212M, it is a superior card to the revo5.1, but lacks the surround sound capacity.

My only potential qualms with the E-MU line is that they are really Creative cards, and I have had issues with Creative for some time, and I've heard of driver problems with the 1212M, and driver issues are something I genuinely hope to avoid. And my Audigy 1 plat died on me.

Thus, my last question is, how does the sound quality of the delta 1010LT compare with that of the 1212M and the revo5.1, because the 1010LT can handle all my recording needs AND has all of the output capabilities I need.

 

[sgrossklass]

The best for recording would probably be the 1212M, with the role of best for stereo playback shared by the 1212M and Audiophile 192. For 5.1 playback, the Revo 5.1 won't be a bad choice but it be mentioned that it isn't quite in the same league as the others. I would have suggested the Onkyo SE-150PCI but it appears this model isn't *that* hot either.
The Delta 1010 sans LT apparently has AKM AK4393 DACs, not too shabby. The 1010LT, however, appears to be based upon the lesser AK4524 popular on previous generation middle-class Envy24 cards and would most likely be inferior to the 'phile 192 (AK4358) and 1212M (ADC AK5394, DAC CS4398).

 

[lordgibbness]

The audiophile 192 and revo 5.1 share the same dac (akm 4358).

 

[PhoenixOSU]

So how does the 1212M's driver's and software measure up? I've heard of driver issues and pour driver support which is indicitive of any Creative product.

 

[sgrossklass]

From what one hears, E-MUs aren't the most trivial to operate. That's related to their DSP abilities and more specifically to the Patchmix software controlling everything. The 'phile 192 and Juli@ should make more straightforward second bests with their AK5385A ADCs.

 

[sgrossklass]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordgibbness The audiophile 192 and revo 5.1 share the same dac (akm 4358).

Sure, but the thing is good enough for the output stage to become the limiting factor (and that certainly is different). This here was quite an enlightening post:
http://forum.rightmark.org/topic.cgi?id=4:504-3

 

[PhoenixOSU]

Well, any word on how well the 1212m would work with a P4 3.2 2 extreme, on ASUS P5WD2, with ATI radeon x800 pro?