What about internal cards?

[Xennon]

I know there are so many people here support external cards such as E-MU 0404 USB, but I do not have enough space on my desk and I'm looking for a successful internal soundcard. I dont know if its a bad idea for an audiophile. I have some questions, can the E-MU 1616 PCI or an X-Fi Elite Pro be as good as 0404? Do they have some drawbacks in terms of distortion? And what can you recommend up to 300$?

I'll use it with my dt880s and the octavart O1 amp.
Cheers!

 

[mshan]

There was an used, unmodded RME Digi 96/8 PAD in the for sale forums recently.

Despite it's age, it is still a very nice internal card, and it's drivers bypass Window Kmixer (may created problems with DirectSound, since this is only emulated, though).

edit: $120 OBO http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f43/ic...modded-350597/

 

[1UP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xennon /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have some questions, can the E-MU 1616 PCI or an X-Fi Elite Pro be as good as 0404? Do they have some drawbacks in terms of distortion?

Yes. No. Also look at the 1212M.

 

[ford2]

That RME card is an absolute bargain,I use digi96 myself and it is a fantastic card.


Ford2.

 

[obobskivich]

yeah, that RME is a good price

the 1212M is a lot more practical, or the less expensive x-Fi, like the Prelude from Auzentech or the Falta1ty Champion/Platinum (the one with the live drive), which are all much cheaper (1616 PCI is like $400)

another option is the 1820 refurb that creative has going for like $320, granted its crazy expensive, but awesome quality

 

[DigiPhx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich /img/forum/go_quote.gif yeah, that RME is a good price the 1212M is a lot more practical, or the less expensive x-Fi, like the Prelude from Auzentech or the Falta1ty Champion/Platinum (the one with the live drive), which are all much cheaper (1616 PCI is like $400) another option is the 1820 refurb that creative has going for like $320, granted its crazy expensive, but awesome quality

I'm 1616mPCI user, this unitis really a lot more practical, but i will replace to HDSPe AIO when it launch (Oct, 08)

 

[obobskivich]

the 1616M is a great board, but for a user looking for stereo output, there is no reason to spend $450+ when the 1212M is less than half that, and offers the same quality for stereo out

and given that he didn't specify recording, again no advantage, since all of those extra inputs are wasted

also, as I'm sure you know being a 1616 owner, general software support for anything not designed with the producer or engineer in mind, is lacking compared to the ease of use with one of the Creative parts

take the Elite Pro for example, which uses the same D/A's and A/D's (and a few other bits) as the 1616M, but costs a good $200 less, mostly because it doesn't have all of the extra recording gadgets, that are entirely impractical for every day users, and just add to the price

 

[Xennon]

Thanks a lot for your answers

I guess I'll buy a 1212M. But I wonder how I will connect both my amp and speakers to it.

 

[obobskivich]

the speakers connect to the amp?

 

[Xennon]

No.

Octavart O1 -> Dt880
---
separately
---
2.1 speakers

Will I only be able to choose one of them to connect?

 

[1UP]

1212m has two analogue outputs.

 

[billbillw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xennon /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks a lot for your answers I guess I'll buy a 1212M. But I wonder how I will connect both my amp and speakers to it.

If you need two pair of analog stereo outputs, you will have to buy Y-adapters for the outputs.

1Up is not really correct in saying that it has two analog outputs if you are referring to stereo pair. There are only two mono (R/L) analog out connectors and two mono (R/L) analog inputs. After that, everything is digital (optical in/out pair, and dig coax in/out)

 

[1UP]

Ah, you're right. Might need a splitter.

 

[Xennon]

ok, I see. And I think I'll need two "RCA to 6.3mm adaptor" for that outputs :/. Can an X-Fi fatality titanium [I dont exactly know the difference between the platinum and titanium] be a better choice in terms of performance?

Thanks!

 

[1UP]

I'd rather get an ESI Juli@