Choosing Soundcard (1 Viewer)

[BugsBunny]

I've got some problems with a dvb-c card and my RME DIGI96/8 PAD see:
https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/viewtopic.php?t=15136

So I'm thinking of buying a new soundcard.

What I want is a internal pci soundcard that puts out the digital singnal directly, without any resampling or manipulation.

I've found some soundcards that I pobably could use in stead of the RME card:
M-Audio Delta Audiophile 192
ESI Juli@

Has anyone experienece with one of these cards here?

Could anyone suggest other cards that I could use instead of the RME card?

I only use the digital out and connect it to an external DA converter or AV receiver. The card should not change the digital signal by any means.

At the moment I'm using an external AD/DA converter. Later I probaply will use some Yamaha AV-Receiver.

 

[Efros]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829127001

Auzentech Xmystique 7.1 has some very happy users over at newegg, and comes in at 80 dollars.

 

[petteram]

Yupp, I really love my Mystique....

 

[uninet]

The M-Audio (Delta) Audiophile 192 is a very high-quality and high-definition sound card that works well with MP. If you don't need the extended definition audio (24-bit / 192 KHz sampling rate), a decision based upon the specs of your current external D/A converter or planned A/V Receiver, you could probably do well with the original M-Audio Audiophile 2496 (24-bit / 96 KHz).

The drivers for the M-Audio Delta series of audio cards are rock solid. It should be noted that these cards are not designed for those who want Soundblaster game compatability. I have both Audiophile cards.

 

[BugsBunny]

Thanks a lot for your replies!

Well after today I know more about the RME Soundcard problem. It seems that the problem is caused by a lack of DirectSound support of the RME card. (Contacted RME and that's what they told me).
Made a test setup with the native non BDE drivers of the KNC One and the software "GlobeTV" that came with the card and the sound ran just fine with the RME soundcard. Seems that the BDE drivers require a DirectSound compatible soundcard. With the RME, only an emulated DirectSound RME device shows up.

Good to hear that the M-Audio Delta Audiophile 192 works well with MP. According to the specs it supports DirectSound so there should be no more problems with the KNC One card and the BDA drivers that MP requieres. I think I'm gonna buy the Audiophile 192.

 

[BugsBunny]

Finally now all my soundcard problems are solved!

Now I use a ESI Juli@ that I highly recommend for everyone who wants to build an "audiophile" HTPC.

Before I bought the ESI Juli@ I bought a M-Audio Delta Audiophile 192 that caused different problems...

Using the M-Audio Delta Audiophile 192 with a VIA KT-133 chipset + Win XP causes XP to hang on boot - see:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?p=367195

So I had to buy a new mainboard + memory :evil:

After that the problems with the M-Audio Delta Audiophile 192 had not been over.

Using the SPDIF out after switching some tracks (mp3 or CDDA ...) the audio output was totally distorted or muted (even using the mixer out - so the external DA converter can't be the problem). After switching to the next track the problem goes away and returns again after some track changes. The problem appears kind of randomly. Seems to be a driver problem. Had a lot of e-mail contact with the M-Audio support. I tested it with my main PC (Dual Xeon 3.6GHz) as well with the same result. I even sent the soundcard back and got a new one in return but the problem stayed. (Note with the analogue out the problem did not occur.)

I got tired of not getting high-end audiophile sound working with my HTPC properly so I decided to give it a final try with the ESI Juli@.

And now finally everything sound related works just perfect with the ESI Juli@ and my HTPC.