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Topic: Best sound card for stereo listening (Read 9877 times) previous topic - next topic
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Best sound card for stereo listening

I have a Chaintech currently.  But I'm getting into real HiFi stuff now and I'm wondering if there is a better card or something I should take a look at.  I'm sending the signal to a Jolida 1501RC Hybrid tube amp and Onix Rocket 750 speakers.  The amp has analog only.

I'm listing to MP3's right now but I'm going to start ripping to lossless.

What's the best solution for me?  I'm not sure how much I'd spend.  Let's say, less than $300.

Thanks!!

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #1 –
E-MU 0404. This card is the best thing for the money; it costs $100... Its about as good as you're gonna get as far as sound quality.

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #2 –
Quote
E-MU 0404. This card is the best thing for the money; it costs $100... Its about as good as you're gonna get as far as sound quality.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=265728"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


THanks. I'll check into it.
One more question:  Is a sound card the way to go or should I consider an external device?

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #3 –
Of course you can buy externel dac and connect it to your chaintech using s/pdif. The guys at Head-fi are more into getting quality audio out of their pcs. But if you start to read their message, be aware because that place is placebo heaven.

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #4 –
Quote
Quote
E-MU 0404. This card is the best thing for the money; it costs $100... Its about as good as you're gonna get as far as sound quality.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=265728"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


THanks. I'll check into it.
One more question:  Is a sound card the way to go or should I consider an external device?
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=265771"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]



I personally think that a soundcard should be more then adequate nowadays. I really don't see the need to go for an external device, except if you have no other possibility to connect it to your system.

The E-MU 0404 seems to be an excellent card for your purpose and should serve you very well.  However I am not sure how much of an advantage you would get over the Chaintech AV-710. The AV-710 has an excellent pair of Wolfson DACs for the rear channels, so if set up correctly it should be extremely well suited for stereo listening when set up properly. I personally doubt that you will be able to hear a difference between this card and the E-MU 0404.

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #5 –
Quote
Quote
Quote
E-MU 0404. This card is the best thing for the money; it costs $100... Its about as good as you're gonna get as far as sound quality.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=265728"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


THanks. I'll check into it.
One more question:  Is a sound card the way to go or should I consider an external device?
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=265771"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]



I personally think that a soundcard should be more then adequate nowadays. I really don't see the need to go for an external device, except if you have no other possibility to connect it to your system.

The E-MU 0404 seems to be an excellent card for your purpose and should serve you very well.  However I am not sure how much of an advantage you would get over the Chaintech AV-710. The AV-710 has an excellent pair of Wolfson DACs for the rear channels, so if set up correctly it should be extremely well suited for stereo listening when set up properly. I personally doubt that you will be able to hear a difference between this card and the E-MU 0404.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=265790"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]



REALLY!?!?!?????!?         

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #6 –
Yeah really. The av-710 when set up properly is know to give very good results, especially considering it's low price.  As I said I doubt you will be able to notice any difference between this and an E-MU 0404. Although generally speaking the 0404 is probably the better card of the two. So in case you absolutely don't mind to spend the extra money, sure go for it.

For some more information on setting up the av-710 properly check this post.

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #7 –
can someone with an E-MU 0404 confirm that this card is able to monitor toslink input in realtime on the analog outputs?

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #8 –
Best PCI card I ever had is the Echo Mia.
It hasn't got a lot of fancy features. The resources are spent on good A/D and D/A converters and good drivers. It has digital I/O and balanced outputs.
It isn't produced anymore, but I think it's still sold in stores, else you can get one used.
I bought it a couple of years ago for around 250 $.

It has ASIO 2 drivers which enable you to use very small buffers (mostly for real time monitoring of input and output).

If you're going to invest in something that's a little more long lasting, you might want to look for something with usb or even firewire, since it'll go with notebook computers.

Both Echo Audio and M-Audio have a lot to offer in this department.

Of course these cards are all made for musicians and not so much for consumers, but IMHO this assures a certain amount of quality.

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #9 –
RMAA results for E-MU 0404:
http://www.kordak.net/0404/0404_24_44.htm

RMAA results for Chaintech AV710:
http://www-scf.usc.edu/~miklic/RMAA/Chaint...-MU%201212M.htm

Not quite an equal comparison, since according to the Chaintech test it was using 32-bit sampling?, and an E-MU 1212 was used as the recording device (E-MU 0404 test was simply a 24-bit loopback test). But in any case, as you can see, the Chaintech is quite a good card; surely a steal for the price (its stereo outputs are equal to a Revo). However, the E-MU 0404 could also be considered a steal for the price--professional level quality at a consumer price.

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #10 –
I'm still debating between the 1212 and 0404.  I'm really sensitive to highs.  As such I've bought laid back speakers and a warm tube amp.  I've heard some refer to the 1212 as smooth but then others refer to the highs at grating.  Plus, I've heard some say the 0404 is forward. ..   

Which would be considered more laid back and not as "bright"?   


Thanks!

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #12 –
Quote
http://www.kordak.net/0404/24-bit48kHzComparison.htm

According to these results, the 1212 appears to have slightly more rolled off highs than the 0404. But really, I'd choose between one of these cards based on what features you need.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=266129"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Thanks.  That helps. 

The only feature I need is RCA outs for my stereo.

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #13 –
Considering the price difference, you'd be better off with the 0404. Your tube amp and especially the speaker selection will have a much greater impact on the sonic character of the sound.

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #14 –
The 1212M is on sale at CompUSA for $150.  I'm thinking of going that route now. . .

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #15 –
I'm looking for a suitable card with the following requirements

1. Optical output
2. Jack input for recording (at least one input)
3. Good converters
4. No preamps!
5. GNU/Linux SUPPORT! (at least for playback)

I found the perfect card from M-Audio (Audiophile 192) but there is no Linux support yet. Anyone have any suggestions?

EDIT: http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/PCI/MiaMIDI/index.php
Looks like my prairs have been answered...by myself.
 

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #16 –
I own the Chaintech AV-710, for $25, it's really good sound if you don't want to spend a lot. But I've recently heard the 0404, and it was no competition. The 0404 simply outclasses the AV-710 in every aspect.   

The 0404 is really much much better than almost every card that I own, Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1 and the AV-710. I listen to the cards on my Acoustic Energy Aego2 speakers, and the 0404 is simply a class above. The AKM AK4395 24bit 192KHz stereo DAC, which is the highest end AKM DAC(120dB SNR/DR) probably has something to do with that. 

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #17 –
I just went from a Delta 44 to a 1212m...I like what I am hearing. No breakout box allows me to use the cables I want. Are you listening with any DSP enabled e.g. 32/192 or what? I have yet to do listening tests, and Im not afraid of upsampling or at least trying it.

JC

ps I assume the same AKM DAC is in the 1212m ...


Quote
I own the Chaintech AV-710, for $25, it's really good sound if you don't want to spend a lot. But I've recently heard the 0404, and it was no competition. The 0404 simply outclasses the AV-710 in every aspect.    

The 0404 is really much much better than almost every card that I own, Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1 and the AV-710. I listen to the cards on my Acoustic Energy Aego2 speakers, and the 0404 is simply a class above. The AKM AK4395 24bit 192KHz stereo DAC, which is the highest end AKM DAC(120dB SNR/DR) probably has something to do with that. 
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=267938"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #18 –
Hey guys,
i have been using 2 echo gina 20's smpte time synched in my studio for a while now. I
think they sound fantastic. 
the 20 bit (most master cd's are 16 bit DA) The AD DA conversion is done out side of the computer in a (break out box 8 channel out with 2 channel analogue in and 2 digital in all un-balanced 1/4" TS connection.)
this in effect diminishes the EMP "noise" generated by the computer itself that shows itself as distortion.
I picked up mine from ebay for 50.00 dollars ive seen them from 30 to 100 dollars.

here is the current version of the gina.
http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/PCI/Gina3G/index.php

also the LX6 Aardvark  sound module is a super quiet true  24 Bit 96 kHz  with well over 100 db's of headroom.

http://www.kellyindustries.com/sound_cards...ark_lx6pa9.html

and very little distortion.

(the gina 20/24  does not work and is not compatible with athlon. they only work with pentium II or better)

i think the new ones work with athlon
have fun.
mmmm, silence...

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #19 –
Quote
I just went from a Delta 44 to a 1212m...I like what I am hearing. No breakout box allows me to use the cables I want. Are you listening with any DSP enabled e.g. 32/192 or what? I have yet to do listening tests, and Im not afraid of upsampling or at least trying it.

JC

ps I assume the same AKM DAC is in the 1212m ...
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=284219"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Nope, 1212m is using CS4398 DAC and 0404 is using AK4395 DAC. They have different sonic characteristic, personally I prefer 1212m over 0404.
Break The Rules!!!

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #20 –
Hi,
I was in the same search a while ago,
so what i did was to look at audiophil magazines.
What i found out was this:
TerraTec Aureon 7.1 Space. It got the 6th best results of all time in the pc-snd-card ranking from "Stereoplay"

Pros: Real good D/A A/D converter
Cont: If you look at the drivers, the are not really made for gaming, but the will work.

I can say this because I own one of this little masterpices 

Official Page

look here and search for test results, you wont be disappointed.

So I know that the E-MU is better than this terratec but it costs only 100$.

If you don't want to spend 500$ or so take a look at the terratec 

Best sound card for stereo listening

Reply #21 –
Some new Chaintech measurements: http://koti.mbnet.fi/laurimel/Chaintech_modes.htm

First column is using straight 44KHz playback by using the card in regular 2 channel mode (Wolfson DAC output). Note the significant roll-off before 20KHz.

Second column is the card in High Sample Rate mode, but 44KHz test signal. 44KHz is resampled to 96KHz by the card's software/hardware with increased distortion. Performance looks like the same as the previous measurement, but is not representative of the performance of the recommended setup for music listening; High Sample Rate mode + resampling music to 96KHz in Foobar using SSRC (required for Kernel Streaming anyway in Hi mode).

Third column is in High Sample Rate mode and tested using 96KHz. Therefore no resampling made by the card and frequency response is good at audio frequencies (unlike straight 44KHz mode which I was using before too). This should be close to what people are getting using the recommended settings only with the addition of distortions generated by Foobar's SSRC algorithm (nothing major I suppose).

Test was generated using EMU 0404 ADC. The graphs are quite messy to get anything out of them (distortions from 2nd column test, 3rd column test shifted a little due to different sampling rate), but you can read the numbers which are IMO quite impressive.


edit: Forgot to mention, 33Hz and its harmonics are showing up at just higher levels than the noise floor. I wonder what it is, it's there with EMU loopback too.