CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

perisoft · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 2920 Location: Ithaca, NY

I've swapped some stuff around various computers for work / pleasure, and as such am currently stuck with onboard sound. It's got some odd problems that limit what I can do - horrible S/N at low output levels, for one. I like to have maximum volume be VERY loud, so that when I'm alone in the house with my buddies we can watch Transformers and shake the foundations. But I also need to have kinda normal levels for watching with my wife, and watching TV DVDs and things without lots of dynamic range.

I use the computer to control volume because I use separate amplifiers for each set of channels and the subs.

With the oldish SB I had in there, that wasn't a problem - I could have the computer output at 20%, all the amps turned way up, and I had to have my ear to the speakers to hear hiss. Then I just had to crank up the computer volume to really pound things.

With the onboard, though, setting output to 20% and turning things up enough to be at 'normal' volume results in hideous hissing and my hearing every hard drive byte transfer and video GPU operation. Not so good.

So - what's out there in a reasonably cheap HT-oriented soundcard? I'd like to stay away from Creative, just because they annoy the hell out of me.

I need (aside from the obvious good S/N etc):

Good quality analog outputs since I don't use HDMI / SPDIF
Vista support with solid drivers

I'd LIKE:
Nice software with good testing options (noise / tone output per-channel for testing, and I'd be in heaven if I could do per-channel pink/brown/white noise selectably)
7.1 support with analog outputs. At the moment I'm not set up for it speaker-wise, don't know if it makes sense in my space, and am not sure AC3filter can even DO it, but it'd be nice to have the potential

Any suggestions?
This seems well-regarded on newegg, and the price is right, but I figured I'd see if anyone had any input. Thanks!

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject:

The M-Audio Revolution 7.1 is a great card. It's long discontinued, but I'm sure you could find them used and M-Audio still seems to be supporting it.

I bought mine probably 5 years ago because A) they're a pro-sound products company, not a consumer junk company, B) they supported the Mac too, and C) good support and good software. I haven't used the analog outs in a long time, but when I did use them, they were very quiet. I still use the card in my HTPC, but with the SPDIF out.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250477764133

No idea how it compares to new stuff, but I know you like to save money when you can! Wink

SC

perisoft · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 2920 Location: Ithaca, NY

Cool, ecrabb, I'll definitely check that out. The price is right, too, if it goes for what it's listed for now... Wink

Do you know how good their software is?

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject:

It's been at least a year or so since I played with the software, so I can't remember what it's like. Pretty decent, IIRC. I can take some screen shots in an evening or two if you want.

Here's the manual if you want to look that over:
http://www.m-audio.com/images/global/manuals/Revo71-Manual-EN.pdf

Looks like excellent S/N specs on the analog outs - on paper, at least.

SC

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject:

Here's an old review, but it might provide some additional insights:
http://www.techspot.com/reviews/hardware/revolution71

SC

CRT_Ben · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 1684 Location: Northern Virginia

No experience with M-Audio multi-channel surround stuff, but they make good hardware at good prices. I have the 1010LT which I use for recording - 10 ins, 10 outs, all at once Mr. Green

all for $199 Thumbs Up

akajester · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 934 Location: Wisconsin

I've always wanted to try an asus xonar. I just found it easier and cheaper to use spdif out and ignore the sound card processing altogether. the receivers do a better job than the sound cards do. I don't think that'll help for what you're doing though.

perisoft · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 2920 Location: Ithaca, NY

Mark_A_W · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:58 pm Post subject:

akajester · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 934 Location: Wisconsin

Mark_A_W · Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:07 am Post subject:

?The analogue inputs on your amp sucked?

?The prodigy sucked?

?You had the bass management wrong?

?How would I know?

But both my M-Audio Revolution 5.1 and my Xonar Deluxe sound at least as good as my Rotel Processor (RSP-985, once flagship), better when fed Hi res multi channel lossless sound.

Much as I hate The Eagles, I have a sample of the Hotel California DVD-Audio 6 channel track and it's amazing.

SPDIF is simply obsolete. A more interesting debate is HDMI versus Analogue.

akajester · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 934 Location: Wisconsin

This is the sound card I was using;
http://ixbtlabs.com/articles2/audiotrak-prodigy71/

Connected to a Harman AVR-330 via 6 or 8 channel analog in;
http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers/harman-kardon-avr-330/4507-6466_7-30632957.html

now that you know the equipment, any suggestions? I mostly used the spdif for the convenience, but did notice that it sounded cleaner. perhaps my analog cables were junk?

Thanks for your time! and sorry for the thread redirection. I figure some of us htpc'ers could learn from this. I'd like best possible audio quality out of my htpc.

-akajester

perisoft · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 2920 Location: Ithaca, NY

I'm seeing an M-Audio 1010LT on the bay for $100 buy it now. Pretty cheap... almost seems too good to be true given other prices ($100+ for used, $170+ new) supposedly new, from a seller with 169 100% + feedback. Accourding to M-Audio's web site, it supports 7.1 surround - and the pro features are pretty attractive given that I also do music production stuff and am hoping to set up a way to use the HT as a 'normal' office too.

Any reason I shouldn't jump on this?

perisoft · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 2920 Location: Ithaca, NY

Never mind... only has 4 pairs of analog outs. 7.1 is via digital, which won't work for me.

Damn.