Ultimate USB, Firewire, External Soundcard List

**symon_say** · 03-21-2007, 04:32 PM

Sorry if i havent been clear, english is my second language, i'm not talking about anything fancy, or high end, just talking about a good card (nice enough for most people) that can work well in a carPC only system.

I seen some nice PCI cards that are really nice, but most of then have high profile and it doesnt fit in the space i have for my comp. Thats way i'm asking about USB or firewire cards.

Doesnt need that high out volt, my HU doesnt and i have a really nice system in my car, neither RCA out (unless thats the only way sound cards have nice SQ direct to amps).

Or i the worst case some nice PCI cards that have what i'm asking for people how want a nice clean setup with good SQ.

PD: This is my system.

I'm plannig on put the carPC where the small amp is, an 2 new amps where the big one is, i have a lot of areal space but the heigh is a limitation, cause y can get 4" maybe 5" maximun. If this is enough for many nice PCI cards, please let me know.

Thanks

**RedGTiVR6** · 03-21-2007, 04:42 PM

Even still, a sound card with crossovers built in for every channel isn't realistic.

Never mind the RCA and voltage outputs. The only crossovers I've seen built into a sound cards drivers are for the subwoofer, and even then they are extremely limited.

The sound card will need at least 2v output (RCA or otherwise) to go to the amplifiers so that you have a high enough noise floor to eliminate noise interference.

**symon_say** · 03-21-2007, 04:52 PM

Ok, forget about the X-over it was just in case, i have one, so 2V output at least and with RCA, you mean, RCA out in the sound card, or 3.5 mm with RCA cables??

**RedGTiVR6** · 03-21-2007, 05:07 PM

1/8" will work fine. Problem is finding high quality, or even middle quality 1/8" to RCA cables. Most of them are the cheapo Radio Shack kind.

**symon_say** · 03-21-2007, 06:02 PM

ok, then the RCA's are not a problem i have some high quality here for my PC speakers.

Who does the SB X-fi xtreme gamer is, i cant find many reviews about it, and it have a low profile, not like the other cards i seen with take the full PCI space with is to high for my space.

Or are there some nice cards with similar profile??

**Caelric** · 03-21-2007, 08:00 PM

No, I currently have an X-Fi in my CarPC; it does NOT have a low profile. It is as tall as most PCI-X video cards.

It's a good card, though, with good sound.

Dave

**symon_say** · 03-21-2007, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Caelric

No, I currently have an X-Fi in my CarPC; it does NOT have a low profile. It is as tall as most PCI-X video cards.

It's a good card, though, with good sound.

Dave

X-fi have several models, there are 2 model that have low profile, at least on every picture i see on internet, those models are xtreme audio and the xtreme gamer.

This is the gamer with low profile

This is the music with high profile

**Caelric** · 03-21-2007, 10:18 PM

Huh. Didn't know that. I've got the music version.

**durwood** · 03-21-2007, 11:50 PM

The only other low profile card I know of is an Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1 LT. The only place you might find them are ebay, but the output voltage is 1V. You might be better off with the XFI if you are limited to a low profile PCI soundcard..

I have been meaning to start a PCI sound card list too, but it took alot of work just to generate this one. I plan on moving this list and start a PCI soundcard list in the Wiki so others can help manage it as time goes on. There are so many cards your head will spin. And then how to organize the list?