Thread: PCI Sound Card With RCA?

Esi makes a card called 'Julia' (or Juli@). Its a 2ch RCA output card - so it doesnt exactly meet ur requirements, but it is something.

The other option is an ESI - GigaPort. Its a usb device which has 8 RCA outputs (and I think 3.5mm mic in)

][ce

As I believe I recently posted in another thread..

The M-Audio card you're talking about is not a surround sound card. It offers 4 pairs of discrete audio outputs for use in professional audio multitracking environments. It will not give you front/rear/sub the way you want unless you have the software to do it. There are only two 'consumer' cards by M-Audio that are 'surround'. The Revolution 5.1 and Revolution 7.1

The card in question is also an older one, more than likely discontinued.

I may be mistaken, but with cards like this the way it works is that each 'pair' of outputs will show up as a seperate audio device. It only has one stereo input, and I belive S/PDIF in/out. Unless you want to use this card to allow multi-zone environments (like everyone can listen to something different), it won't work for what you want.

Honestly? The only difference between adapting from 3.5" and RCA is a shared ground. For all you know, a card with seperate RCA outputs might be sharing the grounds already.

If you're really worried about sound quality, get a card with an S/PDIF output, then get a DSP with S/PDIF input, or an amplifier with such.

Thanks for the background, Jahntassa, that's put things into a whole new light and sent my research all the way back to the begining again ;-) I just can't believe how hard it is to find a sound card that does what every half decent HU does as standard!!! Oh, the joys of the world of CarPuting!!

Yeah, you gotta watch out on those kinds of soundcards. Generally anything with true RCA outputs or better is going to be for a 'pro' setup and won't work the way you think it will. Unless you had someone that can really write software and somehow wrote something to be able to utilize the card, well...

Honestly though, is there that much difference between the 3.5" adaptation and RCA's? Especially in a car environment?

You know.... I wish it was as simple as someone just saying here, this is the BEST possible sound you will get from your PC just buy ________ card.

I am having this same problem. Right now my factory head unit and factory amp sounded better than the $2000 system I just put in my car. Right now I am using the onboard card until I find out what the perfect card it. I dont care if I have to spend $300 on a card.

So if you find out.... PLEASE let me know.

Lake Contour
http://www.lake.com.au/Lake_Contour.htm

+ any 'bit perfect' Digital output sound card.
Btw, its very expensive too.

Happy now?

Ha, ha! You know that looks like overkill!!!

Seriously tho', from what I've seen there are a few USB devices that can do the job (although your own system setup will dictate if you can sensibly use one or not), but aside from that, I think you need to look at cards with optical outputs and get a matching amp..... the problem here of course is that those types of amps are scarce and expensive!

I think I'm going to try a decent quality sound card with front, rear & sub outs on 3.5mm jack and see what that sounds like.....

There is a reason for the factory stuff sounding better, They were designed for a car a PC isn't. I would say for about the past 4 or so years the stuff that comes in cars is pretty hard to beat. They might not be as whiz bang with functions or be able to deafen you while they break your windows but for quality of sound they are pretty good. I just use the on board card of my SP13000 and I am happy enough with that. I don't use the 5.1 part of it as I play DVD via the head unit which has the 5.1 built into it. All the PC does is MP3 DIVX GPS and phone which are all poorer quality anyway.

PRODIGY 7.1 HIFI

http://www.audiotrak.co.uk/home_thea...gy71hifi.shtml