which sound card?

menthos · 05-28-2008, 02:07 PM

im trying to find oput which sound card i want to use for my carpc...
i'm not sure if the best way will be to run from computer to headunit to amps
or computer diretly to amps... what are the pro's /con's?

if i go with the computer > headunit > amps, i will be using a pioneer DEH-P88RS, and some sound card(suggestions?).. don't know how much sound has to say when i go through the headunit first?

if i go with computer > amps i will need an sound card that is just as good or better than the P88RS... any suggestions?

rijndael · 05-28-2008, 03:23 PM

The Asus sound cards i have heard are really nice (. They even have an EMI shield to protect the sound wave from interference from Electro-Magnetic Frequencies (i.e. no hiss at high volumes through the analog jack). I personally have not heard one of these in person, but my bro has one and he likes it a lot. It does not play 5.1 except in analog.

I use an HT Omega Claro+ at this time, I am happy, but it has its quirks...

someone on the forums named REDGTIVR6 uses/used the Auzentec X-Meridian and has won a few car-audio Sound Quality competitions.

all of these are on the high-end though, there are many others that will work for much less. just research as much as you can to learn about which one suits your needs more.

If your Pioneer stereo has an Optical (S/PDIF) input, any soundcard with an optical output will work, since it is only putting out the signal in an untouched digital form (at least thats the way i understand it).

hope this little tid bit of info helps you out...and good luck with your project.

Rij

menthos · 05-28-2008, 03:49 PM

i don't care if the sound card has 5.1 i will not make any surround sound... it will be a 3way component set in front and 2 woofers in back..
and then i will have a 6channel amp and a mono amp 6channel for the component set (active) an the mono for the 2 woofers

is it the asus xonar D2 you are talking about?

i can see that the HT Omega Claro+ is a bit more expoensive than the asus xonar, but is it worth the extra?

oh yeah i think i have heard something about the Auzentec X-Meridian.. think i read a thread some time ago where some one changed the opamps to get better SQ..
maybe i should try to find the thread again...

rijndael · 05-28-2008, 04:06 PM

EDIT: after reading this, and reading my first post...lol...i guess im not as happy as i pretend to be with my sound card...lol

Yeah...the D2 is one of the 2 Asus cards i am talking about.

if i could do it again and had never bought the Claro+...i wouldnt have bought it. I would go with the Asus, even though they do appear to have some problems with their optical out.

read about the problems with the Asus D2 on the Asus forums or on newegg reviews...its always good to know what you buy before you buy it.

The problems i am having with my HT Omega Claro+ are few, but enough to **** me off.

The sound quality is not as great as i would like it (even at lower volumes). The jacks on the back dont seem to fit the plugs correctly (i have to REALLY push the plugs in hard to get it to "snap" in...almost like the holes were too small for the plug).

every now and then, sound cuts out on my left component set in the midrange 3" speaker only (no, it is not the x-over or the wiring...i have had it professionally checked twice by Audio Itch in Tampa and even sent the speaker back to DLS for service and they found no problem). its almost as if it just doesnt play the midrange frequencies on the left channel at random times.

i cant think of any more issues at the moment, but those are the big ones.

i dont recommend the card i have to anyone unless they have no other option. so with my first response, i should probably change the word "quirks" to "DONT GET THIS CARD!!!!" lol

just for the EMI shield, i think the Asus is worth it... my bro went from his X-Fi Prelude to the Asus and said there is a slight, but noticable difference in the sound from his Z-5500's in his apartment (especially the smart-sound option...he says he loves it for music and movies)

menthos · 05-28-2008, 04:13 PM

doesn't sound good about your HT omega..
i just found a forum that stated the HT omega claro+ is almost the same as the x-meridian, but sounds like thats not true...

where can i find the auzentech x-meridian? i want to compare the price and specs with the asus D2...

menthos · 05-29-2008, 11:10 AM

after some research i found out that the x-meridian is not produced anymore

and haven't had luck to find any at ebay...

is there other cards with replaceable opamps?

i have heard some guys uses m-audio too... is it worth looking at?

qpwoeiruty999 · 05-29-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by menthos

after some research i found out that the x-meridian is not produced anymore

and haven't had luck to find any at ebay...

is there other cards with replaceable opamps?

i have heard some guys uses m-audio too... is it worth looking at?

With little patience, you can find 1 over ebay. This is were i bought it, refurbished and very cheap. You can also have a look at my X-Meridian related post. http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/high...-meridian.html

menthos · 05-29-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by qpwoeiruty999

With little patience, you can find 1 over ebay. This is were i bought it, refurbished and very cheap. You can also have a look at my X-Meridian related post. http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/high...-meridian.html

oh yeah i found one on ebay, but enden 5days ago...!!

but i hope there will be more for sale soon...
alright i will try to look at your thread

what about the Audiotrak PRODIGY HD2? i has replaceable opamps like the x-meridian..
here is the specs i found:

PCI audio interface based on VIA VT1721 (Envy24HT-S)
PCI card supplied with standard and low profile metal bracket
24 bit / 192kHz playback (analog & digital)
24 bit / 96kHz recording
high quality AKM AK4396 120dB(a) S/N ratio DA converter for extremly high quality 2 channel audio playback via RCA output connectors (5Hz - 40kHz frequency response)
triple OpAmp design for audio output with three high quality Fairchild NE5532 OpAmps on separate sockets (can be exchanged for tuning & customization)
headphone output with 1/8" connector routed via JRC4580 dual OpAmp
analog line input with 1/8" connector via AKM AK5353/7 102dB(a) S/N ratio AD converter (20Hz - 40kHz frequency response)
optical S/PDIF digital output following IEC-958C standard, can be used for stereo audio playback (PCM) and multichannel streams from such sources (AC-3 or DTS data)
EWDM driver for all current Windows Versions

rijndael · 05-29-2008, 04:43 PM

i have never heard anything from an M-Audio source, but i have read a few things about them on the forum and people seem to like them. I think its worth a shot...also Turtle Beach i have read are decent...but neither one has replaceable opamps that i know of...

WuNgUn · 05-29-2008, 06:43 PM

I love the Asus Xonar...so much so that I bought two of 'em! (active crossover network to two pairs of tweeters and drivers + sub + center...)
Makes even my $8 desktop speakers (til I get 'em in the car) sound respectable, seriously.

menthos · 05-30-2008, 03:08 AM

it could be nice with replaceable opamps, but not many boards have them :/

as i see it right now this is my priority list
1. auzentech x-meridian
2. audiotrak progigy hd2 (depends on quality, but replaceable opamps is definatively a big plus)
3. asus xonar
4. X-fi prelude (some says its nice other says it sucks?)
5. M-audio

rijndael · 05-30-2008, 08:05 AM

if you dont mind me asking...why are replaceable opamps such a huge deal to you?

menthos · 05-30-2008, 08:32 AM

because then i can get better/other opamps that fits my needs/ fits my system better than the stock ones...

but ofcourse i can find a soundcard with good quality without the replaceable opamps, i will maybe go for that...

but the reason i placed the audiotrak at 2nd place is also the price... it cost (in my country) about 70-80$ less than asus xonar, then i could use thoose money to upgrade the opamps...

menthos · 05-30-2008, 01:13 PM

found a review on the audiotrak prodigy HD2:
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...-hd2-gold.html

gets high scores... but i will not base my decission on one test...

menthos · 06-03-2008, 01:30 PM

still searching...