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Soundcard with absolute best SPDIF quality/software implementation?

#1
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5/29/09 at 11:07pm
  • Joined: May 2009
  • Post Count: 2
Hi everyone,

what soundcard offers the best possible signal quality on its SPDIF output one can buy for money today? I want to drive a high end dolby surround preamp with both stero and AC3 material and I want to get the absolute best quality that is possible out of my PC.

The other question is what soundcard has the most solid, stable and high-quality software/driver implementation.

I am not really satisified with my current onboard chip (a ADI SoundMAX AD2000). From time to tme the music sounds quite distored like if you put your music through an effect box and when I pause and resume the track everything is fine again.

End everytime a start or resume a film (the preamp switches from stero to AC3 then) I hear an extremly loud noise/crackle signal for a short time, which is quite annoying (it may also be some other component than the soundcard).

So what soundcards have decent software implementation? The only thing I need is good digital output (no effects, no fancy functions/mixer, etc.).

I would be glad to hear your recommendations!

- Daniel
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#2
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5/30/09 at 7:32am
  • Joined: January 1999
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Re: Soundcard with absolute best SPDIF quality/software implementation?

I use a low level pro quality sound card which does up to 192/24. I don't know (or care) if it will do Dolby Digital or not. As always "Absolute best" is not really practical, just "better than what I have". Semi-pro music cards like I have are of course much better than consumer level cards for PCM digital, but other formats may not work as well.

Philip Hamm
Moderator Emeritus

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#3
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6/1/09 at 12:36am
  • Joined: May 2009
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Re: Soundcard with absolute best SPDIF quality/software implementation?

Ok, after some research I am deciding between the ESI Juli@, the E-MU 1212M, the Trust 514DX 5.1 and the TerraTec Aureon 5.1/7.1 (the former two with original drivers and the latter two with the bit perfect cmedia driver) sound card.

What card would you recommend?
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#4
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6/1/09 at 5:49am
  • Joined: January 1999
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Re: Soundcard with absolute best SPDIF quality/software implementation?

Quote:
Originally Posted by HiPerFreak
Ok, after some research I am deciding between the ESI Juli@, the E-MU 1212M, the Trust 514DX 5.1 and the TerraTec Aureon 5.1/7.1 (the former two with original drivers and the latter two with the bit perfect cmedia driver) sound card.

What card would you recommend?
I don't know about the others, but I have the EMU 1212M and it is a pretty good card. The hardware is excellent, the software is clunky, but adequate. I don't know if it does Dolby Digital or DTS, I've never tried either.

Philip Hamm
Moderator Emeritus

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#5
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6/1/09 at 10:04am
  • Joined: May 2003
  • Location: Eastern NC
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Re: Soundcard with absolute best SPDIF quality/software implementation?

I have an older card that has been great, for my purposes. I use the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum. It has the amp/receiver piece, that sits in a front bay, as well as the card itself. It supports 5.1/7.1 Dolby Digital, DTS, and DVD-A. My computer is a standalone surround system, and has never been connected to my main system..........yet. It has inputs and outputs for digital coax and optical, on the front. I'll get a new computer this fall, and put this same setup in it.

BTW.......this card isn't a cheap one. It was over $200, when I got it, about three and a half years ago, at Best Buy. I'm not sure they even still have these available.
Samsung HL61A750 (LED DLP)            Onkyo TX-SR805
Oppo BDP-83 Blu ray                                  Polk Audio LSi9
Polk Audio LSiC                                  Sony SS-MB100H
JBL PSW1200 (Sub)                        ...
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#6
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6/5/09 at 10:52am
  • Joined: April 2005
  • Location: Portland, OR
  • Post Count: 946

Re: Soundcard with absolute best SPDIF quality/software implementation?

I've also got a ZS and its pretty good for what it is (still can't decode the DTS track on the Quadrilogy version of Alien >_<), although I am planning on putting in a card that can do HDMI when I finally buy a new computer.
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