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As good as ASUS Xonar Essence STX II 7.1 ?
- Thread starter john61ct
- Start date
twsecrest
Major Contributor
Do you have a budget?
You need 8-channel for a 7.1 speaker setup or 7.1 for headphone surround sound?
You need 8-channel for a 7.1 speaker setup or 7.1 for headphone surround sound?
- Thread Starter
- #3
Speakers, but just plain 8ch per card not 7.1
Cheap as possible but ideally SQ better than "good enough"
Going via USB and ADAT format converters, ADC/DAC ports, I've been looking at $15-30 per port. 24/44.1 or 48kHz is fine.
Cheap as possible but ideally SQ better than "good enough"
Going via USB and ADAT format converters, ADC/DAC ports, I've been looking at $15-30 per port. 24/44.1 or 48kHz is fine.
- Thread Starter
- #5
Even if it were PCIe, I doubt SQ as good - more like gaming oriented, DSP effects
hardly works as a UAC2 device other than Stereo-only on Linux
The ASUS card, though very old in fact still has excellent kernel / ALSA level support
But yes, X4 has better / official Win11 support
In any case, this thread is asking for PCIe interfacii, not USB based
but thanks!
hardly works as a UAC2 device other than Stereo-only on Linux
The ASUS card, though very old in fact still has excellent kernel / ALSA level support
But yes, X4 has better / official Win11 support
In any case, this thread is asking for PCIe interfacii, not USB based
but thanks!
IMO the market for add-on PCI-e 8ch cards is tiny tiny. Onboard HDA codecs are good enough for vast majority of users. As a result almost no PCI-e audio controller chips are available - I know only Creative (soundblasters, unavailable to third-party) and C-Media (Oxygen CMI8xxx chips, C-Media does not release firmware programming docs, will only create and ship the chip firmware themselves). Some of the few newer internal soundcards offerings are USB-based - PCI-e USB adapter chip + USB receiver chip - a clever combination which uses available chips and requires no drivers - but it's a USB audio device, not PCI-e with direct access to the controller DMA memory. Then expensive PCI-e FPGAs - RME (HDSPe, also unavailable to third-party), Dante cards (that's a different technology).
It would be interesting to create a DIY FPGA audio controller, but such FPGA chips are quite expensive
It would be interesting to create a DIY FPGA audio controller, but such FPGA chips are quite expensive
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- Thread Starter
- #7
Lynx E44
4 Analog Channels: 4 inputs and 4 outputs (using standard XLR connectors)
4 Digital Channels: 4 inputs and 4 outputs (using AES3 or S/PDIF formats).
All 16 streams of audio (8 in and 8 out) can run simultaneously at full 24-bit/192kHz resolution
official, certified Windows 11 drivers, both regular ASIO and Multi-Client both have a great rep
However no Linux/RPi support at all
And NOT cheap, even used
4 Analog Channels: 4 inputs and 4 outputs (using standard XLR connectors)
4 Digital Channels: 4 inputs and 4 outputs (using AES3 or S/PDIF formats).
All 16 streams of audio (8 in and 8 out) can run simultaneously at full 24-bit/192kHz resolution
official, certified Windows 11 drivers, both regular ASIO and Multi-Client both have a great rep
However no Linux/RPi support at all
And NOT cheap, even used
twsecrest
Major Contributor
Could you not just use the Asus Xonar Essence ?
- Thread Starter
- #9
Yes, if
1. I knew I would def use it on Linux, never want to run windoze, or
2. I see a crazy cheap offering on a good secondhand platform
But I'd rather spend a bit more on a current / officially supported model that meets my OP requirements
1. I knew I would def use it on Linux, never want to run windoze, or
2. I see a crazy cheap offering on a good secondhand platform
But I'd rather spend a bit more on a current / officially supported model that meets my OP requirements
With the rise of "good enough" and sometimes even good onboard audio the choices for PCI(e) got slim.
Current PC mainboard layouts also contradict it a little. You usually have PCIe x1 as an option to route via the chipset with all the other stuff. Or populate the 2nd PCIe x16, which then cuts into the 1st x16 performance - unwanted operation if there is a performance GPU. Or you have onboard/CPU graphics and don't care about the 1st PCIe x16.
Of course you can always get a better mainboard/platform, that's just the mainstream.
Cheap, current model, linux support.. quite a wishlist too.
Here is a nice one for the price of a PC: https://www.rme-usa.com/hdspe-aio-pro.html
Sticking around to see if there are more suggestions.
My advice would be to also look into the music production world. External, thunderbolt, what the apple people use..
Current PC mainboard layouts also contradict it a little. You usually have PCIe x1 as an option to route via the chipset with all the other stuff. Or populate the 2nd PCIe x16, which then cuts into the 1st x16 performance - unwanted operation if there is a performance GPU. Or you have onboard/CPU graphics and don't care about the 1st PCIe x16.
Of course you can always get a better mainboard/platform, that's just the mainstream.
Cheap, current model, linux support.. quite a wishlist too.
Here is a nice one for the price of a PC: https://www.rme-usa.com/hdspe-aio-pro.html
Sticking around to see if there are more suggestions.
My advice would be to also look into the music production world. External, thunderbolt, what the apple people use..
- Thread Starter
- #11
Oh yes I realize the wishlist makes for a challenge! This thread is very specific, narrow on purpose
The "cheap" part in least priority just trying to collect my options in the PCIe subset.
to further clarify, 8x analog channels, that AIO card has so many digital options but not what I'm after.
And yes I am deep into the wide world of pro interfaces, ADAT expansion converters etc.
www.audiosciencereview.com
...
So obviously well aware of the RME product lines as a result and some of the legacy ADC/DAC options are reasonably priced per port secondhand
In fact I've picked up RME Digiface / Multiface expansion breakout boxen super cheap
but these usually come with PCI or Cardbus (requires futzing around)
www.audiosciencereview.com
while the modern PCIe options are usually well over $40 per port just for the card
...
Same with USB interfacii, I almost snagged an RME Digiface USB (32x each I/O channels at standard resolution) for $310 shipped, but not planning on paying $400+ given the cost of decent converters needed on top.
www.audiosciencereview.com
...
Legacy Firewire based stuff is very well priced, but futzing around and limited lifespan.
www.audiosciencereview.com
...
Currently looking at legacy Yamaha processors for keeping PCs out of the signal chain
the Mini-YGDAI card platform gives incredible flexibility and value for money, especially given those processor base frames that offer slots for 4x cards, some 16x channels each.
$10-20 per channel even for analog and AES3, much less for ADAT.
www.audiosciencereview.com
www.audiosciencereview.com
...
> This thread is very specific, narrow on purpose
please discuss each of these "off topics" in a relevant thread
This one for
> PCIe with 8 channels, not discontinued, either well accepted Linux software or UAC2, plus updated ASIO drivers for modern windoze
The "cheap" part in least priority just trying to collect my options in the PCIe subset.
to further clarify, 8x analog channels, that AIO card has so many digital options but not what I'm after.
And yes I am deep into the wide world of pro interfaces, ADAT expansion converters etc.
Principles: Time of Arrival Delays, vs Phase tuning ?
I've not used the 830668, so not sure to what you are referring. In my Purveyor build, I used that PR, with the 5.25" SLS woofer, not the 10".
www.audiosciencereview.com
...
So obviously well aware of the RME product lines as a result and some of the legacy ADC/DAC options are reasonably priced per port secondhand
In fact I've picked up RME Digiface / Multiface expansion breakout boxen super cheap
but these usually come with PCI or Cardbus (requires futzing around)
ISO cable for OG RME Digiface HDSP CardBus/PCMCIA connection
My goal is not recording or mixing / producing music, but a high count of multichannel DSP and crossovers for recreational reproduction, cheap. If members have other similar gear sitting in closets, or alternative suggestions feel free to speak up. In this case I like the RME OG Hammerfall...
www.audiosciencereview.com
while the modern PCIe options are usually well over $40 per port just for the card
...
Same with USB interfacii, I almost snagged an RME Digiface USB (32x each I/O channels at standard resolution) for $310 shipped, but not planning on paying $400+ given the cost of decent converters needed on top.
ADAT interface hosts, high SQ but cheaper than RME Digiface USB?
I am looking for an interface "hub" based on multiple ADAT, clean and transparent. I'm not recording / mixing, just for recreational home DSP - crossovers timing delays / phase alignment tuning Happy to buy secondhand to save money, vintage discontinued no problem. 24-bit, 44.1 / 48kHz is...
www.audiosciencereview.com
...
Legacy Firewire based stuff is very well priced, but futzing around and limited lifespan.
As good value for PC I/O as Echo Audiofire 12 ?
Total interface noob here, please ELI5 I don't need to record or mix music in the creative sense, just looking to get multi-channel analog in and out of HTPC type hardware. Primary use case is DIY convolving, loudness contour, bass management, room correction PEQ. The Echo Audiofire 12 unit...
www.audiosciencereview.com
...
Currently looking at legacy Yamaha processors for keeping PCs out of the signal chain
the Mini-YGDAI card platform gives incredible flexibility and value for money, especially given those processor base frames that offer slots for 4x cards, some 16x channels each.
$10-20 per channel even for analog and AES3, much less for ADAT.
Yamaha AD824 Converter AD input only
Looking for, with the MY8-TD ADAT version 8-port Mini-YGDAI Expansion Card what I've gathered not an interface, just "breakout box" converter, in my case I'll need an interface with ADAT inputs, e.g. RME Digiface USB zero digital outputs on its own Usually the included Mini-YGDAI Expansion...
www.audiosciencereview.com
Inexpensive AES3 devices, also audio-over CAT (AES59 & AES72)
Thanks to @Frunse for turning me on to the various AES- related digital transport media formats, especially AES3 aka AES/EBU. My system after per-driver amping, MBM reinforcement + several trueSubs, in general active crossovers and signal upmixing may end up with 20+ output channels. I am...
www.audiosciencereview.com
...
> This thread is very specific, narrow on purpose
please discuss each of these "off topics" in a relevant thread
This one for
> PCIe with 8 channels, not discontinued, either well accepted Linux software or UAC2, plus updated ASIO drivers for modern windoze
