EVGA is taking on Creative and ASUS with a PCIe sound card

[Timbo2]

List pricing is USD$250! And for the gamer crowd it naturally has all kinds of LEDs.

https://www.evga.com/articles/01281/evga-nu-audio/

Specifications:
Audio DSP:
XMOS xCORE-200
Native DSD Support (up to x256)
Output Configuration:
2 Channel (Analog)
5.1 Channel (Digital via S/PDIF)
Dynamic Range (DNR) / Signal-to-Noise (SNR):
123dB (Stereo Playback)
121dB (Line-In Recording)
Playback Format:
Up to 384kHz, 32bit (Stereo)
Up to 192kHz, 24bit (Optical)
Headphone Amp:
16-600ohm (Independent Analog Control)

Maximum Voltage:
8Vrms
Maximum Current:
250mA
Recording Format:
Up to 384kHz, 32bit (Line-In)
Up to 192kHz, 24bit (Mic-In)

RGB Lighting:
10 - Mode w/ Audio Reactive Lighting

I/O:
Stereo Out (RCA L/R)
Headphone Out (6.3mm)
Line-In (3.5mm)
Mic-In (3.5mm)
Optical Out (TOSLINK Passthrough)
Front Panel Header

Premium Components:
DAC - AKM AK4493
ADC - AKM AK5572
OP-AMP (Headphone) - ADI OP275
OP-AMP (Line Out) - ADI AD8056
Capacitors - WIMA, Audio Note(UK), Nichicon
Power Regulators - Texas Instruments TPS7A47/TPS7A33 ultralow-noise power solution

Switchable OP-AMPs:
Headphone, Line out

Interface:
PCIe x1 Gen2
Power Connector:
1x SATA Power

Supported OS:
Windows 10, 8.1, 7

 

[hvbias]

The last time I had a soundcard was the PCI version of the E-MU 0404 (2005 or 2006?)

For my gaming PC on even a mid end motherboard onboard sound is very good these days for gaming, I don't use them for music.

I know some of the real audiophiles like the Lynx AES16e PCI-E for its digital output.

 

[Timbo2]

The last time I had a soundcard was the PCI version of the E-MU 0404 (2005 or 2006?)

For my gaming PC on even a mid end motherboard onboard sound is very good these days for gaming, I don't use them for music.

I know some of the real audiophiles like the Lynx AES16e PCI-E for its digital output.

I think the last add in sound card I ever used was a Sound Blaster Audigy circa 2001.

I never used my PCs for music until I built a dedicated HTPC. For that I use digital over HDMI to my AVR.

 

[pos]

As far as I understand this is not a "real" PCIe souncard, but a PCIe to USB adapter bundled with a XMOS USB soundcard

 

[Timbo2]

As far as I understand this is not a "real" PCIe souncard, but a PCIe to USB adapter bundled with a XMOS USB soundcard

Don’t forget the all important controllable LED lighting!

 

[hvbias]

As far as I understand this is not a "real" PCIe souncard, but a PCIe to USB adapter bundled with a XMOS USB soundcard

Not sure what you mean by "real" it has a D/A converter, analog output stage that they brag about being from the Kings of Con Men Audio Note and has analog outputs.

 

[derp1n]

Not sure what you mean by "real" it has a D/A converter, analog output stage that they brag about being from the Kings of Con Men Audio Note and has analog outputs.

It's not native PCIe, in that it appears to be a USB based DAC design with a PCIe to USB bridge (thus the ASM1042 chip in addition to XMOS) stuck in front of it. And despite the fact it should easily be powered via PCIe in a native design, this requires power via a SATA connector.

Looks like a hack job for $250. Not sure what the market is.

 

[Timbo2]

It's not native PCIe, in that it appears to be a USB based DAC design with a PCIe to USB bridge (thus the ASM1042 chip in addition to XMOS) stuck in front of it. And despite the fact it should easily be powered via PCIe in a native design, this requires power via a SATA connector.

Looks like a hack job for $250. Not sure what the market is.

Click through the pictures for various marketing blurbs on the EVGA link. I think the reason for the SATA connector is to power the headphone amplification.

Edit: DUH - I forgot the bus should have ample current. Although I think it uses the 3.3V rail for some reason...

 

[garbulky]

As far as I understand this is not a "real" PCIe souncard, but a PCIe to USB adapter bundled with a XMOS USB soundcard

Surprising. Why not do native PCIe?

 

[hvbias]

It's not native PCIe, in that it appears to be a USB based DAC design with a PCIe to USB bridge (thus the ASM1042 chip in addition to XMOS) stuck in front of it. And despite the fact it should easily be powered via PCIe in a native design, this requires power via a SATA connector.

Looks like a hack job for $250. Not sure what the market is.

Ahh, I was trying to work this out, I thought he meant it had an external breakout box and I was scratching my head

 

[derp1n]

Click through the pictures for various marketing blurbs on the EVGA link. I think the reason for the SATA connector is to power the headphone amplification.

Edit: DUH - I forgot the bus should have ample current. Although I think it uses the 3.3V rail for some reason...

PCIe can supply at least 75 watts, so more than enough for this thing. It's just lazy/cheap design.

Surprising. Why not do native PCIe?

Copy & paste PCB design.

 

[bigx5murf]

My last real PCI sound card was a Vortex 2 reference board from Aureal. I probably still have it somewhere. It still makes me mad when I remember how Creative bankrupted Aureal with litigation, and how even after Aureal had won, they were so bogged down by legal fees they had to sell their assets to Creative.

 

[hvbias]

Anyone remember this big mamacita Hercules Game Theater XP? I had to rearrange my desk because the breakout cable was so inflexible. Had a joystick plugged into the front USB connector and could kill an entire night in Battlefield 1942 and later the Desert Combat mod

 

[DonH56]

Note a standard PCIe slot can handle 25 W; high-power slots 75 W but those are usually few and reserved for graphics cards.

Not sure why you need 8 Gb/s (or 16 Gb/s if it is Gen4) for a sound card but whatever...

Edit: Just saw it's Gen2 so only 5 Gb/s...

 

[bigx5murf]

Oh man Hercules, from back when there were so many competing graphics cards chipsets. Matrox PowerVR, 3dfx, S3, along with the current Nvidia and ATI. I miss those days. I remember the excitement of working summer jobs for TNT/Voodoo cards.

 

[monkeyboy]

I'd love to see measurements...if it measures well, I'd be interested...great way to re-purpose an old box as a music server

 

[hvbias]

Oh man Hercules, from back when there were so many competing graphics cards chipsets. Matrox PowerVR, 3dfx, S3, along with the current Nvidia and ATI. I miss those days. I remember the excitement of working summer jobs for TNT/Voodoo cards.

Oh yes Voodoo... I was working at Best Buy just as that company was on the way out. I could not bring myself to spend the $80 or $100 for one of them (can't recall which exact card it was) as a collectors item, I should have.

Working retail was one of the best life lessons I ever had. Taught me to do whatever it took to never ever have to work that kind of job ever again.

 

[confucius_zero]

Audio note! wow!

 

[bennetng]

Note a standard PCIe slot can handle 25 W; high-power slots 75 W but those are usually few and reserved for graphics cards.

Not sure why you need 8 Gb/s (or 16 Gb/s if it is Gen4) for a sound card but whatever...

Edit: Just saw it's Gen2 so only 5 Gb/s...

Advantage of native PCI(E) for audio is low latency, not high bandwidth.
http://www.dawbench.com/audio-int-lowlatency3.htm

If you choose "Ultra low latency" in this interface finder, all USB interfaces will be excluded.
http://compare.focusrite.com/

Some gamers are obsessed with low latency and believe PS/2 mouse and keyboard are better for example.

 

[DonH56]

Advantage of native PCI(E) for audio is low latency, not high bandwidth.
http://www.dawbench.com/audio-int-lowlatency3.htm

If you choose "Ultra low latency" in this interface finder, all USB interfaces will be excluded.
http://compare.focusrite.com/

Some gamers are obsessed with low latency and believe PS/2 mouse and keyboard are better for example.

That makes sense, thanks, had not considered that. My boys play games (natch) and my youngest just bought a new gaming laptop. They constantly tease me because I have a stack of games I have bought and never loaded on my PC. Just never seem to have the time...