My Marantz pre-pro is dying, and I was thinking of
getting rid of it and going all HTPC.
Now I have:
PC (digital out) -> pre/pro -> 6 channel amp -> speakers
What I want:
PC (5.1 channel analog out) -> 6 channel amp -> speakers
So who is doing this now?
What sound card are you using?
Do you get pops and clicks when you re-boot?
How does DTS and Dolby Digital decoding get done?
(software or hardware decode?)
Would an external sound card sound better?
Should Hillary run for president?
OK, ignore that last question. It's bound to start fights...
herm
getting rid of it and going all HTPC.
Now I have:
PC (digital out) -> pre/pro -> 6 channel amp -> speakers
What I want:
PC (5.1 channel analog out) -> 6 channel amp -> speakers
So who is doing this now?
What sound card are you using?
Do you get pops and clicks when you re-boot?
How does DTS and Dolby Digital decoding get done?
(software or hardware decode?)
Would an external sound card sound better?
Should Hillary run for president?
OK, ignore that last question. It's bound to start fights...
herm
Hey Herm,
That is pretty much my exact setup, minus some incomplete parts.
I have a XP Media Center PC with a SoundBlaster Audigy card running kxdrivers . I had a custom SPDIF optical header made that sends 3 stereo digital signals to 3 external DACs. The DACs will eventually run into 6 channels of amplification, once I finish the amps. Right now I'm just running stereo.
The line level outputs of the Audigy are horrible and do click and pop on power/shutdown of the PC. They also tend to cause ground loops, as does the coax SPDIF connections. This is why I went with external DACs.
The Audigy card and kxdrivers + your DVD decoder (i.e. NVIDIA purevideo) would do the DTS/surround processing. I don't use my setup for HT use though, so I can't really elaborate on more details.
And sure, Hilary can run if she wants. It doesn't mean she will win.
That is pretty much my exact setup, minus some incomplete parts.
I have a XP Media Center PC with a SoundBlaster Audigy card running kxdrivers . I had a custom SPDIF optical header made that sends 3 stereo digital signals to 3 external DACs. The DACs will eventually run into 6 channels of amplification, once I finish the amps. Right now I'm just running stereo.
The line level outputs of the Audigy are horrible and do click and pop on power/shutdown of the PC. They also tend to cause ground loops, as does the coax SPDIF connections. This is why I went with external DACs.
The Audigy card and kxdrivers + your DVD decoder (i.e. NVIDIA purevideo) would do the DTS/surround processing. I don't use my setup for HT use though, so I can't really elaborate on more details.
And sure, Hilary can run if she wants. It doesn't mean she will win.
Anonymous,
I have a thought about avoiding pops and clicks:
If you use an external sound card (firewire or USB) you can avoid
several issues.
First, the sound card will have a different power supply than the
computer. When you reboot the computer, the sound card does
not power down - so No clicks, right?
Second, the external power supply can be made much cleaner
than the stuff they are using for the main board.
It seems like a great idea, but I can't find anyone who has done it.
All the HTPC threads that I read are about which processor or
memory. None of them focus on good sound!
I've tried to read some of the PC crossover stuff, but that thread
is all about software.
Anyone know of nay good HTPC forums?
herm
I have a thought about avoiding pops and clicks:
If you use an external sound card (firewire or USB) you can avoid
several issues.
First, the sound card will have a different power supply than the
computer. When you reboot the computer, the sound card does
not power down - so No clicks, right?
Second, the external power supply can be made much cleaner
than the stuff they are using for the main board.
It seems like a great idea, but I can't find anyone who has done it.
All the HTPC threads that I read are about which processor or
memory. None of them focus on good sound!
I've tried to read some of the PC crossover stuff, but that thread
is all about software.
Anyone know of nay good HTPC forums?
herm
Hi Anon,
How have you got the 6channel digital stream to come out as pairs?
My Tannoy speakers are set up as left or right from the spdif input. Five of them around the room and then add a sub.
I was asking about this multiple 2channel some months ago.
How have you got the 6channel digital stream to come out as pairs?
My Tannoy speakers are set up as left or right from the spdif input. Five of them around the room and then add a sub.
HTPC Forums
A fairly good site for HTPC stuff (soundcards, Cases, CPU's, etc.) is at http://www.extrememhz.com. The also have a forum to discuss things.
Some good reviews are at http://www.3dGameMan.com
Hope this helps.
Thomas
A fairly good site for HTPC stuff (soundcards, Cases, CPU's, etc.) is at http://www.extrememhz.com. The also have a forum to discuss things.
Some good reviews are at http://www.3dGameMan.com
Hope this helps.
Thomas
Herm,
Whether or not an external sound card will have any clicks/pops all depend on the card I guess. The Audigy card I have makes the noise due to the internal DACs(so I read).
There are multiple solutions to what your are looking for. Finding one that perfectly suites your needs can be quite the headache.
The solution I chose was a fairly good compromise on money vs. quality. I'm happy with the way it turned out. I don't think it can be beat for the price.
Audigy card = $15
kxdrivers = FREE
Custom SPDIF header = $45 (I could have made one myself for a lot less, but the one I had made for me turned out really nice)
3x Entech 203.3 DACs = $120
Andrew,
The Audigy card has 4 available SPDIF output connections on its header. You can use these along with the kxdrivers for either HT surround sound or for multiple-way active crossover duty(or whatever else you can think of).
I use 3 of the available 4 along with a custom header that converts the electrical output signals to optical outputs to keep PC noise isolated from my external DACs.
Here is a pic of the electrical connections of the SDPIF in/outs on the Audigy.....
And here is pic of the optical header on the back of my HTPC (note: the RCA connections on the left are connected to the cards analog outs. I used them before I had the digital out setup)....
Whether or not an external sound card will have any clicks/pops all depend on the card I guess. The Audigy card I have makes the noise due to the internal DACs(so I read).
There are multiple solutions to what your are looking for. Finding one that perfectly suites your needs can be quite the headache.
The solution I chose was a fairly good compromise on money vs. quality. I'm happy with the way it turned out. I don't think it can be beat for the price.
Audigy card = $15
kxdrivers = FREE
Custom SPDIF header = $45 (I could have made one myself for a lot less, but the one I had made for me turned out really nice)
3x Entech 203.3 DACs = $120
Andrew,
The Audigy card has 4 available SPDIF output connections on its header. You can use these along with the kxdrivers for either HT surround sound or for multiple-way active crossover duty(or whatever else you can think of).
I use 3 of the available 4 along with a custom header that converts the electrical output signals to optical outputs to keep PC noise isolated from my external DACs.
Here is a pic of the electrical connections of the SDPIF in/outs on the Audigy.....
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
And here is pic of the optical header on the back of my HTPC (note: the RCA connections on the left are connected to the cards analog outs. I used them before I had the digital out setup)....
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
my audigy 2 has pops and clocks ad infinitum, but my x-fi dont. a shame KX drivers dont work for x-fi.
Hmmm.
I've got a shot at a used M-audio 410.
Any opinions?
And thanks everybody for all the help so far..
herm
I've got a shot at a used M-audio 410.
Any opinions?
And thanks everybody for all the help so far..
herm
I will probably start a new thread when I get involved in this deeper,
but i wanted to close the loop here so anyone doing research will
know what I decided:
I bought a used M-audio Firewire 410.
It has 8 analog outputs. So far I am using just two.
Here's the setup:
PC -> 410 -> Amp
That's it.
The pc sends multi channel data to the 410 via firewire.
The 410 converts them to analog and passes them to the amp.
No pops or clicks, even on reboot of windows.
so far, so good.
By the way, Nero 7 does a software decode of dolby 5.1 and
passed it to my 410. I don't have any speakers hooked up, but
I could see all the level meters working on the 410 software!
herm
but i wanted to close the loop here so anyone doing research will
know what I decided:
I bought a used M-audio Firewire 410.
It has 8 analog outputs. So far I am using just two.
Here's the setup:
PC -> 410 -> Amp
That's it.
The pc sends multi channel data to the 410 via firewire.
The 410 converts them to analog and passes them to the amp.
No pops or clicks, even on reboot of windows.
so far, so good.
By the way, Nero 7 does a software decode of dolby 5.1 and
passed it to my 410. I don't have any speakers hooked up, but
I could see all the level meters working on the 410 software!
herm
i use a delta 410 in my current HTPC. its pretty darn nice. i actually use the analog out, i dont do surround sound. so, right now im just using stereo analog out. it sounds pretty great. i had some people over and we tested a bunch of different configs, mainly the delta 410 doing d/a versus my rotel processor doing d/a (rsp-1098, $3k retail). the detla 410 is clearly better, no questions. its almost impossible to listen to the rotel after a/b switching.
im going to upgrade to a lynx 2B as soon as i stop being lazy and just order one. it should be a nice improvement. but the 410 is definately a great card for the price. i even got mine used for $50! to beat out a $3k processor which has a decent dac built in, its a great value for $50, or even $250.
im going to upgrade to a lynx 2B as soon as i stop being lazy and just order one. it should be a nice improvement. but the 410 is definately a great card for the price. i even got mine used for $50! to beat out a $3k processor which has a decent dac built in, its a great value for $50, or even $250.
Hey cowanrg,
Here are a couple of questions for you:
First, do you run analog out to a receiver, or straight to an amp?
Second, does the delta sound card take over your audio?
Allow me to explain - when the FW410 is in my system, it is the
only device that can control output volume. All the nero, windvd,
and windows controls are not functional.
That means when I am watching a movie and I want to adjust the
volume, I have to un-full-screen, find the M-audio app, and get to
the volume control.
With a less sophisticated sound card, the application specific volume
controls functioned. For instance, in Nero 7 I had volume up/down
set to the scroll wheel on the mouse. No back an forth of applications
every time I want to nudge the volume.
Anyway, I have a lot to learn about this card!
Two more things:
1) I was suprised at how good it sounds. My $1000 Marantz pre/pro
has taken a back seat to this card.
2) I am not sure what to expect out of the Lynx. I just know I
want one.
herm
Here are a couple of questions for you:
First, do you run analog out to a receiver, or straight to an amp?
Second, does the delta sound card take over your audio?
Allow me to explain - when the FW410 is in my system, it is the
only device that can control output volume. All the nero, windvd,
and windows controls are not functional.
That means when I am watching a movie and I want to adjust the
volume, I have to un-full-screen, find the M-audio app, and get to
the volume control.
With a less sophisticated sound card, the application specific volume
controls functioned. For instance, in Nero 7 I had volume up/down
set to the scroll wheel on the mouse. No back an forth of applications
every time I want to nudge the volume.
Anyway, I have a lot to learn about this card!
Two more things:
1) I was suprised at how good it sounds. My $1000 Marantz pre/pro
has taken a back seat to this card.
2) I am not sure what to expect out of the Lynx. I just know I
want one.
herm
herm said:
right now, i run analog out to my processor, the rotel. that is only because the volume control on the m-audio is not as automated as i would like. the lynx is a bit easier to control. but, with the lynx, the rotel will be sold as it will serve no purpose anymore.
im not sure what you mean by your question "does it take over for audio". i assume you mean, do i use it for all my audio. yes. i havent touched a physical cd for that system since i got the computer, and ALL my music is played through it. also, movies go through it as well. i dont watch tv, but if i did, it would be routed through the m-audio as well.
oh ok, i get what you are asking now. right now, i just have the master volume set to -0dB (full volume) and dont mess with it. i adjust it on the rotel. but, when i get rid of the processor, the m-audio or lynx will take over everything. i do not and will not use volume control IN applications. it will all be from the sound card's control panel.
i use xlobby for my front end. i use a dell axim handheld PC for all functions. im setting it up so that volume commands will be sent from the handheld to xlobby, and it will send them to the sound card control panel. i wont see an onscreen or anything, it will just be like using a regular remote control, and it is universal for all apps.
the card sounds really really good. i was pretty amazed. i didnt even BOTHER using the analog outs when i got it because i thought there was NO way it could even come close to my rotel processor. boy was i wrong! when i finally just tested it out (mainly just for fun), it sounded better. and not just a little bit, but significantly so. its huge.
yes, the lynx is supposed to embarass the m-audio in terms of audio quality. im very excited. ill post here when it arrives. the lynx will never run through a processor, it will run balanced out straight to my amps. woohoo!
i should mention (don't know if i did or not), but i ONLY do stereo. for the lynx to do surround sound, you would need 3 of them i guess. ouch.
i've gone back to just 2-channel and havent looked back.
i've gone back to just 2-channel and havent looked back.
Hi,
I think the 410 is run through fire-wire.
Is there a cheap card that matches the 410's performance that runs through USB? (or even cheap if bought secondhand).
I think the 410 is run through fire-wire.
Is there a cheap card that matches the 410's performance that runs through USB? (or even cheap if bought secondhand).
the m-audio comes to mind...
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/audiophile-usb.html
why do you need USB? laptop?
do they make firewire cards for laptops?
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/audiophile-usb.html
why do you need USB? laptop?
do they make firewire cards for laptops?
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