AuzenTech X-plosion 7.1 Sound Card - DolbyDigital AND DTS

[Abel007]

AuzenTech Xplosion @ Newegg


$114.99
- 30 instant savings
=74.99
+5.69 shipping
=$90.68 shipped


Ripped from Newegg specs:

Model
Brand AuzenTech
Model XPlosion 7.1
Audio core
Audio Chipset C-Media CMI8770
Channels 7.1
Sample Rate 96KHz
Digital Audio 24-bit
Ports
Line In Yes
Line Out Front/Rear/Center/Subwoofer/Rear Center
SPDIF Out Optical and Coaxial
MIDI/Joystick No
CD/Aux In No
Spec
Interface PCI
Features
Features World First Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect certified PCI board sound card!
Converts any of your movies, games, music audio into a Dolby Digital or DTS Surround Sound! Stereo is boring, surround sound is fun! DTS Connect makes it easy to turn your computer into the ultimate PC sound entertainment experience.

With Auzentech HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect installed, it will transform your PC environment into a movie theater ? it?s the best seat in the house for a concert ? and it?s the coolest way to enjoy games. It?s the new Auzentech HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect.
DTS Connect is the latest thing from DTS that turns your PC into an action-packed entertainment experience that surrounds you in sound. Make your movies, music and games come alive in exciting, dynamic, multi-channel DTS Digital Surround®, the same sound format found in movie theaters. DTS Connect is a whole new way to enjoy your PC.

Other Advantages & Benefits of Auzentech HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect feature: Dolby Digital Live!
1. Uses a single digital connection:
Ensures the integrity of the audio signal
Eliminates confusion, hassle, and clutter of multiple analog and digital connections
2. Transform all PC audio signals into a Dolby Digital Signal.
Dolby Digital is the audio backbone for home networks
Enables playback over millions of home theater systems equipped with Dolby Digital Decoding
3. Optimized for low-latency interactive applications
No perceptible delay between video and audio game play
4. Provides realistic 5.1 channel surround sound effects during interactive active video game play
Immerses PC and game console players in a highly realistic game experience
Packaging
Package Contents HDA X-PLOSION 7.1 DTS Connect Audio Card / MPC to MPC(2pin-2pin) CD S/PDIF audio cable / TOSLINK fiber optic digital cable / installation CD / warranty card / owner's manual

 

[filibusterman]

how is this card when compared to audigy cards?

 

[GZeus]

I bought one of these about 6 months ago from ZZF for about the same, AR.

I love this card. The sound quality is very good and I have had zero issues with it. It will likely migrate to my HTPC when that finally gets built.

If you compare spec vs. spec to Creative cards this one is a huge bargain. The digital output is only available on some of the pricier Creative models. I highly recommend this card.

That being said, CS cards seem to be on sale every other day now. There are a couple of threads here for them. A bit of comparison shopping on specs will probably get you a deal that would have been regarded as robbery a couple of months ago!

Edited to add HD CS links:
X-fi's
Audigy4Pro

 

[Abel007]

For the price of this card, it is amazing. Dolby Digital Live and DTS encoding as well as the optical and coax outs.


As far as I know the Creative cards don't do DD or DTS encoding. I could be wrong about that though. Can someone verify or disprove?

 

[BladeVenom]

Originally posted by: filibusterman
how is this card when compared to audigy cards?

Creative's cards are for gamers, if it's for music I would probably rather have this card.

 

[kenton]

Creative cards do not do DD/DTS encoding, they will pass pre-mastered DD/DTS content (i.e. DVD movie or perhaps DVD-A/SACD) to a DD/DTS compatable receiver/preamp.

Compare these cards to a more advanced SoundStorm found on the nForce2 motherboards. These cards are great for 5.1 games and while not supporting EAX higher than 3.0 I don't think it matters too much. EAX is overrated.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: filibusterman
how is this card when compared to audigy cards?

Creative's cards are for gamers, if it's for music I would probably rather have this card.

Actually, even for gaming this is a MUCH better card if you have a real surround sound system (i.e. a receiver/pre-processor which controls all your audio). For games, if you do not have DD Live or DTS Live encoding, you would have to run 8 seperate analog lines from the sound card into the 7.1 analog inputs on your receiver/pre-pro (and you usually only have 1 of those input sets) to get surround sound. If you simply use the digital (coax or optical) on any sound card that does not have DD Live or DTS Live encoding, you will simply get a stereo signal, NOT surround sound. The only time you will have surround sound is if you are watching a DVD or similar which has a DD or DTS stream that the sound card can perform a "pass-thru" on, since the cards typically can not process the data.

This is a great card for everyone, not just non-gamers. It makes my gaming experience much better since I have invested in a real home theater, I like to be able to make use of it. I have had this card since late January, early Feburary when they first came out. Before that I had the X-Mystique, which was the previous card design (only DD Live, no DTS Live).

 

[grtmoby]

I have got this from guru3d.com in their review of this card, which can be found Here

"What Auzentech has produced is a sound card that offers new features to a different market, the HTPC, as well as a little sum-sum for the casual gamer, and the music afficionado."

it was mentioned in so many places that the main issue this card has beside being a very nice featured one is its drivers. A lot BSOD and freezes especially in games.

I, myself, is planning to upgrade my audigy and so hesitated in which one to get although, i seems to be favouring the x-fi fatal1ty one.

 

[zainali]

for games for with creative stuff.

for htpc go with this.

 

[GZeus]

Originally posted by: zainali
for games for with creative stuff.

for htpc go with this.

I second that. If I ever get around to putting all the pieces I've gathered together into an HTPC, this sound card is definitely going to move to that system - if only for the digital outputs.
Hmm... that leaves me to choose from an Audigy 4 Pro and a X-fi Platinum to put into my gamer. Oh the money I've saved buying unused parts here at HDs :roll: !!

I should mention that I have had none of the driver problems that 'grtmoby' mentioned. I saw a few posts about that before I bought but haven't had any problems in my rig. It may have been an early-adopters issue. I also have absolutely no complaints about the sound quality for games, especially when the full 7.1 is used.

I felt like I was taking a bit of a chance when I first bought this but now I think it's hard to go wrong with this card.

 

[Abel007]

Mine should arrive tomorrow, just in time for the weekend! I'll post a short review if I have time.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: filibusterman
how is this card when compared to audigy cards?

This is probably the best non-studio (i.e. less than $300) soundcard that money can buy. But for the money, the hot deal mentioned in the opening post is a nice way to go.

http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?products_id=1101

 

[kamiller42]

New Egg's savings are a little deceptive. According to the manufacturer's site, the retail price has been lowered to $99. Expect the price to fall at all vendors.

 

[tallman45]

Auzentech just released a brand new Sound Card. That is likley the reason why the one posted has dropped in price

X-Meridian 7.1


Here is a very good forum for discussion of the X-Plosion

AVSforum

 

[neocor]

Wow this seems like a really good card. Much better than Creative surely.

neo

 

[EtOH]

I have had the Mystique version of this card (didn't have DTS) for a while now, it is awesome. Drivers have been fixed and everything works like a champ. Amazing sound quality. I ditched a horrible X-Fi (had issues with my NF4 motherboard) for this, well worth it.

 

[BladeVenom]

Originally posted by: Fallen Kell

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: filibusterman
how is this card when compared to audigy cards?

Creative's cards are for gamers, if it's for music I would probably rather have this card.

Actually, even for gaming this is a MUCH better card if you have a real surround sound system (i.e. a receiver/pre-processor which controls all your audio). For games, if you do not have DD Live or DTS Live encoding, you would have to run 8 seperate analog lines from the sound card into the 7.1 analog inputs on your receiver/pre-pro (and you usually only have 1 of those input sets) to get surround sound. If you simply use the digital (coax or optical) on any sound card that does not have DD Live or DTS Live encoding, you will simply get a stereo signal, NOT surround sound. The only time you will have surround sound is if you are watching a DVD or similar which has a DD or DTS stream that the sound card can perform a "pass-thru" on, since the cards typically can not process the data.

This is a great card for everyone, not just non-gamers. It makes my gaming experience much better since I have invested in a real home theater, I like to be able to make use of it. I have had this card since late January, early Feburary when they first came out. Before that I had the X-Mystique, which was the previous card design (only DD Live, no DTS Live).

All that doesn't matter to most gamers, and performance enthusiasts. What matters is CPU utilization and framerates. Here it loses. Here it loses to onboard sound.

 

[Takemaru]

This card is great for the $$$ you'd probly have to pay twice that for a Creative card with digital outs but to top it off this card has digital ins as well. Pretty sweet, i'll probly pick one up for my upcoming HTPC rig. The price has been @ 100 for a few weeks, so newegg's "discount" isn't as great as it seems. Most places are still selling it for at least 100 though so that $40 in instant savings is pretty darn good.

I hope it really is as good as Soundstorm was, the soundmax 7.1 DTS my new asus board has is quite pitiful and i have to reset it everytime i boot up or it'll default to virtualized surround. it almost makes me regret moving on from my A7N8X.

 

[bob4432]

they just changed the instant saving from $40 to $30, so now $85+shippig...

 

[djchemistry]

This may sound off base at first but what about this card over at the newegg as well. It's the Diamond 7.1 DDL sound card, but it's similar to Auzentech's Mystique board mentioned a couple times above.

$49.99
-20.00 (rebate)
---------
$29.99 + shipping (about $6 for me)

I like this card because the only receiver I have with a digital input runs DD 5.1. I don't need 7.1. But I do need 5.1. Of course, a card with only 5.1 output limits your choices, but I'm limited most by my budget.

 

[Slick5150]

The Diamond card is actually the exact same card as the older X-Mystique card from Auzentech. In fact, you can use the Auzentech drivers with it (with a little modification) rather than the painfully out-of-date Diamond drivers.

I'm using one right now (w/ the Auzentech drivers) until the price drops on Auzentech's new card (the X-Meridian), and haven't had any real issues at all once I got the drivers working right.

 

[imaheadcase]

It should be noted this card is NOT good for gaming.

The chipset does not support openAL for vista. The company has no plans to offer it..straight from the horses mouth from email i sent them..

"This is our request that we need to support OpenAL for our sound card. But C-Media, the chipset maker, still hesitates to support this OpenAL."

 

[GameManK]

How do either of these cards (the Auzentech and the Diamond) compare to the M-Audio Revolution?
Also, anybody know about linux support?
EDIT: seems like it's basically supported but the important features (DTS...) aren't

 

[BenJeremy]

Originally posted by: imaheadcase
It should be noted this card is NOT good for gaming.

The chipset does not support openAL for vista. The company has no plans to offer it..straight from the horses mouth from email i sent them..

"This is our request that we need to support OpenAL for our sound card. But C-Media, the chipset maker, still hesitates to support this OpenAL."

Why does this make it bad for gaming, again?

Let's see... DDL is my biggest checklist item on a sound card. I have plenty of CPU and GPU, and just because a card doesn't support OpenAL for Vista, does not mean it won't run in Vista and run well enough to play top flight games.

Creative's bloated and sloppy drivers are enough to drive anyone crazy, let alone the fact that they REFUSE to get on the DDL bandwagon and give us clean, digital audio transport to our home theater receivers. I supported Creative since my first GameBlaster on a PC XT - over 15 years ago, but I liked my X-Mystique so much, I got one for the HTPC I built. I play the big games just fine on my system (Clawhammer 3700+ 7800GS, 1GB RAM, 20" WS LCD @1680x1050).

But hey, this is a card for people who don't want the hassle of a multiple cable, analog connection snaking through their AC and other cables, introducing noise. We've been doing that for almost a decade now, since 5.1 cards came out, and it's about time we started utilizing TOSLink or Coax digital connections like our $29 DVD Player does.

Most importantly, it's just fine for gaming.

Modern systems have pretty much rendered CPU utilization of sound cards down to a foot note in benchmarks, when it comes down to it... and until people get behind DDL technology, Creative and others won't have any impetus to get on the ball with it and develop truly new, useful technology.

/Tired of Creative's lame SoundBlaster Live rehashes
//Wasn't going to rant, but saw one too many idiotic "Not good for gaming" posts

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: BenJeremy

Originally posted by: imaheadcase
It should be noted this card is NOT good for gaming.

The chipset does not support openAL for vista. The company has no plans to offer it..straight from the horses mouth from email i sent them..

"This is our request that we need to support OpenAL for our sound card. But C-Media, the chipset maker, still hesitates to support this OpenAL."

Why does this make it bad for gaming, again?

Let's see... DDL is my biggest checklist item on a sound card. I have plenty of CPU and GPU, and just because a card doesn't support OpenAL for Vista, does not mean it won't run in Vista and run well enough to play top flight games.

Creative's bloated and sloppy drivers are enough to drive anyone crazy, let alone the fact that they REFUSE to get on the DDL bandwagon and give us clean, digital audio transport to our home theater receivers. I supported Creative since my first GameBlaster on a PC XT - over 15 years ago, but I liked my X-Mystique so much, I got one for the HTPC I built. I play the big games just fine on my system (Clawhammer 3700+ 7800GS, 1GB RAM, 20" WS LCD @1680x1050).

But hey, this is a card for people who don't want the hassle of a multiple cable, analog connection snaking through their AC and other cables, introducing noise. We've been doing that for almost a decade now, since 5.1 cards came out, and it's about time we started utilizing TOSLink or Coax digital connections like our $29 DVD Player does.

Most importantly, it's just fine for gaming.

Modern systems have pretty much rendered CPU utilization of sound cards down to a foot note in benchmarks, when it comes down to it... and until people get behind DDL technology, Creative and others won't have any impetus to get on the ball with it and develop truly new, useful technology.

/Tired of Creative's lame SoundBlaster Live rehashes
//Wasn't going to rant, but saw one too many idiotic "Not good for gaming" posts

i have really been contemplating this card for the fact that it passes dd or dts (1.5Mb/s ) over the toslink cable. since i am in the process of upgrading my ht receiver i will have an extra denon unit on hand that does dd/dts decoding, just looking for a good deal on some smaller paradigm satellites and possibly a velodyne sub for my computer room.

without the openal support, what does this mean for vista and this card? the only reason i ask is because i have been running onboard sound forever, but since i will be going to a true ht receiver i figured it would be nice to step up the sound card as well. is everybody saying this card just won't work when vista comes out? not that i am hyped about vista and probably won't upgrade for some time i would hate to have the first sound card i purchased in over 7yrs to not work with an os upgrade that will come whether i like it or not...