The **OFFICIAL** Auzentech X-Meridian Thread

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: NanoStuff
I don't feel much for dolby headphone, nor MIT's HRTFs used on the XFI for that matter; gotta find a way to route through Steinberg's Externalizer. But it looks like a solid card, though there's not much of what hasn't already been done.

I like using DH on my receiver. It really takes that "the character is talking directly into my ears" feeling away

 

[NanoStuff]

Yea, that's the basic idea of any crossfeed processor, but with DH there's no free lunch. The price you pay is 'something not quite right' with how it sounds otherwise. I didn't bother to run spectrum analysis at the time, but it gave the sound something close to the hollowness of 45 degree HRTF, but perhaps not as bad. That's why I always use externalizer for everything headphones when possible. It provides excellent crossfeed with slight diffuse-field compensation for the pinna without the inexplicable drawbacks of DH or HRTF.

My biggest spite with any and all sound cards is the lack of VST support. It would make life so much easier.

 

[PurdueRy]

Updated

 

[smthmlk]

does this have a hardware mixer?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: smthmlk
does this have a hardware mixer?

Not that I have been made aware of

 

[gorka]

i can't wait till they review this card for games.

also...any news on CPU utilization?

 

[PurdueRy]

bump for trade in and price details

 

[tshen83]

There are many cards out there that use the CMedia OxygenHD CMI8788 chipset:

Club 3D Theatron DTS
http://www.club-3d.com/productshow_zapt...rcode=CMS-THDTS&show=&filter=&p=1_full
Only Available right now in Europe about 150 converted to USD

Sondigo Inferno
http://www.sondigo.com/inferno
150 available in US, online order

Asound A-8788-8c
http://www.asound.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductClass=32&id=395
available only for large quantities. Price unknown, probably the cheapest one if we(or newegg) can order in large quantities

Auzentech X-purity(X-meridian)
http://www.auzentech.com
The best analog output you can think of. Socketable OpAmps. I am expecting it to be 179-199 USD when it comes out. Best support

Taking a quick glance at the pictures of the PCB, I think the quality of the four cards can be arranged in the following order

Auzentech > Club 3d = Sondigo > Asound.

The Club3D looks exactly like the Sondigo and priced the same, I don't know who is the rebadger.

If we can score the asound card for < 80 bux, I think it's the best value of the four.

I am still personally waiting for a rebadged 8788 solution from like Diamond XtremeSound or TurtleBeach, only need the digital outs directly to 7.1 24bit/192khz receivers,(1 Optical and 1 Coax), no analog output(cheaper, because realistically, people who want this card only want the DTS encoder which is digital out only)

 

[tshen83]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...9127002&ATT=29-127-002&CMP=OTC-Froogle

bluegears BG01091 $110.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: tshen83
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...9127002&ATT=29-127-002&CMP=OTC-Froogle

bluegears BG01091 $110.

This is not the thread for the Bluegears B-enspirer. There is a different thread for that and that link has been posted in it.

 

[Liver]

My primary sound drivers are headphones. I have a nice dedicated 2 channel amp and dac and would like to continue to use them.

Currently I have the xplosion coax to the DAC/AMP, and the optical to a JVC SU-DH1 for dolby headphone.

I listen to my music in 2 channel and switch to the JVC for gaming.

Do you know if the Meridian will output the Dolby Headphone signal digitally (optical or coax)?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Liver
My primary sound drivers are headphones. I have a nice dedicated 2 channel amp and dac and would like to continue to use them.

Currently I have the xplosion coax to the DAC/AMP, and the optical to a JVC SU-DH1 for dolby headphone.

I listen to my music in 2 channel and switch to the JVC for gaming.

Do you know if the Meridian will output the Dolby Headphone signal digitally (optical or coax)?

Considering that the card takes and encodes all the signals digitally, I see no reason that it shouldn't be able to pass the signal w/Dolby headphone applied digitally. I do not know for sure however.

 

[zainali]

the x-plosion is going for 90 on ebay right now. is this one worth $110 more? or should i go with the xplosion for a htpc

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: zainali
the x-plosion is going for 90 on ebay right now. is this one worth $110 more? or should i go with the xplosion for a htpc

the xplosion will most likely be the better deal until prices settle down unless you want to use the analog outputs.

 

[Liver]

I wrote to Auzentech regarding dolby headphone out the optical and this is the response.

We make sure that our new X-Meridian supports all DDL/DTS devices.

However, If you want to get a Digital sounds from optical cable, your headphone
must be supported the optical port: according to your headphone, it is possble
or not.

I explained what I was trying to to. I don't know what to make of this answer.

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: Liver
I wrote to Auzentech regarding dolby headphone out the optical and this is the response.

We make sure that our new X-Meridian supports all DDL/DTS devices.

However, If you want to get a Digital sounds from optical cable, your headphone
must be supported the optical port: according to your headphone, it is possble
or not.

I explained what I was trying to to. I don't know what to make of this answer.

translation: we have no idea what you're talking about, so here's a bunny with a pancake on it's head.

 

[Auric]

Normally, uncompressed PCM carries 2ch with optional surround matrix including Dolby Headphone or any other such DSP effects applied on the PC side. Otherwise, pre-encoded DD/DTS can be streamed to an external decoder and have such effects applied there (or not). Therefore, the JVC DH encoder and the C-Media DD/DTS encoders would seem redunant and superior gaming effects could be had with an X-Fi output to the AMP with headphone output from there (with DH disabled). That would also be simpler and less costly.

 

[Shenook]

Ok, so what's the deal. X-meridian have a mass release date? I was originally told July and now here it is middle of September and nothing yet. Someone please let us know of any inside info. Waiting on this card. I mean seriously how long can we wait? At least post more on your website Auzentech.

 

[BFG10K]

If it doesn't support OpenAL or EAX 4.0/5.0 it's pretty useless for gaming.

A lot of modern games support those features.

 

[Liver]

Originally posted by: fisher

Originally posted by: Liver
I wrote to Auzentech regarding dolby headphone out the optical and this is the response.

We make sure that our new X-Meridian supports all DDL/DTS devices.

However, If you want to get a Digital sounds from optical cable, your headphone
must be supported the optical port: according to your headphone, it is possble
or not.

I explained what I was trying to to. I don't know what to make of this answer.

translation: we have no idea what you're talking about, so here's a bunny with a pancake on it's head.

i laughed out loud! thanks.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
If it doesn't support OpenAL or EAX 4.0/5.0 it's pretty useless for gaming.

A lot of modern games support those features.

I wouldn't say thats a dealbreaker for gaming. Games will still run and sound great without those added effects. Plus, some of us listen to music 300x more than we play games

 

[cmdrdredd]

no EAX = I won't buy or recommend it. I'm a gamer, and I build systems for gamers. EAX is almost a necessary feature.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
no EAX = I won't buy or recommend it. I'm a gamer, and I build systems for gamers. EAX is almost a necessary feature.

It has EAX support, but only up to 2.0, which means only basic support for directional sourcing and occlusion. That would mean it's also limited to 32 voices, I believe.

 

[PurdueRy]

Product page is up. Link in OP

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
no EAX = I won't buy or recommend it. I'm a gamer, and I build systems for gamers. EAX is almost a necessary feature.

It has EAX support, but only up to 2.0, which means only basic support for directional sourcing and occlusion. That would mean it's also limited to 32 voices, I believe.

Which is basically useless for games like Fear, Doom3, Quake4, Prey etc. which as far as I know use EAX 3