what Audio card for HTPC?

[mikek753]

Hello,

would you point me to good (price/performance) audio card? please.

It's for HTPC to play DVD (DivX, etc), some mp3, some gaming, but not too much ;-)
I have coax and optical spidf in my Pioneer receiver that does DD and DTS, also it comes with 5.1 input too.

I saw in hot deals about Creative X-Fi Platinum/Fatal1ty cards
But, I'm not so sure my audio can match such quality.
Would Creative X-Fi Platinum be overkill for HTPC?
I don't have any plans for audio input - no midi, no other devices.

thanks

 

[Raduque]

I think an X-Fi Platinum is a bit overkill for an HTPC, especially since you mentioned light gaming and no desire to use inputs. Personally, I haven't felt a need to give creative money since the SBLive, but that's not relevent.

If all you're looking for is a digital connection for DD/DTS on DVDs, and don't mind 2-channel audio in games, music and TV shows, then just any old cheap card with an optical or coax S/PDIF out on it will do you perfect. Popular choice is the Chaintec AV-710, and other cards based on the Envy24 chipset.

However, if you want surround sound out of games with a digital connection, you're going to need a card like the HDA Mystique or Xplosion, that does real-time dolby-digital live or DTS conect encoding. There's software to do the same thing, most notably AC3Filter, but in my experience, AC3Filter is.... flakey.

Now, this goes all out the window if you plan on using the analog 5.1 inputs, in which case, something with high-quality DACs, which the X-Fi has, will suit you well. Maybe somebody else can chime in here with some help, as most my experience is with pure digital connections, as my PC gaming stays on my monitor, and my big-screen is used for my console gaming

 

[Mr N8]

I'd probably go with a Turtle Beach Riviera for that. They are set up for stereo componennts, so connecting it to your HT will be simple.

 

[mikek753]

thanks a lot for the reply.

I have on motherboard Gigabyte GA-8I945P-PRO Realtek ALC882M that has S/PDIF Out 1x Optical and 1x Coaxial
Audio Ports 6 Ports

So for DVD I use S/PDIF (coax) and for games 6 ports analog via 5.1 receiver input
it already does all basics.

Will I hear diff with PCI sound card instead ALC882M chip to justify ~$100.?

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: mikek753
Will I hear diff with PCI sound card instead ALC882M chip to justify ~$100.?

Most likely not; which is why you should think about the AV710.

 

[Howard]

Auzentech X-Plosion?

 

[Jolt2]

Here is a link to a lot of info about the Envy24 audio chipset, what brand cards use this chipset, links to reviews about the cards, other peoples questions, and more. This is from a site that deals with home theater. Look around as there is a lot of info about everything in AV.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=364771

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Howard
Auzentech X-Plosion?

Ding Ding Ding

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Howard
Auzentech X-Plosion?

Ding Ding Ding

The Diamond Xtremesound 7.1 has similar DDL encoding but is significantly cheaper. SQ may or may not be subjectively worse.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Howard
Auzentech X-Plosion?

Ding Ding Ding

The Diamond Xtremesound 7.1 has similar DDL encoding but is significantly cheaper. SQ may or may not be subjectively worse.

Cool Howard, haven't heard anything about that one. I will definitely be checking this out further.