Building a HTPC...a sound card question.

[777php]

I have heard a few contradicting things about sound cards and their features so, I would like to cleared of all confusion once and for all.

I am building a HTPC using a shuttle SN41 or SB51 with a Radeon AIW8500. I want the best audio that I can possibly afford,(which isn't too much) audio which will ultimately go straight into my receiver (Pioneer VSX-D811S with Wharfedale Vivendi Modus speakers 6.1)

I want at least 5.1 with 6.1 preferred.

I've heard that I can only get 2.1 sound through the SPDIF out on all soundcards. Is this true, I though that SPDIF was the only way to get 5.1.

If SPDIF is not the way to go, then what is?

Then I heard that analog phono outputs were the only way to get 5.1, is this true?

When purchasing my soundcard what should I look for and which is the best for DivX, DVD, and MP3's?

Here a few that I am considering:

M-Audio Revolution
Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1
Creative Labs Audigy 2
Philips Seismic Edge

Considering my previous requirements and preferences which card is best suited for me?

 

[Davegod]

I was fairly convinced SPLIFDIF (too much coffee already )is practically another name for AC3 plugging shenanigans, and hence the way for 5.1

 

[SUOrangeman]

The folks over at www.avsforum.com can confirm that you can pass 5.1 sound over SPDIF. If your mobo of choice has the connector, I wouldn't even bother ... unless you went with the super-high end stuff from MAudio (24/96 type stuff).

Again, refer to www.avsforum.com.

-SUO

 

[chizow]

Spdif will allow you to get 5.1 decoded through a receiver or speakers (with a decoder). You just have to make sure the card also supports spdif passthrough. 5.1 sound is awesome. I'm pretty sure the Z680's have a direct mini-to-mini digital cable for 5.1 sound, but I'm using a standard HT A/V receiver from Sony. It has a nice blue LED that lets me know its doing the decoding. I used a gold mini-plug to RCA adapter, then connected a coax digital cable to the adapter and then to the coax in on my receiver. Of course, only 5.1 encoded digital source feeds will be decoded by the receiver, any analog source material will still be standard Dolby Surround/Pro Logic.

Run a search on SP/DIF here and in peripherals and you should find more info.

Chiz

 

[777php]

Does anyone know where I can pick up the M-Audio line of sound cards?

 

[TripperJoe]

The M-Audio Revolution has the highest quality output.
It surpasses even their professional line of sound cards (i.e. the 24/96) in analog output.

Currently you can preorder it here for $99+shipping, although I believe the first batch has already shipped.

You will not use the SPDIF because as far as I understand (based on the audigy), it will only run 5.1 digital sound and you have a 6.1 setup. Again, if you find the functionality sufficient in this card, do not worry about spending more money on the more expensive pro-line of M-audio cards. They don't offer any significant corresponding increase in quality.

 

[Goi]

Since I haven't read any reviews or seen any measurements of the new M-Audio Revolution 7.1, I'd say the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 is the best prosumer budget card that you can get. It does 24/96, and costs around $150 at The Digital Connection, which is where I got mine. It supports ASIO too so you can get pure unadulterated sound that bypasses the kmixer or any other evil stuff in the OS that degrades the sound quality.

S/PDIF is simply the interface. Its able to carry a certain amount of bandwidth, and normal stereo PCM 16bit/96KHz or 24bit/96KHz fits nicely into that bandwidth, as do Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital-EX and DTS/DTS-ES. You won't get multi-channel DVD-A or SACD though.

I've read that the Audiophile 2496's analog outputs aren't that good, but I've never used them since I just use its digital output to connect to my prepro, which does everything else.

 

[TripperJoe]

The only reason to buy the AP2496 over the REVO is that the AP2496 has more profit for the retailer. The S/PDIF circuit hardware is the same on both cards and you save $60.

Analog Output (measured with 24-bit/192 kHz, 24-bit/48 kHz and 16-bit/44.1 kHz signals)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 107 dB (A-weighted)
Dynamic Range: 106.7 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: 0.00316%
Frequency Response: +0.8/-0.0 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz and +0.8/-3.0 dB, 20 Hz to 80 kHz
Crosstalk: -120 dB
Noise Floor + Distortion: -127.6 dBFS

Microphone Input (measured with 24-bit/48 kHz signal)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 90 dB (A-weighted)
Dynamic Range: 90 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: 0.00307%
Frequency Response: +0.0/-3.0 dB, 20 Hz to 17 kHz

Line Input (measured with 24-bit/96 kHz signal)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 89 dB (A-weighted)
Dynamic Range: 90 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: 0.00359%
Maximum Input Level: 1.228 Vrms

-From Cliff at AVSforum (he runs The Digital Connection)

 

[Goi]

Originally posted by: TripperJoe

The only reason to buy the AP2496 over the REVO is that the AP2496 has more profit for the retailer. The S/PDIF circuit hardware is the same on both cards and you save $60.

Analog Output (measured with 24-bit/192 kHz, 24-bit/48 kHz and 16-bit/44.1 kHz signals)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 107 dB (A-weighted)
Dynamic Range: 106.7 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: 0.00316%
Frequency Response: +0.8/-0.0 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz and +0.8/-3.0 dB, 20 Hz to 80 kHz
Crosstalk: -120 dB
Noise Floor + Distortion: -127.6 dBFS

Microphone Input (measured with 24-bit/48 kHz signal)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 90 dB (A-weighted)
Dynamic Range: 90 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: 0.00307%
Frequency Response: +0.0/-3.0 dB, 20 Hz to 17 kHz

Line Input (measured with 24-bit/96 kHz signal)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 89 dB (A-weighted)
Dynamic Range: 90 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: 0.00359%
Maximum Input Level: 1.228 Vrms

-From Cliff at AVSforum (he runs The Digital Connection)

That's good then...too bad they use dinky minijack connectors though...

 

[Spicedaddy]

Sorry, but why in the world would somebody buy a high-end sound card when all they're gonna use is the SPDIF output??


What SPDIF passthrough does is pass on the undecoded digital stream (can be AC3 or DTS format for DVDs, and stereo PCM for everything else) to an external decoder. All sound cards that support it will sound exactly the same, so using the SPDIF out on your Shuttle onboard sound card will be the same as on a high-end card.


And yes, since it just passes on the undecoded stream from the DVD, SPDIF will work with 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 or whatever's on the disc. So just use the SPDIF connection... Your receiver will recognize when it's sent an AC3 (Dolby Digital) or DTS stream and decode it accordingly. For MP3 and the rest, it'll be sent a stereo PCM stream, so just set the receiver to virtualize it to 5.1 (using Dolby Prologic-2, DTS Neo, etc.).

 

[Goosemaster]

Spicedaddy is correct.

SPDIF will output whatever you want, except that all the info will be undecoded.

I have my Fortissimo III 7.1 Outputting PCM which the reciever decodes.

For DVDs it will still work set at PCM, however if I had a full speaker system, I would set it to output DD/DTS signals and not PCM. Without the PCM setting your mp3's, cd's etc will not be heard.

 

[codehack2]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Spicedaddy is correct.

SPDIF will output whatever you want, except that all the info will be undecoded.

I have my Fortissimo III 7.1 Outputting PCM which the reciever decodes.

For DVDs it will still work set at PCM, however if I had a full speaker system, I would set it to output DD/DTS signals and not PCM. Without the PCM setting your mp3's, cd's etc will not be heard.

Yep, these boys nailed it... The only thing I have to add is the SoundStorm on the Nforce boards is nice, because it will encode the sound in Dolby Digital prior to sending it out the SPDIF, which is pretty cool for gaming.

CH2

 

[Goi]

Even though theoretically it should be the same, the truth is that there are differences, most of which is usually attributed to the amount of jitter present in the S/PDIF interface. That's why there are separate high-end CD transports and "de-jitterers" being made.

 

[Paulson]

Just use optical.....

mmmmmmmmm, optical connections

 

[Biggs]

Originally posted by: Goi
Even though theoretically it should be the same, the truth is that there are differences, most of which is usually attributed to the amount of jitter present in the S/PDIF interface. That's why there are separate high-end CD transports and "de-jitterers" being made.

Just to add that this is only applicable to PCM (e.g. 16bit/44.1Khz aka CD-quality) since DD/DTS (e.g. DVD w/ 5.1 Surround Sound) buffers all the bits (thus eliminating jitter entirely).