Envy24 HT-S Sound Card < $28 shipped

[dadeef]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
If you're having trouble finding the Mad Dog Entertainer 7.1 in stock anywhere, here is the exact same card complete with Wolfson WM8278 24bit stereo DAC:

Formosa21 (Edio21) VIA1721 24bit 7.1 Channel PCI Sound Card - $20.55 plus $6 ~ $8 shipping

Here are some photos I took myself:

Black PCB

I/O Bracket

Due to the SPDIF recording, I think this card beats the Chaintech variant.

Manufacturer website: SC1720

From the Tech Report review:

Mad Dog has an ace up its sleeve in the form of a Wolfson WM8728 DAC, which the card uses to power the rear center speakers in its 7.1-channel output scheme. Unlike the VT1616, the WM8728 supports 24-bit audio at up to 192kHz?a perfect match for the Envy24HT-S's 24-bit/192kHz capabilities.

Normally, I'd get on Mad Dog's case for wasting the Wolfson DAC's 24-bit capabilities on a seldom-used rear center output channel. However, VIA's latest Envy24 drivers let users route stereo audio through the Wolfson DAC instead of the VT1616, unlocking 24-bit stereo playback through the "Alt center" jack (used for channels 7 and 8, whose speakers typically sit directly behind the listener). When the WM8728 is used in this manner, the Entertainer essentially becomes a two-channel sound card. That should be just fine for music playback, where the Wolfson DAC could really shine.

See, I told you it was convoluted. To recap, the Entertainer supports true 24-bit/192KHz audio across not only its digital input and output ports, but also its "Alt center" analog output. The drivers can also re-route stereo output through the "Alt center" jack for 24-bit/192KHz stereo audio. Any questions?

Thr alt center analog only goes to 24/96 not true bitperfect 24/192. Better than audigy2 anyday tho!

 

[tcsenter]

Thr alt center analog only goes to 24/96 not true bitperfect 24/192. Better than audigy2 anyday tho!

Only when the Alt Center is run through the VT1616. It supports 24bit 192KHz when jumpered to run through the Wolfson DAC, which the Tech Report clearly explained.

chaintech av710 uses the same wolfson DAC and is cheaper.

And lacks SPDIF IN...also explained here already.

 

[Glendor]

Originally posted by: corinthos
I have mad dog entertainer 7.1... it's a great card!

It's good enough for me. I also have a Live! 24bit. Both sound good, but I like the extra ports on the Maddog. My only complaint is that the Maddog software causes errors when switching between users on my WIN XP MCE computer.