Sound card suggestion - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Rideauman · 2007-12-06, 07:00 AM

Hello:

I currently have an older model Dell computer hooked up to my AVR (Yamaha RXV459) to play music only - no video requirement at all. The existing sound card is a SB Live! Value model. Needless to say, the sound quality is pretty crappy. I have it hooked up with an analogue connection (split for left and right).

What is your suggestion for a better sound card? If I change the connection to digital (i.e. coax - the only open digital connection I have left on the AVR), will I get better sound quality? Note that I'm playing 2-channel music only - I don't have a requirement for 5.1 playback. I've seen the suggestions for the Chaintech AV-710 - however, the issues surrounding the driver availability and only an optical connection (see comment above) concern me.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

hugh · 2007-12-06, 07:40 AM

I would certainly try the digital connection first to see if it meets your needs. I have the Inferno card from Sondigo and can recommend it. And its a Canadian company!

Rideauman · 2007-12-06, 12:55 PM

From what I see, it looks like your Sondigo card has analog and optical connections. I'm looking for something that has digital coax output. Or do I not understand what s/pdif connections are?

I_Want_My_HDTV · 2007-12-06, 11:45 PM

S/PDIF is 75 ohm coax digital audio. IIRC, the Chaintech AV-710 has S/PDIF out as well as TOSLink. The drivers are not great but do the job. The SoundBlaster Audigy 2 OEM is similar in price and quality to the AV-710 but I find the extra driver features not that useful and it only has S/PDIF. All you really need for digital audio is a working digital output with pass through for DD/DTS sources. Newer HD audio sources will change that, of course, but then you are getting into a whole new class of system. I wouldn't spend too much money on an audio card. The onboard HD audio on new motherboards with will perform as well as many audio cards when used with a digital connection.

Rideauman · 2007-12-09, 12:31 AM

Thanks for the feedback - perhaps I'll give the Chaintech hardware a try.

slyboy · 2007-12-10, 09:34 AM

I purchased the Chaintech AV710 recently. It does not have digital coax, only optical toslink for digitial connections. If you don't have a digital audio output on your computer I can recommend this card as an inexpensive option. The software drivers are ok, not great, but if you're just looking to get a digital stream out of your PC over to a home theatre setup (for example) then this card will work.

2007-12-06, 07:00 AM	#1
Rideauman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 267	Sound card suggestion Hello: I currently have an older model Dell computer hooked up to my AVR (Yamaha RXV459) to play music only - no video requirement at all. The existing sound card is a SB Live! Value model. Needless to say, the sound quality is pretty crappy. I have it hooked up with an analogue connection (split for left and right). What is your suggestion for a better sound card? If I change the connection to digital (i.e. coax - the only open digital connection I have left on the AVR), will I get better sound quality? Note that I'm playing 2-channel music only - I don't have a requirement for 5.1 playback. I've seen the suggestions for the Chaintech AV-710 - however, the issues surrounding the driver availability and only an optical connection (see comment above) concern me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

2007-12-06, 07:40 AM	#2
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	I would certainly try the digital connection first to see if it meets your needs. I have the Inferno card from Sondigo and can recommend it. And its a Canadian company! __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2007-12-10, 09:34 AM	#6
slyboy Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 393	I purchased the Chaintech AV710 recently. It does not have digital coax, only optical toslink for digitial connections. If you don't have a digital audio output on your computer I can recommend this card as an inexpensive option. The software drivers are ok, not great, but if you're just looking to get a digital stream out of your PC over to a home theatre setup (for example) then this card will work. __________________ Pioneer Elite PRO-730HD \| Elite DV-59AVi \| Marantz SR8200 \| Mirage OM series \| Rogers/Cisco 8642HD, SA4250HD

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2007-12-06, 12:55 PM	#3
Rideauman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 267	From what I see, it looks like your Sondigo card has analog and optical connections. I'm looking for something that has digital coax output. Or do I not understand what s/pdif connections are?

2007-12-06, 11:45 PM	#4
I_Want_My_HDTV . Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: London, ON Posts: 6,297	S/PDIF is 75 ohm coax digital audio. IIRC, the Chaintech AV-710 has S/PDIF out as well as TOSLink. The drivers are not great but do the job. The SoundBlaster Audigy 2 OEM is similar in price and quality to the AV-710 but I find the extra driver features not that useful and it only has S/PDIF. All you really need for digital audio is a working digital output with pass through for DD/DTS sources. Newer HD audio sources will change that, of course, but then you are getting into a whole new class of system. I wouldn't spend too much money on an audio card. The onboard HD audio on new motherboards with will perform as well as many audio cards when used with a digital connection.

2007-12-09, 12:31 AM	#5
Rideauman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 267	Thanks for the feedback - perhaps I'll give the Chaintech hardware a try.