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ALC892 Audio Card Opinions

post #1 of 28
5/17/12 at 12:20pm
Thread Starter 
Long time lurker, first time poster!

I would love some input/opinions on my first (What I consider) decent audio setup. I've had sony/pioneer/etc in the past (nothing fancy) but always wanted something a little higher end.

That being said I have 3 setups that I am going to be working on. My Stereo setup in my office, my stereo setup in a music only room and a HT room.

This question is regarding the home office setup. I am purchasing an ASUS P8Z77-V motherboard for my new rig and it has a Realtek ALC892 sound card.

My plan is to use the Digital Audio Out (SPDIF) from this card and run it to the Emotiva XDA1, then from there to the Emotiva Mini-X A-100 AMP and then to an undecided set of bookshelf speakers. (Probably Polk).

How does this sound? I've heard I could just let the ALC892 do the DAC and just send an analog signal right to the AMP. Is there a benefit from the XDA1 over this sound cards DAC?

Any advice?

Thanks!

Mike
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post #2 of 28
5/17/12 at 12:22pm
Thread Starter 
One other point to mention, I will be playing these files from iTunes in ALAC format.

Also I can't Hyperlink yet so here are the stats for the sound card:

Features
Hardware Features
DACs with 95dB SNR (A-weighting), ADCs with 90dB SNR (A-weighting)
Ten DAC channels support 16/20/24-bit PCM format for 7.1 channel sound playback, plus 2 channels of concurrent independent stereo sound output (multiple streaming) through the front panel output
Two stereo ADCs support 16/20/24-bit PCM format, multiple stereo recording
All DACs supports 44.1k/48k/96k/192kHz sample rate
All ADCs supports 44.1k/48k/96k/192kHz sample rate
Primary 16/20/24-bit SPDIF-OUT supports 32k/44.1k/48k/88.2k/96k/192kHz sample rate
Secondary 16/20/24-bit SPDIF-OUT supports 32k/44.1k/48k/88.2k/96k/192kHz sample rate
16/20/24-bit SPDIF-IN supports 44.1k/48k/96k/192kHz sample rate
All analog jacks (port-A to port-G) are stereo input and output re-tasking
Port-D/E/F built-in headphone amplifiers
Port-B/C/E/F with software selectable boost gain (+10/+20/+30dB) for analog microphone input
High-quality analog differential CD input
Supports external PCBEEP input and built-in digital BEEP generator
Software selectable 2.5V/3.2V/4.0V VREFOUT
Up to four channels of microphone array input are supported for AEC/BF applications
Three jack detection pins; each designed to detect up to 4 jacks
Supports legacy analog mixer architecture
Up to two GPIOs (General Purpose Input and Output) for customized applications. GPIO0 and GPIO1 share pin with DMIC-CLK and DMIC-DATA
Supports mono and stereo digital microphone interface (pins shared with GPIO0 and GPIO1)
Supports anti-pop mode when analog power LDO-IN is on and digital power is off
Content Protection for Full Rate lossless DVD Audio, Blu-ray DVD, and HD-DVD audio content playback (with selected versions of WinDVD/PowerDVD/TMT)
1dB per step output volume and input volume control
Supports 3.3V digital core power, 1.5V or 3.3V digital I/O power for HD Audio link, and 5.0V analog power
Intel low power ECR compliant and power status control for each analog/digital converter and pin widget
48-pin LQFP ‘Green’ package

Here's the XDA-1:

Specifications
Signal to Noise Ratio: > 105 dB (A-Weighted)
Frequency response: 5Hz - 48kHz
THD+N: 0.001%
Ground floor noise level: < 15uV
Nominal output voltage: 1V RMS
Peak output voltage: > 12VRMS (balanced)
Bit depth / sample rate: 16/44.1kHz to 24/192kHz (Coax, AES/EBU, Toslink); up to 24/48kHz (USB)
I/V conversion: Burr Brown OPA-2134
D/A conversion: high performance, multibit Sigma-Delta AD1955 Data Directed Scrambling with high jitter immunity, and an 8x Oversampling Digital Filter
Size:
unboxed: 17" wide x 2.25" high x 14" deep boxed: 21.75" wide x 5.75" high x 18" deep
Weight: 10.6 lbs (15.8 lbs boxed)
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post #3 of 28
5/17/12 at 2:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AudioSerf View Post

Long time lurker, first time poster!

I would love some input/opinions on my first (What I consider) decent audio setup. I've had sony/pioneer/etc in the past (nothing fancy) but always wanted something a little higher end.

That being said I have 3 setups that I am going to be working on. My Stereo setup in my office, my stereo setup in a music only room and a HT room.

This question is regarding the home office setup. I am purchasing an ASUS P8Z77-V motherboard for my new rig and it has a Realtek ALC892 sound card.

If you want to get an idea of how a computer audio interface performs, just google on its name followed by the word "rightmark".

This is typical:



The above performance was obtained via analog outputs, using the DACs in the audio interface. Not the best, particularly in the area of dynamic range.

Quote:


My plan is to use the Digital Audio Out (SPDIF) from this card and run it to the Emotiva XDA1, then from there to the Emotiva Mini-X A-100 AMP and then to an undecided set of bookshelf speakers. (Probably Polk).

Good move, because it bypasses the mediocre converters in the ALC 892.


Quote:


How does this sound? I've heard I could just let the ALC892 do the DAC and just send an analog signal right to the AMP. Is there a benefit from the XDA1 over this sound cards DAC?

Yes. go with your first thought and bypass the converters in the motherboard if you can.
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post #4 of 28
5/17/12 at 4:49pm
This board has PCI interfaces, so you can get inexpensive, but high quality audio interface like this http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...phile2496.html
It will give you good analog stereo and full featured SPDIF interfaces.
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post #5 of 28
5/17/12 at 8:41pm
Thread Starter 
Awesome! Thank you both!
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post #6 of 28
5/17/12 at 10:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AudioSerf View Post

My plan is to use the Digital Audio Out (SPDIF) from this card and run it to the Emotiva XDA1, then from there to the Emotiva Mini-X A-100 AMP and then to an undecided set of bookshelf speakers. (Probably Polk).

Sonically, these two units are a great combination for your money. However, any reason why you want to go with a Mini-X, which is designed for a smaller footprint, and then the XDA-1, which is more full sized? Something like the Music Streamer II for a DAC would allow you to keep the footprint very small.
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post #7 of 28
5/18/12 at 2:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cel4145 View Post

Sonically, these two units are a great combination for your money. However, any reason why you want to go with a Mini-X, which is designed for a smaller footprint, and then the XDA-1, which is more full sized? Something like the Music Streamer II for a DAC would allow you to keep the footprint very small.

Yes, very good question.

Where it sits now, it's a little over-done because the XDA-1 is going to handle an Apple-TV, my main computer rig and my record player. For now, I am limiting myself to enjoying these things in my small home office (Maybe 14x14) and I have a lot of bookshelves, pictures, rattly things. So for now I just want it to feed the Mini and some Polk's that are basically sitting right in front of my face.

When I move in t-minus 11 months to Austin, the XDA-1 is going to the dedicated music room and I will find a smaller dac for my new home office which will only run my main rig sound. Just trying to think ahead.

It's killling me not to just buy everything up front, but I know that isn't too smart. I keep putting 7 of the emotiva single channel 500w amps into my cart and then chickening out.

I also did a comparison of the Energy/Polk/B&W and the tsi200 for $199 at the ebay store just basically dominates that price scale... it has a better frequency spectrum and better stats all around than the energy CB20.

I'll give a review of how I think the Sound Card->XDA-1>Mini>Polk sounds.
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post #8 of 28
5/18/12 at 2:50pm
Thread Starter 
I also might buy 2 of the mini's, and run a sub for 2.1... not sure how well that would work. I also noticed Emotiva has a $499 powered sub, I could run off the digital out on the mini to the powered sub. That would probably sound pretty good!
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post #9 of 28
5/19/12 at 8:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AudioSerf View Post

I also might buy 2 of the mini's, and run a sub for 2.1... not sure how well that would work. I also noticed Emotiva has a $499 powered sub, I could run off the digital out on the mini to the powered sub. That would probably sound pretty good!



Sounds like you are building a really good and well thought out 2 channel system. If I were you, especially since you are investing in such high quality components, I would definitely NOT recommend Polk speakers. Will they produce sound? Yes. Will they play loud? Yes. Will they sound good? No. There are so so so many better sounding speakers out there. Of course I understand that this is all subjective, but I doubt anyone would disagree that for the price, you can do much better than Polk. It is recommended by pretty much everyone that you spend the bulk of your budget on speakers, followed by an amp, and then, a source.
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post #10 of 28
5/20/12 at 5:39am
^^

Everything I've heard about them suggests that the Polk TSI200s are very similar to the Polk Monintor40s (check in the Polk owners thread) which can generally be had from Newegg on special for about $150 or less (Newegg constantly runs specials on the Polk Monitors; join their mailing list for discounts). It is considered a good speaker for $150, but you can do better on overall audio quality if you simply go with the MAudio card listed previously or something like the Asus Xonar D1, use the analog out from the card and put the money into better speakers, such as the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE or Energy RC-10.
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post #11 of 28
5/20/12 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the information guys, I have thought about using the analog from the card, but money isn't really my primary concern so getting the DAC and Mini and then some better speakers isn't really a problem. The only problem is I compared the tsi200's to the Energy equivalant and the specs looked better on the Polks. I think what I might do is buy the Polks and the better RC-10's and just return the pair I don't like.



Thanks you both for the input. I'll update when it happens, I spent today putting my main rig together, turned out pretty nice!

[EDIT]

Just checked out the CBM-170's... they are only $350 for the pair? Time to research!!!
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post #12 of 28
5/20/12 at 7:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AudioSerf View Post

Thanks for the information guys, I have thought about using the analog from the card, but money is really my primary concern so getting the DAC and Mini and then some better speakers isn't really a problem. The only problem is I compared the tsi200's to the Energy equivalant and the specs looked better on the Polks. I think what I might do is buy the Polks and the better RC-10's and just return the pair I don't like.



Thanks you both for the input. I'll update when it happens, I spent today putting my main rig together, turned out pretty nice!

[EDIT]

Just checked out the CBM-170's... they are only $350 for the pair? Time to research!!!

Specs from big box speaker manufactures are the last thing you should be looking at!!!!
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post #13 of 28
5/20/12 at 7:37pm
Thread Starter 
^^

Fair enough! What would you recommend?
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post #14 of 28
5/21/12 at 5:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AudioSerf View Post

Thanks for the information guys, I have thought about using the analog from the card, but money is really my primary concern so getting the DAC and Mini and then some better speakers isn't really a problem. The only problem is I compared the tsi200's to the Energy equivalant and the specs looked better on the Polks. I think what I might do is buy the Polks and the better RC-10's and just return the pair I don't like.

I don't know if you realize how severely you contradicted yourself above. If money is an issue, the audio interface in your PC is the last place to spend money. Spending money on speakers that are actually worth the money (probable with cost-consious but performance-oriented vendors like Infinity, Energy and Polk) is generally a better investment than electronics once a basic level of performance has been achieved in the electronics.

Judging speakers based on specs between multiple manufacturers makes even less sense than comparing speaker specs within a given manufacturer. However, with some vendors their specs actually make some sense looking at the hardware that they deliver to go with the specs.

Looking at the comparison between the tsi200s and the Monitor 40s, it seems obvious to me that that the Monitor 40s are the better overall choice if you are going to use a good subwoofer, either down the road a little ways, or right now. The TSI200s are obviously designed to stand alone, but no way are they likely to match what you can do with the Monitor 40s and a good sub.
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post #15 of 28
5/21/12 at 11:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by arnyk View Post

I don't know if you realize how severely you contradicted yourself above. If money is an issue, the audio interface in your PC is the last place to spend money.

I didn't spend a dime on the audio interface on my PC, it was built into the mobo and I was only interested in the fact that it has an SPDIF OUT to run where I am spending my money, on a DAC and AMP and speakers. Not sure I understand where you are coming from.

I also have no interest in the Polk or Monitor 40's now that I have gotten some useful information from other members. It's looking more like the Ascend's and a powered sub.

I'm not a pro audio researcher like you are, I'm new to this and came here for advice. My first logical thought when comparing two things is to read the specs from the two things and make decisions. Now that I've lurked further it appears that the real answer is to buy the two speakers I am comparing and see what sounds better to my ear personally.

Thanks for the post!

EDIT, now I see what you saw. I meant to write "Money is NOT an issue" no is an issue. Sorry about that.
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post #16 of 28
5/22/12 at 12:45am
Ascend makes some great speakers. I would imagine you'll be very happy.

When you look at subs, get one that has either speaker level inputs AND outputs, or RCA line level inputs AND outputs since you'll need one or the other to hook your sub into your setup.
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post #17 of 28
5/22/12 at 6:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cel4145 View Post

Ascend makes some great speakers.

No doubt, but why would one prefer them over more mainstream brands?
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post #18 of 28
5/22/12 at 6:56am
A very nice set of speakers that you can get for a reasonable price are the KEF iQ30 speakers, which have had a price drop recently from $599/pair to only $399/pair at the KEF Direct website. They are very good-sounding speakers and now at a very attractive price; highly recommended. You will have hard time finding any speakers with comparable sound quality at this price.

IMO the best subwoofer by far in the $500 price range is the Rythmic FV-12. The NHT B12D is also excellent for $600 ( and it is a very compact 14-inch cube; quite small for a 12-inch sub).

Also, you can make a major upgrade to your PC sound by spending less than $50 on a high-quality soundcard like the SIIG IC-710012-S2 which is only $33.60 from mwave.com.




Quote:
Originally Posted by AudioSerf View Post

I didn't spend a dime on the audio interface on my PC, it was built into the mobo and I was only interested in the fact that it has an SPDIF OUT to run where I am spending my money, on a DAC and AMP and speakers. Not sure I understand where you are coming from.

I also have no interest in the Polk or Monitor 40's now that I have gotten some useful information from other members. It's looking more like the Ascend's and a powered sub.

I'm not a pro audio researcher like you are, I'm new to this and came here for advice. My first logical thought when comparing two things is to read the specs from the two things and make decisions. Now that I've lurked further it appears that the real answer is to buy the two speakers I am comparing and see what sounds better to my ear personally.

Thanks for the post!

EDIT, now I see what you saw. I meant to write "Money is NOT an issue" no is an issue. Sorry about that.
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post #19 of 28
5/22/12 at 8:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman View Post

Also, you can make a major upgrade to your PC sound by spending less than $50 on a high-quality soundcard like the SIIG IC-710012-S2 which is only $33.60 from mwave.com.

How would that be a major upgrade of sound over his motherboard audio if he's using the optical out? It's more likely he would notice no difference at all.
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post #20 of 28
5/22/12 at 8:31am
[quote=arnyk;22050537][quote=cel4145;22049963]Ascend makes some great speakers.
Quote:



No doubt, but why would one prefer them over more mainstream brands?

If you want to learn more about them, there is an owners thread here.

I suppose that beyond the price/performance ratio with the particular SQ that many people find attractive over other speakers, it is kind of nice to buy a product from a small business company that designs and manufacturers their own speakers. While I have no doubt some of the components might come from overseas, the speakers are assembled and tested here in the US. Dave Fabrikant, the owner and designer, contributes on AVS occasionally, answers questions on the Ascend Acoustics forums, and can be talked to on the phone by calling them. I personally like that Ascend puts up measurements to support their specification claims, which is more than what most mainstream manufacturers do.
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post #21 of 28
5/22/12 at 4:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cel4145 View Post

How would that be a major upgrade of sound over his motherboard audio if he's using the optical out? It's more likely he would notice no difference at all.

You might be surprised. I am "new" to buying better quality sound components but I've played the piano for 26 years, guitar for around 16 and I think I have a pretty good ear for noticing sound quality. I agree that sound is all a personal opinion, but I certainly point out and hear the difference between mp3 and ALAC/FLAC and I don't listen to Youtube because the audio is horrible.... I'm not a total n00b!

Thanks for all the other information everyone, I'll check out the subs mentioned above. Also my digital out to Emotiva DAC plan in my opinion is better than any audio card in the PC. At least with what I'm doing and how much $$$ I am spending on it. I'm sure there is some recording studio sound card for 5k that's better, but I'll stick with the plan.

Speakers on the other hand, seem to be a bit of a battle!
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post #22 of 28
5/22/12 at 4:45pm
Thread Starter 
[quote=arnyk;22050537][quote=cel4145;22049963]Ascend makes some great speakers.
Quote:

No doubt, but why would one prefer them over more mainstream brands?

What speaker would you suggest?
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post #23 of 28
5/22/12 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AudioSerf View Post

You might be surprised. I am "new" to buying better quality sound components but I've played the piano for 26 years, guitar for around 16 and I think I have a pretty good ear for noticing sound quality. I agree that sound is all a personal opinion, but I certainly point out and hear the difference between mp3 and ALAC/FLAC and I don't listen to Youtube because the audio is horrible.... I'm not a total n00b!

You misunderstood me. There quite likely would be no audible difference (if any at all) if you are using optical out from that card vs your motherboard. Your receiver is getting a digital signal regardless and then handling all the DAC conversion as long as you run optical.

Not to mention that I doubt anyone in the PC audio world would call a SIIG sound card "high-quality." LOL

But even an actual high quality card would probably make no difference.
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post #24 of 28
5/22/12 at 7:54pm
Thread Starter 
Ah, I understand! I agree!
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post #25 of 28
5/23/12 at 3:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AudioSerf View Post

What speaker would you suggest?

Let me put it this way - the last several home audio speakers I purchased were Infinity Primus series.
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post #26 of 28
5/23/12 at 10:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by arnyk View Post

Let me put it this way - the last several home audio speakers I purchased were Infinity Primus series.

Wow more than one pair!

What is list $ for a L/R front pair?

And is Infinity (California?) still in business?

Odds are that it's the name that survives and not the original people behind the Infinity brand name?
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post #27 of 28
5/24/12 at 2:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by OtherSongs View Post

And is Infinity (California?) still in business?

Odds are that it's the name that survives and not the original people behind the Infinity brand name?

Where have you been? Old news.
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post #28 of 28
5/25/12 at 6:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman View Post

Also, you can make a major upgrade to your PC sound by spending less than $50 on a high-quality soundcard like the SIIG IC-710012-S2 which is only $33.60 from mwave.com.

I saw this card sitting on the shelf of my local Micro Center and so I bought it and took it home.

Long story short its measured performance (Audio Rightmark @ 16/44) was no better and maybe a little worse than the Rightmark results I found for the OP's audio interface.
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