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The X-Meridian 7.1 Thread - Page 63

post #1861 of 2125
1/12/08 at 1:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBSCIX View Post

@Radio, I thought the new ones were The LME 49860, that is why I said almost
Looking at the spec sheet of the one you mentioned, yes they are exactly the same.
The LME 49860, are new also and feature a higher input power rating..

Sorry for not knowing, but what would the LME49860NA higher voltage do for me vs the LME49720NA?

And in the XM application, what does the the dual LME49860NA & LME49720NA do that isn't required for me to get the quad LME49740NA?
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post #1862 of 2125
1/13/08 at 12:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by a_ok2me View Post

I'm not an audiophile, but I cannot get rid of the hissing since upgrading my motherboard and cpu. I hear the hissing when using my headphones via both the front panel and back panel connectors.

I did a search for "hiss" and can't seem to find anything on this. Since upgrading my motherboard (gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R) and CPU (Intel Q6600), I get the standard high-pitched hissing sound of the processor crunching away. Auzentech tech support was no help.

I made sure my onboard audio was disabled, cleaned the pci connectors and downloaded the latest PCI8788-FULL-03_0806 driver. I also disconnected my video card to eliminate it to be the problem. But, it all that did not resolve the problem .

With the onboard audio enabled, obviously the hissing is worse.

Any suggestions?

There was a setting in my bios to control the CPU power-saving frequency and voltage in halt state that caused 90% of the hiss. I turned it off. There is another setting to protect the CPU from overheating that probably contributes to 1% of the hiss. But, I left this on since it either didn't or didn't help much.

CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)
Enables or disables Intel® CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) function, a CPU power-saving function in system halt state. When enabled, the CPU core frequency and voltage will be reduced during system halt state to decrease power consumption. (Default: Enabled)
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post #1863 of 2125
1/13/08 at 11:42pm
Question? If I take my xbox hd-dvd drive and hook it up to my pc could i get the hd sound formats [dts-hd] to play through the x-merdians 7.1 analog outputs. I would be hooking them up to my 7.1 receiver.
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post #1864 of 2125
1/21/08 at 7:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HockeyDog3133 View Post

Question? If I take my xbox hd-dvd drive and hook it up to my pc could i get the hd sound formats [dts-hd] to play through the x-merdians 7.1 analog outputs. I would be hooking them up to my 7.1 receiver.

only if you can find software that plays HD-DVDs and BDs in all their carnations that doesn't downsample HD audio to 48Khz before sending it to the Meridian.

It's the set-up I have (plus and internal BD rom)

PDVD downsamples
I think there's a way of geting MediaPlayer classic to do it with some additionally purchased Codecs. But not for all disks and without a lot of heart ache)
Arcsoft has software out that perports to do it but isn't yet proven. I tried the Jap demo and I could swear that in the 2 channels it was doing it was HD audio, but the UK demo is know to be buggy and bombs my PC when I tyr to launch it)
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post #1865 of 2125
1/21/08 at 12:58pm
Thread Starter 
Auzentech is set to launch a new High End Opamp line for upgrading their soundcards that support opamp replacement. The X-Meridian can take these new high grade opamps.
I also verified with them that the NEW HDMI 1.3 board they will be producing is compatible with the X-Meridian 7.1. Good news for XM owners....
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post #1866 of 2125
1/21/08 at 1:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBSCIX View Post

Auzentech is set to launch a new High End Opamp line for upgrading their soundcards that support opamp replacement. The X-Meridian can take these new high grade opamps.
I also verified with them that the NEW HDMI 1.3 board they will be producing is compatible with the X-Meridian 7.1. Good news for XM owners....

Good news, but not great if they can't provide support for it. Better than Creative, yet, they've been poor since they've discontinued the XM.
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post #1867 of 2125
1/21/08 at 1:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by a_ok2me View Post

Good news, but not great if they can't provide support for it. Better than Creative, yet, they've been poor since they've discontinued the XM.

Poor is an understatement! I received an email back letting me know that there would be no real futher development of drivers for the xm as it's been discontinued. I posted it earlier in this thread. Auzentech acts like a 3rd world company when it comes to actually supporting the products they build. And yeah, I know they don't make the drivers, but if cmedia is not going to continue development, then they should really stup up to the plate and write their own in support of all of us who expected fully functioning drivers.
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post #1868 of 2125
1/21/08 at 2:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dreamhost View Post

Poor is an understatement! I received an email back letting me know that there would be no real futher development of drivers for the xm as it's been discontinued. I posted it earlier in this thread. Auzentech acts like a 3rd world company when it comes to actually supporting the products they build. And yeah, I know they don't make the drivers, but if cmedia is not going to continue development, then they should really stup up to the plate and write their own in support of all of us who expected fully functioning drivers.

In my case exactly because I submitted my issues within my warranty period. I should still be supported in some way such as a refund or a replacement card. Instead, I received no response.

Now it could be the case that the hissing I had, which is still there but less, is because of the motherboard. But that was never disclosed as a compatibility problem. All I thought I needed was a pci slot when I bought it. That was the only main requirement stated on the box.
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post #1869 of 2125
1/21/08 at 9:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBSCIX View Post

Auzentech is set to launch a new High End Opamp line for upgrading their soundcards that support opamp replacement. The X-Meridian can take these new high grade opamps.
I also verified with them that the NEW HDMI 1.3 board they will be producing is compatible with the X-Meridian 7.1. Good news for XM owners....

If the new HDMI 1.3 card is going to be compatible with the X-Meridian, then would not there be a whole new set of drivers to control both?

I guess the reason to go with HDMI audio out is to be able to transmit high bit rate mpcm from HD and BR DVDs otherwise, analog out beats SPDIF for SQ which is why we went with the modded XMs to begin with.
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post #1870 of 2125
1/22/08 at 7:04am
Thread Starter 
The way I understand it, the card just offers another output stage that is integrated so when you set the card for digital you get HDMI. I will see what I can find out though, Good question.
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post #1871 of 2125
1/22/08 at 8:20am
darn good question. the picture of the HDMI card shows HDMI out and SPDIF out, surely you'd need intergated drivers/control pannel to set things correctly?
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post #1872 of 2125
1/24/08 at 11:39pm
Installed the LME49860NA today. It's noticeably more clear across the bandwidth. Given that I have neutral speakers, the highs now are much more clear and I don't have to turn it up to hear it. The bass is much more smooth and has more punch.
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post #1873 of 2125
1/25/08 at 10:17am
Thread Starter 
You installed them replacing the Stock amps? Yeah, the LME's are very close to the LM4562's The specs sheets are very similar. They are nice sounding opamps, very clear, great bass as you said. Enjoy.
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post #1874 of 2125
1/26/08 at 12:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBSCIX View Post

You installed them replacing the Stock amps? Yeah, the LME's are very close to the LM4562's The specs sheets are very similar. They are nice sounding opamps, very clear, great bass as you said. Enjoy.

Stock amps. It might be perception that the entire freq bandwidth sounds enhanced. What's certain for me is I guess it's because there is less noise, thereby allowing you to hear the sound you want to hear. In any case, it's a cheap, simple and noticeable upgrade.
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post #1875 of 2125
1/26/08 at 11:27am
Thread Starter 
The stock opamps on the X-Meridian where chosen for their price and they are really meant to be replaced. They are pretty much the same as the amps in a X-fi X-music and worth about 20 cents each. When you snap in a higher quality opamps your really notice the improvements especially with the LM/LME series. There are many others that sound amazing also.

Quote:
Originally Posted by a_ok2me View Post

Sorry for not knowing, but what would the LME49860NA higher voltage do for me vs the LME49720NA?

And in the XM application, what does the the dual LME49860NA & LME49720NA do that isn't required for me to get the quad LME49740NA?

The higher voltage ratings would do nothing for you, considering what your using the opamps for.

Your last question, The circuit on the X-Meridian are designed to use DUAL opamps in each socket. Each chip amplifies a stereo pair. The only difference in quads is they have FOUR amps within each chip. Other then that there is no difference. You can usually buy, single amps, Duals and quads. Needless to say the quads are usually bigger chips with different pin-outs. Hope that helps.
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post #1876 of 2125
1/26/08 at 11:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBSCIX View Post

The stock opamps on the X-Meridian where chosen for their price and they are really meant to be replaced. They are pretty much the same as the amps in a X-fi X-music and worth about 20 cents each. When you snap in a higher quality opamps your really notice the improvements especially with the LM/LME series. There are many others that sound amazing also.



The higher voltage ratings would do nothing for you, considering what your using the opamps for.

Your last question, The circuit on the X-Meridian are designed to use DUAL opamps in each socket. Each chip amplifies a stereo pair. The only difference in quads is they have FOUR amps within each chip. Other then that there is no difference. You can usually buy, single amps, Duals and quads. Needless to say the quads are usually bigger chips with different pin-outs. Hope that helps.

Answers everything - thanks.
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post #1877 of 2125
2/3/08 at 2:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBSCIX View Post

Auzentech is set to launch a new High End Opamp line for upgrading their soundcards that support opamp replacement. The X-Meridian can take these new high grade opamps.
I also verified with them that the NEW HDMI 1.3 board they will be producing is compatible with the X-Meridian 7.1. Good news for XM owners....

Are these new High End Opamps just going to be an incarnation of the LM's or something new?

Also the new HDMI 1.3 board being compatible with the XM is good news however I am not sure I want to bypass my modded XM's analog in favor of Digital HDMI. I guess when it is released I will have to get one and listen both ways to see.

Unless it will take the HDMI out from the video card to the HDMI in on the extension board and let you output the sound via the analog outs at full HD audio resolutions for the best of both worlds.
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post #1878 of 2125
2/4/08 at 6:35am
I just read a stat sheet on the Auzentech website. Apparently the Auzentech prelude is not even capable of 192Khz audio. However, the Meridian is capable of 192 Khz even in 7.1 channel mode. Why the hell did I pay an extra $100 for the Prelude then? More importantly, does this mean that the Prelude is not going to output 192 Khz audio with the HDMI daughter card?

http://auzentech.officewebsiteonline...isonChart2.pdf

Can anyone confirm that the Auzentech Prelude can or can not do 192 Khz audio?
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post #1879 of 2125
2/4/08 at 7:06am
I wouldn't sweat it, I've not found any stereo music sources over 96Khz and HD movies are only upto 96Khz if that. I think most of the best are 24/48
I couldn't find this info when I was choosing so went for the Meridian and upgraded all the OpAmps.

The best quality audio I've since found is Messiah by Linn Records download, at 24bit/88.2Khz, which the Prelude can easily handle. Foorbar tells me that's its stats. But it's hard to tell what a movie's track is because the most you'll discover is the stream bandwidth.

With OpAmp upgrades, HDMI add ons become rather moot, since the DACs are much better than my £2K Yamaha reciever.

What I'd like to know is, if this HDMI daughter card is "compatible" with the Meridian, are they then going to start supporting the XM with a new set of drivers?
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post #1880 of 2125
2/4/08 at 7:30am
Quote:


What I'd like to know is, if this HDMI daughter card is "compatible" with the Meridian, are they then going to start supporting the XM with a new set of drivers?

I sure hope so

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post #1881 of 2125
2/4/08 at 12:00pm
I emailed them and asked them about playing back the HDMI input through the analog outs, if I get an answer I will post it here.

I was thinking though it would have to; if it does not and you need a HDMI 1.3 capable receiver then what is the point of the the addon card when you can just go straight from the Video cards HDMI out to the receiver?
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post #1882 of 2125
2/4/08 at 3:23pm
Thread Starter 
The HDMI 1.3 board is compatible with BOTH the Prelude and the Meridian which I posted in another thread.
The Prelude is capable of 24/192Khz audio in stereo mode. As was stated, there isn't very much if any audio at this bit depth and frequency. Even 24/96 audio is usually used when RECORDING for downsampling to 16/44.1 for CD.
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post #1883 of 2125
2/4/08 at 3:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBSCIX View Post

The HDMI 1.3 board is compatible with BOTH the Prelude and the Meridian which I posted in another thread.
The Prelude is capable of 24/192Khz audio in stereo mode. As was stated, there isn't very much if any audio at this bit depth and frequency. Even 24/96 audio is usually used when RECORDING for downsampling to 16/44.1 for CD.

What no 48/386 support! Total crap

- Rich
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post #1884 of 2125
2/9/08 at 6:51am
Has anyone reworked the DAC/Opamp circuit and changed from differential to non-inverted design, to lower the preout voltages? Also it seems there is a low pass filter network as well, which I would like to alter. Does anyone know the stock capacitor values in the network, there are 3 in total, one on the top and two on the bottom of the board for each channel.

Thanks
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post #1885 of 2125
3/11/08 at 6:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by morfeeus View Post

Hey X-M people. Finally got my new mod wired and working just fine. As you know I've replaced the Meridian clock with the new Dexa Technologies Audio Reference Clock. Definitley hearing a difference. All good things. I will follow through with a full review in the near future. Hang in there.

This photo shows the Meridian wired with the digital data clock cable supplied with the new clock for incoming digital data and then sending it to the Dexa clock.The cable also transmits the clocked signal back to the soundcard for the next stage in processing. Also the new clock is independantly powered through the PSU via the +12V connectIon using an ATX 12V 4-pin connector. As well you can see the original clock that was replaced in the right corner.



This photo you'll see the installation view in my pc case. The new clock is mounted totally independant for grounding purposes to the pc case.


nice mods!


my xm so far



@ those of you in the know.. could i use 6.3V blackgate nx as power/filter cap instead of a 16V cap?

thanx
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post #1886 of 2125
3/11/08 at 7:39am
Vista 32, latest drivers, does anyone else get "crackling" when you've resumed from sleep? I have to do a full reboot to get the sound sorted.
Could it be a sleep mode issue of the MB? (ASUS A8N SLi Premium)
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post #1887 of 2125
3/11/08 at 9:29am
also, anyone changed/replaced the voltage regulators to better/cleaner ones?

im referring to S7908D S7808D and S7805D

ive looked through all 63 pages of the thread and nothing on 6.3v

2 other threads to go through..
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post #1888 of 2125
3/16/08 at 1:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NaTT View Post

Vista 32, latest drivers, does anyone else get "crackling" when you've resumed from sleep? I have to do a full reboot to get the sound sorted.
Could it be a sleep mode issue of the MB? (ASUS A8N SLi Premium)

No; I'm using 64. I've never had crackling before even when I used 32.

There's a new driver that can be downloaded from HT Omega. I don't notice any difference nor does it seem to have independent speaker volume control.
http://www.htomega.com/filedown/claro-full-0215.zip

I personally think Cmedia is going out of business. They've haven't came out with any new products or drivers.

New HT Claro Driver
3D Audio Engine: Xear3D CRL3D EAX2.0 A3D1.0
Audio Driver: 6.12.8.1731
CM Audio Config: 1.0.55.00

Auzen Current Driver
3D Audio Engine: Xear3D CRL3D EAX2.0 A3D1.0
Audio Driver: 5.12.01.0008.17.19
CM Audio Config: 1.0.48.51
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post #1889 of 2125
3/16/08 at 8:07am
thanks I'll give that driver a whirl
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post #1890 of 2125
3/16/08 at 10:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by a_ok2me View Post

I personally think Cmedia is going out of business. They've haven't came out with any new products or drivers.

The sound division of Cmedia has been bought by asus a while ago.
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