The X-Meridian 7.1 Thread - Page 66

I am in the process of upgrading my X-Meridian 7.1 OPAMPS to the 637-AU, but I am somewhat confused. The X-Meridian has four swappable OPAMPS, fronts, center/sub, rears and sides. That part makes sense.

What Auzentech are telling me are that the 637-au is a single channel chip but they have a special 637-au chip that is dual channel and requires an adaptor. The cost for each chip and adaptor from Auzentech is $69.99. To upgrade all 4, therefore, costs almost $240.00. There are TI dealers who sell the chips for $15.00 each, totalling $60.00.

Could those of you that have performed the upgrade on the X-Meridian please tell me what I actually need to uppgrade all channels.

Any help is appreciated.

Yes each OPA637 is a single channel IC. The Auzentech Package is sold as two OPA 637s surface mounted (soldered) on a on a single board or adaptor for plugging into your sockets. One OPA637 is mounted on top and the other is underside. It will cost you a total of $240. from Auzentech to do all four.

Thanks Morpheus.

Do you recommend the upgrade for all four channels or just the fronts and maybe center.

Personally I only utilize the XM for analog stereo playback only. Its a tuffer decision to replace all four at this price. It all depends on your needs. If you find it affordable, than go for it.

I went with some OPA627 and only did the F L/R, C/Sub.
My surrounds, are different speakers anyway, so timbre matching not as critical, plus they are surrounds and these things are damn expensive and the 6 and 7 channels I don't even speakers for so I just have it left as is.

Best of both worlds

System being analog stereo music playback 2.1 via one mini plug

Gonna do so some experimenting this weekend.

I've aquired a taste for the OPA637s in the middle and upper range and have been somewhat disapointed in the lower extremeties.

I still have the LM4562s in the remaining 3 sockets. Why not utilize the sub/centre LM4562 (bottom end sonics more preferable, not to say its the best opamp for bass, but better) socket connectivity with an additional mini plug to the multichannel input of my reciever.

As of late its been all fronts L/R (OPA637s)one mini plug from the XM to CD input at the reciever. Duh!! Why has it taken me this long to figure this out !!!

Update

Its rockin! The LM4562s are bringing it. Just as I mentioned, it all comes back.

I've read so much good on the Analog Devices AD8066s for their bass quality on a few sites that I'm willing to give them a shot in the future for some new adrenaline in the quest for bottom end fufillment.

Does the hack for adding the Enhancements Tab found in other threads address everyone's issues (levels, distances, etc) with drivers in Vista?

I'm preparing a build for September and I need analog out functionality to be working in Vista otherwise I'll stay on XP.

bump....any Vista users have thoughts on my question above?

Coming soon opamp comparison review.

For bottom end, lower extremity enthusiasts. I will evaluate the sonic differences
between the LM4562's and Analog Device's AD8066's.

BTW anyone considering upgrading the clock on the XM with money no objective restraints. Here is a the latest new DIY clock for you.

$559.00 US

http://www.newclassd.com/index.php?page=36

Patience people. A couple weeks away for the review.

In the meantime here are some quotes from a reviewer on opamp comparisons with the AD8066 sometime ago. Hope it will stand up.

"It has excellent bass, bigger than the AD8620, and it goes lower. It has very good low bass. the AD8066 'KICKS' and 'SHAKES'. So the conclusion is, excellent bass, fast and detailed. I love the transient and impact of Analog Devices signature sound. Lively sounding."

Another reviewer suggesting the LM4562s bass is moderate.

We'll see. Stay tuned. TBD.

Thanx for the info Robscix.

Looks like potential sound card to rival the Auzentech Meridian.

I wonder if they wrote a custom driver for it. If so, I will probably sell my X-Meridian and pick up the new Claro!

Not looking like it... judging by screenshots.

No individual channel levels in Vista, and a crash in guild wars upon loading a new area - once every 15 or so.
I'd say yes


I suppose I just need to get a headphone amp with passthrough... just run stereo out to it.

6.12.8.1739

(from memory the last version I was using was 17.31)

There's not too much I can see different, but they have entries in the inf for X-M, and install without a hitch.

Switched to vistax64 last night, and vista does sound much better than xp.
Still no levels on individual channels.

I'm running windows volume at 0 (was a little surprised that didn't turn it off completely), and that's about the right volume level to my HD600s (headphones).

Did anyone ever figure out what components to replace in order to get the output down to a more reasonable level?

Hi X-Meridian owners,

Is there a way to normalize analog sound with the X-Meridian? Is the SVM (Smart Volume Management) feature still only available on the Prelude? And does that also normalize within say a movie, or does it just normalize when switching between sources (e.g. from a CD to a movie)?

Thanks,
Pete

SVM is a part of Creative drivers - so no, it's not available with the X-Meridian.

Can't answer your other questions I'm sorry.

So here I am again reviewing another mod.

Didn't I say a few mods ago that it would be my last. Well its this thing called "passion for music" that brings me here.When it comes to music listening I always needed to pursue the next level for a finer sound acheivment.

Rock music is my vice. Rock bands consist of bass guitar players and percussionists with kick drums. The impact of bass in rock music sets the timing or pace for the music. Bass also gives the music depth and dimensionality.

The Analog Devices AD8066/65 opamp really do "KICK and SHAKE"



So what do the ADs bring us more than the LM4562's for bass.

The AD's are more weighty, authorative, controlled with more grip being tighter, faster with more attack or rythmic pace as well more definitive and articulate. Extention , dynamics or slam factor are equivalent to the LM'S but the bass notes are by far more clearly heard on the ADs. The LM is muddy and overly exaggerated. Bass notes or tones are not nearly as distinctive.

They are a keeper. At this point I beleive I really do have the Best of Both Worlds
in the Burr Brown OPA637 [fronts] and Analog Devices AD8066 [sub]

Thanks for the opamp review morfeeus. Only where do you source/buy your opamps? Auzentech doesn't have the Analog Devices AD8066 as far as I can see. I found some on ebay but they usually don't have the right adaptor socket.

I'm also interested in the possibility someone mentioned of having a dual opamp on the center/sub channel with say a OPA637 for the center and a AD8066 for the sub. Any ideas if there is a retailer for something like this type of thing?

Hey Phsug

This configuration for my installation being 2.1 channels stereo utilizing the sub channel at the sub/centre socket

I bought the AD8066 dual channel premounted or soldered on a dual adaptor for $25. inl. shipping at
click on opamp modules below
http://www.partsconnexion.com/catalo...onductors.html

This configuration being 3.1 , 5.1 or 7.1 multichannel utilizing the centre channel and the subwoofer channel at the sub/centre socket

For your configuration you'll need a single channel AD8065 along with the single to dual opamp adaptor pn#64346

AD8065 click on opamps below http://www.partsconnexion.com/catalo...onductors.html

DUAL ADAPTOR click on opamp adaptors belowhttp://www.partsconnexion.com/catalo...onductors.html

The OPA637AU is not available at Key Digital, I sourced one from these guys

http://ca.mouser.com/Search/ProductD...rFfMAFvA%3d%3d

To get these opamps mounted to the adaptor, the best way is to source someone qualifed be it a friend or someone in the electronic repair business near where you live.

The other option is to purchase the OPA637AU and have it shipped to PARTSCONNEXION
where they can assemble it for you at a cost.

Using two different opamps on the adaptor, not sure which would be the proper configuration for sub and centre meaning 637 on the top and 8065 underside. Or vise versa. Does'nt matter

*Either way you can always figure this out with your multichannel inputs by listening during playback to
determine which opamp is connected to your sub or centre than switching your mini plug cable ends to correlate the proper configuration.

Goodluck

Yep! That could be me eventually.

Now! About those modules. Are we talking opamp/adaptor modules. Interesting.

Guys, I may be willing (sadly, given that you can't buy this anymore) to part with my X-Meridian and 4 different sets of Opamps that I have. I just have too many toys, and they are not getting enough usage. Before I throw it up on fleabay, I thought I'll let you guys take a shot it.

The card is all stock (no power mods or anything) and will come with:

- Stock Auzentech Opamps - 4 pieces
- LM4562 - 4 pieces
- OPA2227PA-ND - 4 pieces
- OPA2134PA-ND - 4 pieces

Please PM me, if any interest. I'll probably throw it on fleabay over the weekend.

Hi guys,

Well I finally got my hands on an X-Meridian, but now the card is giving me grief trying to install it. I've tried both my nforce1 and nforce2 motherboards but whenever I run through the installer it exits with the message, "Please plug-in C-Media Oxygen HD Audio Device". Now I figured this was something to do with PCI/IRQ/seating of the card so I cleaned the contacts with dilute alcohol, vaccumed my PCI slots and tried the card in all of them. Same message every time. I've also tried the older drivers and even the newer drivers for the 8788 Claro, even on a fresh XP+SP1 installation and I get the same message everytime! Onboard sound was disabled in bios in all cases.

Now if I manually install the driver for the device then I can actually play back a CD through the card so I don't think the card is faulty. It was pulled from a reputedly working system and was packaged well.

My questions are:

1) How can I install the Xear program software manually? All C-Media installers try to install the driver first and then exit on me.

2) Anyone out there (heard of anyone) running these 8788 cards on older Athlon XP motherboards? This thread would suggest there are issues.

There must be some manual way of installing the Xear program and then I can set about testing the card to see if there is a physical defect.