[Kafka_c]

Hi,


So I've read many threads on getting bit perfect sound to a pre-amp via SPDIF. This is my primary concern and it looks like the Chaintech AV-710 is one of the most recommended cards. But the caveat is always it's not good for gaming. Gaming is not a huge hobby for me, but I have been looking forward (when I finally build my HTPC) to putting the latest Myst on and playing in on my plasma. And those who have played Myst know that sound is very important.


What I have inferred (and I may be mistaken) from the threads I've read is that games output sound in their own format. So over SPDIF you will not get the 3D/surround sound of the game, but simple two channel. Is this correct? If so are there any cards or software out there that will turn a games sound into a format (DD 5.1 for example) that a pre-amp can recognize and send to the appropriate speakers?


I'd prefer not to use analog out, as the HTPC will sit a number of feet away from all the other gear so running one SPDIF cable is better then running 5 cables (I have a 5.1 system).


Thanks in advance for you help.

 

[Mrkazador]

It will output 2ch pcm through spdif with pc games. There is no software that I know of so you would need a soundcard that does on-the-fly DD encoding, or DDlive as some call it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829127001

 

[Socio]

I use the AuzenTech HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS you can encode games to either DD 5.1 or DTS 5.1 on the fly, it can do EAX 2.0 as well and encode that to DD or DTS 5.1 on the fly too.


The quality of 5.1 encoded sound is great, some games do better than others.


For example the game FEAR encoded in 5.1 DTS via this card is fantastic, I can walk up to a phone that has an answering machine with a recorded message, play the message and rotate the character in a 360 and hear the message voice go to each speaker as it rotates and I am using a 7.1 config.

 

[Ozy666]

If EAX is important to you, Auzentech is supposedly coming out with a card that will encode EAX 5.0 into DTS/DDL.


Ozy

 

[Kafka_c]

Thanks for the replies.


Are Auzentech cards capable of passing bit perfect 2 channel stereo as well? This is the most important feature for me, gaming is a secondary consideration. According to this thread on Envy24HT cards you need a card that is capable of using either ASIO or Kernel Streaming to bypass the Windows kmixer.


I guess I'm looking for the best of all worlds, but in this order of priority:

1. Great sound for music.

2. DTS passthrough from a DVD (i.e. no remixing/re-sampling)

3. Good DD 5.1 (hopefully passthrough from DVD as well)

4. Will be able to play sound from games in surround.

 

[krimson]

A copy+paste from the HTPC gaming forum. This card is definitely a must have for the HTPC/Gamer enthusiast if you don't want to run multi-channel analog cables...

Quote:
Auzen X-fi Prelude Specifications!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I contacted Auzentech aaking about components on the card and was sent back these specifications. The are OFFICIAL.



Key Components

Creative X-Fi CA20K audio processor

One AKM AK-5394 super high performance 192kHz 24-bit ADC for analog input

Four AKM AK-4396 192kHz 24-bit advanced multi-bit DAC for analog output

64Mbytes of memory for audio processing

High fidelity audio OP-Amps for analog input and output

Front L/R output OP-Amp is replaceable by end-user

Dual mode S/PDIF receiver and transmitter


IO Connectors

One 3.5mm MIC input connector in rear panel

One 3.5mm line input connector in rear panel

One 4-pin AUX connector on board

Four 3.5mm 8 channel line output connectors in rear panel

(FL/FR/C/SW/RL/RR/RSL/RSR)

One S/PDIF combo input connector in rear panel for receiving either coaxial

or optical digital

One S/PDIF combo output connector in rear panel for transmitting either

coaxial or optical digital

16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32,

44.1, 48 and 96kHz

One 10-pin front panel connector on board for MIC input and headphone

support

One 40-pin digital extension header on board to support AD-Link and other

digital functionality


Technical Specifications

24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs at 96kHz sample rate

24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96kHz to analog

7.1 speaker output

24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources at 192kHz to

stereo output

16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32,

44.1, 48 and 96kHz
ASIO 2.0 support at 16-bit/44.1kHz, 16-bit/48kHz, 24-bit/44.1kHz

24-bit/48kHz and 24-bit/96kHz with direct monitoring.

Enhanced SoundFont support of up to 24-bit resolution

64MB of X-RAM