Auzentech Fans speak out

[TommyD872]

I have been using the Auzentech X-plosion 7.1 Cinema pci card for the past 4 months. I have it hooked up to my Logitech z5500 system and am using Toslink to htpc and audio coax cable to Mitsu 65" dlp.
I know the $90ish price tag is a little steep. But trust me it is 100% worth every penny. I had Clapton in concert playing the other night and the system was so clear you could have sworn he was standing in my living room.
Any other Auzentech fans out there?

[jmdixon85]

Does it matter what soundcard you use if your connecting via digital (Tos-link or Coax)? I thought it made no/v.little difference.

[TommyD872]

I have onboard 7.1 toslink. And yes it does make a diff. I hooked em up both ways just to be sure my investment was worth while.
And yes it makes a huge diff! There is absolutely no visible hiss even from the highest highs to lowest bass. Whether its on 1 or 10 on the volume.
This is the top of the line for audiophiles.

[jmdixon85]

I thought digital virtually eliminated hiss? I certainly don't get any from the optical out on my Asus P5Q Pro Turbo mobo. Which is connected to a Pioneer 5.1 DD/DTS AMP

[Wicked Klown]

When it comes to digital it doesn't really matter. A $10 card will sound as good as a $100 card. Alot of at the AVS recommend a $10 card with Toslink. Where Auzentech really shines is being able to change the Op-Amps. In my server I'm runnnig an Auzentech Xplosion with upgraded op-amps, and it sounds great. With Toslink you are relying on the AVR DACs. If the AVR has cheap DACs the sound will not be as good as one with really good DACs.

[TommyD872]

I couldn't agree more WK. Its nice to know you don't have to buy a new audio card every 12-18 months like with creative. Just swap out the op-amps and voila you've got the latest and greatest sound avail.

[jmdixon85]

Well I dont mean to thread hi-jack, but would it be worth me getting a decent card over my onboard sound (using tos-link)? I do like my audio quality, I have a decent Pioneer 5.1 AMP (Looking to upgrade) and a decent set of floorstanding speakers + center and surround. I use my PC for everything: Games, TV, Movies, music etc.

[TommyD872]

absolutely worth the investment. If you want pro audio sound. Even when watching streaming movies, especially action where the is thunderous booms or a hail of bullets with a good sound card and receiver combo you will feel like you are amidst all the action around you.

[Wicked Klown]

Well I dont mean to thread hi-jack, but would it be worth me getting a decent card over my onboard sound (using tos-link)? I do like my audio quality, I have a decent Pioneer 5.1 AMP (Looking to upgrade) and a decent set of floorstanding speakers + center and surround. I use my PC for everything: Games, TV, Movies, music etc.



You would most likely get better sound from a better AVR. With digital it's all about the DACs. Say you have a cheap Sony HTiB but upgraded the speakers right away. Then later on you get something like a Denon AVR-5308CI, you'll notice it sounds a helluva lot better then the cheap Sony did. Thats with using the same sound card. I went from a cheap Yamaha AVR with Klipsch speakers to a Yamaha RX-V463 with the same speakers. I noticed right away the difference in SQ.

[jmdixon85]

Well thanks guys.

How about this card: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-002-AS&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

Asus Xonar DX 7.1 PCI-Express

I had my eye on this a while back but when I changed over to a digital connection I didn't give it another thought.

[TommyD872]

Xonar is a solid card. So is turtle beach or m audio. As you can see I've done some homework on the subject. But as wicked klown and I have been saying its all about the op amps. That is why I went with Auzentech. Check out you tube or Auzentech site.
That is what is so much fun about htpc. Endless possibility with configurations. Kind of like cars. So what do you have under your hood type thing.

[Wicked Klown]

Just remember with op-amps that only effects the analog sound not the digital. When you upgrad the op-amps on a Auzentech card it says Front channel, back channel as well as center and sub.

[jmdixon85]

Thanks for the advice, I don't intend on breaking the bank on a sound card so the Asus card seems to fit the bill if you guys think it's a worth-while upgrade.

Thanks for the advice :thup: and sorry for the semi-hijack

[TommyD872]

Thanks for your input on the subject jm. No hi-jack at all. Its always nice to discuss equipment out there and get others opinions. That's why these forums are so gr8. When I was a noob to htpc I got alot of really great advice and now that I am somewhat well versed on the subject it is nice to be able to help others with their decisions.
Thanks for stoppin by.
:)

[Wicked Klown]

Seeing as it looks like your going to be hooking up via analog then yes the card plays a big role. Thats why I went with the Xplosion cause at the time I was running analog. I later replaced the stock op-amps for some better ones and loved the new SQ. Myself I would look for a card that allows you to replace the op-amps. This way you can pick and choose how it sounds. You can go for a warmer sound, more bass, most high range and so forth.

[TommyD872]

Hey WK, how do you like the c-mdeia drivers and software. I like the performance, but the visuals leave a lil bit to be desired? Also do you use DFX? I really like their visual interface.

[jmdixon85]

Seeing as it looks like your going to be hooking up via analog then yes the card plays a big role. Thats why I went with the Xplosion cause at the time I was running analog. I later replaced the stock op-amps for some better ones and loved the new SQ. Myself I would look for a card that allows you to replace the op-amps. This way you can pick and choose how it sounds. You can go for a warmer sound, more bass, most high range and so forth.

WK: I will be using toslink to a 5.1 DD/DTS AMP

Tommy: Always good to see a freindly new member offering good advice. :thup:

[TommyD872]

Anytime jm.
my sys
cpu intel dual core e6300 2.8
gigabyte ep43-ud3l mobo 4gb ocz ram
expandable to 16gigs.
msi n9800gt 1gig nvidia vid card
mitsu 65" dlp tv/monitor
urc digital r50 remote with lcd
logitech dinovo mini htpc keyboard
logitech z5500 audio system

aoc 22" monitor

[Wicked Klown]

Hey WK, how do you like the c-mdeia drivers and software. I like the performance, but the visuals leave a lil bit to be desired? Also do you use DFX? I really like their visual interface.


The drivers are ok I guess, just with it was more feature loaded. Right now I'm running just the front jacks to my wireless Sennhiesers. Adjusted the EQ a tad to match the way I like my music to sound. Also don't use DFX and never have.

[TommyD872]

I have my sys balanced per dolby's website. I have a large entertainment center with the center channel directly under my tv. Off to each side about 3 inches from tv have front lefts and rights. And I have my rear sats on corner shelves about 5" from ceiling. Sub is under my desk which is about six feet from center speaker. Leave it under there so it gets that booming bass effect much like at a concert when the drummer has the glass wall round his kit.

[four4875]

not all spdif outs are the same. how the card can render real-time dts for games can be a big deciding factor for someone like me, who's been frustrated with digital outs that are actually only giving data for front channels. I've had these cards pass full 5.1 from dvds but not give squat in games.

[s.t.a.t.i.c]

not all spdif outs are the same. how the card can render real-time dts for games can be a big deciding factor for someone like me, who's been frustrated with digital outs that are actually only giving data for front channels. I've had these cards pass full 5.1 from dvds but not give squat in games.

Maybe your card doesn't have DD Live or DTS Interactive

[freeagent]

I do not have a digital audio setup atm, I am just useing the analogue section. I did have the X-plosion, and I really did not like it. Tho I did not swap the opamps out. I am now useing a Prelude, and I love this card. When I did use the toslink on the xplosion, on an older onkyo, it sounded great for movies, but music really did not sound good at all. It could have been the onkyo tho :)

[TommyD872]

did u change your settings in the c media software? you have to switch to digital output? And doesnt prelude use same drivers?

[four4875]

Maybe your card doesn't have DD Live or DTS Interactive

exactly my point, to say that all cards with spdif out are the same is wrong. if the statement was narrowed down to 2 channels specifically, I would be fine with it, but I see people giving the impression that any and all cards with a digital out are equal.

[TommyD872]

well you are correct that spdif passes signal through 2 channels. front and rear. But then your receiver, a quality one will distribute the signal to either 5 or 7.1. Hence the compression of optical, 1 cable connectivity. Think of it as video through hdmi cable. Same concept. And yes I know hdmi does audio too, but i still like one dedicated vid and audio setup. just my preference.

[four4875]

well you are correct that spdif passes signal through 2 channels. front and rear. But then your receiver, a quality one will distribute the signal to either 5 or 7.1. Hence the compression of optical, 1 cable connectivity. Think of it as video through hdmi cable. Same concept. And yes I know hdmi does audio too, but i still like one dedicated vid and audio setup. just my preference.

while the receiver may duplicate the audio to all channels, it's not true surround, it's only 2 channels being played over 6 or 8 speakers.

example: The SB audigy platinum I had would only output 2 channels (left and right) over spdif.

my A7N8X deluxe DID encode all 6 channels to the spdif. hence i used onboard as opposed to the audigy.

[TommyD872]

Now when you say "true surround" I am not understanding. I have my z5500's and through the C-Media software that comes with Auzentech's sc's I have both settings of 7.1 virtual, ex 3d audio and dts.
And when I was watching From Paris with love last night and their was a car chase it truly sounded like it was "surrounding me".
concept is 2 channel but receiver outputs to all 5 or 7.1 channels to reporduce "Surround Sound". And besides unless you are running 3.5 mini's to l,r,c or rca jacks to receiver which sounds horrible than spdif or digital coax is the best sound available.

[darkknight187]

And besides unless you are running 3.5 mini's to l,r,c or rca jacks to receiver which sounds horrible than spdif or digital coax is the best sound available.

I would have to disagree with this, as it has more to do with the DAC's being used. if the device offering 7.1 out via analog has a better set of DAC's it has a good chance of sounding better on the recieving device vs it sending a digital signal. Do remember that a large part of audio is personal taste while you may prefer your setup using optical and letting the recieving device decode it another person listening to the same setup could easily prefer it over the digital connection. It should also be mentioned that it's supposedly. not possible to transport 7.1 via optical/digital coax. This means "the best sound possible" would more likely be personal preference by a user between HDMI or 7.1 analog.

I searched up and down looking for some credible sources to cite on the matter and all i can come up with are google searches that result in the same information about this being discussed in multiple forums. :bang head

Oh and i do own a Auzentech X-fi Forte. I definately enjoy the card. I however have not tried the different solutions that offer a dedicated headphone out with headphone amp.

[Wicked Klown]

Now when you say "true surround" I am not understanding. I have my z5500's and through the C-Media software that comes with Auzentech's sc's I have both settings of 7.1 virtual, ex 3d audio and dts.
And when I was watching From Paris with love last night and their was a car chase it truly sounded like it was "surrounding me".
concept is 2 channel but receiver outputs to all 5 or 7.1 channels to reporduce "Surround Sound". And besides unless you are running 3.5 mini's to l,r,c or rca jacks to receiver which sounds horrible than spdif or digital coax is the best sound available.


True sound sound meaning there is 5.1 or 7.1 channels of audio from the source. Playing say an order movie with 1 or 2 channels and having your AVR do it as 5.1 or 7.1 is not true surround sound. With the right OP-amps analog can sound alot better then digital coax or Toslink. Also HDMI is better then spdif and digital coax as well. HDMI can do HD audio and spdif and digital coax can not.

exactly my point, to say that all cards with spdif out are the same is wrong. if the statement was narrowed down to 2 channels specifically, I would be fine with it, but I see people giving the impression that any and all cards with a digital out are equal.

If you would've read the whole thread, you would've seen where it was said all spdif sound the same. At no point did anyone say they were all the same. You take a budget card with DD live or DTS Interactive it will sound the same as a higher end one with DD live or DTS Interactive.

[TommyD872]

well maybe with your sys analog is better. but with mine b4 I had new hd box from cable co I had just the 3.5 mini to 2 rca jacks. It sounded horrible in comparison to my toslink connection to htpc.
Same opamps as now and with new box going dig coax to new hd cable box it sounds like the same as cpu connection. both in dolby digital.
with analog was only able to get stereo x2, or dolby pl.
so that is why my opinion is sticking with digital > analog.

[Wicked Klown]

Little confused with you talking bout your cable box. Did you have your cable box sound going in to your sound card?

[TommyD872]

no sorry for confusion. Have toslink going from xplosion to z5500 receiver.
have cable box going from dig coax to z5500. b4 hd box just had 2 rca to 3.5 mini on z5500.
so sc is only processing for htpc not hd box. but like I said am getting full dolby dig now as b4 was only stereo x2 or dolby pro logic. I think it is much better when watching sports or movies now.

[Wicked Klown]

no sorry for confusion. Have toslink going from xplosion to z5500 receiver.
have cable box going from dig coax to z5500. b4 hd box just had 2 rca to 3.5 mini on z5500.
so sc is only processing for htpc not hd box. but like I said am getting full dolby dig now as b4 was only stereo x2 or dolby pro logic. I think it is much better when watching sports or movies now.



Gotcha. Guessing the better sound is do to cheap op-amps and dacs in the cable box. When I was talking analog sound better for me, I meant from my sound card in my HTPC to my Yahama AVR. Digital verus analog tho really comes down to the listeners taste. Some people like a warmer sound, some prefer a brighter sound and so forth. Some people hate the way Klipsch speakers sound on a Yamaha yet I love the way they sound. Still have to give it up for the Auzentech tho. Back when I was running a tuner card I had my at the time DirecTv STB hooked up to my ATI 650 pro. With the upgraded op-amps on the Xplosion the SQ was alot better then the STB hooked to my TV.

[four4875]

If you would've read the whole thread, you would've seen where it was said all spdif sound the same. At no point did anyone say they were all the same. You take a budget card with DD live or DTS Interactive it will sound the same as a higher end one with DD live or DTS Interactive.

The point I was trying to make is that older and modern cheap cards, while having the digital output, may not have DD live or DTS interactive. and when playing a game on the card connected with digital you may only get 2 channels of sound, which wont sound near as good as a better card like the auzentechs, since you'd be lacking 4 channels of data. I was trying to say that the auzentech would be a better choice than the cheapest card that the egg has with a spdif out.

Back when I had money to spend, the auzentech cards had just come out and were one of the few cards that would do DD live encoding, and I was leaning favorably towards them to replace my creative card. unfortunately I have almost no time to game or money to spend these days, and I've never been able to step up to an auzentech. I've actually stepped down in selling my creative card. hopefully I'll get the job i just got called for an interview for, and i'll be able to save some money and start upgrading again.

sorry if there was confusion on the points I was trying to make.

[TommyD872]

No need to be sorry four. Like I said b4 its just cool to chat with others who enjoy htpc as much as I do. And like WK said it is all a matter of musical tastes and audiophillic listening habits.
I like classic rock. Led Zep, Stones, Clapton etc. And I like watchin' concerts in hd or even straming.
So what do you guys listen too.

ps hope you get the job and back on your feet. I went through a rough patch last year and I symothize with you four.

[Wicked Klown]

I'm alittle odd as I listen to country as well as neue Deutsche Härte. Also looking forward to getting AC/DC Live at Donington on blu-ray.

[four4875]

i listen to everything from the dead to manson to the crystal method (3 of my favorites)

I usually like fast powerful stuff, but sometimes chill with slower mellow stuff. dont generally listen to country, pop and rap/hip hop.

I also like it loud, and i've blown many cheap speakers, nearly all free when i got them. would love to get a tritrix kit from PE and see how they sound and stand up, probably kick these 6x9s around the room, but these 6x9s are the only speakers that I havnt blown yet haha. they're infinitys and sound better than the RCA HTIB speakers i have tho.

[TommyD872]

WK, just checked out that ac/dc show few days ago on icefilms.info. Angus and the boys at the top of the game in this show. Also they have van halen from 86 right after Sammy joined. vid quality ok but the audio was excellent.
I also like music loud, but problem is I have tenants next door who are real twisted. Called the cops on me like 15 to 20 times. Am gonna evict em as soon as winter ends here in pennsylvania.
I never got fined tho, b/c unless they bring db meter, well it wouldnt hold up on noise ordinance. Plus I am talking mid afternoon, not 3 or 4 in morning.

[four4875]

I've had police visits a couple times, first time I lived in a hick trailor park, played ICP's "**** your rebel flag" nice and loud. cop came by said turn it down, neighbors are "bitching" (yes, that's the word he used) and the second time, I was living in a trailor on a lot in a plain ole residential neighborhood. we were partying, not horribly loud or anything, but got a knock on the door. 2 officers this time, said they had a complaint. said they walked around the neighborhood for 20 minutes trying to find it, and they could barely hear it outside.

now I live in a brick constructed house, on one of the busiest roads in town, with a decent yard between us and neighbors. havnt had any complaints here, and I feel that I have a relationship with neighbors where if I annoy them, they'll come over and say "hey, we can hear that next door" instead of calling the law.

moral of the story: trailers suck for acoustic insulation.

[s.t.a.t.i.c]

no sorry for confusion. Have toslink going from xplosion to z5500 receiver.
have cable box going from dig coax to z5500. b4 hd box just had 2 rca to 3.5 mini on z5500.
so sc is only processing for htpc not hd box. but like I said am getting full dolby dig now as b4 was only stereo x2 or dolby pro logic. I think it is much better when watching sports or movies now.

You are not getting surround with analogue because you only connected 2 front channels from your card. You'll be needing to connect 3 3.5mm connectors from your card to Z5500 to get true surround.
DACs on the X-Plosion are better than the DACs on the Z5500.

[TommyD872]

I know static, but to get DD or DTS need digi connection. if you read prev posts then its been discussed and prob solved. thanx

and bout the cop visits, well the evil tenant has received eviction notice. so hopefully by my May 30th bash no POPO! lol.

Besides now I just crank it up, expect visits at any audible levels so WTF, might as well enjoy!

[thezfunk]

To get this thread back on track, I have to say I love my new Auzentech Bravura. I switched from M-Audio because of M-Audio's horrible, horrible Vista and Windows 7 driver support. I loved their card in XP but they can't cut it in the new OS's.

[TommyD872]

Hey Funk,
Glad to see another Auzentech fan in here. I also researched the M Audio, TurtleBeach, and SB Audigy. And my conclusion was Auzentech is top of the line.
How long do you have your Bravura? What avr do you have it running to and how (optical,analog)?

[thezfunk]

Hey Funk,
Glad to see another Auzentech fan in here. I also researched the M Audio, TurtleBeach, and SB Audigy. And my conclusion was Auzentech is top of the line.
How long do you have your Bravura? What avr do you have it running to and how (optical,analog)?

I think I have had it about a month. I have it running analog out to my M-Audio LX4 5.1 system. Windows 7 takes some monkeying around to get everything going the right way but now it sounds great. I love the onboard headphone amp and paired with my Equation RP21s it sounds good.

You can send some things to your speakers and simultaneously send things to your phones or vice versa.

I haven't tried playing around with new opamps yet but I was looking at maybe getting http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360213678805&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT for the front channels. Still need ideas for the center/sub and the headphones.

[TommyD872]

yeah great thing bout Auzentech is that ability to swap opamps for analog. Sounds like you got a real power house system. If you dont mind, how much did your M Audio sys set u back? And what is your rms churning out?

thanx

TommyD

[thezfunk]

yeah great thing bout Auzentech is that ability to swap opamps for analog. Sounds like you got a real power house system. If you dont mind, how much did your M Audio sys set u back? And what is your rms churning out?

thanx

TommyD

I would say for a computer system it's pretty good. You can spend a lot more on dedicated audio components but for my application I really like it.

I think brand new the 2.1 and the expander system was like ~$500. I picked my stuff up off of ebay used for 300 hundred and change. It's been working great for several years now.

The manual for them can be found http://www.m-audio.com/images/global/manuals/LX4-series_Manual2.pdf. The sub is 60W and the satellites are 27W each. It puts out more than enough sound.

I do my audio with the idea of the flattest response possible. I figure the guys who mixed the audio were professionals and I want to hear their work as original as possible. I saw that the M-Audio speakers were designed for home studio/computer work with monitor speaker characteristics. They are pretty spot on. I tested them with some pink noise and found the frequency response to be very flat. I only made some very minor adjustments on the EQ.

Again, I picked my headphones based on the flat response requirement but I also wanted something that did well with games for LAN parties. The guys over at Head-fi pointed me to the Equations and they do/are exactly what I wanted.

[TommyD872]

Thanks Funk
I have had my eyes on the Polk 200W sats, as my existing z5500 sats are gr8 but I think I want lil more power for summertime parties. I will be checking m audios and klipsch as well.

I like classic rock so my listening habits are loud & proud with heavy emphasis on clarity and mids.