M-Audio Audiophile 192 is $131 at amazon

[Shadowplay]

Hey, I just ordered one up. It says there are 2 left in stock, but it said that before I placed my order so theres probably only 1 in stock. I was just about to order one for $180 elsewhere when I decided to check amazon "just in case".

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-US41750-Audiophile-Hi-def-Card/dp/B00064ABSG/sr=8-1/qid=1161807779/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6654955-1816624?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

I hope this isn't against the rules, but since theres only one left I don't really want to waste time trying to figure out if it is or not but wanted someone at SH to have the chance to pick one up for cheap.

Matt

[I Am The Lolrus]

ya i noticed that while researching the card. Almost got one, but just last night I may have bought myself some time between the need to upgrade so someone else should go for it!

[YaQuin]

I have this card installed in my system. The windows drivers are stable. Keep in mind this is a professional sound card. Speaker cables are either Balanced TRS or non-balanced TS cables. I have them connected to a set M-Audio BX5a studio monitors. AFAIK they will NOT connect to standard computer speakers. Maybe I missed something.

The card sounds awesome though. I can now play DVD-A, HDCD, Quicktime and Windows Media Player at their highest bit rates!

[-=Rudy=-]

I hope this isn't against the rules, ....

It's fine, Matt. :thumbsup: Thanks for posting, and welcome! :wave:

[Shadowplay]

It's fine, Matt. :thumbsup: Thanks for posting, and welcome! :wave:
Rudy, Thanks for the welcome :)

Gammaspace, good warning there. My computer is currently hooked up through optical out to my receiver, so it looks like I'll be buying a digital coax cable, but I definitely don't use normal computer speakers.

What I really wanted was a good card for needledropping, and from what I gather - this is pretty good for that purpose.

[boead]

My 2cents for all its worth. I have owned a few of M-Audio cards.

A couple I had used the harness which has really thin wire, in direct comparison the Audiophile 2496 and the DeltaDIO cards I had have RCA outputs on the back that are directly coupled to the board (NO wire). Quite honestly both sounded better then the Delta 410 and 1010 cards with the harness. The Delta DIO has discreet digital IO
S and analog output sections for monitoring, very quiet. The Audiophile 2496 has analog in and out RCA on the back which is nice for recording from your preamp but the digital IO in on the harness which isn’t all that good. The Delta DIO has both RCA and optical IO’s on the board, there is NO harness at all. For digital output it was the best I’ve used to date!

Also, you can buy a simple all metal RCA to ¼ jacks from RadioShack or from Parts Express. There is NO reason why you can’t use ANY sound cards with ANY powered speaker. A sound card is simply a source with varying output voltages. The Windows M-Audio Delta drives aren’t the best but function well enough for recording and mixing, not for Windows integration.

I’ve also owned the M-Audio BX5’s the BX8’s and I have a couple of BX8S subs. I have a pair of KRK V8S-II’s currently and a KRK V12S sub that re absolutely awesome. I also have a couple of pairs of Roland MX-12’s on my desks at home and work.

I had the Revolution cards from M-Audio too and they aren’t nearly as good as the Delta cards but integrate with Windows nicely. They have micro jacks and again, you can get an all metal micro to RCA adapters. I got rid of the revolution cards but still use a USB Sonica Theater in the office. The Sonica and Revolution cards have a much lower output (around 1.0v) compared to the Delta cards (1.5v) which is close to most CD source players. Also the Sonica is VERY quiet and can be used with Windows without ANY M-Audio drivers. The standard Windows USB device driver works great and can bypass the dreaded Windows Kmixer dll.

After using so many different audio cards I think the USB ones are MUCH better then PCI, no doubt about it.


For audiophile playback I ended up with a Scott Nixon USB tube DAC that BLOWS the M-Audio cards away many times over in every way. I have it hooked to my main PC via 35 feet of USB cable to the rack and have a pair of MIT S3 interconnects from the Scott Nixon to my preamp. Its sounds MUCH better then my Denon DVD 2900 playing Redbook or SACD from WAV’s off my computer and it gives my Arcam FMJ a run for its money.

[sicksteve]

Thanks for the advice. The last paragraph was useful for me.

[lukpac]

The Audiophile 2496 has analog in and out RCA on the back which is nice for recording from your preamp but the digital IO in on the harness which isn’t all that good.

Why do you say that about the digital in/out? I use my 2496 with an ART DI/O, and the two work great together.

[boead]

Why do you say that about the digital in/out? I use my 2496 with an ART DI/O, and the two work great together.

Have you compared it to a Delta DIO?

I didn’t say it was bad but it wasn’t as good and it should be. Either the absence of the harness sounds better or the DIO does. I used the PC digital outs (tried both coaxial and toslink) with a California Audio Labs Delta/Sigma II 2496 tube DAC.

I guess its all relative. The differences are subtle to most and significant to the Audiophile. I mean if you have a substantial investment in interconnects and other wire and have somewhat agonized over them then you won’t want the harness otherwise it won’t matter to you. I was concerned about the long length of wire between my PC and system (-35 feet) but apparently the USB data link has no significant effect on sound quality which is very cool. Long digital IC’s and analog RCA’s display audio degradation to my ears.

[Santos]

I buy one of these soon. I need to know if this card has connect for subwoofer? or does the digital output do this for you.

sorry for my post

[jkauff]

I just hooked mine up today to my MidiLand PC speakers/subwoofer. Bliss!

It did require a trip to the local Radio Shack, though, to get everything connected.

[rpd]

what card is great for recording cassettes to CD's in the Vista environment? I have a Creative x-fi platinum, but there are no vista drivers/software available that will allow me to use the inputs that i would normally plug my cassette deck into... Very frustrating......

[Joeb_UK]

I bought one of these cards, and I must say I'm very happy. The sound is very good, even with my limited 5.1 reciever/setup. It's as good as I would get with that setup of course :)

One problem I'm noticing, I'm using the SPDIF connection, and I only get sound from videos/audio. I don't get sounds from apps etc, but when I'm playing audio/video, I do get the sounds from other apps. I don't know if it's my reciever, or the setup on here. I followed their guide, but I'm yet to fully get to grips with the settings (and not much tutorials about). Has anyone got any suggestions? And also a suggestion for a tutorial on the best settings?

Cheers, I'm very happy with my purchase :D