Crashman

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Former Staff
Say you wanted a truely great soundcard for playing games and DVD's. Sound quality would be important, a front panel or external sound box wouldn't be used. Given all the recent solutions (including the highly acclaimed VIA Envy based sound chips), what cards would you consider?

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markgun

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The <A HREF="http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/x-mystique/index.shtml" target="_new">HDA X-Mystique 7.1 Gold</A> is a card I would definitely consider, based off its positive feedback thus far. Although I cannot speak from personal experience, the price is a bit steep, and its DD Live feature is useless for those who don't use/have a DD decoder. It's a very new product with potential.
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
Thanks, I'm reading it now. Has anyone else reviewed it yet?

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markgun

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Not to my knowledge. It's only been out for a few months, and it's only been available from a US distributor since early May. I just wanted to mention it since it seems like the CMI8768+ is a great APU that's low on the radar at the moment. But obviously Cmedia needs to address the few driver quirks, and other manufacturers need to pick bring some CMI8768+ cards to the table to drive down the price.
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
Well, it's the only card to over Dolby Digital Live. So that makes it the best card for connecting to a home theater receiver, from that perspective.

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markgun

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So true. There are rumors of Terratec releasing a DD Live card, too.

Here's another <A HREF="http://firmware.orcon.net.nz/esf/digital-x-mystique-mini-review.htm" target="_new">pseudo-review</A>.

And it appears they're working on the <A HREF="http://www.hidiaudio.com/download/index.html" target="_new">drivers</A>, there was a new driver released on 5/12/05.
 

markgun

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FYI. Terratec(Turtle Beach) recently released their latest card using C-media's new chip, and it's available at <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829118109" target="_new">Newegg</A>
 
Well Crash I got myself into being a mobile DJ and ran into the need of going to a professional soundcard for true stereo reproduction and connectability to the rest of my equipment, and I'm not suggesting the soundcard I've bought, its way more than what you're looking for, just the fact that its such an excellent audio soundcard and the same company makes a desktop line that you probably should consider, if their desktop line even comes close to their pro line it will be awesome, and trust me this company doesn't market junk. <A HREF="http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Revolution71-main.html" target="_new">M-Audio Revolution 7.1</A> or <A HREF="http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Revolution51-main.html" target="_new"> M-Audio Revolution 5.1 </A> And Newegg has some fantastic prices on these cards, hope this helps in your decision.

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<A HREF="http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/soundcards/mtgoddl/indetail.asp" target="_new">New on the market product for you to consider Crash</A>





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Black_Cat

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Looks sweet. They don't mention which chipset they're using. Any reviews of this card anywhere?



You've tried and failed. The lesson here is, never try again. -- Homer Simpson.
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
Yes, notice they've recycled the Montego name, one formerly associated with the BEST sound available!

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Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
They don't mention it, but it's a C-Media chip, and I believe the only one that supports it is the same one used on the other card mentioned.

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//////////////Any reviews of this card anywhere?



Not that I could find Turtle Beach just recently released this card.




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//////////Yes, notice they've recycled the Montego name, one formerly associated with the BEST sound available!



I think I saw it somewhere labeled Montego II, why do you think they didn't just give it a brand new name, unless it is basically the same architecture with additional improvements?

Just Curious?

It does seem a little limited for this day and time in the EAX category it only supports up to EAX 2.




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umheint0

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Well Crash, I would get Terratec or M-Audio, personally. But I think you already knew that :D

umheint0's phat setup --> <A HREF="http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~umheint0/system.html" target="_new">http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~umheint0/system.html</A><--
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
MontegoII used Aureal, this one is Montego DDL

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