M-AUDIO Revolution 7.1

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 5 Apr 2004, 06:03 am »

I've read the discussions about M-AUDIO, but among the cheaper stuff is the M-AUDIO Revolution 7.1 any good? I'm not talking a high end, cost no object card, just a nice sounding one for to use with my PWave & JBL HLS-610s while I surf and to monitor when I make DVD:Ms & CDs.

EchiDna · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 06:23 am »

I've got one and it is indeed pretty decent

for the price nothing comes close... should be about US$60+

I moddified mine to accept RCA outputs on a seperate bracket (direct soldering onto the card itself) to bypass the crappy mini stereo output sockets. People have also swapped op amps and all kinds of things to try and improve the sound, but I haven't gone that far (yet)

skchow · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 06:41 am »

If anyone knows where you can buy the maudio rev for 60 bucks, please let me know

The lowest that I've found it for is at ecost.com for 78.99.

I was also under the impression that the powerwave has a usb interface that connects to the computer thus negating the need for a sound card?

Sunny.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 08:22 am »

Chaintec makes a pretty much identical card based on the same chipset and everything. Price? About $25 from newegg.

More info on this card here: http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=63301

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 08:23 am »

Sorry, dblpost.

eico1 · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 01:29 pm »

Why do you need a sound card if you are using a powerwave? Are you using an external pre-amp?

steve

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 02:08 pm »

I'm no expert with computer sound, but I just wonder if having a decent soundcard would make for a better & cleaner digital output. Maybe it doesn't, I just don't know. Plus I wondered if the M-Audio DAC might be better than the PWave's- if so, I'd use the RCA outputs to the line inputs of the Griffin. And I was thinking the M' has analog inputs, which would be nice for running other sources into my PC, for recording stuff like LPs and cassette tapes (yeah, I know, don't ask why!

My mom has some crap on tape she'd like on CD, some stuff by The Lettermen(?)).

eico1 · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 02:17 pm »

P-Wave does have an analog input and comes with some vinyl-recording software! The usb device will have less PC-noise issues, not that a sound card couldn't work better.

steve

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 02:19 pm »

I haven't really looked too much at the disc the Pwave came with- my PC recognized it right off, and being a lazy bastard I didn't delve any deeper!

Hell, if the Pwave obviates the need for a decent soundcard, more's the better. In addition to being lazy, I'm also cheap!

EchiDna · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 11:43 pm »

Quote from: eico1

P-Wave does have an analog input and comes with some vinyl-recording software! The usb device will have less PC-noise issues, not that a sound card couldn't work better.

steve

This idea of computer noise is common but unfounded. Almost every single CD produced is recorded by a pc with soundcards that are inside the pc or worse inside a rack cabinet with a pc or three...

your statement is ambiguous, the USB device will have less noise, yet the soundcard might be better?

technical specs:

Revolution:

dynamic range: 106dB (A-weighted)
signal-to-noise ratio:
A/D: 100dB (Typical, A-weighted)
D/A: 107 dB (Typical, A-weighted)
THD: 0.003%
output sample rates (kHz): 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 172.4, 192

Powerwave:

Output Level/Impedance
RCA out –2.0dBu , 600 ohms
Frequency Response (20Hz –20kHz)
RCA IN to RCA Out, Via USB Loopback +/- 1.0dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (20Hz – 20kHz)
RCA IN to RCA Out, Via USB Loopback
0.03% Line Level Mode
0.07% Mic Level Mode
Signal to Noise Ratio 85dB
nothing on sample rates....

you are talking about at least a 10% difference or higher across the board.

EchiDna · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 11:58 pm »

Quote from: ooheadsoo

Chaintec makes a pretty much identical card based on the same chipset and everything. Price? About $25 from newegg.

More info on this card here: http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=63301

you left out totally different DAC's

also the chaintech only runs 24/96 on the front channels,
the Revolution is 24/96 on all 7.1

eico1 · « **Reply #11 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 12:27 am »

Quote from: EchiDna

This idea of computer noise is common but unfounded....
your statement is ambiguous, the USB device will have less noise, yet the soundcard might be better?

I didn't say either, I said there will be less issues to deal regarding the the design of such a device in a separate enclosure rather than a inside PC of unknown origin and capacity, with the disclaimer 'a soundcard solution may be better...'

steve