[Jayman]

I am in the hunt for a new sound card and would like your advice:

The card will be in a system which I use 95% of the time for 2-channel music listening. I occasionally play games but is not a critical factor here. I will be connecting straight to my pre-amp via RCA cable (possible desire for balanced output in the distant future). The system is not used for HT purposes. I have no external DSP, so I will be relying on the sound card's digital to analog processing.

From what I have gathered the following cards are readily available, known to be high quality, and keep up with their drivers:

1. Lynx L22 http://www.lynxstudio.com/lynxl22.html (MSRP $650 - Ebay ~ $500)
2. M-Audio Audiophile 192 http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile192-main.html (MSRP $199)
3. M-Audio Audiophile 2496 http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile2496-main.html (MSRP $129)
4. HT Omega Claro Plus+ http://www.htomega.com/claroplus.html (MSRP $175)

Which one would you pick if price weren't an issue? And if price were an issue?

Thanks!

[satfrat]

I'll say that I absolutely love my M-Audio Revolution 7 for a whole $120. I do only use a digital cable tho to my processor but I've thrown away my CDP since having this setup in my system and presently have over 2800 albums running thru his sound card,,,,,1 at a time.  My point is you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on a good sound card. The Revolution 7 got very good reviews 4 years ago but it doesn't have RCA plugs. I'm sure the 2496 does tho. FWIW



Cheers,
Robin

[Jon L]

Take it from a Lynx owner.  I would strongly go with a great outboard DAC and a "decent" soundcard with spdif output, something from E-MU perhaps.

As far as DAC, I really like this one:
http://members.aceweb.com/orim/audio/OritekAudio/Zho_mod.html

[Jayman]

Interesting note that both people who responded are not using the sound card for the DA conversion...hmmmm

Ok, then let's put it this way, if we are using the SPDIF from the soundcard, what soundcard would you recommended and what external DAC would you recommend?

Thanks!

Jay

[EchiDna]

I'm a convert to usb dacs...
still own an m-audio revolution and numerous other cards, but the usb stuff kills it IMHO $ for $.

[satfrat]

Interesting note that both people who responded are not using the sound card for the DA conversion...hmmmm

Ok, then let's put it this way, if we are using the SPDIF from the soundcard, what soundcard would you recommended and what external DAC would you recommend?

Thanks!

Jay

This is EXACTLY what my post pertained to. A digital cable to my processor(dac)? from my M-Audio revolution 7 sound card SPDIF outlet? How does this not pertain,,, other than the fact that I'm using a multichannel dac prosessor and not a single exterior dAC? It's this singular reason that i have no need for usb dacs,,, tho it does seem to be the way that everyone in 2-channel are heading now days. 

Cheers,
Robin

[NewBuyer]

Whether or not you are using the soundcard for D/A, I would recommend the Lynx if price is no issue, and the Audiophile 192 if price is an issue. In your application, I would not necessarily consider an external DAC, your soundcards listed will be very nice all by themselves (especially the Lynx). You might want to check out some 1/4" to RCA adapters, and similar adapters for XLR if using the Lynx.

[Jayman]

I should add in one more caveat here. I am living in Beijing and therefore whatever I buy I won't really have a chance to return and swap as I will be stopping home for the holidays to NY and then right back to Beijing.

I have tried external DAC converters before during my CD days when I separated transport and DAC, and in my experience each DAC vary widely in their sound characteristics necessitating a real in house trial before final purchase.

I am assuming using the DAC on one of these cards will be much more neutral in this respect?

Any thoughts?

I am also interested in the USB option but am totally new to that. any recommendations worth looking at here?