Another Reason to hang on for my next HTPC

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whatty

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#26354 19-Sep-2008 15:43

Was about to start my 2nd build BUT will hang on till this arives in little NZ. Apparently End of October.

https://www.techbuy.com.au/p/89078/SOUNDCARD_ALL/ASUS/XONAR_HDAV1.3.asp

Deffinetly the way to go IMO

eXDee

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#165661 19-Sep-2008 16:00

IMO the Xonar D2 is excessive as it is, but i suppose each to his own.

mcraenz

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#165692 19-Sep-2008 17:45

Is this just a sound card?

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eXDee

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#165720 19-Sep-2008 21:07

Yes it's just a sound card.
In my opinion the only way to justify something like that in your HTPC is having the top quad core + 8gb of ram + 2 GTX280 in SLI or something, so everything is about on the same level of excessiveness.

Disrespective

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#165721 19-Sep-2008 21:15

eXDee: Yes it's just a sound card.
In my opinion the only way to justify something like that in your HTPC is having the top quad core + 8gb of ram + 2 GTX280 in SLI or something, so everything is about on the same level of excessiveness.

Yeah, that and a $10,000 amp and $40,000 speakers and maybe it might be worth it, but then you wouldn't be mucking around with a PCI sound card would you?

Absolutely positively a waste of money in my opinion. But then again i spend exhorbitant amounts of money on camera glass so i can't really talk.

mcraenz

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#165740 19-Sep-2008 23:31

Yeah, I mean what amp/speakers are you outputing to? I use a 5.1 receiver, onboard optical and the cheapest 4M optical cable I could get my hands on. It's digital, it either works properly or it doesn't, it's only the amp/speakers that make any difference.

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whatty

42 posts

Geek

#165902 21-Sep-2008 00:49

Looks like you no one read the article, its a little more than just a sound card!

Asmodeus

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#165905 21-Sep-2008 02:55

It's a combined video/audio card, it also has a video processor on it (wondered why it had a fan). Still it is expensive

The Splendid HD Video Processor uses proprietary Splendid video engine to increase color performance and enhance edges for a more brilliant, crisper image--even on high-definition content at ZERO CPU loading impact.

Video Up-Sampling
For lower resolution images, Splenidid HD recovers clarity which improves consumer experiences when viewing legacy content on todays advanced television systems.

Multi-range Video Enhancing
For HD contents, Splendid HD increases color performance and enhances edges for a more brilliant, crisper image. Such as better visual contrast without flickering issue, and much vivid color than reality

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argo

87 posts

Master Geek

#165920 21-Sep-2008 09:34

Why is this card good: Its the only way to play back HDMI Protected Audio Path on a PC, in 2008.

Excellent article here: http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3411&p=4
(links to the relevant end of the article, highly recommend reading the whole thing)

In brief:

On a PC, via HDMI, we can currently playback 8-channel lossless audio only (although quite possibly this will be downsampled).

To playback compressed audio such as found on Blu-Ray we have a problem. And here I quote the article: "... there's absolutely no way to output a compressed Dolby Digital TrueHD or DTS-HD MA signal over HDMI from any PC today".

The Xonar AV1.3 is the "cure".

Nety

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#165933 21-Sep-2008 10:52

I don't understand why you would say hang on for next HTPC. The great thing about a HTPC is that you can upgrade it.

I think we will see more of these devices and the price come down. For me I will not look at something like this for some time as you need a AV amp that does the HD formats as well.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

sbiddle

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#165945 21-Sep-2008 11:13

argo: Why is this card good: Its the only way to play back HDMI Protected Audio Path on a PC, in 2008.

Excellent article here: http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3411&p=4
(links to the relevant end of the article, highly recommend reading the whole thing)

In brief:

On a PC, via HDMI, we can currently playback 8-channel lossless audio only (although quite possibly this will be downsampled).

To playback compressed audio such as found on Blu-Ray we have a problem. And here I quote the article: "... there's absolutely no way to output a compressed Dolby Digital TrueHD or DTS-HD MA signal over HDMI from any PC today".

The Xonar AV1.3 is the "cure".

For the cost of the sound card however you could buy a Blu Ray player and still have some change in your wallet!

eXDee

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#165969 21-Sep-2008 12:08

That Splendid engine thing is apparently in my 9600GT and 4850, possibly my 8500GT as well - all are made by asus.

I don't think i'll be coming across any audio which is going to need a protected HDMI path.

argo

87 posts

Master Geek

#166086 21-Sep-2008 19:54

sbiddle:
argo: Why is this card good: Its the only way to play back HDMI Protected Audio Path on a PC, in 2008.

Excellent article here: http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3411&p=4
(links to the relevant end of the article, highly recommend reading the whole thing)

In brief:

On a PC, via HDMI, we can currently playback 8-channel lossless audio only (although quite possibly this will be downsampled).

To playback compressed audio such as found on Blu-Ray we have a problem. And here I quote the article: "... there's absolutely no way to output a compressed Dolby Digital TrueHD or DTS-HD MA signal over HDMI from any PC today".

The Xonar AV1.3 is the "cure".

For the cost of the sound card however you could buy a Blu Ray player and still have some change in your wallet!

Got to agree with that!! To me the cool thing about this card is it's a step in the right direction of getting this whole PAP/DRM audio thing sorted for the PC. Hopefully it will follow the usual technology path and become cheaper, or even better - integrated.

Actually the Popcorn Hour pretty much does all this (I think) for a similiar price.

Edit: As a Client. Still need a PC as a Server!

whatty

42 posts

Geek

#166117 21-Sep-2008 21:26

Nety: I don't understand why you would say hang on for next HTPC. The great thing about a HTPC is that you can upgrade it.

I think we will see more of these devices and the price come down. For me I will not look at something like this for some time as you need a AV amp that does the HD formats as well.

My current HTPC is AGP and I run it via a onkyo AV amp (606) and this card will encode HD audio.

Nety

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#166570 23-Sep-2008 17:31

whatty:
Nety: I don't understand why you would say hang on for next HTPC. The great thing about a HTPC is that you can upgrade it.

I think we will see more of these devices and the price come down. For me I will not look at something like this for some time as you need a AV amp that does the HD formats as well.

My current HTPC is AGP and I run it via a onkyo AV amp (606) and this card will encode HD audio.

Nice! the amp not the HTPC. For me the amp I have is 7.1 but not HD. I cannot justify replacing it just to get HD sound.