ASUS Xonar HDAV1.3 on PRE-ORDER:)!

Monkeynut said:
So if I don't care about HDMI and just want analog I should be getting the normal D2?
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Yes, this is really only if you want full HDMI support.

RS_Maverick said:
I would love the functionality of one of these but I can't justify that cost given that I've recently paid £100+ for the Xonar D2X. What frustrates me more (and I've said this in another thread so forgive my repetitiion) is that plenty of cards on the market including the Xonar DX and D2X would be more than capable of handling HD audio over analogue but they are prevented from doing so by artificial caps imposed because of restrictions in software.

The two big questions which raise doubts over the need for this card for me are:
Will HD audio over analogue ever be made possible on PC.
Why should I buy this rather than add a bit extra and get a standalone Blu-Ray player?
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This does analogue for HD formats well, there's also a Realtek one that should be able to do is software/driver writers get together but it's Realtek onbaord sound so it sounds awful.
I don't think is necessarily a bad buy, if you don't already have a capable HTPC or BD player then you'd be better off getting a PS3 or building something around the G45. But if you want to add full HDMI capability it's the only option.

Bear in mind also that the majority of the tracks on BD/HD-DVD aren't more than 48/16, the rest are 48/24 with a tiny number of 96+/24. So if you have say an ATi 4xxx card you don't miss out on too much.
 
Stupid simple question for a non-audiophile.

Do you only need this card (or the HDMI Auzen X-Fi one) if you want to watch BDs/HD-DVDs from your PC?

If you dont, would the existing Xonar/Prelude be fine or are there other differences that make it worthwhile upgrading?

Im going to be using a PS3 for all my BD stuff so trying to understnad the market for these...

Also how would these work with the ATI HD48** GTX cards which do HDMI audio?

I have to admit HDMI audio really hasnt been handled well and to a normal bod like me I have no idea why I should have it and how to get it to all work...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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There seem to be some other improvements but only small ones and if you purchased this card for those you'd have to be very foolish as it's priced high because of the HDMI capability which is only relevant if you play BD/HD-DVD.
With a 48xx you'd disable the audio functionality and use this.
 
Thanks AbsenceJam,

My Prelude seems perfect for my needs then - my speakers are Logitech Z5400s and therefore unless I moved my sound system to HDMI I doubt these new cards actually would get any use...

Seems exactly the same when X-Fi came, very expensive compared to what was out there and it took a lot of time for acceptance.

Perhaps in a couple of years when Im more of an audiophile this upgrade will tempt me but I think its always going to be behind the normal CPU/GFX change...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Has anybody actually tried blind tests of blu ray audio against dvd (48 KHz 16 bit)?

Unlike the difference from SD to HD video (easily perceptible) I would be very surprised if anybody other than sound engineers/those with trained ears could tell the difference.

Hell, I've got some good equipment and I can't tell the difference between 160kbps mp3 over wav. How on earth are you supposed to hear 192 KHz over 48?
I imagine that for the majority of users, speakers will be the weakest link.
 
joeyjojo said:
Has anybody actually tried blind tests of blu ray audio against dvd (48 KHz 16 bit)?

Unlike the difference from SD to HD video (easily perceptible) I would be very surprised if anybody other than sound engineers/those with trained ears could tell the difference.

Hell, I've got some good equipment and I can't tell the difference between 160kbps mp3 over wav. How on earth are you supposed to hear 192 KHz over 48?
I imagine that for the majority of users, speakers will be the weakest link.
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If you can't tell the difference between lossless and 160kbps MP3's then I'd question your hearing, the difference there is very obvious.
But it just means you don't need to spend money on kit. :)

The change in audio from DVD to HD media is pretty big. On DVD the common tracks are AC3 or half bitrate DTS, on the HD formats you go to at least full bitrate DTS and higher bitrate AC3 which is a good jump. And then further to that you can get lossless audio which sounds better still and the possibility of greater ample rates and bit depths.
Comparing picture quality is always easy so differences are immediately obvious and you can see them side by side, it's not straightforward with sound.
 
hey.. it's working, Xonar HDAV1.3 is bitstreaming DTS HD Master alright!!!
Check it out on AVS Forum:

Xonar HDAV1.3 Availablility

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i'd rather just spend a bit extra for a PS3 tbh, hd audio over lpcm is just as good as bitstream quality wise.

nice card but a little expensive, early adopter syndrome as usual i guess :)
 
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Crazy price, the card isn't doing anything as it just passing the stream over HDMI to the receiver!

No different to passing a Dolby Digital or DTS stream out via TOSLINK or Coaxial SPDIF

:confused: :mad:

HEADRAT
 
How long until we see an integrated HDMI connector on our mobos for this audio - all thats really needed if your sound equipment can accept it and do the rest...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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