Terratec EWX 24/96 sound card: Surprisingly Good

[PBirkett]

OK, I know this is a hifi forum, but I believe this product deserves a mention.

My mate has just bought one to hook up with his Pioneer A400 amp and Wharfedale Diamond 8.2 speakers. The sound quality of this sound card is very surprising. Very musical, with excellent bass, and crystal clear, detailed, smooth treble.

Playback of MP3's using Foobar 2000 and 24-bit Fixed Point decoder is certainly an ear opener, surprisingly good indeed.

This sound card can easily rival, if not beat any budget CD player that I have heard, certainly sounds at least as good as my Cambridge DAC3.

Highly recommended.

[I-S]

That's good to hear paul, as I've been considering this card and the M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 to provide a relatively hifi replacement for my dreadful SB Live.

[Rory]

I use the DMX6 fire which uses the same 96/24 chipset and it does indeed sound fantastic- comfortably outclassing Audigy2 and SB live cards

[PBirkett]

Originally posted by Isaac Sibson
That's good to hear paul, as I've been considering this card and the M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 to provide a relatively hifi replacement for my dreadful SB Live.

Thats what he upgraded from. The difference is an absolutley enormous yawning chasm :D. It really is fantastic for the money.

Its so good, I am seriously considering one for myself :eek:

[davidcotton]

Any links available as I'm using onboard (yuck) sound atm. Also how much does it cost?

[PBirkett]

Cheapest I've seen it is here:
http://www.soundslive.co.uk/common/moreinfo.asp?ID=46

Here is some reviews:
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/reviews/terratec/terratec.asp
http://www.computeraudio.co.uk/caw/cawreviewshtml/terratecewx2496.html

[Rory]

www.afterhours.co.uk (and help charity)
do the EWX96/24 for £137 to add to your list (for some reason its not on www.terratec.net....is this an old card?),


and my DMX6fire (below) for £145 (should be £180 mark i think)

http://www.afterhours.co.uk/Shop/Eurotech/DMXlg.gif
Details


differences as opposed to EWX96/24....coaxial digital in and out (better connection to DAC), 5 pin DIN midi connections, phono preamp included, phono sockets as opposed to 3.5mm stereo mini jacks

PCI-board
3 analog stereo outputs (3,5mm jack) - 24 Bit/96 kHz
1 analog stereo input (3,5mm jack) - 24 Bit/96 kHz
2 analog CD-Audio outputs (Molex, On-Board) - 24 Bit/96 kHz
1 analog AUX input (Molex, On-Board) - 24 Bit/96 kHz
1 digital CD-Audio TTL input (Molex, On-Board)
1 analog stereo input (Cinch) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
1 analog stereo output (Cinch) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
1 analog stereo phono (MM, 6 mV ) input (Cinch) on front module- 24 Bit/96 kHz
1 analog mono microphone input (6,3mm jack) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
1 analog stereo headphone output (6,3mm jack) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
1 digital stereo in- and output (TOS-Link, optical) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
1 digital stereo in- and output (Cinch, coaxial) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
1 MIDI in- and output (5-pin DIN) on front module
Control range of : 9mV - 500mV
Output power of headphone output : 60 mW
Bus master transfer supports ‚24bit 4byte mode' (32bit)
Simultaneous recording and reproduction of all channels with up to 24bit/96kHz
24bit/96kHz AD converters with 100 dB dynamical range (S/NR)*
24bit/96kHz DA converters with 110 dB dynamical range (S/NR)*
24bit/96kHz stereo digital input (S/PDIF with up to 24bit/96kHz)
24bit/96kHz stereo digital output (S/PDIF with up to 24bit/96kHz)
Digital input may also be used for digital audio output of an internal CD-Rom drive (TTL)
Input control of AD converters with +18dB increment in 0,5dB steps
Hardware with internal resolution of 36bit
VU-meter in control panel (hardware based)
"None-Audio" mode for transmission of AC3 and DTS streams via digital interface
Connection option for microWAVE PC!, DXR and DXF , alternatively to DMX 6fire 24/96 front module
Software

WDM driver for Windows 98SE/ ME/2000 and Windows XP Supports ASIO 2.0
WDM Kernel Streaming (e.g. for Sonar ™)
MME- and DirectSound
DirectSound 3D, Sensaura 3D, A3D 1.0/2.0 and EAX 1.0/2.0 as well as Macro FX**
ControlPanel for Windows 98SE/ME/2000 and Windows XP





please note these are AUDIO cards only- no GM voices

[I-S]

Just to save a few £ on paul's link...

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?action=info&p=14956&t=867&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=16&GrpID=3&s=pl

About £126.60 inc delivery

[PBirkett]

Originally posted by Isaac Sibson
Just to save a few £ on paul's link...

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?action=info&p=14956&t=867&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=16&GrpID=3&s=pl

About £126.60 inc delivery

Cheers for that, I now know where I'll be buying mine :)

[joel]

I have been using an M-audio audiophile 24/96 for a couple of years. It works, the drivers work (oh miracle) and is very good value for money IMO. I have used it mostly for video editing (Premiere / Vegas / Avid Xpress), Soundforge and some light *Acid* work.
It does what it says on the box with no fuss. A good buy.

It runs through my second system:
Luxman 501s integrated amp / Proac Tablettes / Denon 1650az-n CDP which is the other source

[Chea Johndle]

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw2_artikel-144794.html

Have a look at the above link.......172 Euro inc del...= £119.20

This place has a good selection of cards.

Regards

[PBirkett]

Apologies for dragging this up again, but I had the chance to compare the soundcard side by side with the Cambridge Audio DAC3.

So, whats the verdict? Well, it isnt better than the DAC3, in fact, the DAC3 edges it for me, but for a soundcard it is mightily impressive, and I have to say that I could easily live with it as a source, if I primarily had a computer based setup.

I however, will be saving my cash....

[I-S]

Interesting paul....

For those of us with integrated CD players, it sounds the best solution though.