[thistlepie]

Hi to all! A couple weeks ago, I posted an inquiry about a sound card prototype that is being developed. I'm back again to further my research, but now with better information and more questions.

So - it's a 7.1 sound card prototype which has an integrated amplifier and 8x50 watts' worth of power. It will be available in two forms: one which is compatible with just PCs and another in an external case with a HDMI connection (used for DVD players, computers or game consoles).

I would like to know your thoughts about this product - any comments, ideas or objections will extremely useful. (IE: Would you buy it? Why or why not?)

Thanks!

[Mak213]

Why would someone choose the external connection? Would it do audio? If no then why would they choose that over their HDTV which could do both the video and audio.

Another thing. Why would they use that to connect to a DVD Player or something like that? If they want surround sound they would already have a reciever of some sort to do this processing for them. Espically with the case of a game console since no games are done in pure surround sound. They need ProLogic 2 to simulate it.

I dont see why someone would buy the external port. There are already more viable ways to get accomplish what that would offer.

The internal...i dont see that being viable as well. There are few people that use a PC with 5.1 sound. Let alone 7.1 sound. Those that do use 5.1 already have a setup that allows them to get the sound they want. Trying to create a internal card with powered channels wouldnt serve a purpose as the speakers get their power from the sub in most cases for the PC.

So you would have to really find a 5.1 or 7.1 set that wasnt already powered externally in order for your card to even be a option for these people to want to use.

Let alone driver support for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Linux.

[ricanflow]

Sorry but theres no possible way to make a pci card with that much power.

External audio already exists, and has many advantages over internal. The further you get from the internals of the pc the lower the chances are of interference and you can get better quality. But most people go with internal.

And yeah like mak said most people use powered speakers. The pci bus doesnt have enough power to do what you want, neither does usb.

[Mak213]

w00t!

I actually know what i am talking about. Somewhat.

[ricanflow]

Yeah and its pretty much common sense.

Sound cards have been around for years..ever since the ISA days.

If it was possible to make an internal soundcard with that much power, creative would have already done it.

It takes lots of research and money to make them...which creative has. Modern soundcards are very high-tech and not simply a pcb which emits sound. They have procecors, ram, capacitors, heatsinks and hardware decoding.

Thats another thing 8x50watts = 400watts of power which = lots of heat. Home theater amps have huge heatsinks inside to keep them cool...try to fit one on a pci card...aint gonna happen.

Even entry level home-theater receivers are barely able to put out 100 or 200 watts...and the op wants to do 400watts with a pci card....not gonna happen.

[EricB]

well I guess that I'm not needed here

[ricanflow]

Haha...go ahead say what you gotta say eric.