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M Audio Audiophile 192, bang or bust?

I'm wondering here if the M Audio Audiophile 192 PC sound card is worth the $180.00 being asked for it at Sam Ash Music, and elsewhere?

Or should I just stick with USB out of the PC to the DAC I use BC D3 which supports only 16/44.1K.

I am thinking I could try going straight from the sound card into my preamp, or config it to 24/96 out and send taht via coaxil to the DAC... thereby improving on the limitations of the BC D3's USB interface.

Thoughts here will be most helpful. Especially those from M Audio 192 card owners.

BTW... I'm not dissatisfied with the present setup, just curious if I can improve upon it.

Thanks very much.
blindjim
wireless200
415 posts
 
It's better than a Soundblaster. It's not going to be up there with, you know, a regular dac or good CD player.
blindjim OP
3,092 posts
 
Personally, I'm 100% thru with any Creative Labs products which pertain to PCs. Four times I've bought their products only to have them fail or die shortly after the expiration of the warranty, or have them be labled expired due to passing their serviceable life.. (4) years.. the latter never mattered as all died long before that... but in searching for a driver at the CL website, I noticed it.

so.... CL IMO has expired due to their products having surpassed their serviceable life expectancy. In my mind they are no longer an option. Period.

You have one of these Audiophile 192 cards, then?

Will IT hook up DIRECTLY to analog (RCA) connections?
blindjim OP
3,092 posts
 
I found a better pic of the break out cabling supplied with the card... and yes it will. it appears it also has XLR as well as RCA analog in/outs. One pair each.

The owners manual is a mite sketchy on some of the aspects of the cards facets but I think I can figure it all out well enough.

Either way I'm getting the notion that at the very least, I'll have well improved upon my current PC sound, and have set the table for the addition of some better PC/powered speakers down the road, if nothing else winds up being improved upon.
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