PowerColor is best known as an add-in board (AIB) partner of AMD who has also branched out into cases and power supplies. This year, they have introduced a new product category: sound cards. The PowerColor Devil HDX connects via PCIe and can take up one or two slots, depending on whether the user wants to install its included (!!) daughterboard with analog (4 x 3.5mm) surround outputs and a microphone input. Without the daughterboard, the card has a quarter-inch headphone jack, two analog RCA jacks for stereo, an RCA SPDIF output, and an optical SPDIF output. The main card is covered in a full EMF shield, because it's inside a computer.
The card includes switchable OP-AMPs, high quality capacitors, a Cmedia CM8888 audio processor, and a Wolfson WM8741 DAC. This configuration is capable of driving headphones with up to 600 Ohm impedance. The signal-to-noise ratio is a little better on the RCA jacks, because they're not amplified, but not by much. The RCA jacks are rated at 124 dB SNR, while the headphones are rated at 120 dB SNR with the supplied OP-AMPs. PowerColor wrote a driver interface, called “Xear”, which includes ASIO 2.2 support.
The PowerColor Devil HDX doesn't have a release date but Tom's Hardware, who spoke with the company, said it should be “over the coming months”. They also said it will retail for $159, which is apparently $50 less than their competition.
“PowerColor wrote a driver
“PowerColor wrote a driver interface, called “Xear”,…”
AuzenTech reincarnated.
Finally, I have been looking
Finally, I have been looking for someone to pick up where Auzentech left off. I have been having to buy surplus remaining product off of Ebay. I love my Bravura. One thing my Bravura lacks is the ASIO driver and the separate power.
No, it uses CM8888 audio
No, it uses CM8888 audio processor instead of creative processor.
Why would they make the back
Why would they make the back plates silver? The card has a nice black and red look to it, but the back plate is silver?
More marketing gimmicks pls.
More marketing gimmicks pls. Since when did the stereotypical gamer that goes for such a garish gamer aesthetic care about audio besides exaggerated base? Oh wait, interpreting graphs and understanding the measurements is too hard, we must shove down the term “powers up to xxx ohms” like that statement actually makes any sense, and then we get a line of people who don’t even know what impedance is asking if their onboard can power “so and so amount of ohms headphones”. Swap op amps? Ever heard of EQ? These cards are running around with too high an output impedance for headphones, while a serious, data-driven amp/dac can be had for around that price.
I am still waiting on an
I am still waiting on an audiophile class card that can do the following:
9.2 channels (to allow support for atmos and DTS’s overhead channels. Would prefer 11.1 though)
A breakout box with XLR outputs for all channels.
NO signal roll off below 10hz (I game on a setup that goes below 10hz with authority thanks to sealed 18″ high excursion subs in a tiny room.
Until a card can do that, I
Until a card can do that, I will ignore it. I want the ability to use my PC as my pre/pro, hooked directly to my amps. That is what I would consider an audiophile soundcard.
@Audiophile Gamer: the
@Audiophile Gamer: the closest thing to your requirement would be the Asus Xonar Essence One
Same card….but Powercolor
Same card….but Powercolor add a Devil logo!
So, old stuff !
http://www.aimpro21.com/prod_sc808.asp