Friday, July 23rd 2010

Auzentech X-Meridian Back With a Bang in New Second Generation Model

Widely regarded in the audiophile community as one of the best sound cards ever made, Auzentech's X-Meridian 7.1 is being revived in a new second-generation (2G) model. Following engagement with Creative for supply of its X-Fi chipsets, Auzentech had stopped production of the original X-Meridian 7.1 sound card citing shortages of the C-Media CMI8788 Oxygen HD chipset, which it now seems to have come over. The new X-Meridian 2G 7.1 from Auzentech sports the same CMI8788 Oxygen HD chip, backed by a squad of channel-independent enthusiast-grade AKM AK4396 DACs, user-replaceable OPAMP chips, high-end electrolytic capacitors to maintain natural-sounding output in the analogue portion of the card, and high-end solid-state capacitors for the power-distribution and digital output. To ensure the lowest latencies, the card uses the PCI interface, because CMI8788 is a PCI chip, and adding a PCI-E bridge chip would step up latencies. More technical details can be found in the exclusive preview by Guru3D.
Source: Guru3D
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57 Comments on Auzentech X-Meridian Back With a Bang in New Second Generation Model

#51
Wile E
Power User
PanzerIVYa I'd be really suprised to tell a difference between 110 and 120dB SNR. It's like saying you can notice the difference between 44.1 and 48Khz. I've read in a review that the human ear actualy can't notice the difference of 192Khz so that's complete overkill and that's why no one record its music at this rate. To me the Crystalizer really helps, perhaps because I listen to high-bitrate MP3 rather than WAV/Flac stuff who knows. Hell I have a setup worth 2500-3000$ with very fine ears and I can't tell the difference between 320kbps VBR and WAV so it's just snob audiophile BS when they say mp3 sucks and that Flac is way better. However you have to not exagerate the effect of the crystalizer. I set it to 30% otherwise it's way too much effect
I missed this. I have proven to my friends in a double blind that I hear the difference between Flac and 320kb/s mp3. The reason you can't tell the difference is because you are using the crystalizer. Crystalizer makes the flac file inaccurate. Turn off crystalizer, and use a good set of IEMs or cans, and the difference is obvious.
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#52
PanzerIV
Wile EI missed this. I have proven to my friends in a double blind that I hear the difference between Flac and 320kb/s mp3. The reason you can't tell the difference is because you are using the crystalizer. Crystalizer makes the flac file inaccurate. Turn off crystalizer, and use a good set of IEMs or cans, and the difference is obvious.
Perhaps the whole point of the Crystalizer is to make that 320kbps mp3 file sound as good as the Flac without any "effects"? If it can achieve this job then it will save you a hell out of space, not to forget that it's much harder to find or buy ur music online in Flac format so I'd rather have everything in mp3 rather than various format. Oh and most of the mp3 players and all car radio won't read the flac and even if my Cowon S9 reads Flac file, pretty sure it does, well I would fill that 32Gb flash drive way too quickly for a difference I may not even notice or that I will but won't be worth it.

Anyhow, better sounding equipement will enhance much more ur sound quality than going from 320kbps mp3 to flac, that's for sure :rockout:
Posted on Reply
#53
Wile E
Power User
PanzerIVPerhaps the whole point of the Crystalizer is to make that 320kbps mp3 file sound as good as the Flac without any "effects"? If it can achieve this job then it will save you a hell out of space, not to forget that it's much harder to find or buy ur music online in Flac format so I'd rather have everything in mp3 rather than various format. Oh and most of the mp3 players and all car radio won't read the flac and even if my Cowon S9 reads Flac file, pretty sure it does, well I would fill that 32Gb flash drive way too quickly for a difference I may not even notice or that I will but won't be worth it.

Anyhow, better sounding equipement will enhance much more ur sound quality than going from 320kbps mp3 to flac, that's for sure :rockout:
No, Crystalizer doesn't make mp3 sound like flac, it makes flac sound like mp3. Actually, thru my IEMs, it even makes 320k mp3 sound worse.

And with the cost of storage as low as it is these days, I'll continue to use flac for home listening, and aac for portable/mobile. I already have 7TB available, and plan to add more. Space is of zero concern to me, only audio quality matters. If you are happy with mp3 and Crystalizer, you wasted your money on high end equipment.
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#54
TheMonkey
wile eno, crystalizer doesn't make mp3 sound like flac, it makes flac sound like mp3. Actually, thru my iems, it even makes 320k mp3 sound worse.

And with the cost of storage as low as it is these days, i'll continue to use flac for home listening, and aac for portable/mobile. I already have 7tb available, and plan to add more. Space is of zero concern to me, only audio quality matters. If you are happy with mp3 and crystalizer, you wasted your money on high end equipment.
+1
Posted on Reply
#55
Meizuman
PanzerIV...To me the Crystalizer really helps, perhaps because I listen to high-bitrate MP3 rather than WAV/Flac stuff who knows. Hell I have a setup worth 2500-3000$ with very fine ears and I can't tell the difference between 320kbps VBR and WAV so it's just snob audiophile BS when they say mp3 sucks and that Flac is way better. However you have to not exagerate the effect of the crystalizer. I set it to 30% otherwise it's way too much effect.
Man, you have to have something wrong with your ears, just saying. :wtf:

EDIT: WAV (CD rip) vs. 192kbps has clear difference even with 40€ Philips SBC HP800 headphones.. WAV vs 320kbps is a bit harder, but then again, this sound hardware is worth about 65€ total.
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#56
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
i just leave it at 50% myself, cant tell what the diff is.
Posted on Reply
#57
Meizuman
Crystalizer is loudness. Plus maybe some sort of algorithm to add the effect based on gain and frequency.
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