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There is no question that high performance audio has
found a following in the home theater PC (HTPC) market over the last
year. Still most PC enthusiasts are still using outdated or worse;
outdated onboard sound solutions. Auzentech has taken the lead in
providing some of the same high-end audio technologies found in high-end
home theater systems and bringing them to your PC. Today we are looking
at the hot new Auzen X-Meridian sound card from AuzenTech. The
X-Meridian is the worlds first sound card designed to maximize the
potential of the new C-Media CMI-8788 chipset. We take the
X-Meridian for a ride right here!
Located in
San Jose, Ca., Auzentech has become a dominate force in the world
of performance PC audio. Auzentech, formerly HDA, developed the World's first
Dolby Digital Live Sound card (HDA X-MYSTIQUE 7.1 Gold) and the World's
first DTS Connect Sound Card (HDA
X-PLOSION 7.1 DTS Connect).
Both their X-Mystique and X-Plosion cards have provided some of the only
alternatives to a Creative Labs dominated market with their focus on pro
grade sound and the HTPC market. The X-Meridian builds on the
success of these two cards while bringing the latest in performance
audio technology to your PC.
A quick
look at the back of the box shows this isn't your ordinary 7.1 sound
card. The X-Meridian and its optional expansion card are more than
capable of providing the same technology and performance you would pay
thousands of dollars for in a home theater receiver and pre-amp.
As with the previous Sound cards
from Auzentech, the X-Meridian is packed with an audiophiles wish list
of features!
"Since the creation of Auzentech, Inc, our goal has been and
will remain to create, produce and distribute the finest sound products
in the world." - Stephane Bae, President, Auzentech Inc.
Features and Specifications:
Sound Card
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X-Tension
Extension Board
- The C-Media Oxygen HD CMI8788 Audio
Processor is the heart of the AUZEN X-MERIDIAN 7.1.
- 4 pcs 24-bit/192kHz AK4396VF
(120dB-part spec.) DACs for 7.1channel output. (24-bit/192kHz in
7.1channel playback)
- 1 pc 24-bit/192kHz
AK5385VF(114dB-part spec.) ADC input (24-bit/192kHz recording)
- 1 pc CMI9780 AC'97 2.3 CODEC for AUX
input, CD input, MIC input (16bit/48kHz playback/recording)
- Integrated up to 192k/24-bit S/PDIF
transmitter for 44.1kHz,48kHz, 96kHz, 192kHz SPDIF output.
- Supports onboard high grade special
COAX+OPTIC combo type transmitter module for up to 192kHz SPDIF out.
- Integrated up to 192k/24-bit S/PDIF
receiver for 44.1kHz,48kHz, 96kHz, 192kHz SPDIF input.
- Supports onboard high grade special
COAX+OPTIC combo type receiver module for up to 192kHz SPDIF input.
- Standard 10PIN Front Panel Audio
supports connectivity for stereo audio output and a microphone input
from most new chassis. (All 7.1channel analog output muted by jack
connection sense of front panel headphone out / Dual MIC input
available by back panel mic input and front panel mic input)
- DTS® Interactive - A real-time 5.1
channel encoder.
- DTS® Neo:PC - An upmix matrix
technology.
- Dolby® Digital Live (DDL) - A
real-time 5.1 channel encoding.
- Dolby® ProLogic IIx surround
processor spreading stereo audio into 7.1 channel surround sound.
- Dolby® Headphone technology,
conveying 5.1 surround and 3D gaming audio over stereo headphones.
- Dolby® Virtual Speaker solution,
bringing amazing virtual surround sound fields via general two
speakers.
- C-Media FlexBass™ - LFE channel
crossover frequency setable from range 50 to 250Hz in Small speaker
mode and Small/Large speaker selectable.
- C-Media Magic Voice™, popular
feature for disguising your tone in online chatting.
- C-Media Xear 3D™ 7.1 Virtual Speaker
Shifter technology.
- C-Media’s unique Karaoke functions:
Microphone Echo, Key-shifting.
- Individual 10-band EQ for each
channel,.27 global reverberation environments.
- Supports most industrial standards
of 3D sound for PC gaming, including EAX™ 1.0 & 2.0, A3D™ 1.0, and
DirectSound™.
- Swappable DIP type OPAMP controlled
preamp out circuit (4pcs output control OPAMP IC with DIY socket)
- Surface mount type OPAMP controlled
preamp input circuit (2pcs input control OPAMP for ADC and 1pc MIC
input gain control)
- 5Vrms (Differential DAC output
with gain adjustment / approximately full swing from +/- 8V dual
power supply)
- Proper OPAMP control circuit (large
capacity 1A +8V, -8V, dual power supply circuit) for high quality
audio quality, prevent audio distortion at high volume level.
- Upgrade Extension available (Extra
6.35mm MIC / Extra Digital I/O sold separately)
- Supported operating systems:
Microsoft Windows® 98SE / ME / 2000 Service Pack 3(SP3) / XP Service
Pack 1(SP1) / Server 2003 SP1/ XP Media Center Edition 2005 (MCE) /
XP x64 Edition.
Sound Card
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X-Tension Extension Board
(sold separately)
- Extra COAX + OPTIC Combo S/PDIF
Input (Up to 24-bit/192khz support)
- Extra COAX + OPTIC Combo S/PDIF
Output (Up to 24-bit/192khz support)
- 3.5mm minijack MIDI IN / MIDI OUT
with 2pcs special 3.5mm miniplug-5-pin standard DIN jack cables
- S/PDIF DIN(Gold Plated 9-pin MINI
DIN jack) for 8CH Pure PCM Ouput - all channels up to 24bit/192kHz
support. Compatible with Creative Lab's Digital DIN 6CH PCM SPDIF
Input connection.
- 6.35mm TRS jack MIC Input - 6.35mm
plug type mic (compatible with TRS/TS plug) and 5V power jumper
allows you to supply auxiliary MIC power, if needed. (Move the
jumper cap from open to pins 1-2).
- 4-pin-4-pin shield wire
connection required between onboard's 4-pin EXT_MIC connector
and extension board's 4-pin EXT_MIC connetor.
- Triple MIC input available -
back panel, front panel(FP_AUDIO), extension board's extra
6.35mm TRS jack MIC input
-
Compatible with Creative Lab's Digital DIN 6CH PCM SPDIF Input
connection
Technologies:
Dolby® Pro Logic®
IIx
The age of 7.1 surround sound for the home is here. But it's not just
reserved for DVD movies encoded in Dolby Digital EX. With Dolby Pro
Logic IIx, any movie, CD, TV program or video game can be enjoyed
through this enhanced surround sound technology.
Pro Logic IIx is the first and only technology to
expand any existing stereo- or 5.1-channel audio for a 6.1- or 7.1-
channel playback, creating a seamless, natural surround sound field that
immerses you in the entertainment experience.
Three listening modes--Movie, Music or Game--allow
you to tailor the audio to meet the different needs of the programming.
In Game mode, for instance, special effects signals are routed to the
surround channels for fuller, dramatic impact. Music mode features three
additional user controls:
- Dolby Center Width adjusts the balance of the
main vocals in the center and front channels.
- Dolby Panorama creates a seamless, wraparound
surround effect.
- Dolby Dimension lets you set a deeper or
shallower surround sound field.
DTS® Connect
DTS Connect is the latest thing from DTS that turns your PC into an
action-packed entertainment experience that surrounds you in sound. Make
your movies, music and games come alive in exciting, dynamic,
multi-channel DTS Digital Surround®, the same sound format found in
movie theaters. DTS Connect is a whole new way to enjoy your PC. DTS
Connect makes it easy to turn your computer into the ultimate PC sound
entertainment experience.
Click here for a DTS Connect demo!
Dolby® Digital Live,
a real-time encoding technology, converts any audio signal into a Dolby®
Digital bit stream for transport and playback through a home theater
system. With it, your PC or game console can be hooked up to your Dolby®
Digital-equipped audio/video receiver or digital speaker system via a
single digital connection, ensuring the integrity of the audio signal.
DTS Digital
Surround® is the sound format found in movie theaters.
The X-Meridian turns your PC into a DTS-Connect enabled PC capable of
playing full surround sound from DTS-enabled movies, music videos, music
discs, and games, as well as providing surround sound from normal stereo
sources.
Dolby Headphone:
5.1 surround sound through any pair of headphones.
Dolby® Headphone technology allows users to wear any set of headphones
and listen to music, watch movies, or play video games with the dramatic
surround effects of a 5.1-channel soundtrack.
- Realistic 5.1 surround sound from any set of
headphones
- Processes 24-bit/96 kHz audio, such as
DVD-Audio which produces surround sound bit-for-bit identical to the
studio masters.
- Superb surround sound with Dolby Pro Logic II
from stereo music and movies.
- Enables enjoyment of surround sound without
disturbing others.
- Improves listening comfort and reduces
"listener fatigue."
- Allows stereo content to be heard as
5.1-channel surround sound (when combined with Dolby Pro Logic II).
Engineered for Sound
by Auzentech, the X-Meridian is designed by the
award-winning engineers at Auzentech and constructed to a level of
quality in order to thrill the most demanding of audiophiles.
- Pure electrical connections via gold plated
PCB, jacks and metal bracket.
- Pure optical connections via Onboard Toslink
input and output, Toslink Fiber Optic Cable.
- Swappable dual DIP type Operational
Amplifiers (OPAMPs) for do-it-yourself upgrade for ultimate analog
sound quality and color.
- Available Dolby Pro Logic IIx for
transforming 5.1 channel surround sound into 6.1 or 7.1 channels
Movie, Music or Game listening modes.
- Stunning realism for PC games, music and
movies through the real-time interactive capabilities of DTS and DDL.
- Clear 24bit resolution that works with
today's Windows XP and tomorrow's Windows Vista.
- Superior output levels with more that 115 dB
signal-to-noise ratio.
Enjoy pure high-resolution digital surround-sound
audio while playing games, listening to music, or watching movies.
Experience audio you can believe in.
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