Hi everybody, after your kind suggestions, I have done some search in the "pro" and "semi-pro" sound card arena to find a suitable and affordable card for my needs.
In the end, I have found a few possible candidates. According to the manufacturer specs, all of them are capable of "bitperfect" digital output (pass-through) as well as synchronization with an external clock source. I still can't decide for one, and am still looking for your advice. Here is a short table with a few comments. E-MU (Creative): http://www.emu.com/products/category.asp?category=505 0404 pros: transformer coupled coax SPDIF I/O; cons: I/O trough "breakout" adapter cables. chipset/driver: emu10k1-fpga Linux support status? 1212m pros: ditto + direct connections without adapters for both coax and TOSlink SPDIF I/O (also ADAT capable). cons: ? chipset/driver: emu10k1-fpga Linux support status? 1010m pros: same as 1212m, without analog board - should be cheaper; cons: no analog I/O; chipset/driver: emu10k1-fpga? would it work with Linux? ESI (Ego Sys) http://www.esi-audio.com/products/julia/ http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=43 Juli@ pros: manufacturer explicitly says: "Linux compatible (ALSA)"! :-> cons: no TOSlink input (only output), coax SPDIF I/O via "breakout" adapter cable (is coax I/O transformer coupled???). chipset/driver: ice1724 what about real Linux support status? M-Audio http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=pciinterfaces Audiophile 2496 pros: ? cons: no TOSlink, coax SPDIF I/O only via "breakout" adapter cable (is coax I/O transformer coupled???) chipset/driver: ice1712 Linux support status? Audiophile 192 pros: ? cons: no TOSlink, coax only (is coax I/O transformer coupled???) chipset/driver: ice1724 Linux support status? According to this, my order of preference would be E-MU 1212m (or maybe just 1010), followed by the 0404, the Juli@, the AP192 and AP2496. Nevertheless, the main problem -which may radically change preference- is Linux support. For the E-MU, Matrix says that support is only coming with ALSA version 1.0.15... I'm afraid it's a bit too early for these... :-? Are there other options? I was also thinking RMEs, but all of them looks way too much complicated and expensive for my needs. Same for well known digigram cards like the VX222 or VX442. Back to more "consumer oriented", cheaper cards, what about the Onkyo SE-200PCI ? Perhaps, the cheapest options would be the nice Chaintech AV-710, but sadly it lacks digital input and any clock sync possibility. :-( Any other option? Comments? Suggestions? Tnx again. Ciao e grazie, Paolo. -- Skype: Paolo.Saggese http://borex.lngs.infn.it/saggese You can still escape from the GATES of hell: Use Linux! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/ _______________________________________________ Alsa-user mailing list Alsa-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/alsa-user
