A true high-end sound card for the audiophile and music lover.
I bought 2 of these cards to be used in one of my computer systems which is connected to the main patch panel so inputs can come from wherever I want. One problem that exsists with many PC sound systems is the fact that they only have stereo min jacks, I would have prefered full size 1/4" mon jacks but then space would be a problem and the designer would needed to have use a patchcord of some kind. I found the sound to be detailed, extended at both top and bottom, very dynamic, sweet in the midrange, and very clean at the top end.
As M-audio is part of Avid remember with these cards you can also run Pro Tools M-powered which is the same core as is used in the larger Pro Tools systems. Although I do have Pro Tools M-powered I still prefer Cakewalk audio for ease of use and the sonic quality. The delta series of cards are able to run under the same ASIO drive so you can quite easily implement more than one card and have it seen by your DAW using the same ASIO driver (this cannot be said for some other devices).
The M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI Digital Audio Card gives you 2 analog ins and 2 outs on RCA jacks plus S/PPIF for total of 4 ins and 4 outs of high-quality I/O. Channels support 24-bit data width and any sampling rate from 8kHz to 96kHz. Compatible with all major programs running on PCs and Macs.
I have used the SPDIFF ins and outs connected to outboard effects and had excellent results, no noise problems due to the signal being digital.
Features
2x2 full-duplex audio performance
Gold-plated RCA jacks
S/PDIF digital I/O with 2-channel PCM and AC-3/DTS passthrough
1x1 MIDI I/O
Zero-latency monitoring
Software-controlled 36-bit internal DSP mixing/routing
Apple G5 compatible
APPLICATION:
24-bit/96kHz multitrack recording
MIDI recording and playback
Supports digital transfers and digital mastering
A great card for LP/cassette-to-CD transfers
Ideal for computer-based home theater and hi-fi systems
Comes with Ableton Lite 4 Music production software
M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI Digital Audio Card
Coaxial outputs are Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound capable, making the Audiophile perfect for digital recording, analog or digital transfers, mixing and mastering, as well as DVD and home theater applications. Connect a line-level signal from your instrument, mixer, or preamp; or plug the record outputs of your stereo receiver into the analog RCA jacks located on the PCI card. Record digital audio signals from your DAT, MiniDisc, CD, or external A/D converter via the coaxial S/PDIF input located on the break-out cable.
The Audiophile 2496 comes with Ableton Lite 4 Music production software so you can start creating right out of the box!
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