[Dream] Cheap soundcard recommendations?

[UnderTow]

On Wed, 14 Mar 2007, Mark wrote:

> On 3/13/07, andrei.henry at utoronto.ca put forth:
>> then, i stumbled across the presonus firebox
>> (http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html) - firewire interface (the m-audios
>> were all PCI cards), 4 in (2 mic pres, 2 line-levels), 6 outs, everything
>> balanced, spdif digital.  more expensive, but has everything that i'm
>> looking for and more.
>
> Well, not knowing anything else about these devices, I would choose
> something that is in in a separate chassis that has its own power
> supply.  I don't like soundcards.  They are fine for recreational
> use, but imho, it is not cost effective for a manufacturer to get
> analogue circuitry to work well in such an environment.  What do PC
> power supplies produce??  A 12V supply for motors and such and 5V at
> upwards of 30A driving a bunch of noisy ass logic.  You want
> something you are actually going to hear connected to that??

In theory you might be right but one of the best sound cards available has 
all the circuitry inside the computer yet manages not to keep out 
interference from other devices inside the PC. (Lynx cards).

> I could tell you to find out which converters they use, and use that
> as a basis of comparison, but even though that is common advice, it
> leaves out too many other factors.

Indeed. The design of the circuitry can make or break a converter despite 
the chips it uses. (And hence the regular warnings about EMU cards 
marketed as having the same converters as PT 192i/o. They don't. They just 
use the came chips).

> That Presonous Firebox looks OK.  The impedance specs are
> surprisingly good.  Having only 45dB of gain on the mic pre could be
> a bit limiting, but how often do you use microphones??  However, it
> does have phantom.

Presonus has a good reputation. They make decent cards with decent 
drivers.

> On 3/14/07, phile put forth:
>> Just a thought man, but, .... BUT... if you have a friend who is
>> good with soldering stuff and generally with electronics have him
>> replace the opamps with something better -- black gates would be a
>> _very_ good choice -- you will see what a difference it makes ;)
>
> No offense, but that is very bad advice.  A "better" op amp often
> requires a different circuit around it.  Also, almost all new
> computer devices use surface mount technology, and reworking SMT
> without special equipment is very difficult.

Not only that but why buy a soundcard to get it modded straight away? Why 
not just get a better sound card? If the sound improves so much with such 
a small change, why didn't the manufacturer include it in the original 
design? All a bit iffy IMO.

UnderTow