Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 (Read 7597 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Audiotrak Prodigy HD2

Is it worth to buy this sound card?
How does it perform compare with common mainboard sound card, and is the difference audible??



Audiotrak Prodigy HD2

Reply #1 –
I own this card.

Driver is typical for AudioTrak (not very good). Standard driver crashes Windows XP when attempting kernelstreaming. ASIO works fine though. The QSound driver is broken and mutes after a few minutes of playback. Driver has not been updated in ages.

It is my opinion that the card sounds slightly/somewhat better than the onboard Intel HD Audio.

The opamps can be easily upgraded, which I have done. Not a major operation, but doing any sound comparisons would be very time consuming. I never bothered since I got the new opamps almost free. This thread might be of interest if you buy the card.

Audiotrak Prodigy HD2

Reply #2 –
Quote from: sshd on
I own this card.

Driver is typical for AudioTrak (not very good). Standard driver crashes Windows XP when attempting kernelstreaming. ASIO works fine though. The QSound driver is broken and mutes after a few minutes of playback. Driver has not been updated in ages.

It is my opinion that the card sounds slightly/somewhat better than the onboard Intel HD Audio.

The opamps can be easily upgraded, which I have done. Not a major operation, but doing any sound comparisons would be very time consuming. I never bothered since I got the new opamps almost free. This thread might be of interest if you buy the card.

But i found the latest driver for HD2 on Audiotrak Japan website, released during the end of last year, 2008. Is it compatible with the sound card?

Audiotrak Prodigy HD2

Reply #3 –
I have owned a prodigy HD2 card for almost a year.  I also have owned an ESI Juli@ soundcard made by the same company for about 2 years.  I use both cards with J. River Media Center player software (versions 11/12 and 13.)  under Windows XP.  The Audiotrak and Juli@ ASIO drivers for both cards have been flawless.  I've also used the card though WaveOut and DirectSound interfaces without problems.

I don't use the Qsound effects.  Turn them off and they don't get in the way.

I continue to use the driver that came with the card - version x2v 0.978.

I'd say that the Prodigy card is a worthwhile step up from most onboard sound.

Bill

Audiotrak Prodigy HD2

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Seeking_Lossless on
But i found the latest driver for HD2 on Audiotrak Japan website, released during the end of last year, 2008. Is it compatible with the sound card?


No idea. I use the latest from the official global site. That driver is from 2007-02-26.

Audiotrak Prodigy HD2

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Seeking_Lossless link=msg=0 date=
How does it perform compare with common mainboard sound card, and is the difference audible??


Common mainboard audio interfaces have improved tremendously over the past 5 years.  AFAIK none of them have 110 dB dynamic range, but many of them are pushing 90 dB. At this point they are within striking distance of true "CD quality".

Since most if not all of the music you listen to will top out near 75 dB dynamic range, an on board audio interface could turn out to be very pleasing.

As far as onboard audio interface frequency response goes, it is now not unusual to se 50 Hz - 15 KHz within a few tenths of a dB. Again, this will be very pleasing and even respectibly accurate.