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[ppataki]

Hello,
I would like to buy a multichannel soundcard for my PC, important is that Windows 10 shall see the device as one multichannel device and not separate stereo devices + I need really good audio quality (no high-end stuff though)
I was looking at pro audio equipment (Focusrite, Steinberg, Tascam, etc.) but I did not manage to find a model that meets the first criteria above
If anybody knows one that does I would be appreciate it very much

So I turned towards consumer goods and I found two devices:
- Terratec DMX 6fire USB: this is a semi-pro external card that meets all my criteria, I am just not sure about the sound quality
- Asus Xonar Essence STX II 7.1: internal card, again not sure about the sound quality

Does anybody have experience with the above cards or can recommend any others?
Thank you in advance

[mattkhan]

how many channels? what is your budget?

fwiw any half decent pro audio device has an ASIO driver that means it will be addressed as one device so I'm not sure why you think focusrite et al don't meet that criteria

[ppataki]

Budget is up to 500 USD
At least 5.1 channels

I am aware of ASIO but I will also use softwares that do not support ASIO but WASAPI so it is important that Windows could handle all channels
Thank you

[Hendrik]

"VB-Audio ASIO Bridge" can create a default windows multi-channel device that then plays out to an ASIO driver, just in case you don't find any hardware that otherwise satisfies your needs.

[mattkhan]

Budget is up to 500 USD
At least 5.1 channels

I am aware of ASIO but I will also use softwares that do not support ASIO but WASAPI so it is important that Windows could handle all channels
Thank you

rme tend to have WDM drivers as well as asio but that will break your budget
my motu 1248 has multichannel wdm as well, the motu 624 is from the same family and uses the same driver so I would expect this to have the same capability (but not sure about that). The Ultralike mk4 is a cutdown version (uses different DACs iirc) but uses the same driver so this might also have that capability, this is still beyond your budget but not by much so might be of interest. 2nd hand is another option.

[ppataki]

Thank you for the suggestions, the Motu Ultralite mk4 and the Ultralite AVB both seem to have multichannel WDM support
I am just a little bit irritated by the price tag, I wonder if their SQ is really that better

[retro]

Best recommendation I can give you is to go for Lynx!

I've used a Lynx Two B in my various computers since, I think, 2004. Compared it to many hi-end dacs, but so far, the Lynx holds it own.. I've also built many pc's for friends with Lynx cards.
Model Two B is not available new anymore, but you can get them cheap on ebay.
I'ts a six-channel card, if you need more channels, just add another card..
Rock solid.

[GreggP]

Best recommendation I can give you is to go for Lynx!

I've used a Lynx Two B in my various computers since, I think, 2004. Compared it to many hi-end dacs, but so far, the Lynx holds it own.. I've also built many pc's for friends with Lynx cards.
Model Two B is not available new anymore, but you can get them cheap on ebay.
I'ts a six-channel card, if you need more channels, just add another card..
Rock solid.

I didn't think the Lynx cards had multichannel WDM drivers. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[JimH]

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