Linux Patches Surface For Supporting The Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Linux Patches Surface For Supporting The Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5

Last year Creative Labs introduced the Sound BlasterX AE-5 PCI Express gaming sound card while finally there are some patches pending for supporting this high-end sound card in Linux...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Sound-BlasterX-AE-5-Linux

[tildearrow]

That SABRE³² DAC seems like a complete lie since it is impossible to achieve a 192dB SNR due to thermal noise, even on laboratory conditions.

[M@yeulC]

That SABRE³² DAC seems like a complete lie since it is impossible to achieve a 192dB SNR due to thermal noise, even on laboratory conditions.

Who are you to say such things? The noise is obviously coming from your measure instruments /s

Indeed, that's a strange claim, though I didn't see it mentioned. Maybe a theoretical maximum? On the other hand, you can have 20bit sigma-delta DACs. So, maybe the noise will always prevent this from being useful in real life, but you could in theory transmit some information under the noise floor (take an infinite time).

[boxie]

That SABRE³² DAC seems like a complete lie since it is impossible to achieve a 192dB SNR due to thermal noise, even on laboratory conditions.

I am sure if you look at it in a very certain way, with a very long scope you can possibly get that number for marketing purposes

[edwaleni]

That SABRE³² DAC seems like a complete lie since it is impossible to achieve a 192dB SNR due to thermal noise, even on laboratory conditions.

Maybe they sent the card out to one of those liquid nitrogen dudes and tested in full deep freeze.

Reminds me of the day when audiophiles used to argue about the dB of channel separation on phono needles. By that time, no one could even discern the difference, even on AB blind tests.

These days Benadryl or Sudafed has more sway in what people hear than a few Db of SNR.

[caligula]

I wonder when they'll quit marketing with these inflated numbers. The only reason why people upgrade these cards and DACs every year are the numbers. 192 dB is already so loud that you'd need to switch to some other gas or fill the room with water to transmit the amplitude. Plain old air can't transfer such volume levels. Obviously the shitty $99 5.1 speakers can't do that either. So why bother? Even if your gear was perfectly optimal, human hearing is pretty limited.

[starshipeleven]

That SABRE³² DAC seems like a complete lie since it is impossible to achieve a 192dB SNR due to thermal noise, even on laboratory conditions.

You need directional audio cables to hear that.

(yes I'm kidding)

[uid313]

$150 is very expensive.
Creative Labs must be very desperate when you see them add a RGB lighting controller.

By the way the Sabre32 DAC is made by ESS Technology if anyone wonders.

[moilami]

I wonder when they'll quit marketing with these inflated numbers. The only reason why people upgrade these cards and DACs every year are the numbers. 192 dB is already so loud that you'd need to switch to some other gas or fill the room with water to transmit the amplitude. Plain old air can't transfer such volume levels. Obviously the shitty $99 5.1 speakers can't do that either. So why bother? Even if your gear was perfectly optimal, human hearing is pretty limited.

In marketing 101 you are taught that people are idiots, and that is why anything can be sold to them.

[starshipeleven]

In marketing 101 you are taught that people are idiots, and that is why anything can be sold to them.

It's not really wrong though.