Catalina vs. AV-710...

**Motoman** · 10-19-2004, 01:03 AM

Well, I just built up a box with the TB Catalina...I've built a few machines with the Av-710 too...and of course my own main machine has a Fortissimo III.

I can't really tell any different with the TBC vs. the AV-710. And I think my F3 is better than those 2...but it isn't by much.

I think the AV-710 comes out as a champ at it's price level...didn't see any extra value in the TBC.

Ain't buying another sound card for myself until I see what Guillimot/Hercules does next.

**Audio18** · 10-19-2004, 01:30 AM

Cool. Have you tested the M-Audio 7.1 card versus those cards? I would be very happy to know how the M-Audio card compares to those.

**davnport** · 10-19-2004, 01:31 AM

I'd go with the chaintech. Until you get to the $100 price mark, there is no need to get anything else if you are simply using it for music. The price point is just too sweet to pass up; I'd buy mine again even at $50. At that price its still cheaper than the A2 and sounds as good if not better (sounds better to me) when I am listening to the tunes. The TBC is a nice card too, but for $25, why pass up the chaintech.

**Motoman** · 10-19-2004, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Audio18
Cool. Have you tested the M-Audio 7.1 card versus those cards? I would be very happy to know how the M-Audio card compares to those.

No - havn't had a M-Audio card since their old 8738 unit. I'm not really into the high-end stuff, speciallly for just music listening. I'm a bit more of a gamer, and like to get bang for my buck. And, I hate Creative, if you didn't notice the sig

**Hypo_Luxa** · 10-19-2004, 11:03 PM

The AV-710 really is unbeatable at the price, for two channel music only. It's basically worthless for 5.1 anything (movies or games). I've gamed with it, but again only in 2ch (2.1). It only has the one output with the Wolfson DAC on it, the other outputs are all crappy VIA DACS that give sound comparable to onboard.

All that said, most rate it better than the Audigy 2 and a close match to the Revo 7.1 for music. For $25 it's a no brainer. I run mine hooked to a receiver and good set of bookshelf speakers. It sounds fantastic.

10-19-2004, 01:03 AM	#1
Motoman Mako Shark Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Wit yo momma. Posts: 4,327	Catalina vs. AV-710... Well, I just built up a box with the TB Catalina...I've built a few machines with the Av-710 too...and of course my own main machine has a Fortissimo III. I can't really tell any different with the TBC vs. the AV-710. And I think my F3 is better than those 2...but it isn't by much. I think the AV-710 comes out as a champ at it's price level...didn't see any extra value in the TBC. Ain't buying another sound card for myself until I see what Guillimot/Hercules does next. __________________ REMEMBER THE WORLD TRADE CENTER!!! My WTC Memorial Website (and other stuff) - I used to be a SETI top 0.2% user! - Modded Computers Main gaming rig: Athlon 64 3000+, ECS 755-A2, GeForce 6800 128Mb, Philips Acoustic Edge, 2Gb Corsair XMS PC3200, 120Gb Hard Drive, etc. Creative Labs = poop

10-19-2004, 01:30 AM	#2
Audio18 Tiger Shark Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 518	Cool. Have you tested the M-Audio 7.1 card versus those cards? I would be very happy to know how the M-Audio card compares to those. __________________ Home Audio- foobar2000 w/Kernal Streaming >> M-Audio REVOLUTION 5.1 >> Swans M-200 Monitors Portable Audio- Apple iPod Nano 1GB WHITE >> Koss KSC-75, Creative Earbuds Happy Listening!

10-19-2004, 01:31 AM	#3
davnport Hammerhead Shark Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,401	I'd go with the chaintech. Until you get to the $100 price mark, there is no need to get anything else if you are simply using it for music. The price point is just too sweet to pass up; I'd buy mine again even at $50. At that price its still cheaper than the A2 and sounds as good if not better (sounds better to me) when I am listening to the tunes. The TBC is a nice card too, but for $25, why pass up the chaintech. __________________ Main Rig Abit NF7-s v2 \| AMD Barton 2500+ \| 2x 512 Corsair XMS PC3200LL \| ATI 9700pro \| WD SE 120Gb & Maxtor 250Gb \| NEC 2500A 8x \| Antec SuperLanboy \| Thermalright SP-97 & enermax 90mm \| Logitech MX Duo \| APC Back-UPS XS 800 Home Theatre: 50" Proscan projection TV-> Harmon Kardon AVR-230-> JBL SCS160si Computer Audio: E-MU 0404-> Switchbox-> ZA Pimeta-> TBA/AL ATP3s Portable: iRiver H-120-> Shure E3 MEMBER OF THE SHARKY FORUMS FOLDING TEAM Interested in learning more about FOLDING? Check out this flash!

10-19-2004, 11:03 PM	#5
Hypo_Luxa Tiger Shark Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 691	The AV-710 really is unbeatable at the price, for two channel music only. It's basically worthless for 5.1 anything (movies or games). I've gamed with it, but again only in 2ch (2.1). It only has the one output with the Wolfson DAC on it, the other outputs are all crappy VIA DACS that give sound comparable to onboard. All that said, most rate it better than the Audigy 2 and a close match to the Revo 7.1 for music. For $25 it's a no brainer. I run mine hooked to a receiver and good set of bookshelf speakers. It sounds fantastic. __________________ Primary Rig under construction.... SEMPER FIDELIS 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit SOC

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