For years system builders have faced a difficult decision when faced with upgrading their PC sound; Go for a performance gaming card or a high quality home theater quality card.  With the New Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 sound card you can finally have your cake and eat it too.  Auzentech is the first company to pry the coveted EAX positional sound license from Creative Labs and pair it with their own formidable award winning 7.1 channel design team.  The result sounds like a match made in sound card heaven.  Lets take a closer look right here at the Club.

     The Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 is the first soundcard custom engineered around the Creative Labs X-Fi CA20K1 audio processor.  This key selling point is the focus of the Prelude packaging which also prominently displays the card and key features on the front of the box.  The back of the box covers the key technologies in detail as well as calling out the key features of the card construction.  We'll cover those points in a minute.

     The actual Prelude card shares the same premium components and gold construction we have become familiar with in previous Auzentech products; like the X-Plosion or the X-Meridian.  This quality construction has positioned Auzen as the goto brand for high-end PC audio.  Auzen's sound card philosophy is clearly stated on the box; "Better Circuit Board!  Better Audio!"

Specifications:

• 24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs at 96kHz sample rate
• 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96kHz to analog 7.1 speaker output
• 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources at 96kHz to stereo output
• 16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates:32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz
• ASIO 2.0 support at 16-bit/44.1kHz, 16-bit/48kHz, 24-bit/44.1kHz 24-bit/48kHz and 24-bit/96kHz with direct monitoring.
• Enhanced SoundFont support of up to 24-bit resolution
• 64MB of X-RAM
• Rear panel connectors for MIC, line input, channel line output, S/PDIF input and output
• Front panel connectors for MIC input and headphone
• On-board connectors for AUX and digital extension header
• Swappable OPAMP Socket (Front L/R only)
• Software and drivers

Basic Requirements:

• Genuine Intel Pentium III 1GHz, AMD 1GHz processor or faster
• Intel, AMD or 100% compatible motherboard chipset
• 256 MB RAM
• 600MB of free hard disk space
• Available PCI 2.1 slot for the audio card
• CD-ROM/CD-RW or CD/DVD-ROM reqiured fro software installation
• Graphics card with DirectX 9 and OpenGL compliant 3d graphics accelerator
• Hard disk Drive supporting UDMA 66/100 and 5400 rpm
• Active 2ch speakers / Heaphones or 5.1 ch/7.1 ch Speakers with powered amplifier
• Microsoft Windows XP*

* Although the packaging clearly states the card is currently supported in XP only, we found that newer Vista compatible drivers are already in production.  Currently a Creative ALchemy driver is offered as a work around for Vista on the Auzentech site.  Some users are already posting that Vista 64 bit stability is already quite good. Your mileage may vary.

Key Components:

• Creative X-Fi CA20K1 audio processor
• One AKM AK-5394 super high performance 96kHz 24-bit ADC for analog input
• Four AKM AK-4396 96kHz 24-bit advanced multi-bit DAC for analog output
• 64Mbytes of memory for audio processing
• High fidelity audio OP-AMPs for analog input and output
• Front L/R output OP-AMP is replaceable by end-user
• Dual mode S/PDIF receiver and transmitter

IO Connectors:

• One 3.5mm MIC input connector in rear panel
• One 3.5mm line input connector in rear panel
• One 4-pin AUX connector on board
• Four 3.5mm 8 channel line output connectors in rear panel (FL/FR/C/SW/SSL/SSR/BSL/BSR)
• One S/PDIF combo input connector in rear panel for receiving either coaxial or optical digital
• One S/PDIF combo output connector in rear panel for transmitting either coaxial or optical digital
• 16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 32,44.1, 48, and 96kHz
• One 10-1 pin front panel connector on board for MIC input and headphone support
• One 40-pin digital extension header on board to support AD-Link and other digital functionality

Technical Specifications:

• 24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs at 96 kHz sample rate
• 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96 kHz to analog 7.1 speaker output
• 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources at 96 kHz to stereo output
• 16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 32,44.1, 48, and 96kHz
• ASIO 2.0 support at 16-bit/44.1 kHz, 16-bit/48  kHz, 24-bit/44.1 kHz, 24-bit/48 kHz and 24-bit/96 kHz with direct monitoring
• Enhanced SoundFont support of up to 24-bit resolution
• 64 MB of X-RAM
• One-year limited hardware warranty

Hardware:

     With so much high end hardware to discuss, we will turn to the Auzen site and the box its self to help cover the core components.

The Auzen X-Fi Prelude is a one-of-a-kind circuit board designed by Auzentech's engineers, leaders in the fields of analog and digital audio. Assembled with superior components, the board includes Auzentech-only innovations such as user-upgradable Operational Amplifiers, combo-ports that support both coaxial and optical connectors, and more. ~AuzenTech.

National LM4562NA High Performance Audio OPAMP
The LM4562 from the NATIONAL combines extremely low voltage noise density (2.7nV/ √ ^Hz) with vanishingly low THD+N (0.00003%) to satisfy demanding audiophiles.
TI OPA2134 SoundPlus™ High Performance Audio OPAMP
The OPA134 series are ultra-low distortion, low noise operational amplifiers fully specified for audio applications. A true FET input stage was incorporated to provide superior sound quality and speed for exceptional audio performance.
Swappable OPAMP Socket (Front L/R only)
OPAMP IC can be easily replaced with another one. The swappable dual DIP type Operational Amplifier(OPAMP) provides convenient do-it-yourself upgrade for ultimate analog sound quality and color.
Optical / Coaxial COMBO Port
The SPDIF Output port has 25mbps bandwidth and supports DTS-
HD/DolbyTrue HD. It is possible to shift between Optical and Coaxial in this port.
AKM AK4396VF DAC
The AK4396 is a high performance stereo DAC for 24bit 120dB stereo, 96kHz sampling rate, DSD Input, ultra-low out-of-band noise, 180mW, digital attenuator manufactured by Asahi Kasei Micro systems.
AKM AK5394AVS ADC
The AK5394A is a 24bit, 96kHz sampling 2ch A/D Converter for professional digital audio systems. The modulator uses the new advanced multi-bit architecture and achieves 123dB dynamic range and wide bandwidth with superior distortion characteristics.
Solid Condenser for maximum durability & stability
The solid capacitor has been adopted to provide higher durability and stability than usual condensers, and to stabilize the electric power source.

     As you can see there is a lot going on under the hood on this sound card.  Auzen has earned a reputation with both audio professionals and home theater enthusiasts for providing the best possible core components.  The end result of this over engineering is a longer lasting card with a clearer noise free audio output.  lets take a look at the software.