Home > Consumer Reviews > M-Audio Revolution 7.1 Surround Sound PCI Card ( PC / Mac )

I've been looking around for an el cheapo sound card, and I came across this M-Audio 7.1 card (I know, not exactly cheap). Anyways, this is not so much a review as it is buying advice and information. If you look at the used products for this card, there is a Chaintech 7.1 card being offered under this product listing. This sounded fishy to me so I looked into this card. Turns out, the M-Audio is very similar to this Chaintech sound card, using the same audio processor; the Envy24HT chipset. However, the M-Audio supports true 24 bit sound on the analog outputs, whereas the cheaper Chaintec is limited to 18 bit on the analog outs. (the analog outs are where the typical PC speakers are connected to). But, this gets more confusing. First, the Chaintec can support 24 bit/192 khz sound on analog, but only in 2.1 speaker mode, whereas the M-audio can do it 2,4,5,or 7.1 speaker mode. But this is only for the analog output. Why you ask? Well, the analog signal must pass through a DAC, or digital to analog converter in order to translate the audio signal for playback, and the M-Audio uses a better DAC than the Chaintec for channels 1-6. However, the Chaintec uses a better DAC on channels 7-8 (the Wolfgang DAC) hence it can support true 24/192 sound on these two channels. Aside from this analog issue, the M-Audio is known to have problems on its SPDIF output (this is the output on the card that connects to a digital connection like coax or toslink). So, for people who want a sound card to connect to your receiver or an amp, this becomes a drawback (although M-Audio is working on a fix for this problem through soon to be released drivers). Practially speaking, it's not a huge problem, but it'll bug audiophiles because the digital output on the M-Audio does not have native support for ASIO. (ASIO is a high end feature that playsback audio without any resampling; hence it's pure and unmolested). The Chaintec uses a toslink digital out which fully supports 24/192 sound just like the M-Audio. Using the SPDIF on the Chaintec also supports ASIO mode for bit-perfect playback, although you need an external software wrapper like ASIO4ALL to do this, plus it requires a good amount of configuration. (This can done on the M-Audio as well). For the really ambitious, there's even a bios flash program for the Chaintec that can change its native drivers into a Prodigy 7.1 card, hence full native support for ASIO without the need for a third-party wrapper. (But if you figure out how to flash the card into a virtual Prodigy 7.1 card, you lose all analog functionality). So, while the M-Audio may be a better card for analog use, it still costs about 5x the amount of the Chaintec and the digital out is no better than the Chaintec. If you only need the digital output on a sound card, the Chaintec is by far the best bang for your buck. All in all, the research I've done points to the Audiotrack Prodigy 7.1 as the best overall consumer card. (But all of these cards based on the Envy24HT chipset lack hardware acceleration, so hardcore gamers may want to stick to Creative). The Prodigy is about the same price as the M-Audio and it has all of its strengths, but it also has full native support for ASIO. The Prodigy also has better DAC's for analog outputs than the Chaintec.

So, in summary this M-Audio is a good card. But I'd go with the Prodigy 7.1 instead as it's about the same price. For those who are especially cheap or poor or only need the digital out on a sound card, then the Chaintec is the way to go. I ordered it online for under 25 bux with free shipping. Don't be fooled by its generric brand, this is a powerful card with many options, but don't expect much documentation or support on the Chaintec; internet forums notwithstanding. In conclusion, I think it may be worthwhile to do some research on the Chaintech and the Prodigy before shelling out big bux for this M-Audio or any other brand.

After months and years of frustration with balky, expensive, poorly sounding sound cards from that 'creative' company, I finally gave up and did my homework. M-Audio has been in the business for a long time, but most of there gear is specialty items. At just the right time came just the right product. This is an excellent sound card--the specs you can read, but hearing is believing.

The difference is just incredible. You don't know what you're missing in your music until you try out this sound card. Absolutely no distortion, dead quiet background noise, and silky smooth, flat wide response. Listening to a lot of jazz, blues, classical and acoustic music demands the very best of a sound system. With the Revolution card, I can hear musical detail that just wasn't there before. I don't need to turn up the volume (although it's a lot of fun) to hear the rhythm section and background instruments. The splash of cymbals, the clank of a cow bell, or the strings of an acoustic bass are right there in front of you. You'll want the best quality speakers or headphones to get the most out of this card.

Great user interface / control panel. The control panel is cleanly designed and easy to understand. You can see the input signal strength independently of setting the output volume and avoid overdriving the DACs. There are a bunch of surround sound synthesis options which work very well--even with headphones.

I went for the 7.1, but the 5.1 would be fine for most applications and at a (street) price 1/3 of the high-end SB cards.

Well done M-Audio. It's about time someone showed SB how to do it right.

This is best card going.I knew about the company from recording
school.It will be awhile before people catch on to the fact that
M-Audio makes proffesional sound cards and audio interfaces for
digital multi-track recording.Creative is just dabbling compared
to these people.There is no break out box or midi game port,you
will need usb controller.Every current sound format for games
and dvd is covered!192khz is well beyond Audigy 2 and it is far
superior in audio output than any other card going.Easy as sin
to get up and running and yes it runs on XP.Make sure you got XP
service pack 1 installed and you will have zero problems as long
as you properly disable your on board sound.Don't load the dri-
vers on the disk,go to their site and download the current XP
drivers and then shut down and install the card.The digital coax
and mic/line inputs will allow you to run external equipment in
and then out through the card,that's why there's no need for the
break out box and also how they can offer it so cheap.Believe me
the sound is beyond compare.Do yourself a favor though and buy
quality speakers...The sound will smoke your digital home thea-
ter receiver and that is no B.S.

If you're primary concern is music and you don't play any games AND you have a FAST (2Ghz processor +), this is the best sound card you can buy for the $$. If you play any games which need EAX support, don't even think about buying this card. Buy yourself an Audigy 2 ZS and be happy. Finally--your PC needs a fast processor--this thing takes some speed.

I upgraded from a SB Live 5.1 to this card and my Logitech Z-560's sound amazing now...they were good before, but now there is so much more depth and clarity, its amazing!!

I recently bought the Revolution; in fact I have had it for three hours. To be honest this thing sounds much better than anything I have ever heard from Creative. The last sound card that I upgraded in my old machine was an Audigy mp3+. The Revolution easily surpasses that in sound quality. I hear every little detail. As for games I played a couple of games of Warcraft 3 online and it sounded just like my old Audigy, so no let down in terms of gaming imursion. But as for music this thing kicks a#@!!! The sound is soooo clear; I love it. And on my Logitech 680's, this thing really cranks out the tunes! So if you are looking to buy a new sound card I highly suggest this one. It sounds much better than the Audigy, sounds better than even the all-famed Audigy 2 and for 100 bucks who can beat it. Go ahead read the reviews on all the computer hardware WebPages and you will come to the same conclusion as I did. It's a must have!