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The overall performance trends are so slight between the two boards that the most logical conclusion we can draw from this is that the AX4B-533 Tube has performance on par with other 845E boards, in spite of the changes AOpen made in order to get the Tube circuitry in place. It seems our initial concern that such a major fusion between two technologies might compromise performance was unfounded.
Audio Performance
Were far from audiophiles here, but I consider myself a decent audio enthusiast. I have a fairly nice setup at home consisting of a Denon amplifier/receiver, B&W speakers, and a Sony ES CD player for pure music listening, and I have a respectable pair of MidiLand S2 speakers for my computer audio and gaming. So what do I say about the AX4B Tube sound? It definitely has advantages over standard AC97 that you get from any other integrated sound.
In fact, we did some A-B comparison tests comparing the AX4B Tube against a few other motherboards with integrated audio, and its very clear that the Tube brings out a richness and texture to the audio that cant be heard with the other motherboards. In music of all kinds, theres a sense of depth, of lushness and vigor that you dont get with regular audio. Detail in the higher frequencies is especially easy to identify: stringed instruments have a greater sense of depth, with orchestral pieces showing an open and airy soundstage. Deeper sounding instruments like the bass, cello, and the bass portions of piano pieces have a stronger, more subtly guttural impact. The overall experience is definitely more enjoyable than the same experience with regular, integrated audio.
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Like myself. I have the ESI Juli@ sound card (which has a very good DAC, the same as the M-Audio Audiophile 192) which has a standard un-amped line out. I have a [url=http://www.wooaudio.com/products/wooaudio3.html]WooAudio 3[/url] tube headphone amp hooked up to it powering the Sennheiser HD650 headphones.
The sound is amazing.
Regards,
Your Friendly No Bullshit Guest
Sincerely,
David Sarser
Otherwise, I enjoyed your review.
One thing we never tested was how things would sound in 5.1 audio, so that is definitely a valid concern.
I wonder... if watercooling is so quiet that it would actually benefit the Tube sound. I found the fans in our PSU and case sort of distracting while testing out the board.
-Gxcad
What I Know Of Valve Amps is That They Need 2 tubes and a Transformer for Each Audio Chanel
So 1 Tube for 5.1 sound ?????
That does not sound good to me........
PS
And What Wood happen if You had a
Water Block Leaking on the M/B
Hi Voltage and water DONT MIX!!!!!!
At around $200US, it's definitely a cheaper way to get the basics of Tube sound. The only other option is to pay try and find a $100 mobo with relatively good integrated sound, and then pass it through to the cheapest external tube component that you can find. But then woudn't your audio already have been preamplified by (possibly cheap) solid state components on the motherboard?
I currently have my system plugged into a modifies Packard Bell PB-51 tube stereo (Both preamp and poweramp). Sounds beautiful.
Thank you for your time,
Frank Russo