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Enter The Auzen X-Fi Prelude!
When it was first announced, it was the only sound card from a third-party to sport a Creative EMU-based DSP. Instantly, there was hope for something new in the PC audio world.
Auzentech was literally announcing some frankenbeast hybrid between them and Creative, a fusion between the gaming qualities of Creative and the great audiophile heritage of Auzentech. Damn... I absolutely must review this puppy!
And thanks to Stephane Bae, President of Auzentech, we have the Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 here! We would really like to thank him for the opportunity, and for personally handling the review sample. This is a far cry from some marketing folks who think it is above them to even respond to e-mails. Thumbs up to ya!
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Now that it's here, let's see if it's worth all the hype it has generated over the Internet. I have great hopes for this little Korean-made card, so it had better not let me down!
The Package
Auzentech sent us a big brown box. Inside was the actual Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 package. Like all retail products, it came in a sleek cardboard box. Flip the box over and you will be able to check out the key features of the card. You can also see the input and output options available on the Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1.
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On opening the box, you will be greeted by the sight of the actual X-Fi Prelude 7.1 card, looking back at you through its plastic container. Ooooohhh, pretty! Under it were all the other stuff you'd expect to come with a sound card :
- a quick install guide
- a TOSLINK cable
- an RCA optical to TOSLINK adapter
- a driver CD
- a free coupon for a barrel of Kentucky's Finest Chickinz.....
Okay, maybe I was mistaken about the last part, but I'm sure the rest were present and accounted for. 
It is pretty sparse for such a big box, but that's really all you need. I'm fine with it personally. I prefer them to spend all the money on the card, rather than the extras.
Specifications
Audio Processor |
• Creative X-Fi CA20K |
Analog-to-Digital Converter |
• One AKM AK-5394 ADC (96 kHz, 24-bit) |
Digital-to-Analog Converter |
• Four AKM AK-4396 DAC (96 kHz, 24-bit) |
Built-In Memory |
• 64 MB SDRAM |
Analog Input/Output OPAMPs |
• TI OPA2134 |
Front L/R Output OPAMP |
• National LM4562NA (user-replaceable) |
S/PDIF Support |
• Dual-mode S/PDIF receiver and transmitter |
I/O Connectors |
• One 3.5 mm microphone input connector in rear panel |
Signal-to-Noise Ratio |
• 20 kHz (low-pass filter, A-weighted) |
Stereo Output |
• 120 dB (part spec) |
Front & Rear Channels |
• 120 dB (part spec) |
Center |
• 120 dB (part spec) |
Subwoofer & Side Channels |
• 120 dB (part spec) |
Total Harmonic Distortion & Noise @ 1 kHz (-3 dBFS, A-weighted) |
• 0.001 % (part spec) |
Frequency Response (+/- 0.01 dB, 24-bit, 44.1 kHz input) |
• 20 kHz (part spec) |
Frequency Response (+/- 0.01 dB, 24-bit, 96 kHz input) |
• 43.5 kHz (part spec) |
16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates |
• 32 kHz |
