Auzentech HDMI X-Tension Soundcard

Filed under: Home Audio > Computer Audio > Sound Cards



While HD-DVD and Bluray ROM drives allow for playback of HD movies on PCs, sending their accompanying high resolution audio formats digitally to a surround receiver has not been possible because current soundcards only use optical and coaxial digital outputs which are not capable of passing the new formats. Cyberlink’s PowerDVD software is capable of decoding Dolby TrueHD, but it still must be converted to analog by the soundcard. Auzentech has released a new PCI-Express extension card for their X-Fi Prelude 7.1 soundcard called the HDMI X-Tension which adds HDMI 1.3 input/output capability and allows for a one cable digital connection to a receiver.

The HDMI X-Tension includes full support for all 8 channel linear PCM digital formats, including Dolby Digital EX/Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS ES, DTS HD High Resolution/Master Audio, and DVD-Audio. PCM Stereo up to 24bit/192kHz is also supported. The only multichannel digital format not present is DSD, which is not necessary as there are no SACD computer drives. The HDMI X-Tension is expected to ship in Q2, 2008.