Evaluate and set up articles
) is an epoch-making sound card. Its biggest function is not to output analog audio, but to output lossless audio coding through HDMI 1.3 interface and provide it to external AV amplifier for decoding, so that HTPC can get excellent results when playing Blu-ray movies. As early as last year, when I tried HDAV 1.3 Deluxe Edition, I already felt the charm of outputting the next generation source code on the PC, which was unattainable on the PC before the emergence of ASUS HDAV, which is also the biggest weakness of PC compared with Blu-ray disc player and wd TV. It is called Deluxe Edition precisely because of the dual-card design of the credit card and the high-end materials of the daughter card, including the size of the main card comparable to that of the graphics card, as if the heat sink is also the shell of the shielding cover. But for the author, the cost spent on the analog output part is actually unnecessary. How can users who are willing to spend money on HDAV 1.3 not have a high-end AV amplifier? The analog output daughter card is really a chicken rib, and the analog output on the main card is redundant. In this way, a new generation of HDAV was born, which is HDAV1.3 Slim.
ASUS HDAV 1.3 slim looks very different from the first generation. Half-height card design, replaceable knife card baffle, making HTPC with unnecessary space more acceptable. Only HDMI and coaxial interface that can be converted into optical fiber are reserved on the interface. Many analog output components are gone, and everything is in line with the author's wishes except the price. At present, the official quotation of HDAV 1.3 slim is 1399 yuan, which seems to take some time to digest the cost, but in any case, this card is the best choice if you plan to realize lossless audio output on a PC.
HDAV 1.3 slim looks as big as a network card. The main chip has not changed, but there is no IC responsible for digital-to-analog conversion, and the video optimization function has also been removed. After all, it is not as professional as the display equipment. There is no need to introduce too many components on the board, which is the advantage of digital sound card. Accessories are equipped with half-height baffles and screws, which can be easily replaced and there will be no trouble when encountering a half-height chassis. The coaxial interface looks like a standard RCA socket on the outside, but there is still an optical connector inside, and an additional converter can be connected to the SPDIF interface through a standard optical fiber cable.
HDAV 1.3 ultra-thin
HDAV 1.3 ultra-thin
HDAV 1.3 ultra-thin
HDAV 1.3 ultra-thin
In the test article of HDAV 1.3 Deluxe Edition, we have introduced the characteristics of lossless audio track and its dependence on HDMI 1.3a interface in detail. If you have an AV power amplifier that supports DTSHD and TrueHD decoding, then you only need to connect the DVI or HDMI digital output of the graphics card to the HDMI IN interface of HDAV 1.3 slim through the patch cord, and HDMI out can be connected to the AV power amplifier. The ultra-thin version of the knife stuck in the chassis is really small. Compared with the crowded body of the deluxe edition, there are also memory sticks to move, so slimming is too important. Because it is the integrated motherboard of MCP7A, we use HDMI output to connect the sound card and DVI interface to connect the monitor. You can also connect the TV only through the HDMI output of the power amplifier without connecting the monitor, but that is not convenient to operate and is not conducive to the initial installation and setting.
HDAV 1.3 slim is installed on the motherboard.
Serial HDMI
This is the way to set up the hardware. In the previous article, two methods of video concatenation and video segmentation have been introduced. After startup, the driver is installed and can work normally. In order to realize the source code output, we naturally need to install ArcSoft all-media cinema, and the latest version 3.0 software comes with the sound card, and the original TMT3 on the author's computer can also be used normally, as long as it is set up. Just select HDMI Passthrogh. I use dual-head output, which needs to be set on the control panel of the graphics card. If single-headed output is used, the correct resolution should also be maintained, such as 1080P.
Because the driver and software are relatively mature, it is not complicated to install and realize the source code output, which is even more familiar to the author. Just keep reminding users that commercial player software like TMT rarely keeps folders for playback, so don't expect it to play ts and m2ts files with subtitles and output source code. Of course, we can't expect third-party playback software such as Kmplayer and Ultimate Decoding to realize source code output, at least not yet. In addition, because the realization of source code output is still not an open technology, but the result of cooperation between hardware manufacturers and software manufacturers, POWER DVD series software does not support it. Using TMT, you can output lossless audio source code, including BDMV (Blu-ray Movie Catalogue) in folder form, ISO files loaded by virtual CD-ROM drive, and of course Blu-ray disc drive plays Blu-ray disc.
The control interface of HDAV 1.3 slim can select the channel number and sampling rate of HDMI when the output is digital audio LPCM, but these operations will not affect the success of source code output. We can still use it as a high-end entertainment sound card with interesting functions.
Earlier, the author knew the existence of HDAV 1.3 slim, and was already familiar with its usage and effect. The trial process was also written casually. Of course, the remaining expectation for it is only the price. As for how to obtain ISO, mirror image, and add subtitles, readers are also invited to search by themselves. As for the effect, I won't talk about any more nonsense about dynamics and encirclement. Since it is audio output, if you want to talk about the effect, it must be the back-end thing, not the sound card. This is also the biggest advantage of source output.