14 DAY TRIAL // All motherboards have integrated sound nowadays, and so do most consumer electronics, but true-quality audio, the type that only multi-speaker systems can properly render, can only be produced by specifically-designed cards.
Diamond Multimedia has just released one high-quality sound card, and its name is quite a handful: Diamond Xtreme Sound 7.1 PCI-e Low Profile 24 Bit Record and Playback Internal Sound Card.
The card supports 24bit 192KHz/96KHz/48KHz/44.1KHz playback and 24bit 192KHz/96KHz/48KHz/44.1KHz recording.
It also has anti-Pop protection circuitry and a digital optical output, through which a multichannel, pure digital, distortion-free signal can be sent.
Normally, it would take multiple cable connections to allow for that, and audio fidelity wouldn't be all that high even then.
For connectivity, the Xtreme Sound 7.1 HD brings 4 sets of 3.5mm stereo outputs (front R/L, rear R/L, side R/L and center/subwoofer), line-in connectors (3.5mm), two RCA connectors, and an HD audio link for front audio.
Diamond Multimedia has started selling the product for $59.99 / €45 – 59.99.