Auzentech
Encyclopedia
Auzentech is a Korea
n computer hardware
manufacturer, specialized in high-definition audio equipment, and in particular PC sound card
s.
Auzentech has its origins in March 2005, when under the company name HDA (HiTeC Digital Audio), they launched the X-Mystique 7.1, the first consumer add-in sound card to feature Dolby Digital Live.
Being HDA initially a manufacturer only, their products were commercialized worldwide by a network of local distributors, which included BlueGears as their vendor in the United States
.
Then in 2006, the company took distribution into their own hands, ceasing relations with BlueGears, and subsequently changing their brand name to Auzen (a name which originates from "Audio" and "Zen") and their company name to Auzentech.
From then on, the company has continued to incorporate new sound cards into their lineup, set out to compete in a market dominated by Creative Labs, seeking to provide enthusiast features not present in Creative's cards, such as realtime multichannel audio encoding and built-in TOSLINK
connections which enables users to have multichannel realtime audio (like that originating in PC games) over a single digital line, instead of the previously unavoidable three analog lines running from the PC to the speakers. Also present in all Auzentech sound cards are user-replaceable OPAMPs, which offer the possibility to further improve the out-of-the-box quality of analog outputs.
Eventually, expansion led to the broadening of their scope to other types of equipment, such as speaker
s, microphone
s and PC cases among others.
In newer cards, Auzentech has switched from the C-Media
audio processors used in their earlier cards, to the X-Fi
audio DSP
, licensed from their competitor, Creative Labs.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n computer hardware
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
manufacturer, specialized in high-definition audio equipment, and in particular PC sound card
Sound card
A sound card is an internal computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. The term sound card is also applied to external audio interfaces that use software to generate sound, as opposed to using hardware...
s.
Auzentech has its origins in March 2005, when under the company name HDA (HiTeC Digital Audio), they launched the X-Mystique 7.1, the first consumer add-in sound card to feature Dolby Digital Live.
Being HDA initially a manufacturer only, their products were commercialized worldwide by a network of local distributors, which included BlueGears as their vendor in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Then in 2006, the company took distribution into their own hands, ceasing relations with BlueGears, and subsequently changing their brand name to Auzen (a name which originates from "Audio" and "Zen") and their company name to Auzentech.
From then on, the company has continued to incorporate new sound cards into their lineup, set out to compete in a market dominated by Creative Labs, seeking to provide enthusiast features not present in Creative's cards, such as realtime multichannel audio encoding and built-in TOSLINK
TOSLINK
TOSLINK is a standardized optical fiber connection system. Also known generically as an "optical audio cable," its most common use is in consumer audio equipment , where it carries a digital audio stream from components such as MiniDisc, CD and DVD players, DAT recorders, computers, and modern...
connections which enables users to have multichannel realtime audio (like that originating in PC games) over a single digital line, instead of the previously unavoidable three analog lines running from the PC to the speakers. Also present in all Auzentech sound cards are user-replaceable OPAMPs, which offer the possibility to further improve the out-of-the-box quality of analog outputs.
Eventually, expansion led to the broadening of their scope to other types of equipment, such as speaker
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker is an electroacoustic transducer that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Non-electrical loudspeakers were developed as accessories to telephone systems, but electronic amplification by vacuum tube made loudspeakers more generally useful...
s, microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
s and PC cases among others.
In newer cards, Auzentech has switched from the C-Media
C-Media
C-Media Electronics, Inc. is a Taiwanese computer hardware company that manufactures processors for PC audio and USB storage, and wireless audio devices.-Products:-PCI audio:*CMI8338*CMI8738-SX*CMI8738-LX*CMI8738-MX*CMI8768...
audio processors used in their earlier cards, to the X-Fi
X-Fi (audio chip)
X-Fi is the commercial name for Creative Labs' E-MU 20K1 and E-MU 20K2 audio chips. The 20K1 chip was launched in August 2005, and ever since it has been used in a variety of audio solutions from Creative Labs, and more recently third-party manufacturers, such as Korean manufacturer Auzentech...
audio DSP
Digital signal processor
A digital signal processor is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.-Typical characteristics:...
, licensed from their competitor, Creative Labs.
Based on C-Media chipsets
- X-Mystique 7.1 Gold (discontinued)
Based on the CMI 8768+ chipset. First PC consumer add-in sound card to feature Dolby Digital Live. - X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect (discontinued)
Based on the CMI 8770 chipset. First PC consumer sound card to feature DTS Connect certification. On June 2009, the card was re-released, with its name changed to X-Plosion 7.1 Cinema (discontinued). - X-Meridian 7.1 (discontinued)
Based on the CMI 8788 chipset. Launched in February 2006, it was the first card launched with the Auzentech brand. - X-Meridian 7.1 2G
Based on the CMI 8788 chipset. Launched in December 2010 - X-Raider 7.1
Based on the CMI 8768 chipset. Launched in July 2009, the X-Raider is a 24-bit, 96 kHz PCI 2.2 compliant card, supporting bus masteringBus masteringIn computing, bus mastering is a feature supported by many bus architectures that enables a device connected to the bus to initiate transactions...
modes.
Based on Creative Labs' X-Fi chipset
- X-Fi Prelude 7.1 (discontinued)
Launched on August 2007, the Prelude was the first time the X-FiX-Fi (audio chip)X-Fi is the commercial name for Creative Labs' E-MU 20K1 and E-MU 20K2 audio chips. The 20K1 chip was launched in August 2005, and ever since it has been used in a variety of audio solutions from Creative Labs, and more recently third-party manufacturers, such as Korean manufacturer Auzentech...
chip was used in a product not manufactured by Creative Labs. - X-Fi Forte
With all previous Auzentech sound cards being PCI cards, launched on January 2009, the Forte was Auzentech's first low-profile native PCI ExpressPCI ExpressPCI Express , officially abbreviated as PCIe, is a computer expansion card standard designed to replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP bus standards...
1.1 sound card. DTS Interactive support was added through a later driver upgrade. - X-Fi Home Theater HD
Released on August 2009, it was the first HDMI 1.3a compliant sound card and the first Dolby TrueHDDolby TrueHDDolby TrueHD is an advanced lossless multi-channel audio codec developed by Dolby Laboratories which is intended primarily for high-definition home-entertainment equipment such as Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. It is the successor to the AC-3 Dolby Digital surround sound codec which was used as the...
compatible sound card. PCI Express 1.1 interface. Seeking to provide the best possible performance, Auzentech and Creative Labs collaborated to modify the X-Fi processor to optimize it for operating over the PCI Express bus. The Home Theater HD was conceived to work with future video card offerings from NVIDIANVIDIANvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
, providing what NVIDIA and Auzentech call the "ultimate in audio and visual entertainment". - X-Fi Bravura
Launched in January 2010, the X-Fi Bravura is a PCI Express x1 card.
Others
- X-Studio 5.1
Launched in July 2009, alongside the X-Raider, the X-Studio is based on the VIA High Quality ICE 1723 audio processor. The card is capable of outputting 24-bit, 96 kHz audio and is presented as a PCI 2.2 card.
External links
- Official company site
- Sound cards at Auzentech.com
- Official Twitter page