Auzentech, Inc. was aKoreancomputer hardware manufacturer that specialized in high-definition audio equipment and in particular PCsound cards.
Company type | Public |
---|---|
Industry | Consumer Electronics |
Founded | 2005; 20 years ago (2005) |
Founder | Stephane Bae |
Headquarters | United States,Japan,South Korea[1],, |
Key people | Stephane Bae,(President) |
Products | Multimedia,IT,Consumer electronics |
Website | www |
Auzentech has its origins in March 2005, when under the company nameHDA (HiTeC Digital Audio),[2] the company launched the X-Mystique 7.1, the first consumer add-in sound card to featureDolby Digital Live.Initially only a manufacturer, HDA's products were commercialized worldwide by a network of local distributors, includingBlueGears as their vendor in theUnited States.[3][4][5]
In 2006 the company took distribution into their own hands, ceasing relations with BlueGears, and subsequently changing their brand name toAuzen (a name which originates from "Audio" and "Zen")[4] and their company name toAuzentech.[6]
Since that time the company continued to incorporate new sound cards into their lineup in an effort to compete in a market dominated byCreative Labs.[7] Auzentech sought to provide customers with features not present in Creative's sound cards at that time, such as real time multi-channel audio encoding and built-inTOSLINK connections.[8] These features enable 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-replaceableopamps,[9] which offer the possibility to further improve the out-of-the-box quality ofanalog outputs.
Eventually expansion led Auzentech to broaden their range of products to include items such asspeakers,microphones andPC cases among others.
Auzentech has recently switched from theC-Media audio processors used in their earlier cards to theX-Fi audioDSP, licensed from their competitor, Creative Labs.
Since early 2014, Auzentech's official web site has been directing to a park page, and their technical support department ceased to provide any service.
Products
editThis sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(March 2010) |
Based on C-Media chipsets
edit- X-Mystique 7.1 Gold
Based on the CMI 8768+ chipset. Launched in June 2005. First PC consumer add-in sound card to featureDolby Digital Live.[10] - X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect
Based on the CMI 8770 chipset. First PC consumer sound card to featureDTS Connect certification.[11] In June 2009, the card was re-released, with its name changed toX-Plosion 7.1 Cinema (discontinued).[12] - X-Meridian 7.1
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, supportingbus mastering modes.
Based on Creative Labs' X-Fi chipset
edit- X-Fi Prelude 7.1
Launched in August 2007, the Prelude was the first time theX-Fi chip was used in a product not manufactured byCreative Labs.[13] - X-Fi Forte
With all previous Auzentech sound cards beingPCI cards, launched in January 2009, the Forte was Auzentech's first low-profile nativePCI Express 1.1 sound card.[14]DTS Interactive support was added through a later driver upgrade. - X-Fi Home Theater HD
Released in August 2009, it was the firstHDMI 1.3a compliant sound card and the firstDolby TrueHD compatible sound card.[15] 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.[16] The Home Theater HD was conceived to work with future video card offerings fromNVIDIA, providing what NVIDIA and Auzentech call the "ultimate in audio and visual entertainment".[16] - X-Fi Bravura
Launched in January 2010, the X-Fi Bravura is a PCI Express x1 card. X-Fi Bravura has 5x user replaceable OPAMPs.
Others
edit- 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.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ab"About Auzentech: Provider of World First Sound Cards".Auzentech. Archived fromthe original on 2010-03-28. RetrievedMarch 7, 2010.
- ^"HiTeC Digital Audio". 2005-05-14. Archived fromthe original on 2005-05-14.
- ^"HITEC DIGITAL AUDIO INC". Archived fromthe original on 2013-01-26.
- ^ab"HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect, Page 2".Rage3D. March 11, 2006.
- ^"BlueGears X-Mystique 7.1 Review".PentarSys. Archived fromthe original on December 6, 2010. RetrievedMarch 7, 2010.
- ^"Sound Card FAQ".Auzentech.Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. RetrievedMarch 7, 2010.
- ^"AUZENTECH challenges Creative Labs with the release of HDA XPLOSION 7.1 DTS Connect".Auzentech. 2006-02-14. RetrievedMarch 7, 2010.
- ^"HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect, Page 2",Rage3D, March 11, 2006,archived from the original on 14 April 2010, retrievedMarch 8, 2010
- ^"Auzentech X-Meridian 7.1".TechGage. 2007-02-28.Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. RetrievedMarch 8, 2010.
- ^"X-Mystique 7.1 Gold". Hot Hardware. 2005-12-15. RetrievedJanuary 4, 2013.
- ^"Auzentech X-FI Prelude 7.1 Sound Card".Overclock3D. 2007-10-30.Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. RetrievedMarch 8, 2010.
- ^"06.26.2009 - X-Plosion 7.1 Cinema in Stock".Auzentech. 2009-06-26. RetrievedMarch 8, 2010.
- ^"Auzentech X-fi Forte 7.1 Soundcard review".Guru3D. 2009-03-25. RetrievedMarch 8, 2010.
- ^"Auzentech's first Low Profile native PCI Express Audio Card: Auzen X-FiTM Forte 7.1".Bit-Tech.net. 2009-01-23. RetrievedMarch 8, 2010.
- ^"Auzentech HDMI X-Tension First Card To Support HDMI 1.3 And Dolby TrueHD".ConnectedInternet.co.uk. April 11, 2008. Archived fromthe original on February 14, 2009. RetrievedMarch 8, 2010.
- ^ab"Auzentech Announces The X-Fi HomeTheater 7.1".Tom's Hardware. 2008-06-20. RetrievedMarch 8, 2010.
External links
edit- Official website
- Sound cards at Auzentech.com