Product ID: PEXSOUND7CH
In stock: 259
With this 7.1-channel PCIe sound card, you can create a high-quality home theatre sound system. It offers SPDIF input and output ports which deliver crystal-clear digital optical audio, for the ultimate listening experience.
The versatile sound card can be used with a variety of audio devices. And with SPDIF digital optical or 3.5mm analog output, you don’t need to worry about the connection types on your devices. You can output digital audio to your optical receiver or DAC, or analog audio to your sound system.
With up to 24-bit and 192KHz playback and recording, this 7.1 surround sound adapter card delivers high-definition audio for superb sound quality.
Unlike typical sound cards, this card is designed to fit in low-profile computers, making it ideal for home theatre personal computers (HTPC). It spans the multiple ports across a main card plus an innovative separate header bracket. The card is configured with standard profile brackets and includes low-profile (half-height) brackets.
The 7.1 channel surround sound card is easy to install. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a simple solution to upgrade their listening experience, such as music enthusiasts or mixing professionals.
For added scalability, you can quickly connect a microphone or other recording devices to your computer through two 3.5mm stereo or SPDIF digital audio input jacks.
The PEXSOUND7CH is backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support.
Warranty Information | Warranty | 2 Years |
---|---|---|
Connector(s) | 1 - Connector Type(s) | PCI Express x1 |
2 - Internal Ports | MPC2 (4 pin, Audio) | |
2 - External Ports | Toslink (SPDIF, Optical) | |
6 - External Ports | 3.5 mm Mini-Jack (3 Position) | |
2 - Internal Ports | IDC (10 pin, Motherboard Header) | |
1 - Internal Ports | IDC (9 pin, USB 2.0, Motherboard Header) | |
Environmental | Operating Temperature | 0°C to 70°C (32°F to 158°F) |
Storage Temperature | -10C to 80°C (14°F to 176°F) | |
Humidity | 10~90% RH | |
Hardware | Bus Type | PCI Express |
Card Type | Standard Profile (LP bracket incl.) | |
Chipset ID | C-Media - CM8828 | |
Packaging Information | Package Height | 32 mm [1.3 in] |
Package Length | 14.3 cm [5.6 in] | |
Shipping (Package) Weight | 190 g [6.7 oz] | |
Package Width | 17.5 cm [6.9 in] | |
Performance | Audio Specifications | 24-bit / 192KHz playback and recording SNR: Approx 92dB (A-weighting) at front output Connections: - Analog left / right line input - Analog left / right microphone input - S/PDIF digital optical input - S/PDIF digital optical output - 2x 10-pin header - 9-pin header - 2x analog CD-input header - Front left / right analog output - Side surround left / right analog output - Center / subwoofer analog output - Rear surround left / right analog output |
Full Duplex Support | Yes | |
Physical Characteristics | Weight of Product | 99 g [3.5 oz] |
Material | Steel | |
Product Length | 10.9 cm [4.3 in] | |
Product Width | 18 mm [0.7 in] | |
Product Height | 12 cm [4.7 in] | |
Software | OS Compatibility | Windows® 10 (32/64), 8 / 8.1 (32/64), 7 (32/64), Vista (32/64), XP (32/64) |
Special Notes / Requirements | System and Cable Requirements | PCI Express enabled computer with an available PCI Express x1 slot or higher (x4, x8, x16) |
Additional slot on your computer case if installing and using the header bracket | ||
What's in the Box | 1 - Included in Package | 7.1 Channel PCI Express Sound Card with Header Bracket & 10-pin Cable |
2 - Included in Package | Low-Profile Brackets | |
1 - Included in Package | Instruction Manual |
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We are always ready to assist you with any questions you may have.
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Live Chat (opens in new window)Before you install the device, make sure that your operating system is current (for example, the most recent service pack is installed).
Note: Windows usually saves the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example, C:\Users\your_name\Downloads).
Note: If the Run as Administrator option is not available, you might be trying to run the installer from within the zipped file. Complete the instructions in step 2 to extract the files.
Your computer automatically finishes installing the driver and your device should be ready to use.
The audio format of your source media may be uncompressed (lossless). Uncompressed surround sound audio is not supported by digital (S/PDIF) connections due to bandwidth limitations. When your lossless 5.1 or 7.1 audio content is sent through the Digital S/PDIF connection, data will be lost which can result in limited 2-channel audio playback.
This issue is not an isolated limitation of this StarTech.com audio adapter, as uncompressed surround sound is universally incompatible with digital (S/PDIF) audio.
Digital (S/PDIF) audio supports:
Digital (S/PDIF) audio does NOT support:
Playback of digital surround sound is dependent on a variety of factors, including the audio format of your source media, your playback software, and your audio receiver. Digital (S/PDIF) channel settings are managed by the source and playback devices, and cannot be manually configured like analog audio.
When you troubleshoot issues with a sound card, there are some quick tests that you can complete to rule out potential problems. You can test to make sure that the following components are working correctly and are not the source of the issue:
Stereo audio cables
Speakers or headsets
Sound card
To test your setup components, try the following:
Use the stereo audio cables, speakers or headsets, and sound card in another setup to see if the problem is with the components or the setup.
Use a different set of stereo audio cables, speakers or headphones, and sound card in your setup to see if the problem persists. Ideally, you should test a component that you know works in another setup.
When you test your cables, it is recommended that you do the following:
Test each cable individually.
Use short cables when you are testing.
When you test the speakers or headsets and sound card, it is recommended that you do the following:
Press the Windows key + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter to open Device Manager. Check to see if your device is listed under Sound, video and game.
If you do not see the sound card in Device Manager please see this FAQ for PCI/PCIe expansion cards: https://www.startech.com/support/faqs/technical-support?topic=expansion-cards#pci-pcie-cannot-boot-os-or-detect-windows
or this FAQ for USB devices: https://www.startech.com/support/faqs/technical-support?topic=expansion-cards#usb-cannot-detect-windows.
If the device is listed with an error, follow the instructions on the website to reinstall the drivers.
Make sure that the default playback device in Sound is the sound card that you installed.
To check the default playback device on a computer that is running a version of Windows XP, do the following:
To check the default playback device on a computer that is running a version of Windows Vista or Windows 7, do the following:
To check the default playback device on a computer that is running a version of Windows 8, do the following:
To confirm that Windows detects your expansion card, complete the following:
Your expansion card is listed according to the name of the chipset. To determine the name of the chipset of your expansion card, navigate to www.StarTech.com and look on the Technical Specifications tab for your product.
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