simple request

[todd3835]

Hi, I'm wondering if someone using the PVR250 could do me a favor. I'm considering purchasing a pvr250, but I don't want to just jump into it like my last tv card. I'm wondering if someone could make like a 30 second clip of something so I can see how it comes out. Thanks alot.
-Todd

[Brett]

This gets asked so often you would think they would have it on their site. I have no way of uploading it...but the main difference you will notice with PVR250 is not actually the video quality but the video performance, it will not stutter or drop frames (at all with 829 installed). And your CPU performance will drop to 0 to 2% when recording. Obviously you have read some threads that indicate the 250 as good card, if you dig deep enough you will find comments from users that upgraded from ATI, and its nothing but great comments.

-Brett

[todd3835]

Ok, my biggiest problem is I have a WinTV-Go and another card (not sure the brand, but basically the same card, in another machine) and both of them have annoying sound quality. Maybe it's the sound card (audio input), or maybe it's the card. I'm using a regular sound card, but would it really make that much of a difference? I mean the video quality leaves alot to be desired, but If I can get away with improving the sound, it would be a great fix untill I can afford a 250/350. But as I said, the sound issue is really bugging me.....
-Todd

[todd3835]

Using my powers of trouble shooting, it is INDEED the sound card. I plugged my headphones (no speakers on that box) into the audio out on the card, and boy was there a difference. So I guess my first thing to do is get a better sound card. Any suggestions? I don't need a gamer's card, just something with decent sound input.....
-Todd

[Brett]

The 250 is a hardware encoder, so the sound that comes from the coax is actually handled on the 250 itself, there is no connection to your soundcard. Nevertheless...

Turtle Beach and Creative Labs make the best sound cards...

Not trying to sale a store or anything but http://www.newegg.com has great prices on these products as they ship them OEM style, and I have ordered several thousand dollars from them with no hitches.

-Brett

[nanook105]

I have also used Newegg to order several (more than my wife will ever know ) thousand dollars of computer equipment. I generally use pricewatch to do a price compare, but 70-80% of the time Newegg is either the lowest or near the lowest price. A lot of the time, even shipping is free.

[todd3835]

Could it possibly be that little wire that is causing it? I've noticed that on WinTV program, the sound isn't all that bad, but in Beyond TV (formally Snapstream), the live tv sound is horrible when using the sound card. On the headphones directly into the tv card, it's not noticable. So now I'm beginning to wonder..... Do you think a SB live would be a good choice? It's affordable, and should be 1000x better than the onboard 16bit card i have now.....
-Todd

[Brett]

Hey with this kind of rating:
http://www.resellerratings.com/selle...seller_id=2121

How could they not be...nearly 6000 post with 9.8 average, ouch thats pretty good

-Brett

[todd3835]

It's not so much of where to buy it, but what to buy...... I've used newegg once before, the shipping took like 2 weeks for a tube of arctic silver 3 (and the shipping was more than the item itself), but really the issue is how to fix this sound problem. Is it the cable from the tv card to sound card? is it the sound card? I want to eventually get a 250 or 350, but for now, I'll settle for better sound.
-Todd

[Brett]

Well do some testing...

I would find a cd player hook it up to the line in, and test it with speakers and with headphones. I would also play a media file from C:\windows\media

If the sound is better with speakers, then its the tuner.
If the sound is better with headphones, then its the speakers
If the sound is not better at all with the cd player, then its the line-in

[todd3835]

Thanks, didn't think of that. I'll check it out after work =]
-Todd

[todd3835]

ok, I went back to try WinDVR3 again, and the live tv sounded good, but when recording a clip the sound goes to crap (on playback). Guess i'll have to look into getting a 250/350......
-Todd

[Brett]

Well LiveTV works, but playback doesnt, that seems odd...

How does

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music\Sample Music\Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 (Scherzo).wma

Sound...

If it sounds fine, I would recommend a new tuner, if it not I would recommend a new sound card.

[todd3835]

I am not much of a classical person, so to me it doesn't sound "fine" but there's no hiss/backround noise, so it's off to get a 250/350..... Trouble is I don't have the money right now =[
-Todd

[Brett]

...that is always trouble, as I already mentioned previously though don't pay retail its way to high, even Amazon has them for like $125

-Brett