Sound Card HT Omega  Claro Halo XT

CLARO halo XT is designed to deliver the best audio quality for owners of headphones including high impedance headphones. It uses a built-in high fidelity headphone amplifier IC to carry out this performance. CLARO Halo XT also delivers incredible audio to your existing receiver/amplifier through high class RCA connectors. Transform your PC into a powerful and high quality audio system which outclasses any other onboard sound card.!

• Headphone output with TPA6120 AMP IC
• High Quality RCA connectors for Front output
• Gold plated RCA connectors for Rear, Center/subwoofer and Rear-surround outputs
• Swappable OPAMPs for all analog outputs

(1) Sound Processor

• C-Media CMI8788/PCI-8Ch PCI chipset
  (8ch Audio Chipset with Dolby Digital Live real-time Content Encoder and dts CONNECT technology enabled PCI audio chipset)
   
• Full-duplex ultra high 2ch 24-bit/192DAC (AK4396)
   
• 24-bit/192kHz Stereo ADC (AK5385)

(2) Interface

• PCI
   
• Sophisticate circuit design for Enhanced Microphone input
   
• High Quality RCA connectors for front output (2ch)
• Gold plate RCA connectors for up to 7.1 ch on XT
• Stereo Headphone output connector.
• Onboard optical output (up to 5.1ch)
• Onboard optical input
   
• Front Panel Audio with fully automated muting feature.
• MPU401 (with optional cable)

(3) Details

Headphone Amplifier

TPA6120A2 - High fidelity stereo headphone driver from TI. Each output supports stereo headphones, delivering crisp, clean music to the listener. Experience hi-fi stereo without the need for an external amplifier.

CLARO Halo allows output to high impedance headphones up to 600 ohms. A jumper switch for the high impedance headphone setting is clearly labeled on the board as 'HIGH' or 'LOW.'

Note: BE CAREFUL NOT TO CONNECT LOW IMPEDANCE HEADPHONES (under 32 ohms) WITH THE 'HIGH' SETTING.

 Toshin Kogyo audio capacitor

 High grade Audio Capacitor (UTSJ type) from Toshin Kogyo used for analog output (headphone and RCA connectors).  

Panasonic - Metalized Film Capacitor

  CLARO Halo uses high grade metalized film capacitors for both opamp and headphone amp IC ports to ensure noise-free analog output. You will experience the best audio quality possible with the best parts available.

Samyoung - mass storage Capacitor

  Mass Storage Capacitor: The safety of your system is important. Mass storage capacitors and protection circuits effectively reduce and eliminate electronic shock and noise. By controlling in-rush current, they allow gradual increase and decrease for fade-in and fade-out. This protects your monitor speakers and headphones from being damaged by the 'pop noise' when you switch your system on and off.

Swappable OPAMP socket

 Swappable OPAMP Socket: Each polarity signal produced by AK4396 goes to 2 dual opamps which handle the polarities separately, either a positive or a negative signal. Both exclusively amplified positive and negative signals are then re-assembled and are sent to another opamp for second amplification. This unique design maximizes the capability of the AK4396DAC and dramatically improves stereo-talk. It is recommended possible to swap all four opamps for your preferred analog sound color. Factory installed opamps are 4580 (JRC). If you choose to swap only two, they must be U8 and U10. (They are clearly marked on the PCB of CLARO Halo)
* See detail

  High Quality RCA connectors

 CLARO Halo's RCA connectors are securely mounted with nuts and lock washers to ensure stable installation and endurance and minimize your maintenance.

Advanced Front Panel Audio support

 Advanced Front Panel Audio support: Enjoy headphone amplifier output on Front Panel Audio installed directly to your PC case. CLARO Halo provides Intel standard (AC97) Front Panel Audio pins for your case, which will automatically mute all analog outputs when you connect headphones to Front Panel Audio. But don't worry, there's also a jumper switch to disable this muting feature, should you need it. And users can always connect a second microphone without any reduction of input signal level.

  * See Front Panel Audio Usage

 MIDI connector

For external MIDI devices. The optional cable is avaialble for MIDI in/output. Please see CA2 cable on our cables page.  

XT connector

 Claro halo XT provides multi-channel outputs up to 7.1ch with this XT connection.

2pin connector for digital input and output

 2pin connector for coaxial digital input and output.  CA1 cable provides compatibility with 2pin at one end and coaxial at the other. See CA1 cable on our cable pages.

 For all supporting cables or XT, please see our Accessories page

Claro halo XT package

Claro halo

XT

Dolby Digital Live: real-time encoding technology. DDL converts any audio signal into a Dolby Digital bit stream (48kHz at 640 Kbps) through a single cable connection (coaxial or optical) to your Dolby Digital enabled surround sound system. The real-time interactive capabilities of DDL technology reproduce audio cues and effects that follow the on-screen action, capturing the essence of gameplay and transforming it into exciting and realistic entertainment.
 

Pro Logic IIx is the first and only technology to process any native stereo or 5.1 signal into a 6.1 or 7.1 channel output, creating a seamless, natural surround sound environment that immerses you in the entertainment experience.

 

Dolby ?Headphone technology allows you to listen to music, watch movies, and play video games with the dramatic surround effects of a 5.1 channel soundtrack through any set of headphones. Best of all, no more 'listener fatigue' means you can enjoy your entertainment in a spacious, natural sound field uninterrupted for hours. 
 

DTS INTERACTIVE: Take any LPCM (2+ channels) and encode it into DTS bit stream (48kHz at 1.5 Mbps). What does this mean? Connect directly with just a single cable connection (coaxial or optical) to your DTS enabled surround sound system. Stereo and multi-channel sources up to 5.1 are encoded into a DTS audio signal and sent out from the CLARO sound card to whatever DTS enabled system you own: powered PC speakers, an A/V receiver, any other surround decoder sound system. Eliminate the clutter and cost of multiple analog cables
 

DTS NEO:PC : PC is a matrix technology that instantly transforms any of your simple 2 channel audio into full 7.1 surround sound. Turn your stereo audio (WMA, MP3, CD among the formats available) into a convincing multi-channel audio experience. DTS NEO:6 has provided you with surround sound from stereo sources in your home theater, now NEO:PC is optimized for your laptop or desktop setup and is the perfect companion to DTS INTERACTIVE