Quote Originally Posted by bfish View Post
If you don't care to do the homework before buying your gear, you can join the guys that buy some crap, plug it in, run some tests, then splatter the web with their "scientific data", or at the least can't figure out why their results are unexplainable. Otherwise, read on...
That's pretty offensive.

The M-Audio cards are fine for the hobbyist and can rival much more expensive equipment if used with care. The softwares mentioned here and elsewhere all contain calibration routines for the DAC/ADC loop. I include my mic preamp in that loop. I also use RightMark.

With a modest amount of modern equipment and some practice, good measurements are possible. Most of it comes down to measurement technique, not the equipment. Most hobbyist are not looking for laboratory results, they just want decent tools. Those tools can be had for about $300.

Buying a table saw does not mean you know how to use one. But it's a start. And your chances of getting straight, repeatable cuts is a lot greater than with a handsaw.