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Anyone Use a Focusrite Scarlett for Measurements?

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Luckbad:
I have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 and I'm starting to take measurements of amps and dacs.

I picked up a couple of Hosa Pro cables, one 3.5mm > Dual XLR, and one RCA > Dual TS.

I also have a Sound Blaster ZxR sound card with a discrete input card.

My issue is that theoretically the Scarlett should be really good for measurements, but I get far worse readings on the Scarlett than the Sound Blaster, and I don't know why.

For example, on my ODAC revB + O2, I get: Very good, Average x3, Good x3, Poor x1. On the Sound Blaster, I get Excellent x7 and Good x1.

Any advice for using the Scarlett to effectively take amp measurements? I tried Line/Inst/Pad combos and none seemed to make it much better. Should I give up on it and just use the ZxR?

Thanks!

maverickronin:
I have a 2i2 but mostly use it for headphone measurements.

What do you get when you do a loopback into the 2i4?

firev1:
The scarlett series is hardly good enough for unloaded DAC measurements. For amp measurements you need to give the amp a load(like 16 ohms) to have it distort while driving the load.

Luckbad:

--- Quote from: maverickronin on August 12, 2015, 02:11:33 PM ---I have a 2i2 but mostly use it for headphone measurements.

What do you get when you do a loopback into the 2i4?

--- End quote ---

I'll try the loopback tonight.


--- Quote from: firev1 on August 12, 2015, 02:37:35 PM ---The scarlett series is hardly good enough for unloaded DAC measurements. For amp measurements you need to give the amp a load(like 16 ohms) to have it distort while driving the load.

--- End quote ---

How do you give am amp load like that while connected to the Scarlett? Do I need an resistor adapter? I actually have one of those in my mailbox right now that gives 75 Ohms of load (in theory) that I'm going to try out with sensitive IEMs on a powerful amp.

Thanks for the replies, both of you. I'm still new to measuring amps/dacs and I'm about to figure out how to do full-size headphones as well. I already use the Scarlett with an electret mic to measure IEMs as best I can.

Hands:
I could actually use a variety of resistor adapters myself for DAC and amp measurements. I'm too dumb to know how to make them myself unless I have a guide full of pretty pictures.

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