CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => Amp and DAC Measurements => Topic started by: firev1 on May 06, 2014, 10:43:08 AM
-
Okay, so I have been thinking of getting this interface for a long time to do various sh1t with it including speaker/IEM measurements with my friends and measuring various devices for the lols. Driver installation on Win7 went smoothly and for practical use, its pretty okay unless you are switching sample rates or generating and stopping(essentially abusing) the interface, then yeah, you are gonna crash. In soundcard selection on ASIO 1/2 is useable(analog in/outs) where as data channels 3 and 4 will get you the BSOD on Win 7.
ASIO interface works with analog inputs and outputs but I can't seem to record SPDIF inputs or outputs(BSOD). I can take in SPDIF data from my Sony cheapy CD player though for playback. Got a mint one at 120USD so not such a bad deal I guess.
The following data are for line loopbacks via 1/4" to RCA adapters both front and back. Getting some balanced patch cords and XLR to RCA adapters to use the High Z or balanced inputs soon. RMAA loopback results are at the bottom. Overall, this is a pretty darn high resolution interface however as JA from Stereophile says(I think), its jitter specs essentially limit the device to 17 bits of resolution, otherwise it has the cleanest preamps in the budget sector. For those looking for something cheap to record with though, the Scarlett 2i2 would be my recommendation for an interface(the one Ultrabike uses). On the market though, there is no usb interface that has cleaner inputs for the price. On the higher end of the spectrum, I would probably get the Focusrite Forte or RME Babyface.
Subjectively with the SMPS feeding the 0404, it sounds like digititus galore and I have not heard much of the DAC since after modding it for use with a linear PSU.
Chain: Fujitsu Lifebook->ASIO-> EMU0404(Linear PSU)(loopback with 1/4" mono to RCA adapters)
Windows used: Blackman-Harris 7, Kaiser 7
-
This thing measures better than I expected it to. It is odd that third order distortion sometimes shows stronger than second order. It seems that I'm seeing that more and more with time. I wonder what does it.
Something about it looks a bit sterile, though. I can't put my thumb on it.
As far as interfaces go, I have a soft spot for Focusrite so the Saffire 6 and the Scarlett 2i2 have been on my list of interfaces to play with, but I also like what I see with the Lexicon I-O | 22.
-
I have a Tascam US-366 and bought an RME Babyface a few months ago.
The Babyface is much better than the Tascam, but both the software/drivers work well on Windows 7 or 8.
However, I mostly use the digital inputs and have not tested the analog inputs as much.
-
The input/output gain has to be tweaked a bit to get better thd.
-
The input/output gain has to be tweaked a bit to get better thd.
Hmm I see, I wanted to keep the output levels at line level rather than lower though I will see what I can do. As far as other interfaces go, one really has to pay more for much better.
I'm curious how well the Tascam spdif outs are given that they are async.
-
Sorry if I overlooked it, but have you done any mods or tweaks on this? I believe it's the left channel that needs a mod to perform properly, otherwise it shows extra noise and distortion. Just curious.
-
Its a known issue which is why I don't use the left channel in my testing. The left channel requires rerouting as Creative did it wrong.
-
Yeah, I noticed you used right, but was just curious like I said. Can't believe Creative did that, haha.
-
Balanced out with preamp at minimum gain and 0dbFS set at ~12.9dbu or 3.436V. I/O is fully balanced and using the XLR 3 inputs on the ADC side so input impedance should be 1.5k ohms. IMD distortions overall in ARTA are halved. Suitable for measuring the cheap I suppose :D Looks like the noise floor from the balanced to single ended really screws with the jitter measurements. No more skirting. RMAA below.
-
As far as interfaces go, I have a soft spot for Focusrite so the Saffire 6 and the Scarlett 2i2 have been on my list of interfaces to play with, but I also like what I see with the Lexicon I-O | 22.
I've had the Saffire 6 for a few years now and it has served me well aside from the occasional driver blips when trying to play 4 channels simultaneously. I prefer my Echo2 plugged into my main rig though.
-
Keep to your regular interfaces, the EMU0404 is extremely setup sensitive, whether it be latency settings or whatever, optimisation for ASIO via DPC latency checks are extremely important.
The computer would BSOD simply because my output sample rate for Jriver is set to resample inputs to 96khz(I forgot to turn it off since its set that way for my SB1240) when launching RMAA.
I have friends with experience with Focusrite stuff, they seem to be way to go.
-
I have a EMU 0204. I wouldn't trust the loop back measurements. I did for a while before plugging in a superior DAC on a 2nd PC and recording in to the EMU and got WORSE MEASUREMENTS than the EMU loop back. Research and thinking resolved that the EMU is recording with the same ground as the source, same power supply, going through the SAME driver and interface.
It also hasn't got the flattest response. But for purely comparative measurements with your own setup, it still gives good relative comparisons. Just not absolute.
-
Yeah, its all about keeping aware, PCs need to be battery powered or something, and the grounds need to be lifted or grounded appropriately before taking any measurements. Also computer screens can really kill ADC performance by injecting noise into the signal. Also taking measurements unbalanced also means you need to keep a lookout for stuff like nearby printers or other hardware that may be sources of EMI.