USB vs PCIe Sound Card for audio analysis

[vacuphile]

E-MU 0404 are regularly on sale second hand, worth your while

 

[SY]

I usually use other software.

Which software do you use? I've been splitting my time between ARTA and Virtins.

 

[1audio]

For most of my work I use Praxis. I have used it for a long time and know my way around it. I like the network analyzer model its based on. Learning curve is pretty steep.

 

[SY]

Sigh. That's how it always works with versatile software.

 

[jan.didden]

Stuart,

I thought your recent review of Bill Waslo's Omnimike in AudioXpress was very good. It's refreshing to read a review by someone who knows what he's talking about.
And that Omnimike is no slouch either!

Reading your reviews almost always costs me...

Jan

 

[SY]

You ought to get me to write for that little magazine of yours.

 

[jan.didden]

OK, are we even now ?😂

Jan

 

[BamboszeK]

Did anyone tried iConnectAUDIO4+?
Performance on paper looks very promising, -112 dB THD+N at line out and -99 dB for ADC. If those numbers are true it might be bargain. I wonder what ICs are used. As far I know only AKM or ESS DAC chips can achieve about -112 THD.

 

[1audio]

If its AKM or ESS I wonder why its limited to 96KHz sampling?

 

[BamboszeK]

I think it may be digital side limitation. Something like bandwidth of USB 2.0 or FPGA performance. I've sent email to them. Maybe support would be kind enough to disclose used chips.

 

[1audio]

I don't think its either of those, the EMU can do 192/24 full duplex over USB 2.0 with parts that are 15 years old. It may be driver development issues. otherwise its looks good and is reasonably priced.

 

[rich08]

Another nice hardware
https://www.zoom.co.jp/products/audio-converter/uac-2-usb-30-audio-converter

 

[B&W_arthur]

Another nice hardware
https://www.zoom.co.jp/products/audio-converter/uac-2-usb-30-audio-converter

It looks very appealing.

I have been searching for high performing sound card for a while.
As pointed out by others, it seems that there are less and less high
performing PCI or PCIe based sound cards nowadays. Vendors are producing
more and more USB and other external "sound cards".

 

[00940]

Uh ? The consensus a few months back was opposite. Plenty of good pcie solutions (from ESI, Lynx, EMU). Really good USB interfaces (when it comes to real world measurements) are much harder to find.

Here's an RMAA report for the UAC-2... noise figures are good but thd and IMD measurements are not stellar: [????]?????Digital Audio Laboratory??643?:??????USB 3.0??????????UAC-2???UAC-8????(35/44) - AV Watch

 

[B&W_arthur]

What you mentioned are good sound cards.
Yet they were introduced many years ago...
Good PCIe sound cards are getting less ...

I am looking for good USB sound card.

 

[00940]

Well, they were introduced many years ago but are still produced and sold. The fact is, there is no reason to introduce new ones as the current crop is more than good enough. There might be less pcie soundcards on the market but the good ones are still there and easily available.

Sadly, the best USB interfaces are not produced anymore and haven't been replaced by anything of the same quality for the same price. What's on the market is certainly good enough for studio work but less so for measurements.

I'm still toying with the idea of interfacing the analog section of ESI Juli@ with an xmos usb interface.

 

[B&W_arthur]

The ESI Juli@XTe is a versatile sound card which provides both balanced and unblanced interface.

 

[samsagaz]

so wich is the best for buck card?

 

[samsagaz]

an 32 bits card like this USB One https://www.amazon.com/Roland-Super...&qid=1465937681&sr=8-1&keywords=Roland+UA-S10 will be better then? i dont see too many 32 bits cards yet!


found this
http://www.head-fi.org/t/752072/599-roland-super-ua-usb-dac-amp-with-s1lki-1-bit-dsp

 

[00940]

Some more measurements on the Roland: RightMark Audio Analyzer test : Roland Super UA