MAX ! Input level for Santa Cruz card?

[sam9]

Anyone know the maximum input level for the line-in jack on a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz soundcard? I tried emailing them and got a "tech support" response that refered me to a couple links that contained nothing on the topic. This does not seem to be a datum they care to share. (In a fit of pique I suggested that in that case I should be able to connect to any signal including AC mains without voiding the warranty.)

Anyway, I want try out some PC based audio measurement software, but don't want to detroy my PC in the process. The above info would aid in building a appropriate voltage divider to take an FFT measurement of a power amp. If I like it I will think about an upgrade to an M-audio card.

 

[JDeV]

For some very cool test software and a way to test your max input, look here

http://www.dazyweblabs.com/shannonsoft/page3.html

http://www.dazyweblabs.com/soundcardtips/soundcardtips.htm

 

[sam9]

Thanks. That was useful, especially the isolation circuit - I would much rather blow up an opamp (even an expensive one) than my motherboard!

 

[peranders]

I have also TB SC soundcard and I have tried to dig up info about max input, especially when the soundcard gets damaged. So far I have found nothing and TB won't say anything, nor Dell.

 

[sam9]

Since all they say is that the input is "line-level" is there any commonly acceptable specification of what that is?

 

[Christer]

Just to make it clear, are you wondering about the maximum
rating input voltage the card survives, or the input level that
maps to the maximum digital level (ie 100% modulation) after
DA conversion? The latter can be tested, the former seems
usually to be anybodys guess.

 

[sam9]

I'm interested in survival! The second question is moot if I fry the soundcard. And by extension, it wouldn't surprise me if cooking the soundcard doesn't make the motherboard so happy either.

 

[Christer]

Yes, I thought that was what you meant, but I thought it was
best to make clear exactly what the question was.

I have wondered the same thing for other soundcards and
haven't found any info. Maybe the expensive cards are
better protected, but otherwise I think the only safe thing
is not to go much beyond full modulation. I have been thinking
myself about possible solutions. Maybe two strings of two LEDs
in series in opposite directions connected to ground and
preceeded by a fuse could be an acceptable protection?