Design of a sound card "Front end" for audio test set

[jp8]

PS: I just bought an UMC404HD, there is really little level coming out the main output.

I happen to have one too. What level are you getting from the outputs? I can check and compare with mine.

Jan

 

[rock soderstrom]

I happen to have one too. What level are you getting from the outputs? I can check and compare with mine.

Jan

Hi Jan,

I haven't measured it yet, but it seems to be as Julian Krause describes in his review video. I noticed this when I was changing the interface, I had a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 in my workshop for a long time (which unfortunately no longer works properly - slow death due to Windows updates) and the UMC404HD was almost inaudible with the same settings. I had to change my setup first, now the interface plays quite nicely if you stay away from 0dbFS.

 

[jp8]

Yes, you have to stay away from 0dBFS. The UMC404HD hardware is essentially a double UMC202HD, with the same headroom limitations caused by the 4.5V internal Vdd. With an external PS, they could easily have run the DAC on its recommended 5V supply voltage and all the Op Amps on e.g. a symmetrical +/- 5V. But nooo, Behringer decided to save a few cents on a DC/DC converter. Missed opportunity to make it an excellent product, instead of just another good product.

Jan

 

[rock soderstrom]

Yes, you have to stay away from 0dBFS. The UMC404HD hardware is essentially a double UMC202HD, with the same headroom limitations caused by the 4.5V internal Vdd. With an external PS, they could easily have run the DAC on its recommended 5V supply voltage and all the Op Amps on e.g. a symmetrical +/- 5V. But nooo, Behringer decided to save a few cents on a DC/DC converter. Missed opportunity to make it an excellent product, instead of just another good product.

I see it the same way, I have no idea what the development department at Behringer was thinking. The UMC404 has the option of connecting an external power supply, so there's no need for any strange cost-cutting measures.

I'm just reading up on your mods (and the diyaudio forums links), let's see what I can do. My focus is not to build a pure measuring station, but some things seem to make sense to me. The interface should be able to measure in addition to the bread and butter tasks in my (mini) workshop.