AD Converter best in Class?

[SonicFrontier_01]

hi there,
I am looking for an AD converter w USB C output. (USB C MacOS interface support for CoreAudio APIs etc.)
2 analog channels or more (RCA or XLR or BNC analog inputs - up to 2V/4V)
24-32Bit @ 48-192KHz high resolution low jitter AD converter.
any ideas?

 

[staticV3]

E1DA Cosmos ADCiso Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the E1DAC Cosmos ADCiso specialized Analog to Digital Converter (ADC). The grade "B" was kindly purchased by a member and costs US $179. As you see, you have dual balanced inputs. Back side has two USB-C inputs: one for power and one for computer...

www.audiosciencereview.com

RCA and BNC sources can be connected with the appropriate cable:

 

[DVDdoug]

Preferably w 2 or more RCA or XLR inputs or BNC analog inputs - up to 2V.

For more than a stereo pair you'll need an audio interface (like a Focusrite). And the line inputs are usually 1/4-inch TS rather than RCA. Often they are combo XLR/TS jacks. XLR for a pro microphone and TS for a guitar or line input. I don't think you'll find BNC but of course there are adapters.

There are some basic audio interfaces with RCA inputs like the Behringer UCA202 or UCA222. Those two don't have a recording level control and I don't know if they will clip with 2V. I think they are also 16-bits.

Converter 24-32Bit @ 48-192KHz.

Zoom makes some 32-bit floating point interfaces. They are not common yet. And you can't get 32-bits of usable resolution. You are limited by noise on the "quiet-end" and voltage limiting/clipping on the "loud end".

 

[Blumlein 88]

RME ADI pro fs ad/da for about $1500.

Review and Measurements of RME ADI-2 Pro (comparison to ADI-2 DAC)

This is comparison review and measurements of RME ADI-2 Pro against the RME ADI-2 DAC. The former has both analog to digital conversion in addition to digital to analog. I purchased that combo unit because I hope to make use of its ADC for measurements in the future. According to RME, ADI-2...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[SonicFrontier_01]

RME ADI pro fs ad/da for about $1500.

Review and Measurements of RME ADI-2 Pro (comparison to ADI-2 DAC)

This is comparison review and measurements of RME ADI-2 Pro against the RME ADI-2 DAC. The former has both analog to digital conversion in addition to digital to analog. I purchased that combo unit because I hope to make use of its ADC for measurements in the future. According to RME, ADI-2...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[SonicFrontier_01]

For more than a stereo pair you'll need an audio interface (like a Focusrite). And the line inputs are usually 1/4-inch TS rather than RCA. Often they are combo XLR/TS jacks. XLR for a pro microphone and TS for a guitar or line input. I don't think you'll find BNC but of course there are adapters.

There are some basic audio interfaces with RCA inputs like the Behringer UCA202 or UCA222. Those two don't have a recording level control and I don't know if they will clip with 2V. I think they are also 16-bits.


Zoom makes some 32-bit floating point interfaces. They are not common yet. And you can't get 32-bits of usable resolution. You are limited by noise on the "quiet-end" and voltage limiting/clipping on the "loud end".

 

[Blumlein 88]

For less money here are two more choices for ADCs. Not quite the performance of the RME or Cosmos, but very good performance.

PocketADC

The miniDSP Pocket ADC is an extremely compact high-resolution A/D (analog-to-digital) convertor that accepts a stereo analog input on single-ended (RCA) connectors and converts it to SPDIF coaxial and TOSLINK optical digital outputs. This pocket size converter supports high sample rate and...

www.minidsp.com

$55.

ADept

The miniDSP ADept is a compact high-resolution A/D (analog-to-digital) convertor that accepts single-ended (RCA) or balanced (on XLR) audio signals. The digital output is available on SPDIF coaxial and TOSLINK optical connectors, and can also be recorded to a computer or mobile device via the...

www.minidsp.com

$299 with both RCA and XLR inputs. Includes Phono input with RIAA equalization as needed.

 

[SonicFrontier_01]

Wrote an inquiry to miniDSP. Their message in return was not to acquire the 2x4HD but instead the ADEPT model. Which is after some research a pretty good alternative... any thoughts on the ADEPT? It is a new product I reckon it uses the same GUI platform as other miniDSP products.

 

[torgeirs]

It uses the same ADC chip as the Cosmos ADC-iso
That is a fantastic chip.
Almost better than the normal analog input components.
So it needs really low input impedance to fulfill its potentional.
The Cosmos has low imp xlr
The minidsp has high imp xlr

Then it is the source before the ADC box that counts. How low imp can it drive.

 

[RalphB]

Just ordered adi-2 DAC fs. The manual and videos are awesome. Much better than PRC made DACs.

 

[RalphB]

E1DA Cosmos ADCiso Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the E1DAC Cosmos ADCiso specialized Analog to Digital Converter (ADC). The grade "B" was kindly purchased by a member and costs US $179. As you see, you have dual balanced inputs. Back side has two USB-C inputs: one for power and one for computer...

www.audiosciencereview.com

RCA and BNC sources can be connected with the appropriate cable:
View attachment 441074

Shield should be terminated at one end only.

 

[staticV3]

Shield should be terminated at one end only.

Bruno Putzeys (Hypex) and Purifi disagree.

Both source device and Amp should have their chassis grounds tied with the cable shield for an uninterrupted protection against EMI.

See Bruno Putzeys "The G Word".

 

[bachatero]

MOTU UltraLite Mk5

 

[RalphB]

Bruno Putzeys (Hypex) and Purifi disagree.

Both source device and Amp should have their chassis grounds tied with the cable shield for an uninterrupted protection against EMI.

See Bruno Putzeys "The G Word".

When you connect both ends of a shield it causes a ground loop. A shield is not ment to be a signal conductor!!

 

[RalphB]

When you connect both ends of a shield it causes a ground loop. A shield is not ment to be a signal conductor!!

The whole point of a shield is to keep it at ground potential...not create another path through a ground connection.

 

[RalphB]

The whole point of a shield is to keep it at ground potential...not create another path through a ground connection.

ground each piece of equipment separately...not through shielding.

 

[RalphB]

Please ask Putz and Puri what gauge the shield is and if it conforms to NEC grounding requirements.

 

[staticV3]

A shield is not ment to be a signal conductor!!

Correct. It's not. Signal is conducted using separate wires within the shield.

 

[RalphB]

Correct. It's not. Signal is conducted using separate wires within the shield.

Is the connection drawing updated?

 

[staticV3]

Is the connection drawing updated?

No. It is the correct wiring diagram for the fringe scenario of an RCA source connected to an XLR input (XLR Pin1+3 tied to RCA GND.

Any other scheme will negate the Amp's differential input's CMRR, resulting in increased noise.

See for example here:

Review and Measurements of Crown XLS 1502 Amp

I have my xls 1502 at home and it works great (so far no hiss issues, it works just fine) How should I set the gain regulators at both sides of the screen? I have them at 25% of their total capacity, is that ok_ In a perfect world, you would determine the optimal output from your pre-outs, and...

www.audiosciencereview.com