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Audio Interface For Digital Measurements - Looking For Recommendations

L0rdGwyn

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Hi ASR peeps - I have been using the MOTU M4 for some time now for analog measurements, some time ago I posted loopback measurements here when it was first released.

At the time I was unsure if I would ever need digital I/O, figured it would be a future problem. Well now it is a present-day problem as I am taking my first foray into digital audio design, a simple NOS PCM56P-K DAC.

I am hoping someone can point me to the current best value audio interface for digital measurements - ideally both USB and coaxial SPDIF outputs.

Thanks!
LG
 

Helicopter

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I kinda wanted to add digital inputs to compliment what I have with Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. I was looking at the 8i6, which has coax in, and the RME Fireface UCX ii. I didn't find measurements of the RME, and the 8i6 doesn't have everything I want, so I have not decided yet.
 

AnalogSteph

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This used to be the domain of cheap and cheerful CMedia-based cards, but oh well. Will 48 kHz do? --> ESI U24 XL. If you want 96 kHz, expect double the price for a Behringer UMC1820 (which, mind you, also has tons of analog I/O and will do Toslink / optical ADAT + S/MUX as well). If you need optical + coax I/O at 192 kHz, chances are you end up with a MOTU Ultralite Mk5 or something, way more expensive.

If you really just need USB -> coax SPDIF, that should be way cheaper though.

I guess the idea behind a PCM56 NOS DAC in this day and age would be enabling 352.8 / 384 kHz input for use with software upsampling? And you're going to use one chip per channel and provide MSB adjustment, right?
 
OP
L0rdGwyn

L0rdGwyn

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Thanks for your input Steph. 96kHz would be preferable, probably the MOTU or a similar product would fit the bill, maybe I can find one on the used market, but I'll look into the Behringer as well. This is a DIY project, I am not an engineer, so a simple NOS DAC is a digestible first stab at digital design for me.
 
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mdsimon2

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It might seem like an odd suggestion but the Late 2012 and Late 2014 Mac minis have toslink inputs/ouputs and are reasonably priced. The Late 2014 will run the latest version of MacOS (Big Sur), I use one as my "audio testing computer" and it works great.

Michael
 
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