Behringer ADA8200 DAC review

[KLang1]

Some output measurements from an ADA8200 hooked up to an Audient iD24. Clock source was the iD24 via the optical cable.
Measurements were taken at -6dBFS.

RMS Noise Level: 47µVrms

5VRms output, negligible crosstalk and more than low enough THD for playback use. That's pretty good for ~200€ I'd say.
I originally intended to use it only for its DACs, but seeing those results, I'll measure the inputs in a minute as well.

 

[KLang1]

Line Inputs:
Measurements at +21dBu

JFC. The Analyzer can't generate more than +31dBu, which is a whopping 27V and it's still not clipping. "Line" my ass.

Rise in distortion below 30Hz comes from measurement filters, not the ADA8200.

Noise Level: -100dBFS

 

[KLang1]

Preamps, no gain, measurements at +4dBu:

That's more like an actual Line Input.

No matter which settings used for the measurement, it stayed a little wobbly in the beginning. Still <0.25dB.

maybe +4dBu was a little too much.

Noise Level: also -100dBFS


Max gain, measurement level -46dBu:

Measurement settings used cause that rise below 30Hz, not the ADA8200.

That's good enough.
Noise Level: -91dBFS.


If I find an ADAT capable DSP Development Board my actual DSP goes into storage.

 

[Philbo King]

I've been using one for many years in my studio (my application uses the A/D only, I didn't need another 8 outputs).
I think they are quite good. Not world class SOTA, but very practical and usable. The price per channel ($25/chan) is amazing.

I tested the outputs briefly, but my main interface (an old Presonus 1818VSL) has an apparent firmware bug that shifts the optical DAT output up by 48 dB so it didn't really work out too well.

 

[charlielaub]

I used this interface with computer based DSP for loudspeaker crossover work for while about 7-8 years ago. Sonically I thought the ADA8200 was pretty good. Unfortunately I did experience a pop when playback was started.

I was using a neat little USB<-->ADAT interface from miniDSP, the USBstreamer (discontinued) and later the MCHstreamer (still in production). This allows you to operate 8 input and output channels over USB at up to 48k Hz IIRC (possibly at higher sample rates with the MCHstreamer, but 48kHz is the max for the ADA8200). So if you are looking to use the interface with a computer, the MCHstreamer is what you might be looking for.

 

[KLang1]

I used this interface with computer based DSP for loudspeaker crossover work for while about 7-8 years ago. Sonically I thought the ADA8200 was pretty good. Unfortunately I did experience a pop when playback was started.

I was using a neat little USB<-->ADAT interface from miniDSP, the USBstreamer (discontinued) and later the MCHstreamer (still in production). This allows you to operate 8 input and output channels over USB at up to 48k Hz IIRC (possibly at higher sample rates with the MCHstreamer, but 48kHz is the max for the ADA8200). So if you are looking to use the interface with a computer, the MCHstreamer is what you might be looking for.

I'd prefer a DSP board that runs on it's own, but I can't find an ADAT I2S board to hook up the ADA8200 to a SigmaDSP.
First I'll check out that pop you mentioned next week though. Hopefully there's a way to circumvent it.