Budget DAC Review and Measurements: Behringer UCA222

[antcollinet]

We're all well aware of limited credibility of such subjective observations around here, Ant.

Yet people keep on posting them - even when they are aware of the lack of credibility, Bruce. And unfortunately, such is the nature of the internet, the limitations need pointing out every time - to prevent the less well aware being taken in.

 

[krabapple]

We're all well aware of limited credibility of such subjective observations around here, Ant.

And yet you went and did it: "The low end is now audibly smoother with well recorded music, but not by all that much"

Yeah, I'd bet it's not by all that much

 

[Bruce Morgen]

And yet you went and did it: "The low end is now audibly smoother with well recorded music, but not by all that much"

Yeah, I'd bet it's not by all that much

I'm sorry I don't own an AP analyzer and can't provide numbers to correspond to what I (thought I) heard. I guess we should all STFU and never share experiences unless we can provide engineering level performance analysis. BTW, the guy who devised this particular mod did provide some data that confirms at least one of its effects, albeit with a sub-SOTA test setup -- what I was as dubious AF about was that effect's audibility, so I simply reported that whatever it is was audible AFAICT. So, I suppose I should send Amir two of these things* -- one of them modified -- and then wait for the results before posting a simple, informal, and obviously subjective observation. BTW, if anyone knows of a measurement procedure that can objectively confirm audibility, by all means share with the class!

Look folks, this mod is not tantamount to some audiophool's op-amp swap -- it has a credible technical rationale that the modder's videos explain with data. He found a (probably cost related) shortcoming in the circuit design -- the reference voltage for the gadget's op-amps was provided via a simple voltage divider and failed to hold steady when the unit was getting input at certain frequencies and levels -- and he figured out a simple circuit change that measurements confirmed corrected that flaw.

* I generally wouldn't bother Amir with revisiting an obviously outdated and absurdly cheap piece of gear because I don't think such an exercise would garner enough reader interest to be worth his time -- but I know I have an unmodified unit somewhere around here and if Amir thinks such an effort is worthwhile I'd be glad to dig it out and send him two units as described above.

 

[krabapple]

I'm sorry I don't own an AP analyzer and can't provide numbers to correspond to what I (thought I) heard. I guess we should all STFU and never share experiences unless we can provide engineering level performance analysis.

Be still my heart. I'd love that on Audio Science Review.

But in the absence of that, if you must post sighted impressions of at best very small audible difference on Audio Science Review, I'd settle for an 'but ya know, I could have been totally imagining it'.

 

[Bruce Morgen]

Be still my heart. I'd love that on Audio Science Review.

But in the absence of that, if you must post sighted impressions of at best very small audible difference on Audio Science Review, I'd settle for an 'but ya know, I could have been totally imagining it'.

I'm going to type up a generic disclaimer to that effect that I can copy & paste as required by certain sincere and admirable ASR compadres in the event of any similar future circumstance.

 

[antcollinet]

I'm going to type up a generic disclaimer to that effect that I can copy & paste as required by certain sincere and admirable ASR compadres in the event any similar future circumstance.

Great plan

 

[krabapple]

Would love to see the measured performance of these cheap Behringer USB interfaces as ADCs. Which I strongly suspect is what most buyers use them as.

I couldn't care less about their use as DACs!