Do audio interfaces noticeably color playback?

[vssyla]

Was just about to upgrade from the ssl 12 to the apogee symphony desktop. While using the SSL, I spent a lot of time configuring my monitors and acoustics, as well as micing multiple listening positions with my Arc studio. I ended up with a really great frequency response (flat), without sacrificing much headroom and whatnot when using ARC. i almost feel I got a bit lucky because I’ve been satisfied for several months kind of for the first time in a long time.

I’d love the upgrade in recording quality (converters) with the apogee, but the only thing that concerns me is that the playback may sound different than the SSL playback, in terms of sound signature (more bass presence, or something like that). Maybe it’s placebo, but I’ve read anecdotes and seen a video of playback between interfaces and they sound different, like quite noticeably. Not just depth and detail but the sound signature is different, like apogee having more boom and whatnot.

I could totally be wrong here, or it could be skewed info/source from people trying to shill a particular interface, not sure.

I wouldn’t even want to re-calibrate with ARC because I’m so satisfied with the current measurements… I’d rather just keep my ARC settings and plug-in the apogee instead of the SSL. If the apogee will just enhance my current frequency response (as in, it sounds more detailed but maintains the 90% the same output frequency curves) then I’d go for it no doubt.

 

[vssyla]

I guess another way to word this question is:

Do people ever recalibrate with trinnov or any measurement calibration software/hardware if they change audio interfaces? Or am I overthinking here?

 

[AnalogSteph]

Unless there is something really screwy going on, the differences should be absolutely minuscule when compared to what you do on the acoustic side. Do not trust comparisons that haven't been properly level-matched.

Note that DSP corrections tend to be specific to a certain sample rate, so be sure to reinstate that.

 

[2020]

I know it's an old topic, but they do.

However, to the degree that they do in my limited experience is akin to shades of neutrals/beige in terms of interior design (one person's beige is warm beige, another is more cool beige, another one is true perfect gray without undertone, etc). Or they aggressively color it because of hardware limitations or something is flat out wrong/broken. What I've also read is that clocking, capacitors, and so on... we think of as just the DAC, but it's really the implementation and surrounding hardware that also play a role. But the DAC is the popular kid who gets all the attention, even if it's a team sport.

 

[solderdude]

I know it's an old topic, but they do.

Some do so audibly, certainly not all of them. That said all of them will create a small change but won't reach audible levels.

When one wants to know you use white noise that is known to be 'correct' and play it back on the DAC.
Loop the DAC out to ADC input and record what comes out of the DAC.
Play back the recording and record what has been played back.
Do this at least 10x.
Then compare the spectrum analysis from the original file with the 10th generation to see what changed and how much.

Or use a multitone instead of white noise if you want to see the distortion and noise floor as well.
Also great fun to use music and just listen to degradation.
With the better ones you may need to repeat 100x before you hear a noticeable degradation.

 

[Linnie]

Loop the DAC out to ADC input and record what comes out of the DAC.

Maybe a silly question but this "short circuit" of the interface does no harm to the gear?

 

[solderdude]

You are not shorting anything.
You will just be recording its own output.

Ensure you are not 'monitoring' the input.
You just have to record what is on the input and simultaneously playback a file from the computer.

You will need to dial the input volume back to ensure the input is not clipping

 

[Linnie]

You are not shorting anything.
You will just be recording its own output.

Ensure you are not 'monitoring' the input.
You just have to record what is on the input and simultaneously playback a file from the computer.

You will need to dial the input volume back to ensure the input is not clipping

Thank you for the hints. I am asking because I once connected a recorder to the line out of an amp and the recorder output to a line in input (for lack of a tape loop). Bad idea, hum-wise...