This is a review and measurements of the Dynasty ProAudio UA2D Audio Interface (DAC & ADC), Phono input and headphone amplifier. It was kindly drop shipped by a member and sells for US $58.
I like the white case and of course, all the functionality. I do wish the case was heavier as the cables easy twist it around making it hard to access the controls.
Speaking of the controls, I must say, I have never seen one that goes from "preamp" to "CPU!" The terse manual explains that CPU means DAC output. In other words, you can mix an analog input with what your DAC is playing. What for, in this class, I don't know. It sure made configuration of the device complicated. A nice green LED indicates input being there although it is placed after the input stages. As a result it goes off even if you have a single present but gains set low.
You can use the unit stand alone with RCA in and out. Or power it through USB and use it that way (it stayed working even without the external power supply).
Dynasty ProAudio UA2D Measurements
I adjusted the gains to achieve 45 dB and ran analog dashboard:
This is not that good of a performance, degraded by noise and power supply rectifier noise:
I next attempted to test the main reason for this device: digitizing the input. I spent some half hour to an hour trying to get this to work but it simply would not. Windows would recognize the unit and I could capture signal from it. But the level was hovering at some -90 dB. I could change the signal fed to the unit and could see some interactions with the output so the connection was going through. But something must be disconnected between the ADC and the phono stage.
To make sure it was not a driver issue, I tested the UA2D as a DAC and that worked:
That is, if you call this "working." Above is the best I got as anything higher than 1 volt output would add insult to injury by producing much more distortion. Compensating for FFT gain, noise level is around -65 dB which is quite poor.
Strangely, the device exposes 8 channels of audio to Windows! I wonder if it is using a DAC that has 8 channels. Feeding all the channels or just 1 & 2 would make no difference so not a performance issue but odd nevertheless.
I searched online and in amazon reviews and found people complaining about the same thing (not getting signal through USB) but no solutions. Seemed to be an issue with later hardware/software which mine is (windows 11).
So stopped here.
Conclusions
The functionality of UA2D is right on the money. The cost is unheard of for what you get. Sadly, quality control must be lacking on top of poor performance. A rev 2 of this device selling for even more money, say $99 to $149 that works properly would be a killer.
Needless to say, I can't recommend Dynasty ProAudio UA2D.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Appreciate any donations using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
I like the white case and of course, all the functionality. I do wish the case was heavier as the cables easy twist it around making it hard to access the controls.
Speaking of the controls, I must say, I have never seen one that goes from "preamp" to "CPU!" The terse manual explains that CPU means DAC output. In other words, you can mix an analog input with what your DAC is playing. What for, in this class, I don't know. It sure made configuration of the device complicated. A nice green LED indicates input being there although it is placed after the input stages. As a result it goes off even if you have a single present but gains set low.
You can use the unit stand alone with RCA in and out. Or power it through USB and use it that way (it stayed working even without the external power supply).
Dynasty ProAudio UA2D Measurements
I adjusted the gains to achieve 45 dB and ran analog dashboard:
This is not that good of a performance, degraded by noise and power supply rectifier noise:
I next attempted to test the main reason for this device: digitizing the input. I spent some half hour to an hour trying to get this to work but it simply would not. Windows would recognize the unit and I could capture signal from it. But the level was hovering at some -90 dB. I could change the signal fed to the unit and could see some interactions with the output so the connection was going through. But something must be disconnected between the ADC and the phono stage.
To make sure it was not a driver issue, I tested the UA2D as a DAC and that worked:
That is, if you call this "working." Above is the best I got as anything higher than 1 volt output would add insult to injury by producing much more distortion. Compensating for FFT gain, noise level is around -65 dB which is quite poor.
Strangely, the device exposes 8 channels of audio to Windows! I wonder if it is using a DAC that has 8 channels. Feeding all the channels or just 1 & 2 would make no difference so not a performance issue but odd nevertheless.
I searched online and in amazon reviews and found people complaining about the same thing (not getting signal through USB) but no solutions. Seemed to be an issue with later hardware/software which mine is (windows 11).
So stopped here.
Conclusions
The functionality of UA2D is right on the money. The cost is unheard of for what you get. Sadly, quality control must be lacking on top of poor performance. A rev 2 of this device selling for even more money, say $99 to $149 that works properly would be a killer.
Needless to say, I can't recommend Dynasty ProAudio UA2D.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Appreciate any donations using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
