Motu M4 Audio Interface Review

[somebodyelse]

How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?

I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...

www.audiosciencereview.com

(That last one's a biggie - enjoy )

It can also be a bit hard to read as posts from other threads get moved into it when they go too far into that topic. This can cause some loss of context.

 

[zachary80]

It's hard to explain. I bought it yesterday. While the Motu M4 looks good on paper, it has very poor output quality. Unlike M4, ESI Juli@ has excellent sub-bass, clarity and fidelity. The difference is like day and night and it's quite noticeable on my Yamaha HS8 and Sennheiser HD599. I'll try to record their outputs for comparison.

Are you able to use an external headphone amplifier with it?

 

[Delta]

It's hard to explain. I bought it yesterday. While the Motu M4 looks good on paper, it has very poor output quality. Unlike M4, ESI Juli@ has excellent sub-bass, clarity and fidelity. The difference is like day and night and it's quite noticeable on my Yamaha HS8 and Sennheiser HD599. I'll try to record their outputs for comparison.

Sorry for late reply. My problem was solved magically!
The only problem is the weak bass from the headphone output.
For this reason, I connected my HD599s directly to the main RCA output
The line input is also 3 dB weaker:

 

[xanalog]

I'm looking for a quality interface to record my vinyl records via my separate RIAA preamp in 24 bit/96 kHz quality. Would this device work?
I would take the usb c output to usb A input of my windows 10 laptop.

Would you not be better-off if you just bought the digital copies of those LPs?
(Better-off in many ways; including output-quality, cost of your time, etc.)

 

[Delta]

oh wow, that sucks

View attachment 391681

looks like the answer is yes since you would have to use the line ins

Can someone test the frequency response of TRS Input 1/2 with RightMark Audio Analyzer? 70Hz is terrible!

 

[dasdoing]

was again discussed in the bigger unit: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...io-interface-review.62578/page-3#post-2296634

 

[Delta]

Can someone test the frequency response of TRS Input 1/2 with RightMark Audio Analyzer? 70Hz is terrible!

I tested it and unfortunately the frequency response is awful

 

[Blew]

I tested it and unfortunately the frequency response is awful

Which version did you test?
The spec appears to have changed at some point. The version of the manual that I saved a while ago shows different specs:

 

[Blew]

This is interesting. The manual has changed since this was first reviewed, but well after the M4 v2 was released. Is there a v3 of the M4 which the manual was changed for?

According to the wayback machine, the updated manual appears to have been uploaded on 23 June 2024:
Wayback Machine

You can download the previous version with the original specs as of 16 March 2024 here:
Wayback Machine

 

[dasdoing]

I tested it and unfortunately the frequency response is awful

ok, but your scale makes it look much more dramatic than it is lol
if you apply this filter to a bass guitar track you properly wont even hear it, especially since the fundamentals aren't really very strong.
also, it will be EQed in post anyways

 

[charlielaub]

I tested it and unfortunately the frequency response is awful

Stop clutching your pearls. How is this "awful"? It's -3dB at around 15Hz. At 40Hz (lowest electric bass note) it is between -0.5dB and -1dB. That should not be noticeable at all. You can add a tiny bit of EQ if you need it to be flat down to some particular frequency. What are you recording anyway - elephant footsteps?

If you want a flatter LF input you could use inputs 3/4 but you will lose the preamps that you get with 1/2.

 

[ssashton]

Anybody tried upgrading the ADC chip in the M4? I believe it is the AK5554 and AFAIK the AK5574 is a higher performance pin and register compatible option.

 

[ssashton]

Anybody tried upgrading the ADC chip in the M4? I believe it is the AK5554 and AFAIK the AK5574 is a higher performance pin and register compatible option.

Nobody tried this huh? Guess I'll have to give it a go! Seems like an easy way to win 6db lower sn+d. Helpful when making measurments of other equipment.

 

[dasdoing]

Nobody tried this huh? Guess I'll have to give it a go! Seems like an easy way to win 6db lower sn+d. Helpful when making measurments of other equipment.

A bat might hear the difference

 

[ssashton]

A bat might hear the difference

Interesting, I didn't know that! Still, he is not the one measuring electronics

 

[dasdoing]

Interesting, I didn't know that! Still, he is not the one measuring electronics

I mean, of course, you can do it if you like. It seems it would generate satisfaction for you. It just doesn't make sense from a technical standpoint.

 

[ssashton]

I mean, of course, you can do it if you like. It seems it would generate satisfaction for you. It just doesn't make sense from a technical standpoint.

Do you think the analog input stage is the limiting factor?

 

[ssashton]

Oh, turns out mine has the es9840 adc, so no upgrade to the ak5574 for me. That's okay though, the es9840 can be upgraded to pin compatible es9842pro with a smart -116dB thd+n. Sweet, that should bring this up to the level of an RME ADI 2 Pro . Some photos for geeks. ES9026pro dac, ES9840 adc, OP1678 for line level and OP1688 for headphones.

 

[phoenixsong]

Oh, turns out mine has the es9840 adc, so no upgrade to the ak5574 for me. That's okay though, the es9840 can be upgraded to pin compatible es9842pro with a smart -116dB thd+n. Sweet, that should bring this up to the level of an RME ADI 2 Pro . Some photos for geeks. ES9026pro dac, ES9840 adc, OP1678 for line level and OP1688 for headphones.

View attachment 457688View attachment 457690View attachment 457691View attachment 457692

would be nice to see some b4 and after measurements

 

[ssashton]

would be nice to see some b4 and after measurements

The ADC chips are back ordered at the moment, but I put in an order for 3 to make shipping make sense. I'll get back with before and after when I can.