MOTU UltraLite-mk5 in fully active setup

[manisandher]

And it actually works with the MK5 without issues with Roon?

Yep... sort of. See post #3 above.

 

[jtwrace]

Yep... sort of. See post #3 above.

Got it. I wonder if they be able to get it to play 192 content at some point. If it could do that and play nice with Roon Rock I'd be very happy. I might have to get one to try. I had one years ago. lol

 

[spalmgre]

I have recently compared the headphone output of the MOTU to that of the RME ADI-2 (Pro fs BE AKM, etc.) however, and the RME is significantly better. I'm putting this down to a better/beefier headphone amp in the RME.

Mani.

Amirm wright in mk5 Rewiew ---> "So better than a checklist item but best to use a proper headphone amplifier."

MOTU UltraLite-mk5 Review (Audio Interface)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the MOTU UltraLite-mk5 Audio Interface (ADC, DAC and headphone amplifier). It was kindly purchased new by a member and drop shipped to me for testing. It costs US $595. I like that the UltraLite-mk5 comes in metal chassis but otherwise, it doesn't...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[spalmgre]

I wonder if they be able to get it to play 192 content at some point. If it could do that and play nice with Roon Rock I'd be very happy.

Why do you think it would be better using 192. Is it an important feature? Or is it so that you already got everything else right and this is kind of one of the last to do?

 

[jtwrace]

Why do you think it would be better using 192. Is it an important feature? Or is it so that you already got everything else right and this is kind of one of the last to do?

Yeah just a why not thing. Certainly no real need.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Dualazmak you are the greatest! I really really don't want to throw more cash at an integrated multichannel amplifier given that I already have power amps (perhaps a multichannel preamp but that would likely cost as much as an integrated amplifier) but it's a great suggestion and I'm absolutely going to read all of your posts and take it under consideration.

I absolutely follow your project thread, it's what I used to implement my first active crossover designs - thank you so much! Literally it's been my primary guide on how to implement things.

I'm going to take a look at your integrated amplifiers post now.

You just really need to add gain to compensate for the digital headroom you traded off with the DSP, right? Well there may be a solution coming down the pike soon.

Archimago recently reviewed a prototype of the e1da Cosmos Scaler which is a small preamp module able to apply up to 26.7 db of "very clean amplification. Think it's only for two channels, but generally e1da units are very reasonably priced, so buying for as many channels as needed might not be cost prohibitive. Again, just a prototype for now, but something, I think, to keep an eye on.

EARLY LOOK: The E1DA Cosmos Scaler prototype. As usual, Neil Young (in "World Record" album interview) remains neurotic against digital...

A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.

archimago.blogspot.com

 

[anphex]

I am very interested in this since I want to try to activate my speakers in the hope of using the chassis more efficiently.

So I hook up a Motu or any other decent multichannel interface to my PC, use Roon (or other tools?) to assign each crossover path to an output, hook it up to their respective amps and the start designing the crossover/filters?

Edit: I just sent MOTU a mail asking if their devices and drivers are capable of this.

 

[spalmgre]

So I hook up a Motu or any other decent multichannel interface to my PC, use Roon (or other tools?) to assign each crossover path to an output, hook it up to their respective amps and the start designing the crossover/filters?

I have been looking into this same and think it is just what the mk5 can doo. But the marketing department is not aware of this kind of need. So I have not found any information about this way of using the interface. The Motul mk5 is thought of as an interface for music production and not for reproduction as we like to use it.

I have an 8-channel active setup and I'm planning to upgrade my DAC, therefore, Motu 8-channel DAC is of interest.

I'm interested in the mk5 as I want to solve how to play also other sound sources than computer-based sound files. So I like to solve how to connect TV Toslink and vinyl record player preamp into the computer. I like to use the computer as a preamp with FIR filter convolution capabilities for the active setup that I have.

I think this can be done by routing the inputs from mk5 into the computer. Then I would direct the signals into Voice Meeter banana to be able to choose what to listen to. Then I would direct the output of the Voice Meeter to HLConvolver. This can be done with Virtual Audio Cable.
Now the tricky question is, will Motu mk5 allow me to send the output from the HLConvolver back so that the signal can be further sent through the interfaces to the DAC outputs?
If it can do this then mk5 can do that what Toppings MD7 and Octo dac8 can not do.

 

[mdsimon2]

I am very interested in this since I want to try to activate my speakers in the hope of using the chassis more efficiently.

So I hook up a Motu or any other decent multichannel interface to my PC, use Roon (or other tools?) to assign each crossover path to an output, hook it up to their respective amps and the start designing the crossover/filters?

Edit: I just sent MOTU a mail asking if their devices and drivers are capable of this.

It is possible as shown in this thread and many others. It really just depends on what DSP software you want to use.

I'm interested in the mk5 as I want to solve how to play also other sound sources than computer-based sound files. So I like to solve how to connect TV Toslink and vinyl record player preamp into the computer. I like to use the computer as a preamp with FIR filter convolution capabilities for the active setup that I have.

With external digital inputs like TOSLINK and coaxial you need to consider how the interface will be clocked. If you are using a TOSLINK input you will want the clock source set to TOSLINK. Theoretically you should be able to leave the clock source set to TOSLINK when using an analog input but in my experience many TVs stop outputting when not in use so it won't work. In that case you will need to switch the clock source to the MOTU internal clock.

The other consideration is how you will do volume control. The MOTU has a small knob which can control volume of the analog outputs but has no remote volume control.

I think this can be done by routing the inputs from mk5 into the computer. Then I would direct the signals into Voice Meeter banana to be able to choose what to listen to. Then I would direct the output of the Voice Meeter to HLConvolver. This can be done with Virtual Audio Cable.
Now the tricky question is, will Motu mk5 allow me to send the output from the HLConvolver back so that the signal can be further sent through the interfaces to the DAC outputs?

I am not sure about this specific chain as I am a Linux and Mac user but conceptually it can be done (see link in my signature for examples using CamillaDSP). Your proposed chain seems a bit complicated and I would be looking for a single software solution that is capable of capturing / routing / outputting a signal from hardware devices and applying IIR / FIR processing in between.

If it can do this then mk5 can do that what Toppings MD7 and Octo dac8 can not do.

While the DM7 is more limited the Octo dac8 pro has both USB and AES inputs and is specifically designed to take an AES input, route it to a computer for processing and then play the processed signal over the analog outputs, this is called USB / AES mode. In general the Okto is much more consumer friendly than the MOTU as it has IR volume control, has no additional software than needs to be managed, trigger output, bigger display, bigger volume knob, etc.

Michael

 

[anphex]

If I''ve read right on MOTUs site, their driver software "Pro Audio" has more a less a whole DAW as a driver where you can do routing, mixing, EQ, Delay and AUX sends. I think even VST.

So you would :
- create a pre-fader aux send to 4 bus channels (let's impagine a 4-way-crossover for now).
- route the output of each bus to a dedicated line output of the MOTU
- hook up the outputs to your amps and hook the amps up to pathway of your choice
- measure FR, time alignment, distortion, basically anything you want to change or optimize
- put a delay and EQ (or convolution) on those channels to match your desired response
- measure again to verify

If MOTU can do this, you're basically opening the box of pandora as you can design a whole new speaker out of an existing one (or actually build your own personal active speaker).

I'll wait for the answer of MOTU ... or anyone who actually owns a MOTU to verify the driver software is capable of this.

 

[mdsimon2]

If I''ve read right on MOTUs site, their driver software "Pro Audio" has more a less a whole DAW as a driver where you can do routing, mixing, EQ, Delay and AUX sends. I think even VST.

So you would :
- create a pre-fader aux send to 4 bus channels (let's impagine a 4-way-crossover for now).
- route the output of each bus to a dedicated line output of the MOTU
- hook up the outputs to your amps and hook the amps up to pathway of your choice
- measure FR, time alignment, distortion, basically anything you want to change or optimize
- put a delay and EQ (or convolution) on those channels to match your desired response
- measure again to verify

If MOTU can do this, you're basically opening the box of pandora as you can design a whole new speaker out of an existing one (or actually build your own personal active speaker).

I'll wait for the answer of MOTU ... or anyone who actually owns a MOTU to verify the driver software is capable of this.

I assume you are referring to this -> https://motu.com/proaudio/index.html? As far as I can tell MOTU uses the term "pro audio interface" to mean "AVB interface", the Ultralite Mk5 is NOT an AVB interface and is NOT referenced on that page.

The Ultralite Mk5 runs Cuemix 5 which is very limited from a DSP perspective and will not be able to implement a simple active crossover, let alone anything more complicated. Again, there are other software packages that can do so.

Michael

 

[manisandher]

I am very interested in this since I want to try to activate my speakers in the hope of using the chassis more efficiently.

So I hook up a Motu or any other decent multichannel interface to my PC, use Roon (or other tools?) to assign each crossover path to an output, hook it up to their respective amps and the start designing the crossover/filters?

Edit: I just sent MOTU a mail asking if their devices and drivers are capable of this.

I explain how I've done it using Roon here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...tive-crossover-using-roon.29882/#post-1046894

Mani.

 

[192kbps]

Maybe you can experience Dolby 5.1.4 with MK5 now!

Lossless TrueHD Atmos Just Got Much Easier

Audio: Listen to this article. When I started on this immersive audio journey, it wasn't possible to decode lossless TrueHD Atmos music on a computer. A processor with HDMI was required. Then I started using the Dolby Reference Player to decode the files, but the entire process was still less tha...

audiophilestyle.com

 

[Music1969]

I believe the Motu now plays nice with all Linux kernel 5.10 and later

True ?

 

[manisandher]

With the latest update from SOtM (firmware 0.5.4 and kernel 6.1.33), the smS-200 now works perfectly with the MOTU UltraLite-mk5... at all sample rates up to its maximum 192k. (Only 44.1k and 48k rates worked previously.)

Mani.

 

[spalmgre]

I'm 48 years old and my biological hardware is likely more of a limiter

Hearing and listening are not the same thing. You will better understand and be able to recognise different sounds, quality, nuances etc. than a young listener would. Like wine or food, quality is better understood once you have some milages under your belt.

 

[Trell]

Hearing and listening are not the same thing. You will better understand and be able to recognise different sounds, quality, nuances etc. than a young listener would. Like wine or food, quality is better understood once you have some milages under your belt.

Uh huh.