This is a loaded question, but I trust many of you here, as these forums seem to be very comprehensive when it comes to actual information and value of opinions.
Currently, I have RME HDSPe Raydat pcie card that I output signal through ADAT to my old Saffire Pro 40, but I believe clock on my Saffire is old and dying. I get pops and clicks doesn't matter the buffer size on RME unit, not if I run Saffire in Firewire mode (which is worse for pops and clicks).
RME Raydat is very flat, but it needs a DAC or interface that can run speakers, or a speaker amp.
I am debating on returning this card to get RME UCX II, for the fact it has EQ in TotalMix FX, and you get a speaker driver as well.
In this case I lose that amazing latency of PCIE Raydat, but gain EQ and speaker output knob.
If I got this route, I don't need a DAC, but how good is RME UCX II output in your opinion?
My other option is to keep RME Raydat and keep the amazing latency, but buy a DAC.
I have been debating between 4 units for DACs:
Topping E70 (ES9028PRO chip)
Topping E70v (Velvet) AK4499EX chip
SMSL SU-90
SMSL SU-90n
Another unit I saw was SMSL DO200 MKII
But the more I see those options, the more I am confused.
Should I go for a single unit like RME UCX II, or should I buy a DAC? Also, which one would you recommend out of these 5?
I record audio, usually a single channel vocals, and I mostly play games and listen to music over Youtube.
I am so tired of pops and clicks, even when watching movies, and I think my Saffire Pro 40 is finally giving out on me as a signal chain.
I love low latency audio, because when I record I record fast vocals, and higher latency creates a "slow down" for my vocals, forcing me to slow down.
In games high latency matters, as I play tactical first person shooters where I listen to footsteps and environment, where 5 ms can make a HUGE difference for me.
This is why I went for RME DSPe Raydat, and will keep it, if I go DAC route.
Am I "upgrading" my chain by going through DAC, and am I increasing latency here, by going into DAC to have output through speakers?
Perhaps UCX II unit by RME is better, as I will be going directly to DA conversion with Main Outs, maybe not.
But I will get an EQ onboard, where I can tune my speakers in RME unit, before it even hits the CPU and speakers.
RayDat uses ADAT outs and ins, so this is why I am considering DAC, as most units have optical in, and I will be outputting to XLR Yamaha MSP5 speakers.
Thank you for your inputs.
Currently, I have RME HDSPe Raydat pcie card that I output signal through ADAT to my old Saffire Pro 40, but I believe clock on my Saffire is old and dying. I get pops and clicks doesn't matter the buffer size on RME unit, not if I run Saffire in Firewire mode (which is worse for pops and clicks).
RME Raydat is very flat, but it needs a DAC or interface that can run speakers, or a speaker amp.
I am debating on returning this card to get RME UCX II, for the fact it has EQ in TotalMix FX, and you get a speaker driver as well.
In this case I lose that amazing latency of PCIE Raydat, but gain EQ and speaker output knob.
If I got this route, I don't need a DAC, but how good is RME UCX II output in your opinion?
My other option is to keep RME Raydat and keep the amazing latency, but buy a DAC.
I have been debating between 4 units for DACs:
Topping E70 (ES9028PRO chip)
Topping E70v (Velvet) AK4499EX chip
SMSL SU-90
SMSL SU-90n
Another unit I saw was SMSL DO200 MKII
But the more I see those options, the more I am confused.
Should I go for a single unit like RME UCX II, or should I buy a DAC? Also, which one would you recommend out of these 5?
I record audio, usually a single channel vocals, and I mostly play games and listen to music over Youtube.
I am so tired of pops and clicks, even when watching movies, and I think my Saffire Pro 40 is finally giving out on me as a signal chain.
I love low latency audio, because when I record I record fast vocals, and higher latency creates a "slow down" for my vocals, forcing me to slow down.
In games high latency matters, as I play tactical first person shooters where I listen to footsteps and environment, where 5 ms can make a HUGE difference for me.
This is why I went for RME DSPe Raydat, and will keep it, if I go DAC route.
Am I "upgrading" my chain by going through DAC, and am I increasing latency here, by going into DAC to have output through speakers?
Perhaps UCX II unit by RME is better, as I will be going directly to DA conversion with Main Outs, maybe not.
But I will get an EQ onboard, where I can tune my speakers in RME unit, before it even hits the CPU and speakers.
RayDat uses ADAT outs and ins, so this is why I am considering DAC, as most units have optical in, and I will be outputting to XLR Yamaha MSP5 speakers.
Thank you for your inputs.