USB audio interfaces interest

[diegooo1972]

@Julian Krause just posted his review on the Motu Ultralite Mk5; seems like a winner for a compact interface MOTU UltraLite-mk5 Audio Interface - REVIEW (audio performance tested) - YouTube

I really like Julian Krause. In this review he pointed out that some results may be not be complete due to his audio analyzer. Pretty hard to see that behaviour generally on youtube. I consider that very intellectually honest. Regardless the ultralite has really great results.

 

[L5730]

I really like Julian Krause. In this review he pointed out that some results may be not be complete due to his audio analyzer. Pretty hard to see that behaviour generally on youtube. I consider that very intellectually honest. Regardless the ultralite has really great results.

Yep, agreed. He does do a pretty darn good job of a no BS review. Rather refreshing among the huge amount of noise on YT

 

[phoenixsong]

I really like Julian Krause. In this review he pointed out that some results may be not be complete due to his audio analyzer. Pretty hard to see that behaviour generally on youtube. I consider that very intellectually honest. Regardless the ultralite has really great results.

Yup I find his reviews very accurate on a self-relative level (comparing stuff he has measured against other stuff he has measured), but won't be surprised if exact figures should deviate for other reviewers or if more aspects can be measured to make it more conclusive (I'm no engineer though). But for the general consumer it is useful enough and beneficial no doubt

 

[phoenixsong]

Amir's review of the Ultralite Mk5 is out!

 

[Josef Strom]

Arturia Audifuse

 

[mt8848]

Audient EVO 4

 

[Jukka]

A step up from Focusrite Scarlett in their own range is Clarett, like this one: Clarett 2Pre USB. It's almost 4 times the price of smallest Scarlett, but still half the price of top of the line SMSL or Topping and has many balanced analog IO. It would be nice to see how this pro stuff fares when stepping up from the "prices starting at"-range.

 

[Grooved]

A step up from Focusrite Scarlett in their own range is Clarett, like this one: Clarett 2Pre USB. It's almost 4 times the price of smallest Scarlett, but still half the price of top of the line SMSL or Topping and has many balanced analog IO. It would be nice to see how this pro stuff fares when stepping up from the "prices starting at"-range.

I don't know it but it's possible that this device may have the same performance than the Scarlett as a balanced DAC, as the main difference between both is the mic pre-amp quality. Not sure if the output stages are different

 

[Blumlein 88]

I don't know it but it's possible that this device may have the same performance than the Scarlett as a balanced DAC, as the main difference between both is the mic pre-amp quality. Not sure if the output stages are different

I'm not sure where you are getting that information. The Clarett reputedly used the same circuits and chips as the Forte. I've both a Scarlett and once had a Forte and the Forte is better across the board in every parameter.

 

[Grooved]

I'm not sure where you are getting that information. The Clarett reputedly used the same circuits and chips as the Forte. I've both a Scarlett and once had a Forte and the Forte is better across the board in every parameter.

I'm not getting this information from anywhere as I clearly said "I don't know it"
I've already heard both but only in the context of recorded mic, and the Clarett was better, as expected since it's the argument resellers are providing : better mic pre-amps.
And as in pro-audio, the price often goes up more because of better pre-amps than better ADC/DAC... there were more chances here that the Clarett got better pre-amp than any other thing if it has only one improvement.
Glad to get a confirmation now that it's also better on the other parts, and I should have written it clearer

 

[Jukka]

Scarlett has a lot lower stats on Focusrite page. But it's more red

 

[Grooved]

Scarlett has a lot lower stats on Focusrite page. But it's more red

Right, after checking, the three Clarett have this on Line out :
Dynamic Range 118 to 119dB
Maximum Output Level+18dBu, balanced line/TRS Outputs
THD+N 0.0006 to 0.00075%

while the Scarlett all have :
Dynamic Range 108dB
Maximum Output Level (0 dBFS) 15.5dBu
THD+N <0.002%

So I was wrong that maybe only the pre-amps were a real upgrade, the DAC part is improved too

 

[mt8848]

Arturia Minifuse 2021

 

[phoenixsong]

Arturia Minifuse 2021

I like the appearance of these! Can see streamers going for the white one if the rest of their equipment follows that theme

 

[phoenixsong]

Arturia MiniFuse review out on Julian's channel

 

[phoenixsong]

Right, after checking, the three Clarett have this on Line out :
Dynamic Range 118 to 119dB
Maximum Output Level+18dBu, balanced line/TRS Outputs
THD+N 0.0006 to 0.00075%

while the Scarlett all have :
Dynamic Range 108dB
Maximum Output Level (0 dBFS) 15.5dBu
THD+N <0.002%

So I was wrong that maybe only the pre-amps were a real upgrade, the DAC part is improved too

Focusrite has a new Clarett+ series, might be worth checking that out

 

[Breccanecca]

The new Clarett+ series by Focusrite and Arturia Audiofuse series (not the just released minifuse series)

 

[Grooved]

Focusrite has a new Clarett+ series, might be worth checking that out

On paper, the three Clarett+ models share the same specs, and the difference with the Clarett models look like this :

 

[sand_bit]

Motu M2, Native Instruments Komplete Audio 1 or 2, Focusrite Scarlett Solo gen 3 and Roland Ai-1

Looking at the review here:

The Komplete Audio 1/2 has an headphone output impedance of 10.21 Ohms, pretty high compared to the 0.06 Ohms of the MOTU M2 and the 0.35 Ohms of the focusrite 2i2/solo Gen 3.

The focusrite has problems in the headphone out with low impedance headphones, but fairs okay at 300 Ohm outputs. But unfortunately has terrible crosstalk on the headphone out (-40dB ?!). The Komplete has no crosstalk issues, but THD+N measures slightly worse than the focusrite @ 300 Ohms.

Given the choice of these three I would probably just go with the Motu M2.

Wish we had DAC out comparisons for all these interfaces, and not just DAC+headphone amp out.

 

[phoenixsong]

Looking at the review here:

The Komplete Audio 1/2 has an headphone output impedance of 10.21 Ohms, pretty high compared to the 0.06 Ohms of the MOTU M2 and the 0.35 Ohms of the focusrite 2i2/solo Gen 3.

The focusrite has problems in the headphone out with low impedance headphones, but fairs okay at 300 Ohm outputs. But unfortunately has terrible crosstalk on the headphone out (-40dB ?!). The Komplete has no crosstalk issues, but THD+N measures slightly worse than the focusrite @ 300 Ohms.

Given the choice of these three I would probably just go with the Motu M2.

Wish we had DAC out comparisons for all these interfaces, and not just DAC+headphone amp out.

Motu's price is on another tier and availability is a huge issue for many (my friend included when I recommended it to him). I think the Arturia is meant to compete directly with the Focusrite and maybe edge out a few others like Native Instruments. Not that I'm putting Motu down or anything, I'm actually using the M2 right now as I'm typing this