Support Head-Fi.org by
starting all of your
Amazon.com shopping by
clicking here.
____________________________________________________________________
Today's Featured Head-Fi Blog: Jude's Blog
____________________________________________________________________
Please help
support Head-Fi by becoming a Contributing Member
CLICK
HERE -- Contributing Members, thank you
for your generous support! --
I am waiting for my debit card to arrive sometime the next few weeks. Hopefully it comes soon enough to buy this. Then I won't have to buy a mic and recording software later. Great deal, even at $150. Thanks for the heads up.
Would the amp/DAC combo in the E-MU 0404 be better than a slightly more expensive amp/DAC combo like the Leckerton UHA-3? I would only be using the amp/DAC with my laptop, and it doesnt really need to be portable, but I've heard that the UHA-3 is an excellent product, regardless of portability. For a desktop use, is the E-MU 0404 the better product?
The UHA-3 probably has a better headphone amplifier, but the 0404 USB has a better DAC section.
Originally Posted by classicalguy
Tell me about the mic. Will it plug into the 0404? Is it a stereo mic, or would one need two of them? It would be fun to learn how to make recordings.
Yes, it plugs into the 0404 USB (otherwise what's the point of a bundle? ). Like most microphones, it only contains one capsule, which means it's monaural. Stereo recordings usually are done with two or more microphones, though some mic manufacturers do make standalone stereo pairs.
I haven't used the bundled software, but it's probably more than good enough for making basic recordings.
I just ordered mine too, hopefully it will be a significant upgrade from my integrated sound card. I will be using a Mini^3 in adjunct with the Emu 0404 with HD580.
I can't imagine anyone finding the DAC of the 0404 to be anything less than a significant upgrade from an integrated sound card. Please be sure to post your first hand impressions for all to read.
That's good to hear. But I've been reading about Vista compatibility issues. Anyone have problems with the 0404 with Vista?
The Vista drivers were in beta until this month, when the final release came out. From this thread, it seems that the new release fixed the beta issues.
Much better. Turtle Beach hasn't made professional quality sound cards since the mid-'90s (IMO).
***
For anyone on the fence about buying due to claims of inferiority:
1. Expensive standalone DACs ($500+) may beat the 0404 USB's DAC output.
2. Nice external amplifiers ($100+) may beat the 0404 USB's headphone output.
But when you look at the total package, there's nothing better for the money. Think about what $139 is buying and you'll see that there's no possible way to bundle together similar equipment for anywhere near that price.
i've heard pretty mixed things on the amplifier section. are you talking $100 portable or home amps? my soha home amp im building was like $70 and i hope its a lot better than the headphone out or maybe i should just sell the kit. i also have a $30 alien but with this deal, maybe that'll be a laptop bag stuffer if the 0404 is too big and precious to throw in with my books.
__________________ How impedance matching affects sound: nice writeup
are you talking $100 portable or home amps? my soha home amp im building was like $70 and i hope its a lot better than the headphone out or maybe i should just sell the kit.
$100 was just a rough estimate, and I meant pre-built. If you're willing to take the time, money, and effort to DIY, you may be able to build an amp for under $100 that bests the 0404 USB's headphone section, especially with hard to drive headphones. The real shortcoming of the 0404 USB's headphone amplifier is its limited 20 mW output power, which is still high enough for low-impedance headphones. Sound signature also plays a role, but that's a matter of personal preference and system synergy.
__________________ Team Value-Fi.
Last edited by infinitesymphony; 02-19-2008 at 12:54 PM.
I never got an auto email confirming $139.99 price, but I did get a reply to my question confirming it. I'm excited about getting the product. I'll use the headphones out with my senn hd-580 and the dac out into a tamp for my desktop speakers. Should be a lot of fun to play with.
). Like most microphones, it only contains one capsule, which means it's monaural. Stereo recordings usually are done with two or more microphones, though some mic manufacturers do make standalone stereo pairs.
Linear Mode
