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M-Audio Audiophile USB Interior [for those interested]

post #1 of 21
11/27/06 at 6:17pm
Thread Starter 
Just got my M-Audio Audiophile USB.

Decided to post some interior pictures for those interested just as a reference (800x600, medium compression JPEGs):















Links to 1600x1200, low compression JPEGs for those who want to see more detail (1.3-1.7Mb each):


If you want the original 2816x2112 images, I'll be happy to provide them. Also, please tell me if you want detailed photos of a specific part of the board.

Thanks for looking.
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post #2 of 21
11/27/06 at 9:36pm
Thanks! I haven't opened mine up yet
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post #3 of 21
11/29/06 at 9:38am
Thread Starter 
After a quick AB comparison, the Audiophile USB is really a major improvement over the Echo Indigo DJ. It literally removes a layer of veil that used to cover the music. There is noticeably more detail and air around the instruments. Also, the music comes alive, ie more transparent presentation. If you have an Echo Indigo DJ user and wonder what cheap upgrade you can get before you spend hundreds on a Stello, Benchmark, Ack or Lavry, the Audiophile USB should be at the top of your list. The Audiophile USB has coaxial S/PDIF outputs for connection to a dedicated DAC if you wish to upgrade in the future and the RCA outputs is extremely clean too.

Highly recommended! I can't go back to the Echo Indigo DJ any more...
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post #4 of 21
11/29/06 at 10:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by milkpowder View Post
Highly recommended! I can't go back to the Echo Indigo DJ any more...
Interesting, the indigo is often recommended. As I would be feeding an XCANv2 and a 650 I have always felt I needed better so this could be a good first PC audio step. Now maybe if I spent a little more, what then?
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post #5 of 21
11/29/06 at 10:16am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lipidicman View Post
Interesting, the indigo is often recommended. As I would be feeding an XCANv2 and a 650 I have always felt I needed better so this could be a good first PC audio step. Now maybe if I spent a little more, what then?
Make no mistake, the Indigo DJ is very good, but the Audiophile USB is better! The Audiophile USB has a proper power section, better DACs and better implementation because it has more space to work on. The circuit board of the Indigo DJ is minuscule compared to that of the Audiophile USB, so I fail to see how the Indigo DJ can possibly be better than the Audiophile USB.

If you want to spend more, there are heaps of USB DACs around that you can choose from, but the Audiophile USB is a good platform for future upgrades because of its coaxial S/PDIF (see J-Pak's setup). Personally, I'd go straight for a Stello DA100 (USB, coaxial, toslink + 192kHz upsampling) if I had the money. Either that, or 'pick up' a PreSonus Central Station, but you'll need a coaxial/TOSLINK digital source. Then there's the X-DAC v3.

I'm a relative noob to the world of DACs, so there are many much more qualified individuals who can give you much more info and a wider range of DACs.
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post #6 of 21
11/29/06 at 11:14am
Thanks. I have the X-DACv3 or the Cyrus DACX in my view. When my wallet recovers

I have found the M-Audio unit for £94.99 at dv24, any better deals?
Any reason I should just get a transit? (I have a spare XCAN until I get a DAC)
How does this thing compare to the Edirol UA-25?
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post #7 of 21
11/29/06 at 12:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lipidicman View Post
Thanks. I have the X-DACv3 or the Cyrus DACX in my view. When my wallet recovers

I have found the M-Audio unit for £94.99 at dv24, any better deals?
Any reason I should just get a transit? (I have a spare XCAN until I get a DAC)
How does this thing compare to the Edirol UA-25?
95 quid is the standard price for a new Audiophile USB in the UK. You might be able to find better deals if you don't mind pre-owned/used. Have a look on eBay.

Well I have absolutely no experience with Roland/Edirol equipment apart from the Roland electronic organ that my dad used to have before the Rodgers. Just looking at its specs, I can only say that it is very designed. It's got plenty of I/O options, but that says nothing about its sound quality. It is 30 quid more than the Audiophile USB though, so it may very well be better. The full metal casing also contributes to its higher price. It might also be important to note that the Edirol runs purely on USB power, which is arguably not as great as mains power. Do you have any idea what they mean by 48V Phantom Power? There's a switch on the back for it.

EDIT: Wikipedia article on phantom power: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_power To be frank with you, I still don't understand

EDIT2: If you don't mind paying even more, then there's the 0404 USB: http://www.dv247.com/invt/35906/ It's got rather impressive specs but also a much higher price tag. The only drawback I can see is the limited analogue line output options: TS and 1/8" jack. It would've been great to see some RCA outputs, but I guess these USB audio interfaces are all designed for people who record/master on-the-go. I would be somewhat disappointed if the 0404 USB doesn't sound noticeably better than the Audiophile USB.
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post #8 of 21
11/29/06 at 2:35pm
what is that 8 pins chip on the dip socket?
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post #9 of 21
11/29/06 at 2:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by terrymx View Post
what is that 8 pins chip on the dip socket?
I honestly don't know. It has very feint writing on it though which didn't show up on the photos. I'll try and snap some macros of it in a couple of hours. Stay tuned.
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post #10 of 21
11/29/06 at 2:46pm
The Audiophile USB has really good analog outs. I used them before I got my Lavry/DAC2. I prefered the anolog to the EMU0404 and EMU1212
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post #11 of 21
11/29/06 at 5:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by terrymx View Post
what is that 8 pins chip on the dip socket?
Updated with your request. Please check original post.

Inscription on 8-pin chip:
24LC64
I/POHH
0424

More info of chip are contained in the following pdfs,
and can be purchased here.

Official website here: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...cName=en010793
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post #12 of 21
11/29/06 at 5:29pm
That's a memory chip.
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post #13 of 21
11/29/06 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JahJahBinks View Post
That's a memory chip.
You managed to break the Enigma that I failed to decode.
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post #14 of 21
11/29/06 at 6:10pm
EEPROM is a type of non-volatile memory, it doesn't lose data when power goes off. The cirrus chip uses registers to set its options, and the values for the registers are stored in EEPROM.
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post #15 of 21
1/1/07 at 2:51pm
It has been a while since this thread was visited.

One question concerning this layout. Are there any isolating transformers on this board? I don't recognize any.

Would this alone make the UD-10 usb converter better?
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