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EMU 0202 or 0404 USB

post #1 of 24
1/20/08 at 6:32pm
Thread Starter 
Hi, i was just wondering if im running my Sen HD650's through a laptop with no amp. Will the 0404 improve SQ more than the 0202? Im not doing any recording of any kind, just simply listening to music. Is the 0404 worth the extra money?

Would very much appreciate any help, thanks!
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post #2 of 24
1/22/08 at 3:58pm
I havent heard both, only the 0202 with my 595s. To my ears the combination is quite good and any SQ improvement that 0404 must offer will be miniscule IMO.

The other school of thought will be to get the top of the line once and for all so that you never have to doubt your purchase.
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post #3 of 24
1/22/08 at 9:49pm
This is actually a very interesting question in that the 0404 USB is such a darling here and the 0202 relatively unheard. The spec stats on the 0404 are better, but I've seen RMAA results that make it a dead heat from at least one audio testing site. (sorry, don't have the energy right now to search for the link, but if this thread keeps going, I'll go back and find them) The dac chips are different, and so I'm guessing just from what I've read and know about digital sources that in a head-to-head test it might well be a question of different flavors as much as the 0404 being an improvement. The problem is that until somebody does a detailed head-to-head comparison, we won't have any idea of what that difference might be. I for one would really like to hear what a decent reviewer hears between them.
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post #4 of 24
2/3/08 at 9:01pm
im curious about this too.. searching for emu 0202 on head fi didnt gave me any clue

maybe someone will make a head-to-head comparison
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post #5 of 24
2/3/08 at 9:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by facelvega View Post
This is actually a very interesting question in that the 0404 USB is such a darling here and the 0202 relatively unheard. ...... The dac chips are different, and so I'm guessing just from what I've read and know about digital sources that in a head-to-head test it might well be a question of different flavors as much as the 0404 being an improvement.
That should be the case. Given that the devices use the same driver, both must use the same USB transfer method that avoids some of the issues involved with standard Windows USB Audio Devices, which I presume is one of the reasons why the 0404 USB sounds so good.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bocosb View Post
im curious about this too.. searching for emu 0202 on head fi didnt gave me any clue

maybe someone will make a head-to-head comparison
If one owns an 0404 USB, there isn't much reason to have an 0202 USB, too.

I'm not into recording, but I don't understand why it makes sense to buy an 0202 USB with only one mic pre, when at street prices it costs only a bit more to get the 0404 USB with two mic pres and more capability. We all need to remember that these devices were conceived first and foremost for amateur recording, not computer-based playback systems.
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post #6 of 24
2/4/08 at 7:45am
in Europe the price is 100 euro for 0202 vs. 200 euro for 0404.. so there is a difference ( that's about 145$ vs. 290$)

anyone knows some online stores in europe with good prices for both emus?
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post #7 of 24
2/4/08 at 10:50am
Ah, I see your point.

Lately, the difference in US prices has been only $40 to $50.
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post #8 of 24
2/5/08 at 3:00pm
well.. nobody from head-fi had listened to both e-mu0202 and 0404? hard to belive..
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post #9 of 24
2/5/08 at 3:08pm
Not many 0202 USB users around here, I'm afraid!
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post #10 of 24
2/6/08 at 3:07pm
one more bump in case somebody can enlighten us on the 0202.
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post #11 of 24
2/6/08 at 3:24pm
a lot of people want/buy either 0202 or 0404 just for the DAC feature.
are 0404 and 0202 different when it comes to only DAC features?
i only want one to use just as a USB DAC, and i won't use any other features. for me, if both have the same DAC, there is no point of spending extra money for 0404.
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post #12 of 24
2/6/08 at 4:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tjumper78 View Post
a lot of people want/buy either 0202 or 0404 just for the DAC feature.
are 0404 and 0202 different when it comes to only DAC features?
i only want one to use just as a USB DAC, and i won't use any other features. for me, if both have the same DAC, there is no point of spending extra money for 0404.
thats what i was thinking
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post #13 of 24
2/6/08 at 4:38pm
The E-MU web site, and previous posts on the forum, clearly show that the 0404 USB uses the AK4396 DAC from AKM, their top of the line unit, while the 0202 USB uses the CS4392, a somewhat older DAC from Cirrus.

Two different generations of technology from two different manufacturers.
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post #14 of 24
2/6/08 at 4:47pm
I have had the EMU 0202 for a while and I have a 0404 on order, I will get it on the third week of february. I will post a detailed head to head comparison once I get it.
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post #15 of 24
2/6/08 at 5:00pm
I have had both the 0202 and the 0404 side by side.

If you are planning to use either one as an AMP/DAC combo, go with the 0404. The 0202 built in amp is pretty much worthless for high impedence phones.

As far as DAC goes, the 0404 tops the 0202 by a slight margin (not an OMG, a beauty and the beast "a whole new world" kind of difference) but a worthwhile upgrade.
Hope this helps you decide.
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