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E-MU 1212m or 0404 USB

post #1 of 20
10/24/08 at 2:55am
Thread Starter 
So I have been reading long long threads about the 1212M card and the 0404 USB. I'm having a hard time finding an answer to my dilemma.

My purpose for the card/usb is the best possible DA conversion from my pc to my amplifier. I don't care about inputs, headphone amp etc. Only DA conversion.

My prefered sound is musical and warm rather than detailed and analytical.

Which one would best suit my needs ?

Please don't suggest other cards/DACS as these 2 are the only ones I can choose from
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post #2 of 20
10/24/08 at 3:31am
i love my modded 0404 usb
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post #3 of 20
10/24/08 at 3:39am
Thread Starter 
cool
But that's not helping too much
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post #4 of 20
10/24/08 at 3:41am
ok.. i don't think you'll like it though as it's detailed from the start even without modding.

not really on the cold side but they sound natural.
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post #5 of 20
10/24/08 at 4:15am
My vote for 1212M+opamp replacement AD8620 sound warmer and cleaner than the stock NJM2068.
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post #6 of 20
10/24/08 at 5:12am
shoewreck how about ad8599 ?
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post #7 of 20
10/24/08 at 10:28am
Thread Starter 
As I have no intention of modding.
Expanding my candidates to include Beresford TC-7510 DAC.

Would that make a better choice ?

By the way I had the E-MU 0404 pci (AK4395) and I quite like the sound
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post #8 of 20
10/24/08 at 1:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nightrhyme View Post
So I have been reading long long threads about the 1212M card and the 0404 USB. I'm having a hard time finding an answer to my dilemma.

My purpose for the card/usb is the best possible DA conversion from my pc to my amplifier. I don't care about inputs, headphone amp etc. Only DA conversion.

My prefered sound is musical and warm rather than detailed and analytical.

Which one would best suit my needs ?

Please don't suggest other cards/DACS as these 2 are the only ones I can choose from
If you like the warm sound, stay away the 1212M, sometimes even my modded xFi sound better than the 1212M
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post #9 of 20
10/25/08 at 11:14am
so what if it's not warm. it doesn't have to be warm to be musical.
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post #10 of 20
10/25/08 at 12:32pm
nightrhyme, if you liked the ak4395 of the 0404 pci, you might like the ak4396 of the 0404 usb
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post #11 of 20
10/25/08 at 7:00pm
Yea, 0404 is a detailed sounding DAC and not warm. The DAC (Cirrus) in my Onkyo 505 receiver is smooth and warm sounding. You can find that receiver for about $250.00 now if you shop around. You could just connect any cheap soundcard via optical or coax to the receiver to get the sound you want.
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post #12 of 20
10/25/08 at 10:22pm
Thread Starter 
Thanx for advice guys

Quote:
Originally Posted by [L]es View Post
nightrhyme, if you liked the ak4395 of the 0404 pci, you might like the ak4396 of the 0404 usb
Yeah that was what I was thinking too
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post #13 of 20
10/27/08 at 5:27am
I will still suggest you get the 0404 USB although it is a very detail DAC, then use a warm sounding RCA cable to tune the sound as you like, because you hard to tune a less detail sound to become detail again especially at source stage, but you can tune it to as warm as you like very easy.
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post #14 of 20
10/27/08 at 7:27am
agree with tea...
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post #15 of 20
12/28/08 at 7:50am
Thread Starter 
So I bought the 0404 USB.
Been comparing it to 0404 pci for the last 5 days.

Can't really decide if I like it or not.

While the USB is very detailed. It's also rather thin sounding in comparison with the PCI.
The USB has a very open and refined treble while the PCI is more recessed in the treble area.
The USB's treble makes it sound more open while the PCI sounds more balanced in it's representation.

It's like the USB's treble sometimes come off a little too agressive.

I can't decide whether to keep it or send it back

Hmm maybe I should keep the 0404 pci and look for a better DAC
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