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EMU 0404 USB to go with Little dot MK III and DT880 (250 Ohm) and iMac

post #1 of 4
11/23/10 at 9:11am
Thread Starter 

I have an iMac->LittleDot MK III->DT880's and I am not completely satisfied with the sound, especially because there is quite a bit of background noise so I was planning on getting a DAC to go with the setup. I've read that the EMU 0404 is supposed to be good. Anyone care to comment on the following: Can i expect to hear any sort of improvement? Secondly, can i expect the noise to be gone? Thirdly, would you recommend another DAC instead?

 

PS: The noise is completely gone when i unplug the LittleDot from my computer. 

 

PPS: I am expecting an increase in sound quality because using an old beogram record player as a source made a night and day difference...

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post #2 of 4
11/24/10 at 8:53am
Thread Starter 

I just read somewhere that it is a waste of money to get the 0404 if you only want it for its DAC capabilities and that there are better alternatives out there, any merit to that statement?

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post #3 of 4
11/24/10 at 3:27pm

An unshielded sound card will still have that "Buzz" or "Humm" you have, due to EMI inside the computer.

 

Your best choice is a DAC. Just make sure that the  DAC has drivers for your mac.

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post #4 of 4
11/27/10 at 12:11am

A good quality PCI sound card has perfect performance, relatively speaking. The only way a hum would exist is if you had an unusually poorly designed computer or a poorly designed sound card. It is not difficult to achieve SNRs over 100dB from even a cheap PCI soundcard if you pick somewhat carefully.

 

The EMU0404 USB is overkill for just DAC use. It has superb performance in all of it's possible functions; but that is the thing - it is a multi-use device and if you don't need any of it's other features you don't need to spend the money for that product. I have one of these, and it's great, but I use it for recording, measurements, as a mic pre, etc.


Edited by searchenabler - 11/27/10 at 12:12am
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