[Dragnerok X]

In this seemingly endless quest to find a suitable DAC for my M50s, the E-MU 020x series certainly appears to be a promising option, especially given the units' additional ADC functionality and desktop-oriented design. Glancing over the specifications and appearance between the 0202 and 0204, I'm not really noticing any functional differences to justify the $30 price increase. Is Creative just using higher quality components? Any other differences?

 

[khaos974]

You could have looked on the E-MU official website

 
0202 USB:
 
 

			Class-A Ultra-low Noise Mic/Hi-Z/Line Preamp XLR, 1/4" TRS and 1/8"* Inputs (113dB SNR)
			Class-A Hi-Z/Line Preamp 1/4" Input (113dB SNR)
			Two 1/4" Outputs (112dB SNR)
			1/8" Stereo Speaker Output (112dB SNR)
			Stereo Headphone Output (108dB SNR)

 
0204 USB:
 

			Class-A Ultra-low Noise Mic/Hi-Z/Line Preamp XLR, 1/4" TRS and 1/8"* Inputs (113dB SNR)
			Class-A Hi-Z/Line Preamp 1/4" Input (113dB SNR / 0.0008% THD)
			Two 1/4" Outputs (117dB SNR / 0.0008% THD)
			1/8" Stereo Speaker Output (117dB SNR)
			Stereo Headphone Output which doubles as an assignable pair of auxiliary outputs (117dB SNR / 0.0008% THD)

My guess is an updated DAC section and some tweaking for the headamp output,

 

[dsnyder]

Yup.  Looks like they have installed the AK4396 "Miracle DAC" previously reserved for their E-MU 0404 USB into the E-MU 0204 USB.
 
If you don't require balanced outputs, the 0204 may be a superior USB DAC for music playback compared to it's big brother.  For example, like the 0202, the internal clock appears to be five times as precise (<100ps vs. <500ps).  Fixed analog outputs mean that the signal does not pass through an (low quality?) analog potentiometer like is the case with the 0404.  However, the 0204 is USB bus powered only, so it's less convenient to experiment with external power supplies as I have done with my 0404.  At only $130, it's worth a try.  Keep in mind that you're likely to spend more than that for a suitable USB cable.  LOL.
 
-- David