EMU Tracker Pre

[Headdie]

Thanks ! I'll have to get these if I buy a Tracker Pre, but what I'd need now is RCA stereo to 1/4 female (or 1/8), so I could hook my cans directly at the output of the buffer, assuming that it would work this way...

 

[Headdie]

For those who have this audio interface (0202 or 0404 should be the same), can it be used as an headphone amplifier, bypassing the ADC-DAC converters?

 

[infinitesymphony]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Headdie /img/forum/go_quote.gif For those who have this audio interface (0202 or 0404 should be the same), can it be used as an headphone amplifier, bypassing the ADC-DAC converters?

Yes, if you set it to monitor the inputs (Direct Monitor). The headphone amplifiers inside these are decent but not great.

 

[Headdie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitesymphony /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, if you set it to monitor the inputs (Direct Monitor). The headphone amplifiers inside these are decent but not great.

Thanks ! And what about the Send/Return Inserts ? Could I have a source on the RCA input, passing through a tube buffer in the Send/Return Inserts, and then directly to the headphone amp (still without doing an ADC-DAC conversion) ?

Finally, what do you mean by "the headphone amplifiers inside these are decent but not great" ? I've read many headfi threads about this family (0202, 0404 and Tracker Pre). I understand that some people are amazed and some are rather "cold" about the head amp. I understand that it may not be powerful enough for certain people/headphones. I understand that the Tracker Pre is little more powerful that his two brothers, but not by much... Do we have EMU owners here with Denon D2000/D5000 or Beyerdynamic DT990 (250 or 600 ohms) that can tell us how they perform powered by an EMU audio interface?

 

[infinitesymphony]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Headdie /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks ! And what about the Send/Return Inserts ? Could I have a source on the RCA input, passing through a tube buffer in the Send/Return Inserts, and then directly to the headphone amp (still without doing an ADC-DAC conversion) ?

The Tracker Pre doesn't have Returns, it only has Inserts and Inputs. I don't see why you'd need to use them anyway. What's the point of buying the Tracker Pre if you're only using it as a headphone amp? Either way, the simplest route is to go source -> tube buffer -> Tracker Pre Inputs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Headdie Finally, what do you mean by "the headphone amplifiers inside these are decent but not great" ?

It's a simple op-amp based headphone amplifier circuit with some low-rated generic capacitors. The quality is adequate, but overall it's a little underpowered. Keep in mind that the ability to drive headphones to loud volumes is only half of the equation. It's sort of like the saying, "it's the first watt that counts."

 

[Headdie]

I'd like to bypass the digital converters for when I use the headphone amp with an analog source like an FM tuner.

From the specs, it should have "Two 1/4-inch Unbalanced Send/Return Inserts prior to A/D converters". I wonder if I could use them for the tube buffer, cause if I have the buffer between the CD player and the EMU, I won't be able to use it with the computer out. I want the buffer with all sources and all outputs (speakers and headphones). Actually, it's the only way I see I can have it all, but I'm not really sure I understand how this thing works, so I ask...

I've read good things and bad things about SQ of the 0202 and 0404. Without expecting to much, I'm curious to know if someone has tried the head out of an EMU with a D2000 or DT990...

 

[infinitesymphony]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Headdie /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'd like to bypass the digital converters for when I use the headphone amp with an analog source like an FM tuner.

The only potential way to do this is to plug into the Input jacks and use Direct Monitor mode. Still, there is no guarantee that A/D and D/A don't happen before the headphone amp, though my guess is that they don't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Headdie From the specs, it should have "Two 1/4-inch Unbalanced Send/Return Inserts prior to A/D converters". I wonder if I could use them for the tube buffer, cause if I have the buffer between the CD player and the EMU, I won't be able to use it with the computer out. I want the buffer with all sources and all outputs (speakers and headphones). Actually, it's the only way I see I can have it all, but I'm not really sure I understand how this thing works, so I ask...

You may be able to plug the tube buffer into the Inserts using two stereo 1/4" Y-cables, sort of like the example on p. 15 of the Tracker Pre Manual, but it sounds like what you really want is a mixer. Try looking for a used Mackie 1202 on eBay.