Got my E-MU 0404...not what I expected...

[Deathwish238]

Because of all the replies from you guys I ended getting an E-MU 0404 to replace my Audigy 2 ZS...it's not what I expected at all.

It was so much more! Holy hell. I couldn't imagine the difference it made...like some said it truly lifted a veil and everything sounded so much clearer. Listening to my DT990s w/ its amp(I haven't had a chance to use my mini^3 because I just moved) there was a massive difference in depth of bass, speed of bass, overall clarity, and sound stage.

I really couldn't believe it...I was hearing things that I never noticed before. On live metal songs I could hear the natural echo when a guitar solo ended and I never knew cymbals had such a "ring" to them...quite amazing.

I can't thank Head Fi enough...without your inspiration I'ld still just be using my 5 year old Grado SR-80s

 

[jilgiljongiljing]

Congrats, glad you like it. Now I just have to wait for mine to get here. Whats worse is I wont be in town for the whole of next week, so I pretty much have to wait till atleast Feb 10th. sigh...

 

[sejarzo]

It's great to hear that you find it a worthwhile improvement.

Please, do post your impressions after adding the Mini^3 into the chain......you will hear even more extension on the low end and overall detail, I'd bet!

 

[Cankin]

What is the best "volume" on the main output knob?

I maxed the volume in foobar and the sound control panel, and currently 8-9 o'clock on the main output knob.

 

[utilisateur]

12o'clock should give you best channel balance

I'd pay more attention to your amps input and match the output to its sensitivity/ 0dBFS level though
Definately keep digital volume controls all the way up. And if using foobar with the 0404USB you should go with the ASIOdrivers for best performance (this will eliminate control panels influence->my reason for posting this)

To the OP : glad you're so happy with your new fellow

 

[subfocus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cankin /img/forum/go_quote.gif What is the best "volume" on the main output knob? I maxed the volume in foobar and the sound control panel, and currently 8-9 o'clock on the main output knob.

When using the MAIN output knob , I tend to have it to max. To my ears , this seems to optimize the sound quality when I've used the 0404USB connected to my integrated amp/speakers.

 

[Brian loves music]

yay i'm happy for you and myself!

really made my hd595s come alive. Every time i see people bash hd595s, I wish they would judge them after hearing them amped like they have for the other cans they compare them to (that require amping)

 

[Brian loves music]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deathwish238 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Because of all the replies from you guys I ended getting an E-MU 0404 to replace my Audigy 2 ZS...it's not what I expected at all. It was so much more! Holy hell. I couldn't imagine the difference it made...like some said it truly lifted a veil and everything sounded so much clearer. Listening to my DT990s w/ its amp(I haven't had a chance to use my mini^3 because I just moved) there was a massive difference in depth of bass, speed of bass, overall clarity, and sound stage. I really couldn't believe it...I was hearing things that I never noticed before. On live metal songs I could hear the natural echo when a guitar solo ended and I never knew cymbals had such a "ring" to them...quite amazing. I can't thank Head Fi enough...without your inspiration I'ld still just be using my 5 year old Grado SR-80s

oh ya and do you use Direct Sound or Asio? Can you tell a difference with the emu 0404..i can't

 

[sejarzo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cankin /img/forum/go_quote.gif What is the best "volume" on the main output knob? I maxed the volume in foobar and the sound control panel, and currently 8-9 o'clock on the main output knob.

Presuming that you are using the 0404 USB to feed the M^3, you probably want to run it as subfocus suggests....all the way up. In general, that's the best way to run all rigs--gain maxed on all components up to the final volume control.

The reason is that there is always some noise level present in analog outputs. Running the output level at the maximum generally gives you the best signal-to-noise ratio on the output....so you have, relatively speaking, more signal and less noise going to your headamp this way.

To utilisateur.......I've played a 1 kHz 0 dBFS test tone from Foobar and measured the output voltages from both channels with the output level maxed, and they always read either 2.08 or 2.09 Vrms. I've never seen more than a 0.01 Vrms imbalance with the main out set at -0 dB--which translates to less than a 0.05 dB difference.

 

[jeremy6044]

Why is it better to have the 0404 feed the M^3, rather than just use the 0404 by itself?

I just got the Grado 225's and I'm wondering if I should get the 0404 (for my laptop) or get something like the M^3 or PA2V2 (for my ipod)...I'm not going to get both at this point...so I'm interested in how the two different solutions compare.

 

[sejarzo]

The M^3 (presuming it is truly an "M^3", not a "Mini^3") is a far, far superior headphone amplifier. (The Mini^3 is also a better design than the 0404 USB's internal headamp, for that matter.)

The internal headamp in the 0404 USB is pretty much there to allow the user to monitor during recording--remember, this device is targeted at amateur musician/recordists for remote recording, not as what most of us use it for (a USB DAC/headamp.)

I normally run my 0404 USB outputs into a CK2III and HD600's. Sometimes I have the CK2III connected to an SACD player, so when I want to quickly listen to music clips on the web, I just plug into the internal headamp for non-critical listening.

The 0404 USB would give you the capability of easily listening to lossless audio files, which I presume you are not doing now on the iPod. You can drive powered monitors or a power amp/passive speakers in the future with the 0404 USB, too.

 

[Shiki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy6044 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why is it better to have the 0404 feed the M^3, rather than just use the 0404 by itself?

I guess the M^3 is a better amp than the 0404's built-in amp.

 

[jeremy6044]

So what you're all saying is that under no circumstances should I get an all-in-one DAC/Amp combo. I should either get a headphone amp for my ipod, or else get an external DAC and separate amp for the laptop.

But then I have to ask, is the 0404 used without an amp still going to be a better source than the line out of an ipod? I guess I'm still confused about what's more important to spend money on...the DAC or the Amp?

 

[Cankin]

Thanks, sejarzo. I will try that later.

by the way, my M^3 is the best amp I've ever owned.

 

[sejarzo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy6044 /img/forum/go_quote.gif But then I have to ask, is the 0404 used without an amp still going to be a better source than the line out of an ipod? I guess I'm still confused about what's more important to spend money on...the DAC or the Amp?

Yes, the 0404 USB will undoubtedly be a better source than the line out of an iPod.

In general, when it comes to what affects quality of reproduction, it's cans first, source second, amp third......presuming that the amp is sufficient to drive the cans and working properly. That's not to say that a somewhat lesser DAC plus an M^3 would sound worse than the 0404 USB using only its internal headamp.....it's a rule of thumb.