Juli@ vs modded x-fi

[DSlayerZX]

Hello everybody, I just recently purchased a Juli@ for my future upgrade reference, since I also has a a modded X-fi, I decided to give it a comparison.

First of all, I had removed the shielding on the x-fi, since juli@ does not have it either. My modded x-fi includes the opamp mod (change to LM4562) and the capacitor mod (change to Black Gate capacitor, and also shorted the capacitors next to the output channel.)

Here is the comparison.

Compare to the x-fi, the Juli@ seems to have better bass definition, it is easier to hear different frequency by the Juli@, but Juli@'s bass is a bit more lose, not as punchy as the x-fi.

Also, the Juli@ does not sound as upfront as the x-fi, the difference is small, but its there. With Juli@, I feel that I am maybe... only few steps farther from the singer compare to the x-fi.

Last, Juli@ actually give a better separation between instruments, it gives a better indication of where things are... (yeah, surprisingly, since x-fi is a gaming sound card... and I thought they would do a better job at it.) while the x-fi actually give more detail.

There goes my conclusion, thank you

PS: one question though, on my Juli@, when I play music on foobar2000, when ever I start some program that require some cpu usage, it tend to skips, anyone know what is the reason for that?

 

[cotdt]

interesting comparo. try increasing the buffer in foobar. use ASIO if you could.

 

[fierce_freak]

Thanks for the impressions

 

[aegisofrime]

Nice to see some positive impressions on the Juli@. I was getting disillusioned with my Juli@. One reason for this was the fact that the Juli@ had some lousy opamps on the output stage. JRC NE5534 if I remember correctly. It's probably lousy enough to be in the jellybean opamp bin.

I was wondering how the Juli@ would sound if it had some AD8610s instead of the NE5534...

 

[cotdt]

so the Juli@ uses single opamps and not duals? strange

 

[DSlayerZX]

no, it is using dual, in fact, its using JRC4580...... in a very weird, hard to mod form (personally, hate that fact....)
each pin is less than .5 mm thick, I can't even cut them off properly
whats more weird is that its using a dual opamp per channel...... I don't really get how does that work ...

 

[cotdt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSlayerZX /img/forum/go_quote.gif no, it is using dual, in fact, its using JRC4580...... in a very weird, hard to mod form (personally, hate that fact....) each pin is less than .5 mm thick, I can't even cut them off properly whats more weird is that its using a dual opamp per channel...... I don't really get how does that work ...

dual opamp per channel? is it balanced?

Edit: I just looked it up. Yes, it is a balanced sound card, thus two outputs were channel. you'd want to use a balanced amp for this card.

 

[radio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotdt /img/forum/go_quote.gif dual opamp per channel? is it balanced? Edit: I just looked it up. Yes, it is a balanced sound card, thus two outputs were channel. you'd want to use a balanced amp for this card.

Nice i had just asked this question in the thread i started... it does not use the normal XLR cables does it? where do you get the cables for the balanced analogue out for this card?

 

[cotdt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by radio /img/forum/go_quote.gif Nice i had just asked this question in the thread i started... it does not use the normal XLR cables does it? where do you get the cables for the balanced analogue out for this card?

you just need to get a pair of TRS -> XLR convertors. they sell them everywhere.

 

[aegisofrime]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSlayerZX /img/forum/go_quote.gif no, it is using dual, in fact, its using JRC4580...... in a very weird, hard to mod form (personally, hate that fact....) each pin is less than .5 mm thick, I can't even cut them off properly whats more weird is that its using a dual opamp per channel...... I don't really get how does that work ...

I might have remembered wrongly then. All in all, I don't think either the 5534 or the 4580 are very good op-amps.

The output on the TRS is balanced, but the RCA-out is not. I remember one op-amp in each of the output paths to the RCA connectors. cotdt do you think you could come up with a guide to Hotrodding the Juli@?

EDIT: There is in fact a thread on this already. Glad to know I'm not the only one that is dissatisfied with the lousy choice on opamps on a professional soundcard.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=239524