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Topic: Best USB audio interface from the list? (Read 7395 times) previous topic - next topic
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Best USB audio interface from the list?

Which USB audio interface from this list you consider the best?

M-AUDIO Transit
Edirol UA-1EX
Griffin iMic
Xitel Pro HiFi-Link

Griffin's iMic is obviously inferior to others and I don't know is Xitel's Pro HiFi-Link audio interface at all, or is it just some kind of signal/sound processor...

Which would you buy from these? And if you know about some other (better) choice, please tell (about $100 price tag max).

Edit: I will connect it to Harman/Kardon SoundSticks II for stereo listening and movies...

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #1 –
Does it need to be really small? If not, take a look at Line 6's TonePort range. Perhaps a UX1 would be close to what you need - it isn't too big but may be too much for you.

I just suggest these because I have a UX2 myself.

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #2 –
Yeah, it's overkill, I was referring to audio interface more in the form of the sound card, but today sound card notation is kinda obsolete (except for the older PCI models...).

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #3 –
What do you need/want?

Digital output?  Stereo analog output?  Surround sound?

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #4 –
I wrote that I will connect it to Harman/Kardon SoundSticks II for stereo listening and movies... I don't need surround sound.

BTW, Xitel Pro HiFi-Link, has excellent reviews, and it comes with good cables in package, is cheap, small and nice (however I will need RCA to 3.5mm analog adapter which I have already --- will this degrade sound quality? I don't like adapters...)

I think it's M-AUDIO Transit vs. Xitel Pro HiFi-Link situation.

Edit: I just realized that I can't connect Xitel to speakers, only to amplifier/receiver. So, M-AUDIO Transit is seems.

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: miniml on
BTW, Xitel Pro HiFi-Link, has excellent reviews, and it comes with good cables in package, is cheap, small and nice (however I will need RCA to 3.5mm analog adapter which I have already --- will this degrade sound quality? I don't like adapters...)

I think it's M-AUDIO Transit vs. Xitel Pro HiFi-Link situation.
I think the extra cables that come with the xitel are a snare and a delusion. What I would want to know is if it is a fixed 48khz analog output, like most other USB audio devices. Xitel doesn't say what kind of chip is inside the thing. If it is, you can find something that will have the same quality for a lot cheaper.

And a RCA->3.5mm cable won't hurt sound quality at all, assuming it's properly shielded. (Even if it wasn't, I think they're so short that interference is unlikely to be a problem unless you have a power cable or something right next to it.)

Quote
Edit: I just realized that I can't connect Xitel to speakers, only to amplifier/receiver. So, M-AUDIO Transit is seems.
??? I think both of them will be the same, they need amplified speakers. But your soundsticks have an amp built in. Either one would work.

Anyways, if you are concerned with probably-not-audible quality, you could go for the M-Audio or the Edirol. (Or if you think you'll need the digital, they become a much more useful purchase.) I'd pick up a cheap $20 USB stereo device. Honestly, I doubt that the soundsticks will really show any difference.

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Klyith on
I'd pick up a cheap $20 USB stereo device. Honestly, I doubt that the soundsticks will really show any difference.


Well, then I could use the built-in audio from Mac mini as well?  And soundsticks aren't so bad computer speakers also -- probably the best computer 2.1 multimedia speakers. I would like to buy amplifier and some bookshelf speakers but it would be just a waste of money and space for my room.

And about recommendations like you could go with these or these or that ones... I know that I can go with any of them, that's way I ask for advice in the first place, because I don't have any place to check or hear these components. So, I need first-hand advice, which is the best. SoundSticks and M-AUDIO Transit are both available here in Croatia, but I haven't seen Edirol here, so I will probably go with Transit, I just wanted to know is there some better thing for the same money.

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: miniml on
And about recommendations like you could go with these or these or that ones... I know that I can go with any of them, that's way I ask for advice in the first place, because I don't have any place to check or hear these components. So, I need first-hand advice, which is the best. SoundSticks and M-AUDIO Transit are both available here in Croatia, but I haven't seen Edirol here, so I will probably go with Transit, I just wanted to know is there some better thing for the same money.
Well, if the Transit is what's available, that's what you should go with. It's a good product, I doubt you'll have problems.

Quote from: miniml on
Well, then I could use the built-in audio from Mac mini as well?
The mini has perfectly good audio. A lot of PC's have crap integrated audio, but that's rarely been a problem on the mac side. Once you get the m-audio, if you get a friend to help you do a blind test by swapping back and forth between the mini and the usb device, I doubt you'll be able to tell the difference.

My comment about soundsticks not showing any different was more about there not *being* any audible difference, not really that the soundsticks aren't capable. Though I'd hardly call them the best 2.1 computer speakers... I've never been that impressed by them, but they're not crap or anything.

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Klyith on
The mini has perfectly good audio. A lot of PC's have crap integrated audio, but that's rarely been a problem on the mac side. Once you get the m-audio, if you get a friend to help you do a blind test by swapping back and forth between the mini and the usb device, I doubt you'll be able to tell the difference.


I have PPC Mac mini, and I think that audio in Intel ones is much better, they did some upgrades...

Quote from: Klyith on
Though I'd hardly call them the best 2.1 computer speakers... I've never been that impressed by them, but they're not crap or anything.


Can you recommend me the better ones? I heard a lot of bookshelf and hi-fi speakers in general, but I was never into computer speakers, so I don't know the players in this field. I just heard and see on the Internet that SoundSticks are recommended by majority. And they look nice also

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: miniml on
Can you recommend me the better ones? I heard a lot of bookshelf and hi-fi speakers in general, but I was never into computer speakers, so I don't know the players in this field.
Klipsch ProMedia. Generally held as the best "computer" speakers. They use horn tweeters though, which some people don't like the sound of.

Runners up: not a lot. Boston acoustics used to do some nice speakers, but I haven't seen anything new for a while. Monsoon back in like '02 had a set of 2.1 speakers where the satellites used their planar magnetic transducer. I heard those a couple times and really liked them. Cambridge soundworks got eaten by creative... Unfortunatly Logitech has pretty much taken over the computer speakers market with their boomy subs. I think a lot of their kit could be quite good with a few 'adjustments'.

Quote
And they look nice also
They do. They violate all the laws of good speaker design, but they look good and don't sound half bad. Pretty amazing when you think about it.

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Klyith on
Klipsch ProMedia. Generally held as the best "computer" speakers. They use horn tweeters though, which some people don't like the sound of.


OK, I have done some investigations and I will buy these if I found them in Croatia. I think they are available only with one dealer here and quite pricey because of that. Thanks.

Best USB audio interface from the list?

Reply #11 –
hi, i am from argentine, so please excuse my english.

I am a bit confused about the usb audio interface function? Which is the main purpose of the device?
If i have a pci soundcard in my pc and plug in the usb audio interface, the sound i get from the output in the usb a.i. is proccesed by the soundcard or is internal proccesed by the device? The USB Audio Interface is a replacement for a PCI Soundcard???

I have a lot of Electro magnetic interference in my pc (coming from a FM Radio nearby), so when i plug my Carver Amp to my pc by a rca analog cable, all the interference is amplified. If i get one of this devices, can i get ride off the interference if i connect a digital output to from my pc and convert to analog to plug in my Carver????

Thank you in advance!
Chaintech AV-710 Wolfson DAC - Carver CM1065 - JBL LX770