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Topic: EMU 404 to Harman Kardon HD 970 will it work? (Read 4163 times) previous topic - next topic
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EMU 404 to Harman Kardon HD 970 will it work?

I want to play music from my PC to my stereo.
I have an EMU 404 PCI sound card, and a Harman Kardon HD 970 CD player which has both an optical and a coaxial input for external digital sources.
Since my amplifier has only RCA inputs I want to connect the EMU 404 to the Harman Kardon HD 970 with a digital coaxial cable, will that work?

The EMU 404 conversion rates are as follows:
" The 0404 is a 24 bit card operating at frequencies up to 96 kHz.
Analog/digital conversion is handled by a well-known component, the TI Burr-Brown PCM1804, which is a delta/sigma stereo converter operating in 24 bits up to 192 kHz. Conversion in the other direction (digital/analog) uses an AKM AK4395, which is also a delta/sigma stereo converter operating in 24 bits up to 192 kHz. Note that the two converters can function at 192 kHz, whereas the card itself is limited to 96 kHz."

And here are some specs from the Harman Kardon HD 970:
Sampling Frequency 32kHz to 96 kHz
D/A Conversion Multi Level Delta Sigma
Oversampling 24 Bits/384 kHz Asynchronous Sample Rate Convertor

Thanks,

EMU 404 to Harman Kardon HD 970 will it work?

Reply #1
If I understand the EMU site correctly, the 404 has anlog out
  Level (auto detect):
- Professional: +12dBV max (balanced)
- Consumer: +6dBV max (unbalanced)

Get a XLR to RCA plug and you can probably drive the amp directly from the 404
No reason why a SPDIF connection shouldn't work as long as the sample rates match

TheWellTemperedComputer.com

EMU 404 to Harman Kardon HD 970 will it work?

Reply #2
Yes I already did that.  If I use the D/A convertor from the CD player, I think the sound quality should be better still.
Case in point: if I burn the music to CD and play it in the CD player it sounds better than the same music played trough the RCA inputs.

So how do I find out if the sample rates match?

 

EMU 404 to Harman Kardon HD 970 will it work?

Reply #3
I think the SPDIF pass through should work fine.  I've done something similar with a Sound Devices USBPre passing through a CD recorder.  Typical sample rate is either 48kHz or 44.1Khz for S/PDIF so you might have to play with it and see what your CD player will work with.  Looks like if you go the analog route you'll actually need a couple of unbalanced 1/4" to RCA cables to make sure the card outputs "consumer" levels.  I'd stick with digital if you can, though.  There's more of a standardized format with S/PDIF.

EMU 404 to Harman Kardon HD 970 will it work?

Reply #4
I already went the RCA route. If I use the D/A convertor from the CD player I think the sound should be better still.
Case in point: if I burn a CD and play it on the CD player, it sounds better than the same music played trough the RCA connection.
So how do I find out if the sample rates are the same?

EMU 404 to Harman Kardon HD 970 will it work?

Reply #5
Without really delving into the manuals for the sound card and CD player, I'd say to just set the sound card to 48kHz/24bit and see if the CD player plays nice with that.  It will probably give you an error if it needs a different sample rate.  If that doesn't work, bump it down to 44.1kHz and try again.  It should be a pass or fail situation, so you'll know when you've got it right.