Not sure if RMAA results for the Audiophile 24/96 have been posted here before, but thought I'd do so anyway (btw RMAA v5.1 is a nice proggie, but can be unstable on Win98SE sometimes - no snide comments on old OS's please )...

Loopback @ 24 bits, 96 KHz:

Frequency Response, dB: +0.01, -0.05 (down ~2.2dB at DC, down ~1dB at 48KHz)
Noise level, dBA: -102.1
Dynamic Range, dBA: 101.8
THD, %: .0045
IMD, %: .0072
Stereo Crosstalk, dB: -99.5

I could post graphs, if anyone was interested enough...

Results of mine with RMAA 4.3 at 44.1 KHz are at http://www.kikeg.arrakis.es/measurements/M...SIO%2016bit.htm and http://www.kikeg.arrakis.es/measurements/M...SIO%2024bit.htm

Thanks, I didn't think of the HTML report option (DOH!)

http://shs82web.home.comcast.net/audio/loo...opback96KHz.htm

P.S... ".htm" ? Serious RMAA weakness! Where's the "l" at the end?

What's that huge 60Hz peak I have in the IMD graph?

That's because my graphs are from RMAA 4.3, which uses CCIF IMD test tones (two high-frequency tones), whereas your graphs are from RMAA 5.1, which uses SMPTE IMD test tones (a low-frequency tone and a high frequency tone).

The IMD test consists in measuring the intermodulation products of those two high-amplitude tones. Your 60 Hz tone is one of those two, so don't worry.

Thanks... any opinion on which is better (should I stick with RMAA v5.1)? If 4.3 is much more often used, I'd rather use that version...

5.1 should be better, among other reasons because I think SMPTE IMD is more useful, because it gives also information about low-frequency distortion that was lacking somehow at previous RMAA versions. I used RMAA 4.3 because it was the last version available when I performed the measurements. Anyway, you can configure RMAA to use the IMD test tones you want.

Edit: Mmm... Looking at the graph, it seems that the high-frequency tone at the SMPTE IMD test is just at 7 KHz. This can miss distortion at very high frequencies that can be a problem with poor slew-rate amplifier stages, and that the old CCIF IMD test addressed. I think that in current RMAA it would be better to use a higher frequency upper IMD test tone. So I don't know... People will use the last RMAA, and old reports will use the old RMAA. You decide.

@fewtch

What is the peak around 500Hz in your noise level graph?




mobius

I don't know... possibly EMI whine from fans. Could be something from a nearby card too (my network card is 2 slots above it, with a blank slot in between).

Looks low level enough to not be a concern, but I wonder why the THD was only "very good." Does anyone think rearranging PCI cards might help? I've thought before about shielding the card with some mu-metal or aluminum foil grounded to the case, but sounds risky (and heat buildup issues)

Hmmm. I'm having a little trouble RMAAing my card. Seems to be either feeding back or complaining that the levels are too low.



mobius

It might help to mute monitoring of the inputs.

Well... I've fought with RMAA 5.1 on 5 different occasions over the last 3 days, trying every possible setting in the delta control panel and RMAA itself. I even switched cables. Suddenly it works. Looks like I only get a VG for THD too.

http://as220.org/mobius/rmaa/1_2.Delta-AP_...24bit.96kHz.htm


mobius


Edit: Slightly less noise with my monitors turned off.

http://as220.org/mobius/rmaa/monitors.off.htm

This convinced me that I may need to rearrange PCI cards to get better RMAA results, and maybe even locate some mu-metal or other shielding materials for the card.

Here are mine with Terratec DMX 6fire LT:
24-bit/96kHz
16-bit/48kHz
16-bit/44kHz

Everything looks good to me, except stereo crosstalk shoots up above 1KHz. IME this kind of thing is typical of some analog amplifier designs and probably isn't very audible.

The high crosstalk is probably caused by the 3,5mm miniplug connection, as it probably messes the signals up more than seperate RCA-plugs.

EDIT:BTW. I can't see your HTML report. I'm redirected to a page that says the URL doesn't exist.

Sorry, I deleted it...