focusrite scarlett 2i4 rmaa test report (wdm vs asio comparison)

The new focusrite scarlett 2i4 usb 3.2.2.292 driver supports 24 bit depth mode by wdm now as like by ASIO driver.

So, let's try to compare...

ASIO: 24-bit @ 96 kHz; 32 samples of asio buffer.
MME: 24-bit @ 96 kHz; 52% of record level by windows mixer.

Balanced 1-st output looped to balanced 1-st input by trs to trs jack cable. rmma mono test. full level monitor output. input with instrument + pad mode. about 10 oclock gain knob. 100% output level by wdm.
Windows 10 x64.

ASIO driver settings

The identical knob settings on the device gets no difference between asio and wdm drivers. about latency - need something better than rmaa to compare - rmaa shows 220 ms with wdm and 200 ms with asio.

Test result

Frequency response

Dynamic range

THD

THD (cropped)

IMD

Asus Xonar Essence STX RMAA tests.

This is an RMAA audio tests of the Asus Xonar Essence STX sound card.

Asus Xonar Essence STX

Test conditions:

• Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64.
• RMAA version 6.4.0.
• Asus MME drivers version 7.12.8.1794. 100% main output volume. 76% line output mixer volume. 100% line input mixer volume. 96 kHz PCM output.
• Asus ASIO drivers version 2.0.0.07 at 24 Bit-Depth, 10 ms latency.
• TRS-RCA cable line output to line input loop.
• 200~210 ms latency at 44.1 kHz
• 390~420 ms latency at 96 kHz

Test results

Frequency response 24-bit, 96 kHz

Frequency response 24-bit, 44.1 kHz

Dynamic range 24-bit, 96 kHz

Dynamic range 24-bit, 44.1 kHz

THD 24-bit, 96 kH

THD 24-bit, 44.1 kHz

IMD 24-bit, 96 kHz

IMD 24-bit, 44.1 kHz

IMD (swept freqs.) 24-bit, 96 kHz

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MEIER-AUDIO CORDA ARIETTA headphone amplifier RMAA test report.

This is a more precise RMAA tests of the MEIER-AUDIO CORDA ARIETTA headphone amplifier are made with Asus Xonar Essence STX sound card through ASIO drivers.

CORDA ARIETTA headamp

Test conditions:

• Sound card line output to amp input and amp output with volume at 2 clock to card line input.
• RMAA version 6.3.0.
• 24 Bit-Depth, 96 kHz sample rate.
• Asus drivers version 7.12.8.1794 (Xonar Essence STX).
• ASIO version 2.0.0.07 at 24 Bit-Depth, 10 ms latency.
• Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64.

See also:

• Asus Xonar Essence STX RMAA tests.
• Early made tests of the amp.
• MEIER-AUDIO CORDA ARIETTA headphone amplifier inside.

Test results

Frequency response subtracted from sound card response

Dynamic range

THD

IMD

Stereo crosstalk

Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 RMAA test report (Balanced I/O).

Below is a RightMark Audio Analyzer (RMAA) test results of the balanced I/Os of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB sound card.

See also the early posts about viscera and unbalanced I/O tests of the Scarlett 2i4.

 

Focusrite Scarlett 2i4

Abbreviations and conditions:

1. S1 - mono; instrumental + pad mode at 11 clock gain; 3 clock monitor volume; 220 ms latency; ASIO;
2. S2 - stereo; instrumental + pad mode at 11 clock gain; 3 clock monitor volume; 220 ms latency; ASIO;
3. S3 - stereo; instrumental + pad mode at 11 clock gain; 3 clock monitor volume; 220 ms latency; MME (16-bit @ 96 kHz);
4. S4 - stereo; instrumental mode at 11 clock gain; 1 clock monitor volume; 220 ms latency; ASIO;
5. S5 - stereo; line mode at 1 clock gain; max monitor volume; 220 ms latency; ASIO;

• Windows 7 x64;
• Focusrite USB2.0 Win-2.5.1 Driver;
• ASIO 24-bit @ 96 kHz;
• MME 16-bit @ 96 kHz (only 16-bit by Focusrite MME driver supported);
• RMAA 6.3.0;
• Balanced TRS jack cable - #1 output to #1 input, #2 output to #2 input;

Test results

S1 - THD

S2 - THD

S2 - Stereo crosstalk

S2 - Dynamic range

S2 - IMD

Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 RMAA test report.

Below is a RightMark Audio Analyzer (RMAA) test results of the "2 in / 4 out USB audio interface for musicians and digital DJs...".

See also a new post about balanced I/O tests of the Scarlett 2i4.

Focusrite Scarlett 2i4

Abbreviations and conditions:

1. S2i4-l - unbalanced #3 and #4 outputs looped to #1 and #2 inputs in the line mode with TS jacks; ~70% gain; 40 ms latency; stereo;
2. S2i4-lm - unbalanced #3 output looped to #1 input in the line mode with TS jack; ~70% gain; 40 ms latency; mono;
3. S2i4-lp - unbalanced #3 and #4 outputs looped to #1 and #2 inputs in the line + pad mode with TS jacks; ~80% gain; 220 ms latency; stereo;
4. S2i4-lpm - unbalanced #3 output looped to #1 input in the line + pad mode with TS jack; ~80% gain; 220 ms latency; mono;
5. S2i4-ip - unbalanced #3 and #4 outputs looped to #1 and #2 inputs in the instrument + pad mode with TS jacks; ~55% gain; 220 ms latency; stereo;
6. S2i4-ipm - unbalanced #3 output looped to #1 input in the instrument + pad mode with TS jack; ~55% gain; 220 ms latency; mono;
7. S2i4-bipm - balanced #1 output by ~80% monitor volume pot looped to #1 input in the instrument + pad mode with TRS jacks; ~40% gain; 220 ms latency; mono;

• Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64;
• Focusrite USB2.0 Win-2.5.1 Driver;
• ASIO 24-bit @ 96 kHz;
• RMAA 6.3.0;

Test results

S2i4-l frequency response

S2i4-l dynamic range

S2i4-l THD

S2i4-lp and S2i4-lpm frequency response

S2i4-lp and S2i4-lpm dynamic range

S2i4-lp and S2i4-lpm THD

S2i4-lp and S2i4-lpm IMD

S2i4-lp stereo crosstalk

S2i4-ip and S2i4-bipm frequency response

S2i4-ip and S2i4-bipm noise level

S2i4-ip and S2i4-bipm dynamic range

S2i4-ip and S2i4-bipm THD

S2i4-ip and S2i4-bipm IMD

S2i4-ip stereo crosstalk

foobar2000 WASAPI output RMAA test report

This is a comparison test between WASAPI and standard playback output of the foobar2000 audio player.

Test conditions:

• Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64.
• RightMark Audio Analyzer 6.3.0 (RMAA).
• foobar2000 v1.2.9 (fb2k) with resampling to 96kHz by PPHS plug-in.
• 16bit/44100Hz audio PCM file.
• WASAPI output with 24bit setting of fb2k component.
• MME API output with 100% of volume level and with 24bit/96kHz settings of Windows mixer.
• Input loop of "What U Hear" (WUH) driver of the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD (Digital Music Premium HD) USB sound card with 24bit/96kHz settings.

As you can see the results below, there is no differences. I'm sure that is because of absence of the resampling process by OS due to using of PPHS in according with Windows playback settings. Maybe it would make sense to use an WASAPI component for the fb2k without PPHS plug-in, to bypass a bad- quality resampling of the operating system, if a sound card supports a different sampling frequencies at hardware level (not a X-Fi HD case).

Testing chain: fb2k MME output -> WUH input:

1. Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB : +0.00, -0.00
2. Noise level, dB (A) : -100.5
3. Dynamic range, dB (A) : 98.8
4. THD, % : 0.0004
5. THD + Noise, dB (A) : -92.9
6. IMD + Noise, % : 0.0031
7. Stereo crosstalk, dB : -99.2
8. IMD at 10 kHz, % : 0.0033

Testing chain: fb2k WASAPI output -> WUH input:

1. Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB : +0.00, -0.00
2. Noise level, dB (A) : -100.5
3. Dynamic range, dB (A) : 98.8
4. THD, % : 0.0004
5. THD + Noise, dB (A) : -92.9
6. IMD + Noise, % : 0.0031
7. Stereo crosstalk, dB : -99.2
8. IMD at 10 kHz, % : 0.0033

Frequency response

Noise level

Dynamic range

THD + Noise (at -3 dB FS)

Intermodulation distortion

Stereo crosstalk

IMD swept tones

Frequency response swept sine

fb2k - foobar2000 MME output tests.

fb2kWASAPI - foobar2000 WASAPI output tests.