| Summary | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parameter | My Opinion |
Mode of Operation | |||
| Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O | Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O | Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O | Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Microphone Input | ||
| Frequency Response | Excellent | 20-20kHz +0.04/-0.1 dB | 20-40kHz +0.02/-0.08 dB | 20-20kHz +0.02/- 0.02 dB | 20-20kHz +0.2/- 0.9 dB |
| 1 kHz Total Harmonic Distortion | Excellent | 0.0022% @ -0.6 dB | 0.005% @ -0.81 dB | 0.0016% @ -0.1 dB | 0.014% @-0.62 dB |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | Excellent | 85 dB | 83 dB | 94 dB | 68 dB |
| 19 & 20 kHz Intermodulation Distortion | Excellent | 0.015%@-0.75 dB | 0.01% @ -1.2 dB | 0.001% @-0.1 dB | 0.014 % @ -0.62 dB |
| Dynamic Range | Excellent | 86 dB | 86 Db | 94 Db | 71 dB |
| Jitter Distortion | Excellent | -98 Db | -115 Db | -92 Db | -106 dB |
| Software Used: | Windows98 SE; Driver Release: 5.0, Reference level was 4.6 volts. | ||||
Technical Tests of
Discussion Of Results
While the performance of this 16 bit card is at the lower end of the "Excellent" range in terms of SNR and nonlinear distortion, its flexibility and processing power are exceptional. For example, there are 4 different ranges of input sensitivity with a minimum 30 dB of adjustment, including the availability of either boost or cut on the digital inputs. The input level controls have steps of 0.5 dB, and can be turned with the mouse or are "nudgable" using the keyboard left and right arrow keys. Microphone input testing was performed with the highest possible gain, in order to establish "worst case" performance. Input stage performance tends to be uniform within each of the 4 sensitivity ranges. The next range up had about the same frequency response as the line inputs, and about 5 dB better SNR.
Line outputs are impedance balanced, with the "ring" output passive and the "tip" output active.
All active signal processing components are in 2 molded plastic bricks, so no information is available about component part make and model. The signal interface between the I/O box and PCI card appears to be digital.
ark Direct Pro 24/96
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Frequency response (Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Frequency response (Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card 1 kHz Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise (Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card 1 kHz Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise (Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Residual Noise - (Dynamic Range) (Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Residual Noise - (Dynamic Range) (Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card IM Distortion (Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card IM Distortion; (Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card FM Distortion - "Jitter" (Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card FM Distortion - "Jitter" (Full Duplex 44 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Frequency Response, (Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Frequency Response, (Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise, (Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise, (Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O)l |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Intermodulation, (Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Intermodulation, (Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Residual Noise - (Dynamic Range), (Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Residual Noise - (Dynamic Range), (Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Jitter, (Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Jitter, (Full Duplex 96 KHz Analog Line I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Frequency Response, (Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Frequency Response, (Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise, (Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise, (Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Intermodulation, (Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Intermodulation, (Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Residual Noise - (Dynamic Range), (Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Residual Noise - (Dynamic Range), (Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Jitter, (Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Jitter, (Full Duplex 44 KHz Digital I/O) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Frequency response (Full Duplex (Line Out -> Analog Mic Input) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Frequency response (Full Duplex (Line Out -> Analog Mic Input) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card 1 kHz Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise (Line Out -> Analog Mic Input) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card 1 kHz Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise (Line Out -> Analog Mic Input) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Residual Noise - (Dynamic Range) (Line Out -> Analog Mic Input) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card Residual Noise - (Dynamic Range) (Line Out -> Analog Mic Input) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card IM Distortion (Line Out -> Analog Mic Input) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card IM Distortion; (Line Out -> Analog Mic Input) |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card FM Distortion - "Jitter" (Line Out -> Analog Mic Input) |
 |
| Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 Sound Card FM Distortion - "Jitter" (Line Out -> Analog Mic Input) |
| PC AV Tech |
| Send questions or comments on the PC AV Tech Soundcard Test webpages to Arny Krueger |
| Website Art Direction by David
Carlstrom Technical Tests and Report Design by Arny Krueger |
| All material on this
page is Arny Krueger's personal opinion, provided for
entertainment purposes only. See web site disclaimer for details (c) 2000, Arnold B. Krueger. All rights reserved. |
| Please let The
Webmaster know of any
problems you encounter on this website. This Page Last Revised 2/4/2000 (abk) |