Audio interface vs DAC and preamp

Is a pro audio interface up to the task of playing in a consumer audio system?

[harrisarp]

Audio engineers are the people who make sure the audio we listen to is of the best quality possible.For this reason, audio interface manufacturers make sure the built-in DACs in audio interfaces are of top quality.

[arnaudmarie]

I compared the internal Dac from Arcam SA20 with a FocusRite scarlett 2i4 connect to the SA20 analog input. No audible difference with Hires music from Qobuz.

[graxjpg]

High end audio listening, and high end audio making don’t have to use ALL separate equipment, but the dac and power amp of the listening system should be as good as possible

[MPN]

thanks a lot Paul, it means so much to me that you answer my question.
you're so kind to take your time for answering our questions.
god bless you

[kobiljaglava]

For listening, cheap Hi Fi DAC will probably outperform the same price range pro gear. But situation is the opposite in high end studio gear. For example, I'm a mastering engineer and also an audiophile. When I want to listen and enjoy the music, I use outputs on my mastering converters (Antelope Pure2). I have also tried a lot of audiophile "reference" DACs and they have nothing with term "reference", it's literally snake oil because none of them come even close to Pure's preformance. Same thing with tube preamps. I have analog mastering processor from Manley (SLAM) which has true high end preamp, compared with lot of audiophile tube preamps and resultt is the same, none of them come even close to Manley. Cheers.

[MatijaVabec]

I'm using Behringer audio interface for listening, its desined to be flat, works great, sound great :)

[sevestan]

Paul, is there a way I can record music the way it sounds when I smoke toad venom?

[navrasicsi]

Hello Sam from Iran,

greetings from Europe.

1) Audio interfaces are not only DACs but ADCs as well. If you spend the same amount of money for an audio interface and a USB DAC, the latter one should provide a little bit better quality, because all of your money goes into the DAC. In general, of course.

2) MOTU M4 measures exceptionally well, should sound good as well. If you need the audio recording feature as well due to some reason, you will hardly get better in this price range.

3) Have you considered FiiO K5 Pro? It's the same price range as MOTU, but DAC and headphone amp without ADC. I used to own a FiiO E10K. It sounded very nice, I really liked it. K5 Pro has the same sound character, maybe a little bit better.

4) The guys below suggested RME ADI-2 which is a fantastic product, but costs 4 times more as MOTU M4. If you can afford it, you'll be happy with it.

5) What I can say about Schiit is that their products are very hard to get in Europe. I mailed to Schiit Europe, and they answered that the factory doesn't send them anything. Schame on you Schiit factory! :)

[michaelchimenti]

I think it's not that designers of audio interfaces don't care about listening quality, but they have to do much more for the same price range. An audio interface has to have lots of I/O, converters, and monitor/headphone outs. The dedicated HiFi DAC has fewer inputs and outputs and performs fewer functions. So the quality can be put into the signal path of the dedicated DAC/AMP that you just can't get in the multi-function audio interface.

That said, if you go up to Apogee, Lynx, or RME level interfaces, you're going to have converters and headphone amplification that is probably as good as most anything in the HiFi world.

[zracrental]

best advise out here so far. thankyou sir

[edgar]

Hello Paul, would you mind to explain the technical differences?

[christianjforbes]

I plan on using my SSL 2+ as a DAC … because I already own it, and who doesn’t want to sing along with their favorite tunes … lol

[joshdeakins]

Love your videos Paul, very educational. So I'd like to drop my experience in here, I recently bought a Behringer 15 band equalizer. This is pro gear, it only has xlr connections. I have it rigged up with xlr to rca adapters. I have a Pioneer BDP-51 blu-ray player with a Wolfson DAC as my CD player. The Pioneer to the Behringer then to a Yamaha 5.1 receiver. The Behringer is probably one of the best purchases I've made! It can improve the sound of anything. I often run my Asus phone in the Behringer for any digital music I wanna play and it's still much better than just plugging into the Yamaha directly. Sometimes you just have to experiment and hear what happens. 😊

[justplanefred]

Love the rocket Blower in the bottom right corner of the screen

[marcgabor]

If you are getting sound out of your computer, a digital recording interface makes a lot of sense. If you are just using a streamer I would go with Schiit or something else. I have a Focusrite Clarret 4pre interface. A step up from their entry level. I use it as my desktop DAC and preamp going into an SMSL balanced amp. I listen back on both small jbl bookshelf speakers and headphones (no trouble powering HD600s). Before that I was using Schiit Modius, their tube headphone amp, Valhalla as a pre and HPA. They sound different (mostly because of the tube amp not the DAC) and one is not better than the other. The DAC on the Focusrite sounds every bit as good as the Schiit. Would I use it for a super high end 2ch system? probably not. Not even surest would work if you just plugged a streamer or CD player into it. Surprisingly the Focusrite headphone amp sounds just as good as the tube Valhalla just different. More precise, faster. The nice thing about having a balanced pre is that you can easily switch to powered studio monitors if you need to. For me, using an interface for my desktop audio makes a lot of sense because it works great for casual listening but if I ever need to work on a project sound mixing or recording I can do that without having to plug anything else in besides maybe a source or studio monitors.

[Golddragon]

I picked up a Sprout 100 on eBay and use it for my desktop speakers and for a Headphone Amp. The DAC in the Computer isn't very good nor is it as quiet as the Sprout. I did try an Interface with Studio Monitors at one time and didn't get the versatility I do with a real Amplifier.

[Throg_Morton]

Good answer Paul. I never use my 2x2 audio interface for general listening, noting the adjoining headphones and monitors are designed for audio surgery. The right tool for the right job. Always appreciate the content, thanks

[svenschwingel]

To be honest: I would always go with studio tech if I knew how to operate the equipment and output voltages or impedances aren't an issue. The pro world is the first step in music production and whatever is missed during this stage will never be recovered during later playback, no matter the equipment. So the pro stuff MUST be up to the task.

If you just want simple plug and play that works out of the box, consumer tech is the way to go, though. Pro equipment can be a pain to properly set up and operate. Plus, the Shiit stuff is really really good within its price range.

[emmanuelmwape]

love your explanation and sense of humor.

[mahan.arya.m]

he's not the ONLY one here from IRAN

Keep it up man 🎩👌🏻
So we could listen better to what we love the most to hear