Does Hercules' Fortissimo 4 Deliver at 24 Bits?

Behavior At 16 Bits/44.1 KHz

The CD format - 16 bits/44.1 kHz - obviously limits the performance of a 24 bit sound card. But it's an almost universal standard, and quite sufficient for most uses.

  • Frequency response (40 Hz - 15 kHz) : +0.02, -0.23 dB
  • Weighted signal-to-noise ratio : 92.9 dB(A)
  • Distortion : 0.01 %
  • Stereo separation : 93.2 dB

No problems to report - the audio spectrum was covered with negligible variations in level and with no parasitic elements.

Without quite reaching the limits for 16 bit digitization, the Fortissimo 4 had a very low noise level.

A very good performance, with parasitic signals remaining at a very low amplitude.

Distortion is not the lowest we've ever seen, but the level is low enough not to interfere with good sound.

Here again, the level of the parasitic frequencies is low enough that you won't be able to hear them.

Channel separation is well above what's actually necessary.