Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1 and Digifire 7.1

Digifire 7.1: Input And Output Quality

Here are the results given by Right Mark Audio Analyser for front stereo output quality with Digifire 7.1 using the following test line: Digifire 7.1 Stereo Out 1 - DMX 6Fire 24/96 Line In.

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Right Mark Audio Analyser Results
Bandwidth (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB:+0.01, -0.02Excellent
Signal-to-noise ratio, dB (A):-82.0Good
Dynamic range, dB (A):78.0Average
Total harmonic distortion, %:0.017Good
Intermodulation distortion, %:0.040Good
Stereo crosstalk, dB:-81.4Very good

So results are very good, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 82 dB. Here are the corresponding graphs:

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BandwidthReponse
20 Hz to 20 kHz, dB-0.25, +0.04
40 Hz to 15 kHz, dB-0.02, +0.01

The card's bandwidth curve shows whether its frequency reproduction over the entire sound spectrum is balanced. The test is measured from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, the usually accepted limits of human hearing.

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ParameterLeftRight
RMS Power, dB:-78.6-80.1
RMS Power (A-weighted), dB:-80.4-82.0
Peak level, dB FS:-67.6-68.3
DC offset, %:-0.00-0.00

The second test is of noise and interference levels, and measures in particular where the card's background noise is located and its sensitivity to interference from the computing environment: power supply, transformers and monitors.

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ParameterLeftRight
Dynamic range, dB:+76.1+77.7
Dynamic range (A-weighted), dB:+78.0+79.5
DC offset, %:-0.00-0.00

Related to the above test, the dynamic range test gauges the level of noise generated in the presence of a sound signal, in this instance a sine wave (1 kHz at -60dB) at card input.

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ParameterLeftRight
THD, %:0.0200.017
THD + Noise, %:0.0230.021
THD + Noise (A-weighted), %:0.0200.018

The next test measures harmonic distortion or THD. It assesses the card's sound fidelity, noting the appearance of harmonics when a single but high (-3 dB) sine wave is sent to the card.

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ParameterLeftRight
IMD + Noise, %:0.0460.040
IMD + Noise (A-weighted), %:0.0390.034

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ParameterG <- DG -> D
Crosstalk at 100 Hz, dB:-76-77
Crosstalk at 1 kHz, dB:-80-80
Crosstalk at 10 kHz, dB:-65-65