Recommended reading

Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1 and Digifire 7.1

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Fortissimo III 7.1: Input And Output Quality

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

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Right Mark Audio Analyser Results
Bandwidth (40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB:+0.02, -0.13Very good
Signal to noise ratio, dB (A):-81.2Good
Dynamic range, dB (A):78.4Average
Total harmonic distortion, %:0.0084Very good
Intermodular distortion, %:0.039Good
Stereo crosstalk, dB:-80.8Very good

Like Digifire 7.1, Fortissimo III 7.1 gives good quality output which bodes well for playback. Bandwidth compliance is more than adequate and the signal-to-noise quite good enough for a card in this range. There are a few differences compared to the Digifire 7.1, notably with regard to the THD which is lower (so better) on the Fortissimo III 7.1.

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BandwidthResponse
From 20 Hz to 20 kHz, dB-0.51, +0.02
From 40 Hz to 15 kHz, dB-0.13, +0.02

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ParameterLeftRight
RMS power, dB:-79.7-79.5
RMS power (A-weighted), dB:-81.2-81.0
Peak level, dB FS:-68.5-68.3
DC offset, %:-0.00-0.00

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ParameterLeftRight
Dynamic range, dB:+76.9+76.6
Dynamic range (A-weighted), dB:+78.7+78.4
DC offset, %:-0.00-0.00

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ParameterLeftRight
THD, %:0.0080.008
THD + Noise, %:0.0200.021
THD + Noise (A-weighted), %:0.0180.018

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ParameterLeftRight
IMD + Noise, %:0.0390.041
IMD + Noise (A-weighted), %:0.0350.036

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ParameterG <- DG -> D
Crosstalk at 100 Hz, dB:-76-76
Crosstalk at 1 kHz, dB:-78-80
Crosstalk at 10 kHz, dB:-75-76