Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1 and Digifire 7.1

Features
By Philippe Ramelet
published

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.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
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.

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

Swipe to scroll horizontally
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

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

Swipe to scroll horizontally
ParameterLeftRight
THD, %:0.0080.008
THD + Noise, %:0.0200.021
THD + Noise (A-weighted), %:0.0180.018

Swipe to scroll horizontally
ParameterLeftRight
IMD + Noise, %:0.0390.041
IMD + Noise (A-weighted), %:0.0350.036

Swipe to scroll horizontally
ParameterG <- DG -> D
Crosstalk at 100 Hz, dB:-76-76
Crosstalk at 1 kHz, dB:-78-80
Crosstalk at 10 kHz, dB:-75-76
Philippe Ramelet