I am in the process off analyzing some broadband PCM Wav audio files, in the ultrasonic frequency range ( 15 kHz - 50 kHz).
The files has been recorded with special equipment that have very high sampling frequencey, so the files will contain frequency information above 20 kHz.
I want to play back these files (i know that my speakers will be limiting, i use some resonable high frequency Fostex forns) but my problem is actually mostly my Digital to analog conversion.
I bought a Denon DA-300USB (samplings frequency can be adjusted up to 192 kHz) to play the files from Audicity, but it turns up that the anti alizing filter in the DAC, always are set to around 22 kHz, so even i raise the DAC sampling frequencey, the DAC filter away the ferquency information, i want to the speaker, above 22 kHz.
I know that the Denon DA-300USB can also play back DSD files and in much highere sampling rate, but i cannot force the DAC into this mode, maybe i need to convert mt PCM files into DSD files, but how do i do that, and can Aducity somehow be set up so that my DAC goes into DSD mode instead of PCM mode?
Are there other USB DAC’s that do not have this anti alizing limitation, or where the anti alizing filter can be adjusted manually?
Yes, i want to playback these highfrequency files through some kind of DAC, preferably, the Denon DAC i have now, alternatively another USB DAC that can do the job.
Most better professional audio interfaces adjust their filters according to sample rate chosen.
Look at RME, Focusrite, Presonus, Apogee…
I am not sure about the budget range of Presonus. But these don’t offer 192 kHz anyway, IIRC. The others are all capable of reproducing higher frequencies without a problem.
I think there may be some confusion because even the product states ea sampling rate 192 kHz, the problem is still if the anti aliasing filter in the product are fixed at for example 20 kHz.
I need a DAC solution where the anti alaising filter can be manually adjusted, or where it moves up the frequency range, when you change the sampling frequency.
The problem that you will have with audio equipment is that it is designed for “audio”, which by definition means up to about 20 kHz.
If you search through manufacturers specifications you may find a device that goes a little higher (perhaps up to 25 kHz) but I think you’re unlikely to find anything that goes much higher without moving into the realm of specialist ultrasonic equipment (and that tends to be very expensive).
You’ve not said why you need to play the ultrasonics (they are inaudible to humans), but if you just need to create ultrasonic sound, you can get ultrasonic sounders (such as used for deterring wild animals) very cheaply.
Hello Steve,
Thank you for your reply, yes, i do know the products that you mention below, it is a bit too expensive for me so that is why i thought that i could find an alternative from the hifi world.
I think you are right that most audio DAC’s have the fixed 20 kHz anti aliasing filter, but i hoped that there would be a possible solution anyway.
I need the ultrasonic sound files to be played back with as least loss and possible for test purpose in a test setup.
My RME plays 95 kHz fine. I use it as a test signal sometimes. And I can see signals up to around 95 kHz on the inputs.
On the other end of the budget spectrum, the very cheap Chinese USB audio “sticks”, some have no analog filtering. You could try find one of these that offers a 192 kHz sample rate…
I had a look at Ali-Epress, but couldn’t find one in a couple of minutes. Worth a try, tho.
Interesting to know. Which model is it?
The RME ADI-2 claims: Frequency response AD/DA, -1 dB: < 5 Hz - 70 kHz (sf 192 kHz).
I had an old Win98 machine with a cheap SoundBlaster card that went up to at least 25kHz (I know that because I was using it to test the frequency response of the pre-amp from a reel-to-reel tape recorder), but I don’t recall the model (and it will be long obsolete by now).
It’s an old Fireface 400. Specs show AD/DA, -1 dB: 1 Hz - 80 kHz (sf 192 kHz).
And the headphone output even goes to zero Hz. Yes, you can generate a DC voltage up to 5V reliably. Higher too, but not as precise. I’ve used that to generate PWM square waves.
I’ve done the same with a Fireface 800 and 802. These interfaces come with a measurement software, called Digicheck. Oscilloscope, vector scope, frequency analyzer and a few other useful utilities, like a digital quality display.
All current RME’s interfaces go up to that frequency. And even most of the older ones. And I think the Apogee, Lynx and others do too, but I’ve never measured those. Sometimes, the mic preamps don’t because of RFI protection. Line inputs will be more linear. But the RME QuadMic, fi has a spec at -0,5 dB: 5 Hz - 200 kHz… No AD/DA, purely analog. That’s in case you have an external 384 kHz sample rate converter.
The ADI-2 seems limited because it’s a spec -1 +1 dB I think. It reaches 95 kHz, but with around -3 dB or so. RME is very precise with its specs…
They’re German…
I have used these to record bats, rats and mice.
The biologists I was helping then later bought an italian ultrasonic USB mic because it was cheaper and handier. But that didn’t exist when I got the FF400.
If you want uber performance, there’s another German manufacturer that has a true 32 bit interface that goes up to 384 kHz. Starting at 12.000 € or so. I’d like to get my hands on one of those…
