Here’s my ongoing plan of? modifying my E-MU 0404 USB sound-card that I use for playback from my Mac Mini and also for ripping vinyl records in high quality. My first plan is to change all the caps better ones. I will also do a before/after? measure? to see if the noise floor drops.
Here’s some pictures of the inside, showing the main board. (click for larger size)
So the next step is to order some Panasonic FM capacitors and some Black Gate caps.
I will continue to document my progress and hopefully my results as well.
Update: Haven’t had the time to do the upgrade. Still very pleased with the sound quality when standard. May get the soldering iron out later on…
Any update on this project? I am just now buying an 0404 and I plan to mod it.
I'd also like an update please B).
IMHO modification is not required. Plaese do yourself a favor and buy a good cord to plug the preamp at the backside right (balanced jack to xlr or stereo jack to rca) direct into the endstage. Amazing to see the improvement vs connecting it to your line-in. Use the volume pod at he EMU. You can get rid of your original preamp problably. I am using it more than one year now. Never had one problem. I can play 24 bit 196 kHz with amazing resolution!! Or make recordings at this resolution. Bought two XML mics that use the 48 V Phantom Power for 99,- euros. Makes 298,- for the EMU and the mics together. Its a steal.
Ron, your absolutely right. There is no modification required. But life is full of adventures. For me, it's to take relatively cheap equipment and with simple modifications improve them. And I will modify this one, when I get the time. But as I said, you get a lot for your money buying the 0404.
I modded my Emu 0404 gradually from a year ago and currently have 2xAD8599 op amps following the AK dac directly, and 1xlme49860 driving the headphones, changed the 220uf headphone coupling caps to some Elna Duorex, bypassed the coupling caps from the AK dac to the first set of op amps, and upped the 2 caps supplying dc to the analog stage to 47uf Elna Silmic II, changed the digital power caps (near the digital chips, you didn't have them labelled on your picture) to a Elna Silmic II's (forgot the values), changed the 1uf cap at the power switch as well (not sure its function yet), and of course, swapped the big power cap for everything onboard to the biggest panasonic fm I can fit and oh yeah, also rail to rail decoupling of the AD8599 op amps. Might tinker with the 15532 op amp pair later on... I don't use the mic section at all, so I left that alone as it was.
I plan to modify EMU0404 USB and Tracker in order to expand frequency band down to 0.1Hz or even down to 0.01Hz if possible, for recording infra sound. And improve noise performance, likely will try inserting signal directly into the endstage. I never tampered with sound card before and am little nervous. Based on you experience with EMU0404, would you be willing to offer some detail? Photos for board area where parts changed and hints for new parts? I have a bunch of audio test equipment, can provide numbers, plots for each modification.
I plan to modify EMU0404 USB and Tracker in order to expand frequency band down to 0.1Hz or even down to 0.01Hz if possible, for recording infra sound. And improve noise performance, likely will try inserting signal directly into the endstage. I never tampered with sound card before and am little nervous. Based on you experience with EMU0404, would you be willing to offer some detail? Photos for board area where parts changed and hints for new parts? Specially important for me is HOW TO insert signal directly into the endstage. I have a bunch of audio test equipment, can provide numbers, plots for each modification.
has anybody spotted a schematic of the E-MU ? It would make life easier for any potential mods