MEASUREMENTS: Tascam UH-7000 USB Interface (Part II: As an ADC)

TEAC & Tascam combo with size differential. The E-MU 0404USB in the background to the left.

Alright, it's time to spend some time looking at using the Tascam UH-7000 as an analogue-to-digital converter. Remember in the first instalment, I showed that this device is already a very good DAC. This time around, I wanted to see whether this device did the job well as an ADC; my main desire being to use it for vinyl needle drops and to see if it can be used as a good measuring device in comparison to the Creative E-MU 0404USB I've been using for the last couple years (which I bought mainly as a DAC back in 2009).

MEASUREMENTS: Tascam UH-7000 USB Interface (Part I: As a DAC)

0. Preamble

Well, look what Santa brought me early this month:

So apparently I had been "nice" in his books so he decided to see about getting me an upgrade on an ADC device for vinyl recording and measurement accuracy :-).

This is the Tascam UH-7000, part of the "pro" line of audio interfaces made by Tascam/Teac. It's a simple 2-channel model. On the front we have 2 large knobs to control the preamp input level for each channel - rotation feels smooth - good enough for reasonably precise volume adjustments. There's the "Phones Level" knob for headphone volume and when the "Link Line" LED is lit, this also serves as a master volume control for the microphone/XLR inputs. Holding down one of the two buttons for a few seconds above the "Phones Level" knob allows you to turn on the +48V mic phantom power. There are the corresponding multicolored 20-segment LED indicators; very useful to check for clipping.

Here's the rear of the unit:

To the left are the analogue inputs. This unit is meant for professional audio use so there are no single-ended RCA connectors to be found. Instead to the upper left we have 1/4" TRS balanced inputs, and XLR balanced below for analogue input. Analogue output is via balanced XLR connectors, and to the right we have XLR digital (S/PDIF or AES/EBU) in and outs, a USB 2.0 port below, and of course IEC connector for power cable.