M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
JonD
Max Output Level: -39 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 3617
  • Joined: 2003/12/09 11:09:10
  • Location: East of Santa Monica
  • Status: offline
2010/06/17 13:23:57 (permalink)

M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question

Anyone here have a Fast Track Ultra/8R?

I'm thinking of getting either the 8R or its little brother, the Ultra.

They seem like great units, except for one thing -- I've read at least three reviews with complaints about low gain on the headphone jacks.

I don't crank up the headphones real loud, but the descriptions I'm hearing make it sound like they're way underpowered.

Almost like they're using high impedance headphones, and don't know the difference from low.

... Or, is this some known issue with the Ultra's headphone jacks?

(FWIW, I'll be using a low impedance headphone - the AKG K240S).

Appreciate any comments. 


SonarPlat/CWbBL, Win 10 Pro, i7 2600K, Asus P8Z68 Deluxe, 16GB DDR3, Radeon HD5450, TC Electronic Impact Twin, Kawai MP11 Piano, Event ALP Monitors, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, Too Many Plugins, My lucky hat.
#1

10 Replies Related Threads
    Jim Roseberry
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 9871
    • Joined: 2004/03/23 11:34:51
    • Location: Ohio
    • Status: offline
    Re:M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question 2010/06/17 16:58:13 (permalink)
    FWIW, With the FastTrack Ultra 8R, I don't have any problems driving a pair of AKG K240s... (which require a bit more gain than many)
     

    Best Regards,

    Jim Roseberry
    jim@studiocat.com
    www.studiocat.com
    #2
    JonD
    Max Output Level: -39 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 3617
    • Joined: 2003/12/09 11:09:10
    • Location: East of Santa Monica
    • Status: offline
    Re:M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question 2010/06/17 18:41:19 (permalink)
    That's good to hear.  Thanks, Jim.  

    SonarPlat/CWbBL, Win 10 Pro, i7 2600K, Asus P8Z68 Deluxe, 16GB DDR3, Radeon HD5450, TC Electronic Impact Twin, Kawai MP11 Piano, Event ALP Monitors, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, Too Many Plugins, My lucky hat.
    #3
    guitardog247
    Max Output Level: -66 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1226
    • Joined: 2004/02/29 00:06:07
    • Location: Madison, WI
    • Status: offline
    Re:M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question 2010/06/18 00:58:15 (permalink)
    I have the fast track ultra. I have Sennheiser HD280 pro phones. Anything over 2 o' clock will fry my F*&k(n ears. So I don't have a problem with low gain.

    Although, I have read the same complaint as well. Seems results/experience will vary.

    Sonar, Les Paul Studio, FTU, puter, plugs.........
    #4
    JonD
    Max Output Level: -39 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 3617
    • Joined: 2003/12/09 11:09:10
    • Location: East of Santa Monica
    • Status: offline
    Re:M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question 2010/06/18 14:00:13 (permalink)
    guitardog247


    I have the fast track ultra. I have Sennheiser HD280 pro phones. Anything over 2 o' clock will fry my F*&k(n ears. So I don't have a problem with low gain.

    Although, I have read the same complaint as well. Seems results/experience will vary.


    It varies, indeed.  I posted this at another forum as well, and heard from someone who has both the Ultra and 8R.  No problems with the 8R, but their Ultra suffers from low headphone gain.

    So go figure.  Either M-Audio' s quality control is better on the 8R... or it's a different headphone amp design -- that fails on some of the Ultras.

    I think I'm gonna take my chances and order the Ultra ($150 cheaper, and I really don't need all the I/O on the 8R).

    Thanks for all the comments.


    SonarPlat/CWbBL, Win 10 Pro, i7 2600K, Asus P8Z68 Deluxe, 16GB DDR3, Radeon HD5450, TC Electronic Impact Twin, Kawai MP11 Piano, Event ALP Monitors, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, Too Many Plugins, My lucky hat.
    #5
    dlogan
    Max Output Level: -50 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2544
    • Joined: 2006/02/17 09:34:16
    • Location: Kansas City, Missouri
    • Status: offline
    Re:M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question 2010/06/18 14:14:11 (permalink)
    I have the Ultra & those same headphones (how weird!) - I turn them up about 75% and they're loud enough.
     
    Oh, and it is a nice unit - you'll be happy. The plastic casing doesn't seem incredibly durable, so if I was using it for a mobile unit I might be slightly worried, but I mainly keep it in my studio. But the preamps are really nice for an interface and it's nice that there are 4 of them.
    post edited by dlogan - 2010/06/18 14:16:38

    Dave

    I'm freq'ing out

    www.soundclick.com/steakbone
    http://soundcloud.com/highwaya/sets
    #6
    daimonding
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5
    • Joined: 2013/09/12 00:26:28
    • Status: offline
    Re:M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question 2013/09/12 00:42:51 (permalink)
    Following links:
    #7
    daimonding
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5
    • Joined: 2013/09/12 00:26:28
    • Status: offline
    Re:M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question 2013/09/12 00:43:13 (permalink)
    Following links:
    #8
    daimonding
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5
    • Joined: 2013/09/12 00:26:28
    • Status: offline
    Re:M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question 2013/09/12 00:43:31 (permalink)
    Following links:
    #9
    daimonding
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5
    • Joined: 2013/09/12 00:26:28
    • Status: offline
    Re:M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question 2013/09/12 00:50:10 (permalink)
    Following links:
    #10
    daimonding
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5
    • Joined: 2013/09/12 00:26:28
    • Status: offline
    Re:M-Audio Fast Track Ultra series - Headphone gain question 2013/09/12 00:51:28 (permalink)
    Following links:
     
    #11
    Jump to:
    © 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1