Native Instruments Audio 4 DJ as USB DAC

[elysion]

My Native Instruments Audio 4 DJ USB interface has arrived.

For more information see:
www.native-instruments.com/

I bought the NI A4DJ mainly for use as USB DAC although its targeted as USB interface specifically for DJ use. Of course this interface is tightly integrated into their Traktor DJ software, but there's no need to use the traktor software if you don't want to. For basic use as DAC and ADC only a OSX or Windows device driver is needed. Unlike many "generic" USB interfaces you'll need to install a device driver for full control and at least on OSX you can't use the interface for sound input/output without the driver.

The NI A4DJ uses Cirrus Logic DACs spec'd at 24-bit/96KHz over a USB2 serial interface. I don't know exactly what kind of Cirrus Logic chips are used, but I won't open the very stable case (look at the skateboarding video on their website...) as long as I have no real need for it. They give three years warranty and they have placed a seal on the case. This interface has only USB2 for connection with a computer (no toslink or coax) and uses bus power.

To be realistic: This is no top-end DAC with all the bells and whistles. It's a plain-vanilla interface with very good value for a very reasonable price. And that's exactly what I was looking for.

Computers are my main source for music and therefore I don't need other inputs than USB2 or FireWire 400/800.

It's far to early to give final comments about the sound quality, but the first impression after a couple of hours is very good.

One of my friends is using an Apogee Duet FireWire interface for music production and is very happy with it. I heard the Apogee Duet several times and as far as I know it uses also Cirrus Logic DAC chips (but I don't know what chipset it is exactly). I guess both the Apogee Duet and the NI A4DJ are rather similar regarding sound characteristics, but both are targeted for different purposes (music production versus DJ use).

I hear mostly electronic music and I was quite sure it would match my taste because the interfaces from Native Instruments are widely used by DJ, in clubs and for other parties. So far I'm not disappointed, I think it gives me just what I have expected.

Depending on your needs you can choose from several Native Intruments interfaces. The main difference between them is how much inputs/outputs they have and how big they are in size. NI says they are exactly the same regarding SQ.

The NI A4DJ has RCA inputs/outputs and is easily connected to headphone amps and the like.

For those who have already read posts from me: It's my first own DAC and it replaces the analog out from a intel-Mac. Of course the DAC is a major step forward for my SQ and it's better than the analog output I have used before. But I don't think the Mac analog out was that bad. I really think the Mac analog out can be rather good when used with good cables and it quite musical out of the box. There's no doubt the NI A4DJ is a lot better (otherwise I wouldn't have spent 303CHF for this baby), but the Mac analog out is not bad at all.

Some features of the NI interfaces look also quite nice: more than one input/output possible, powered by bus-power only, inputs give you the ability to digitize sound with appropriate software. Inputs are switchable by software between phono and line amplification and you can adjust the input gain for both channels.

Look here for some reviews:
www.djtechtools.com/2009/07/21/native-instruments-audio-2-dj-soundcard/
www.djtechtools.com/2008/04/29/native-instruments-audio-8-review/
www.djtechtools.com/2010/04/28/round-up-soundcards-for-less-than-200/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdDyMN80yvo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbBDkZ2dXNk&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo_Xxe9l-j4&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-6csleG9oE&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a3Ap2ga8R4

For the PC side: Look at the latency table in the up to 200$ soundcard round-up from the DJ techtools (see linke above). I think the difference of a factor 10 between OSX and Windows has not be commented any further. I know: There're a couple of workarounds for Windows XP to get lower latencies and Windows Vista+7 perform a bit better. But the Mac delivers of the box better latency times than all Windows variants. I have to admit the setup in the review above is not very fair (the MBP tested is much faster than the Dell Precision), but the general statement is true. At least Windows XP isn't state of the art for computer audio at all.

Many DJ's and musicians are using Macs. They wouldn't if Macs are so bad...

[elysion]

My NI A4DJ has now some hours more on it, but I'm still not really sure how I should rate it.

On drawback is the high-output gain (up to +10dBu according to the advertisement). I don't use the Traktor software with it at the moment (Traktor LE is bundled with the interface). Maybe I should install Traktor to see if there are possible adjustments availabel. The driver itself has not option.

The inputs an the second output can only be used with Traktor or other software, but this was no real drawback for me – I need only one output.

What I like about the interface: The sound quality is not bad, I hear a lot of details that I don't hear the same way with the analog out of the Mac. When the interface is running and I press "pause" then I hear only true silence, no hisses, no noises.

First I have used the interface with my unmodded X-Can V3 and since about a week with my new Neco Soundlab Mosfet V.2 amp. I really like the Mosfet amp, but I short test today showed that the analog output for the Mac is only slightly less louder than the NI A4DJ when connected to the same amp.

I think that I have two problems: I'm not sure about the NI A4DJ DAC. Maybe it's not ideal for use with headamp. I can't really say much about it, because I don't have other DACs to compare and unfortunately I was not in really healthy condition in the last 2-3 days. I have a slight headache and feel not 100% OK. Maybe I've caught a cold or my hay fever is partially responsible. It rained a lot in the last few weeks and this was very good for me (no problems with hay fever at all). Most likely I'm not in the right condition to compare audio gear at the moment.

[elysion]

Final conclusion:

Nice DAC for the purpose it was designed for (DJ use together with PA amps), but due to the insane output gain (+10dBu) it's almost dangerous to use it with standard audio gear.

What a bummer! The SQ of the DAC was quite amazing...

[elysion]

[nak]

A shame that it didn't work out for you, I was really hoping you would have had something wonderful to say and I would have considered it myself.

I did really enjoy the video, especially the needle dropping rendition of Smells Like Teen Spirit in the background!

[elysion]

The NI A4DJ isn't bad at all. It's simply not built for the purpose I have intended for it.

The Behringer FCA202 was a much better discovery: Dirt cheap but delivering exactly what I have searched for.

I will sell my NI A4DJ soon (that's why I have made pics from it today).

[nak]

Most of it's functions sound absolutely ideal for me. While not a DJ, I could have it running my stereo amp and headphone amp and also have inputs for my record player for converting vinyl to digital format. But I don't want something that's going to blow my head or gear apart!