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Ultralite MK3 main out/headphones distortion

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 12:03 pm
by jitter
Hi all!

I've bought Motu UltraLite MK3 and found that:
1. Sound from MAIN OUT and HEADPHONES completely DIFFERENT than from direct outs 1-8
(main and phones has "screaming" middles and looks like analog distortion in output opamps) :cry:
2. MAIN OUT louder than ANY Direct OUT by +2.2 dB
3. I've tested bus powered and AC powered configuration - the same.
4. Direct outs sounds perfectly.

Does anybody, who has UltraLite MK3, can compare sound from main outs and direct outs?
(and measure output level from direct and )

P.S. I own an old MOTU 828MK2. It hasn't any problems - all outs and phones sounds perfectly.

Re: Ultralite MK3 main out/headphones distortion

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 1:17 pm
by crduval
You should check your cuemix settings and make sure your levels, mixes and EQ settings are set up properly. I have an ultralite an the only tomes i get strange output is when I've inadvertently cranked my virtual output knob in Curmix. Hope this helps!


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Re: Ultralite MK3 main out/headphones distortion

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 1:42 pm
by jitter
Thank you, but:

1. I've double checked CueMix console - nothing.
2. I use ProTools software to drive ULite outputs separately, without cuemix

Could you measure Main output level compare Direct output level ?

Re: Ultralite MK3 main out/headphones distortion

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:59 pm
by 4stripes
You are correct, I've also measured that the main outs are 2 dB louder than the direct outs (+19.5 dBu vs +17.5 dBu). This seems to be by design.

The main outs and phones use the AKM4382AT DAC and a different op amp than the line outs.

The line outs use the AKM4358VQ 8-ch DAC and 4580 op amps.

I have not been unhappy with the sound (through Genelec 8040A), but I have not compared the main outs to the line outs.

Re: Ultralite MK3 main out/headphones distortion

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:16 pm
by jitter
Yes, i've opened it. And looks the same:

1. You are right, headphone and main out uses separate D/A converters (stereo AK4382) instead of directs 8 ch AK4358.
2. Main and Phones uses completely different analog part, BUT the sound from them identically bad. Can't believe, that AKM produce such bad converters. I'd like to measure spectral and distortion from converters itself and from motu outs

P.S. Let's listen music with more middles (like an old school guitar rock music) main out and direct out, I think you will be surprized.