[..] that 1 sample difference is apparently a known problem of the used DAC (a TI PCM290x). It is rather telling that Behringer have not compensated for this,[..]

Yes, but I don't know, if they fixed it in the current models. - Anyway, I would use the UCA just in Pianoteq's monophonic mode - just my opinion ;-)

Edit: that 1 sample difference is apparently a known problem of the used DAC (a TI PCM290x). It is rather telling that Behringer have not compensated for this, as the problem is even documented by Texas Instruments and is rather easily corrigible in the driver. However, in practice it should not be too much of a problem and it can of course be corrected in the computer, if the user knows about it.

Differences between audio interfaces are mainly stability, latency and noise.

... and some USB-Audiocards have interchannel-phase issues. Somewhere on the net I saw pictures, that showed a phase difference of one sample between the right and left stereo-channel of the Behringer UCA-222/202. I am not saying, this is audible, but when those two channels are mixed to mono, you have treble cancellation.

Otherwise this is a cheap and good USB-Interface, I used it with Pianoteq too for a while.

As a rule of thumb, most audio interfaces need an external amp when the headphones have more than 80 Ohms. Not a hard rule, but sums up my experiences in that regard.

I had time today to compare the Scarlett 2i2 to the Behringer Q502USB using Pianoteq. The Scarlett is only USB powered. The Behringer unit is AC powered and makes the headphones much, much louder. 

Still I noticed that both sound cards sounded better when I played Pianoteq with my much cheaper Audio Technica ATH-MS50 headphones. This surprised me, because when I had A/B'd these headphones months ago with a pricey Sound Blaster PCI audio interface that had a dedicated headphone amplifier, the Sennheiser's came out on top.

So Njaremko is right. a 300Ohm headphone needs a headphone amp.

Using the Audio Technica headphones, I compared the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 to the Behringer Q502USB. I noticed absolutely no difference in any range of the piano. The Behringer is listed as a 16 bit interface, but in ASIO4ALL, it says 32 bit while the Scarlett says 24 bit. No matter. I could not hear a single difference between these two interfaces after an hour of A/B'ing.

Only one thing, when direct monitoring is turned on in the Scarlett 2i2, there is a light hiss regardless of there being a signal. The Behringer is super quiet when I have my smart phone headphone jack plugged in.

So the Behringer gets the edge. I'm going to look for some lower impedance headphones to replace the Audio Technica's. They sound great, but they squeeze my head.

Did you open ASIO4ALL and make sure that the Aune T1 is enabled?

Of course I did! I spent a lot of time trying to tweak things. I even found another ASIO driver (that cost $49, but I downloaded a demo version). It didn't work with Pianoteq, and when I uninstalled it, it also took away my computer's ability to recognize the Aune T1. It now shows a generic USB volume.

It was dumb for me to spend time on this because I didn't hear any improvement over what I'm getting. Maybe there would be something noticeable with the burn in of the tube, or if I upgraded to an expensive tube.

I think I'll stick with what I have. It's definitely good enough for me to get lost in the music. And it's got inputs for a mic w/ phantom power, and another set of stereo ins, the headphone output can go so loud, I could blow my ears off, so I don't see why I would need a headphone amp.

I start to think about the Victrola days. People would cry tears or whoop it up when they heard a scratchy record played on one of those things.

Today, an audiophile can be listening to a magnum opus on a $50,000 system, and instead of enjoying the amazing fidelity, he's thinking, "Maybe it would sound better if I bought the speaker cables that are covered with gemstones that promise to increase the harmonic resonance."

Yes. With newest version of ASIO4ALL and newest version of P5. When the Aune T1 is on and plugged into my computer, I cannot get ASIO4ALL to open in the Options menu of P5. I get an error message that the device is not available.

I guess that since the Aune T1 with Windows Audio doesn't sound any better IMO than my Xenyx audio card with ASIO, I'll return the Aune T1. Maybe it would sound noticeably better if I let the tube burn in, but since I can't take advantage of low latency ASIO, it doesn't make sense for me to keep the card.

Thanks, however.

Did you open ASIO4ALL and make sure that the Aune T1 is enabled?

Mine works with ASIO4ALL, do you have the newest version? Also, are you running 5.0.1 because I couldn't get ASIO to work with 5.0

Yes. With newest version of ASIO4ALL and newest version of P5. When the Aune T1 is on and plugged into my computer, I cannot get ASIO4ALL to open in the Options menu of P5. I get an error message that the device is not available.

I guess that since the Aune T1 with Windows Audio doesn't sound any better IMO than my Xenyx audio card with ASIO, I'll return the Aune T1. Maybe it would sound noticeably better if I let the tube burn in, but since I can't take advantage of low latency ASIO, it doesn't make sense for me to keep the card.

Thanks, however.

I just got the Aune T1, and it will not open with ASIO4ALL within Pianoteq 5, and it doesn't seem to have it's own ASIO drivers. With Windows Audio, I get 4.4ms latency and only 44,100Hz audio.

Is there an alternative to ASIO4ALL to use with Aune T1?

When the Aune T1 is plugged into my computer, ASIO devices will not open in Pianoteq 5.

Maybe I'll try to restart my computer.

Thanks, Larry

Mine works with ASIO4ALL, do you have the newest version? Also, are you running 5.0.1 because I couldn't get ASIO to work with 5.0

Just comparing sound quality, I can't really hear a difference when listening with my Sennheiser HD650 headphones. I don't think that in a blind test, I would be able to tell which is which.

I was able to tell a big difference between headphones last year when I was headphone shopping, but I guess the Audio Card is not as critical as the speakers and headphones are,

Maybe I wouldn't be able to get a job as a studio engineer.

Is there an alternative to ASIO4ALL to use with Aune T1?

When the Aune T1 is plugged into my computer, ASIO devices will not open in Pianoteq 5.

Maybe I'll try to restart my computer.

Thanks, Larry

I probably should have pointed out that I turn off Pianoteq's onboard reverb, and place the mics closer to the strings when using vrm. Actually, I turn it off when using it as a plugin as well because I have better dedicated reverb plugins that perform better. Out of interest, have you ever used the vrm I'm talking about? Not some genetic plugin, but the specific one I mentioned. Not trying to be defensive or anything, just asking.

Yeah, I've used it. It's a decent dac/amp, but the VRM software is only amusing for a while. None of the monitors it simulates are of interest to me, and the simulation is mediocre at best.....but maybe I'm just spoiled by my Smyth SVS Realiser

The Xenyx Q502USB drives my headphones very loud if necessary, so I don't understand why I would need a headphone amp.

However, at your behest, I purchased the Aune-T1 on Ebay for $159. I like that it has

* a high SNR
* headphone amp with output + RCA outputs (I'd prefer balanced 1/4" outputs)
* RCA inputs so I can play along with audio files on my smart phone.

If it sounds better than what I'm using, I'll add to this thread. Thanks!

The Xenyx Q502USB isn't an amp, it's a mixer, so it doesn't have high quality, clean output circuits. (Loud, but not clean/detailed)

If you ever want to improve your sound further, I would recommend rolling in a Siemens E88CC or an  Amperex 7308 (or a Phillips JAN 6922 tube if you want to spend less than $20 )