Microphone input is not used

Was looking for some time before an external sound card with a good mic for acoustic measurements. In my tight selection were the "E-MU 0404 USB" and the "Terratec DMX 6Fire USB" described here.

Why only two stars? Quite simply, when I underwent the soundcard my tests it turned out that the noise level from the microphone input is so high that just a dynamic range of about 30dB (and worse with max gain) can be reached. After much analysis and play around in many settings it was not getting any better. Compared to the E-MU or one of the older "Terratec Phase 26 USB" a shame, because the E-MU easy reach of a Dynamic 100dB (Just as a comparison).
Thus, distortion and noise with this sound card are pre-programmed at the microphone input.

But because the line-in and line-out connections strangely (almost) work without problems and there the measurements specified by the manufacturer are complied with, I forgive least 2 points.

About the driver or the like, I can not comment because I keep only briefly and had then returned again.

Conclusion: To record through the microphone input (exactly my field of application), this Soundcard unsuitable. If someone but does not need this, this sound card is recommended.