Difference Btwn Delta 44 and Delta 66?

[SKYflyer]

other than cost, of course!

from what i can tell, the only difference is that "The Delta 44 offers the same features and high performance as the Delta 66, but is designed for the person who does not require S/PDIF digital I/O." (http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--THKMIMD442)

So now, my question is: what exactly does this mean. What is s/pdif and digital io. Please explain in detail. I thought this might have something to do with being able to hook up multiple sound cards together, having s/pdif and digital io, but when i heard of people hooking up delta 44s in tandem, that rejected the notion.

 

[Fenderville]

I believe one of the big differenced is that the 44 does not have MIDI in/out.

S/Pdif is a digital input/output used it if you have an external A/D converter that you wanted to use. Say you had a preamp that had S/pdif.. you could go directly from the pre to the card with NO A/D conversion. Cleaner. Better.

 

[gordone]

Neither the 44 or 66 have midi I/O. The only difference is the 66 has S/PDIF I/O.

Regarding going from a preamp with digital output, there is a A/D conversion happening, it's just happening in the pre-amp rather than the Delta card. Now if the converters in the pre are better than the ones in the Delta, than you should use the ones in the pre, otherwise use the analog outs of the pre into the analog in of the Delta and use the Delta's converters. So using the S/PDIF may or may not be "Cleaner.Better"

I believe one of the big differenced is that the 44 does not have MIDI in/out.

S/Pdif is a digital input/output used it if you have an external A/D converter that you wanted to use. Say you had a preamp that had S/pdif.. you could go directly from the pre to the card with NO A/D conversion. Cleaner. Better.