Just got the Lynx II !!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rev E
  • Start date Start date
Hey, I just got a Lynx L22, and also have a Delta 66. I haven't tracked through the Lynx yet, but the D/A sounds sweet. The big supprise for me was how well the Delta 66 stands up to it, at least on the D/A side. It takes some pretty critical listening to hear the difference, which I see not as a knock on the lynx card, but as a vindication for M-Audio. I always thought their stuff sounded good, really good for the money. I'm sure more differences will become evident as I work more with the Lynx and start stacking up tracks recorded through it, but for now, especially with the GSIF driver issue, the 66 still has a home in my DAW.
RD
 
what is your monitoring chain? cuz i've noticed m-audio will poop out at extreme lows 40-50< hz and extreme highs 12K<...not sure if its just the DAC or both the AD and DA...

to quote fletcher, but inserting different names.."the m-audio couldn't lick the sweat off the lynxtwo's balls.." imo..but YMMV

my slogan for lynx is "sound card's allow you to hear music, we take it a step further and make you feel it..."

sounds pretty good...maybe i'll get a marketing job
 
Teacher said:
i've noticed m-audio will poop out at extreme lows 40-50< hz and extreme highs 12K<...not sure if its just the DAC or both the AD and DA...
Click to expand...

I guess we'll find out soon enough, eh teach? :D
 
well yall will find out...i know already :D

i should of kept my 66 in so yall could hear...i know exactly what did it so it would of been easy to replicate...life....still should be interesting
 
Oh, don't get me wrong, there is a reason why the Lynx costs twice the money for 1/3 the I/O, and it is audible, even on my KRK's and BGW. It's just not like the difference between a gamer card and a semi-pro card. As is the case with most things in audio, the semi pro stuff has gotten quite good, and from there the slope gets pretty steep for dollars spent vs performance gained. For most of us it's worth spending three times as much for 10% better. I would just advise anyone with a Delta card and a meager mic wardrobe (had to bring mic's into it, it's the mic forum after all) and pre selection to upgrade their mics and pre's before investing in a Lynx card. For a lot of people there are other areas where $600 to $1000 will bring much more to their sound.
I'll try to find time to do some comparison tests myself and get them posted. Maybe there's just too much wax in my ears :) But really, I'm glad I got one, and I'm looking forward to less smeared highs.

RD
 
Robert D,

I agree with you that the Delta 66 is pretty decent, but I hear a major difference between the Lynx II and the Delta cards. The biggest difference I hear is in the dimension of the sound. I've been listening to a lot of CDs since I installed the Lynx II last night. My monitors (Tannoy Reveal Actives) sound like different monitors. The size of the mix through the Lynx II card is incredibly large... definitely larger than the Delta to my ears.

I also agree with Teacher that the Lynx II really shows it's muscle with the low end. My monitors aren't particularly bass heavy like the Mackie 824s. But through the Lynx II the bass is unmasked in the 60-90 Hz region. It's really nice to actually hear it clean down there... even with monitors that aren't particularly bass-heavy. I'm not sure I agree with Teacher that the Lynx II extends the highs. Compared to the Delta 66, the highs aren't extended (to my ears). They are, however, cleaner and "larger" in dimension. The mids are incredibly clean... This is really great since that's where the meat of all mixes are. I'm very excited at the possibilities.

I haven't used the analog to digital coverers yet. I'll be testing A/D over the weekend and will post files when I do. I don't want to put down the Delta, because it is a good-sounding card, certainly better than other cards I've had in my computer over the years. I never did a head-to-head, but I think the Delta 66 (not even the high-end Delta card) may sound even better than my old Layla 24 card (a card that I didn't think was bad at all). Strange...

As far as your tests between the Lynx II and the Delta 66, I hope you're using quality cable. I use Mogami for this. Later.
 
Robert D said:
Oh, don't get me wrong, there is a reason why the Lynx costs twice the money for 1/3 the I/O, and it is audible, even on my KRK's and BGW. It's just not like the difference between a gamer card and a semi-pro card. As is the case with most things in audio, the semi pro stuff has gotten quite good, and from there the slope gets pretty steep for dollars spent vs performance gained. For most of us it's worth spending three times as much for 10% better. I would just advise anyone with a Delta card and a meager mic wardrobe (had to bring mic's into it, it's the mic forum after all) and pre selection to upgrade their mics and pre's before investing in a Lynx card. For a lot of people there are other areas where $600 to $1000 will bring much more to their sound.
I'll try to find time to do some comparison tests myself and get them posted. Maybe there's just too much wax in my ears :) But really, I'm glad I got one, and I'm looking forward to less smeared highs.

RD
Click to expand...

i agree 100%...if i tracked with my mackie pre's to my lynx i suspect i would of been upset with my purchase...but with the RNP its a world of a difference...i could just imagine with some of the other stuff like great river, chandler, etc...
 
Yea, what happened to the tests you promised us?

Remember, since you cross-posted, you owe us a comparison. Otherwise you're just another cross-posting loser. :D
 
Sorry guys. I've been slammed this week. I'll encode the files and post either later tonight or tomorrow.
 
Alright Kids. Here is Part 1 of the Test. In addition to installing the new Lynx card, I upgraded to Windows XP (I've been using 98SE for the longest time). Long story short, I'm still working out the kinks in my system. One of my biggest problems is the PACE copy protection for my Waves plugins. It seems to be causing major issues with a few of my audio programs after the OS install. Logic (my main sequencer and audio workhorse) couldn't open until tonight. So Chessrock's test of doing several tracks of the same mix though both converters cannot be done until I resolve this issue.

What I have done is this:
1. I set up ~30 second snippets of some commercial mixes (Brandy, Dixie Chicks, Susana Baca, Les Nubiennes, Tool, Usher). Each of these mixes are radically different and will reveal different aspects of this test. I set the files up as a montage in Wavelab, played them through Wavelab and recorded them into Sound Forge.

2. For the Lynx converters, I just plugged the output of the Lynx card into on of the inputs and recorded that. For the Delta 66, I plugged the Lynx output into the Delta's input. I used a Neutrix adapter/transformer (xlr to 1/4 inch), because the Delta uses 1/4 inch TRS inputs rather than XLR.
2a. I don't think the Neutrix adapter is an issue, because it's Neutrix brand (used on the better cables).

3. Each file was recorded at 24 bit 96 kHz (into Sound Forge) to make sure I got all the high frequency info ... just so the sample rate would not be the issue for any changes in the converters.

4. I tried to encode the 24/96 file as an mp3 at 320 kbps (the highest mp3 rate), but alas no dice. Neither Wavelab (3.0) or Sound Forge 5.0 could deal with this. They both crapped out several times.
4a. I was however able to encode the files at 320 kbps AFTER I downsampled the files to 48 kHz first. I did this in Wavelab and I don't think it's an issue, because the sample rate conversion was a simple one (divide by 2) and because this was done to all of the files... forgot to tell ya that I upsampled the master file to 96 kHz prior to recording. (no change to the file, but necessary for system compatibility in order to record the subsequent file at 96 kHz)

5. What you hear is the product of an mp3 encode of 320 kbps. It's not the actual wave file, BUT it's pretty close and much of the difference between the two converters can still be heard. I'll refrain from expressing my observations untill some responses ensue so I won't color the discussion. Part II of the test (with an existing mix will come later when I get my system issues resolved).

There are three files: 1) The Master file (ripped directly from the CDs), 2) The Lynx II file, and 3) the Delta 66 file. Let the discussion fly. Sorry so long ... progress is tough at times :D

Sorry Guys, I was under the impression that I could attach mp3s to the post. I have to find some free webspace. I'll let you know the link when I get it. :(
 
Chessrock or anyone else. Pardon my ignorance, but I can't figure out how to put files on nowhereradio so others can download them. I've loaded the files, but I don't know where they've gone or how to get to them.
 
Sorry that this is taking so long. I still can't figure out how to link the songs. You should now be able to find me at nowhereradio. If you searched under "Rev E", I am in the "pop + rock" section. Go to http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/rockpop/ and you should find me. If not here are the direct links to the download pages for the files.

I know there's a better way to display my page/profile and just have all my files, but I can't figure out how to do it.
 
I just tried to download the direct links I gave, but they don't seem to be working. I think the best way would be to go the the poprock section from the first link I gave. You'll find the files there.
 
all i gotta say is wow...who would of thought the differences would of been THAT revealing...great post rev E!! :eek:
 
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