MOTU UltraLite worth the extra $$?

[rhythm]

Recently I've been getting ready to pull the trigger on a firewire interface in the $300 dollar range (Saffire or Saffire LE, Audiofire 4, Konnekt 8, Firebox). The other option was to go with the Audiofire 2 + DMP 3 preamp, which may perhaps result in a better mic pre.

After reading many comments, reviews, etc. on moderately priced equipment I'm starting to feel that I may be much better off spending a couple hundred more bucks and getting a MOTU Ultralite or something similarly priced.

If anyone would care to weigh in on my assumption that spending ~$550 on the Ultralite would be well worth the extra $$ over spending ~$300 on one of the items listed above, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[dgatwood]

Yes, if only to minimize CPU load while delivering reliable audio.

Either way, I'd avoid the Konnekt.

 

[TimOBrien]

I've been running a Motu (an 828mkII but they all have the same guts) for two year now on my XP laptop, daisy-chained to a Glyph firewire drive.
ZERO problems, solid as a rock.

I'd buy another Motu again in a heartbeat.

 

[Codmate]

I'm using an UltraLite.
Great little unit IMO.

 

[rhythm]

Thank you for the feedback....

dgatwood, I've read enough about the DICE II chipset that I'm likely to avoid the TC Electronics unit.

Tim and Codmate, I've heard lots of good things about this unit and MOTU in general, so I am leaning that way right now.

I guess I'm also wondering if the preamps and converters in the Ultralite are a step up enough from those in the less expensive units I mentioned, or the DMP3, that the extra cost is justified.

Also, is the multitrack recording software that's included with the MOTU still for MAC only? I have a PC, so it's an issue of interest. Although I guess I'm not going to buy my interface based on the recording softwarwe that's bundled with it....

Thanks,
Greg