Sound Card Upgrade and External Converters

[jazzmike]

I have a MOTU 828 Mk II which I am using with a Focusrite ISA 428. I've ordered the AD card and I'm thinking of using either an Apogee mini-dac or Benchmark DAC-1 for monitoring. I'll be using the Focusrite as the master clock. My question: In this situation, I'm not using any of the converters on the MOTU or the clock. Would there be any advantages to changing the MOTU for something like the RME HDSP 9632 or RME HDSP 9652 or another similar card or firewire card. I'm on a PC (desktop and laptop) Both computers have Firewire with TI chipsets. No problems ever with drivers or crashes. I'm wondering if there are going to be any benefits in terms of sound.

 

[TimOBrien]

ADAT the Focusrite into the 828 and you have absolutely no reason to use anything else.

No reason to spend money on a separate interface for monitoring.
(lots of good reasons NOT to.... you're adding complexity for no value and remember that ASIO is ONE DRIVER AT A TIME. Don't think about mixing interfaces.)

And once the signal goes to a digital stream from the Focusrite, it's going to pass through the 828 to your computer.

Step back and dont waste money you could use elsewhere....

 

[jazzmike]

I like the not spending any money thing.

You don't think it's worthwhile to use a DA through s/pdif?