Soundcard with High End Converters

[JuliánFernández]

Hi guys! I´m planning to upgrade from my dear Firepod...

I decided to go with a soundcard and a couple of outboard preamps...
So basically what i want is a soundcard with many I/O options, but mainly, really NICE AD convertion...
I was intrigued by Emu cards, but the 1616 has only 8 analog inputs! That´s not enough...

Comments?

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

I don't think stuff like E-MU will be a significant upgrade in converters from the firepod. If you want a worthwhile upgrade from firepod conversion and you want lots of ins/outs then I hope you're budgeting several 1000 dollars.

I hear good stuff about RME but that's in the region of $1500 for just 8 ins (fireface 800).

Then beyond that you're into apogee, Lavry territory. I won't mention prices, I don't want to ruin your day.

 

[whattaguy]

I don't think stuff like E-MU will be a significant upgrade in converters from the firepod. If you want a worthwhile upgrade from firepod conversion and you want lots of ins/outs then I hope you're budgeting several 1000 dollars.

I hear good stuff about RME but that's in the region of $1500 for just 8 ins (fireface 800).

Then beyond that you're into apogee, Lavry territory. I won't mention prices, I don't want to ruin your day.

The firface800 has 10 separate ins, and 13 ins if you don't mind combining the front and back channels 1, 7, and 8.

 

[zekthedeadcow]

and they all use the same converters...everyone except probably soundblaster and apogee (or better) use AKM chips... so apogee is your starting point if you want to improve converters.

just checked and even soundblaster uses AKM...

 

[Ford Van]

I would look into the Lynx products: http://www.lynxstudio.com I don't think they make anything with built in preamps, but that is a good thing! I have had my Lynx One card for over 6 years now (actually, I am pretty sure I purchased it in April of 2000, or maybe '99? so it is almost 7 years old!) and although it does not do 96khz sampling rate, it is still a very good sounding card that has worked reliably for years now!

I would not worry about what chipset's are being used. It makes almost no difference in the potential quality of the converter. The word clock, and the design of the analog part of the circuit DO make a HUGE difference in the overall quality of the converter! These are two very expensive and tricky areas to address, thus why high end sound cards/converters sound so much better than cheaper stuff does. It is a cost thing.

 

[warble2]

and they all use the same converters...everyone except probably soundblaster and apogee (or better) use AKM chips... so apogee is your starting point if you want to improve converters.

just checked and even soundblaster uses AKM...

How do Soundblaster and Apogee fit in the same sentence?

Not everyone uses AKM chips - my Echo Layla 3G uses Cirrus Logic chips and it sounds great. You have the consider the clock and analog circuitry (as Ford mentioned) in overall quality. It's not all about "this interface uses this chipset so it's gotta be good". EMU certainly used this as part of their marketing for the interfaces that use the "Protools mastering grade converters". Luckily for them, it appears they actually do sound pretty good.

The RME Fireface 800 combines a great stable clock with well designed analog circuitry, and to my ears, sounded better than the Firepod I used to own and does sound a bit better than my Layla. Don't own the RME, but a friend does in his studio. I've worked with it and it's rock solid. Even their Hammerfall HDSP cards sound pretty awesome.

Julián: I'd look at the RME, but would also consider Lynx and Apogee based on what I've read around here (not based on experience though).