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djmukilteo · 19th January 2010

I have both the RME FF800 and the ZEDR16. I had the RME FF800 prior to purchasing the ZED16R. I tried both of them separately on FW using Cubase 4.5.2.
I liked the RME converter sound a tiny bit better than the ZED's.
I only tried 44.1 @ 24bit and used the same samples.
Now the ZED had a brighter, edgier sound (if that makes any sense) more in your face kind of bright sound....whereas the RME had a much smoother flatter more balanced sound to my ears. For me it was extremely hard to tell what I would prefer and I tried very hard to make sure that my comparison was the same material. I was trying not to be biased but for all I know I might still be biased toward the RME only because I was more used to that sound.
I think some people will like the ZED16R sound and term it more "analog".
I would like to hear others opinions on comparing those two units.

As of right now I'm using the ZED16R as ADAT into and out of the RME and using the ZED as my mixdown console and monitor section OTB. This was one thing I didn't like about the RME. It doesn't have any real world hands on controls all software. This has been really nice in terms of getting some fat sounds out to 2 track with all the EQ, Pan and faders.

19th January 2010	#1516
djmukilteo Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,344	I have both the RME FF800 and the ZEDR16. I had the RME FF800 prior to purchasing the ZED16R. I tried both of them separately on FW using Cubase 4.5.2. I liked the RME converter sound a tiny bit better than the ZED's. I only tried 44.1 @ 24bit and used the same samples. Now the ZED had a brighter, edgier sound (if that makes any sense) more in your face kind of bright sound....whereas the RME had a much smoother flatter more balanced sound to my ears. For me it was extremely hard to tell what I would prefer and I tried very hard to make sure that my comparison was the same material. I was trying not to be biased but for all I know I might still be biased toward the RME only because I was more used to that sound. I think some people will like the ZED16R sound and term it more "analog". I would like to hear others opinions on comparing those two units. As of right now I'm using the ZED16R as ADAT into and out of the RME and using the ZED as my mixdown console and monitor section OTB. This was one thing I didn't like about the RME. It doesn't have any real world hands on controls all software. This has been really nice in terms of getting some fat sounds out to 2 track with all the EQ, Pan and faders.