What is the best audio interface for sound quality period?

[Spectral Climax]

There is no such a thing as "the best audio interface for sound quality"...even if you could get one, your VXTs could not support that extra "quality"...but really, I think that you posted in the wrong forum...find a forum for audiophiles...they can guide you better. Most studio applications do not use or need the "quality" you are after.

[jlw140891]

okay what is the best interface for my setup?

[FoxMulderFBI]

Apogee Duet 2!

[apres garde]

The converters in the Duet are boss. If you don't need any more than 2 inputs, it's great.

The Duet2 also has 3 outs, technically, so you can use the headphone out as a separate out for cuing, or (I believe) you could send a click to a drummer, etc.

[Ohx]

M-Audio FastTrack (not the pro or ultra)

Or the ones built into the Behringer Midi controllers.

Both of these are the best available on the market, and both "destroy" your example (the Prism unit).

Be sure and use RCA cables instead of anything balanced as well.

[Brainchild]

Well, there certainly aren't many units out there more overpriced than the Orpheus, so if you want to "make sure" you've got "the best," it's not a bad way to go.

[ksandvik]

As for bang for bucks Apogee Duet 2 or even the Apogee One if you could handle the less amount of inputs/outputs on ONR.

[ksandvik]

Originally Posted by Ohx

M-Audio FastTrack (not the pro or ultra)

Or the ones built into the Behringer Midi controllers.

Both of these are the best available on the market, and both "destroy" your example (the Prism unit).

Be sure and use RCA cables instead of anything balanced as well.

I hope people understood this as a joke, as you never know...

If you just want a pair of good DA converters get the Apogee Duet 2 or the Echo AudioFire 2 for half the price if budget is a problem.

[Ohx]

Originally Posted by ksandvik

I hope people understood this as a joke, as you never know...

Well, it wasn't -all- a joke!

You could technically destroy an Orpheus with one of those units, especially the Behriger.

Because it's bigger and may hold up better to repeated bashings.

[Dave Peck]

If you want the 'best', get an AES I/O for your DAW and connect any of several ultra high-end AD/DA mastering converters. Like a Pacific Microsonics Model Two if you can find one. They run about $12,000 used for a two channel AD/DA converter.

[empirix]

rme ufx. Period!

[Kindred]

as a former RME fan, changing to a Prism Orpheus was like night and day - I wasn't expecting a dramatic difference, just wanted to get better da/ad for going in and out of my outboard gear. From the moment I fired it up I was blown away. I haven't heard a Lavry in action but am told they are either as good as or better than the Orpheus FWIW

only downside to the Orpheus is the lack of automatic switching between sample rates etc. eg- it doesnt like playing windows audio (through WMP or through a web browser) after you have been working in your DAW at a different rate. RME had much better control/interface system (totalmix)

[lowkey]

Metric Halo ULN8 if you need mic pres. LIO8 if you only need line inputs.

[mike vee]

prism
larvy
benchmark
lynx
burhl
UA 2192
metric halo
SSL Alpha Link
cranesong
APi A2D

some above more than others

[DR Music]

Black Lion Audio White Sparrow 2Ch D/A and White Sparrow A/D.. D/A Just released. Smokes anything, pretty much!!

Period.

[Howie J]

DAD - DAD

[apres garde]

I just figured that since they were going through KRKs, they weren't actually looking for the end-all be-all of A/D conversion. I mean, I'm rolling with the KRK rokit 5s so I'm not one to talk, but still...

[BubbaMc]

Do you even need any inputs?

If not get a Benchmark DAC1 and be done with it.

[Teknobeam]

I'm really happen with my Motu HD192, but someone I know that has the most amazing studio I know of switched to the Universal Audio stuff and claims that it's apparently that much better than the rest. But it's huge money. I am happy where I am

[kuasalogam]

Originally Posted by jlw140891

I don't really need the interface for recording mostly just pristine sound quality. At the minute im running off my macbook pro headphone out into my krk vxt8s. I am looking at prism sounds orpheus. Is that the best? What do you guys think?

Thanks

If you didn't need any inputs, Cambridge DacMagic Plus might suits your needs.

[Ben F]

You can't go wrong with Prism.

Metric halo are very nice but Mac only. Lynx Hilo is another option. Most of the best mastering grade converters are AES only, but I think that technology is catching up now and many of the latest converters sound stellar for less money, the forrsells being one of them.

[Dave Peck]

If you only need DA for monitoring and you don't need AD for recording, you should check this out:

Berkeley Audio Design

These are some of the same team that created the Pacific Microsonics Model Two, and you can buy this gear new. It's in production now.

[ScratchNSurf]

Vxt8s...orpheus interface... are you a deadmau5 fan? Heh (that used to be his audio set up)

Sent from my DROID Pro using Gearslutz App

[pointsource]

TC Impact Twin

Using DiffMaker software I analysed DA/AD loops and the accuracy of the converters were 99,99% til the 6th or 7th loop.


There's a thread called "the ultimate converter da/ad loopack shootout thread":

The Ultimate Converter DA/AD Loopback Shootout Thread!


Read thru everything. TC's and MOTU's are ranked really high, way high than the "hi-end" expensive stuff. I was gonna to upgrade my AD/DA, but after making and reading thru tests, I decided to stay with my TC Impact Twin, the pristine sound you're after.

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by Ohx

Well, it wasn't -all- a joke!

You could technically destroy an Orpheus with one of those units, especially the Behriger.

Because it's bigger and may hold up better to repeated bashings.

hahaha It's made for that.

Originally Posted by Dave Peck

If you want the 'best', get an AES I/O for your DAW and connect any of several ultra high-end AD/DA mastering converters. Like a Pacific Microsonics Model Two if you can find one. They run about $12,000 used for a two channel AD/DA converter.

good luck!

Originally Posted by Kindred

as a former RME fan, changing to a Prism Orpheus was like night and day - I wasn't expecting a dramatic difference, just wanted to get better da/ad for going in and out of my outboard gear. From the moment I fired it up I was blown away. I haven't heard a Lavry in action but am told they are either as good as or better than the Orpheus FWIW

only downside to the Orpheus is the lack of automatic switching between sample rates etc. eg- it doesnt like playing windows audio (through WMP or through a web browser) after you have been working in your DAW at a different rate. RME had much better control/interface system (totalmix)

hmm that's not good news. I had vowed not to touch my setup for a while.
that said, I like my little Myteks hooked onto the SPDIF of my FF800.
hmmm

[unfiltered420]

High quality multitrack tape. The only way to go for pristine sound. The expensive converters don't make sense to me. What is so great about them? Does it sound better coming out than going in?

[inthere]

Here's a thread where they tested for converter transparency:

The Ultimate Converter DA/AD Loopback Shootout Thread!

Apogee topped out the test with the AD16X with RME stuff close to the bottom. Motu surprisingly were very high and for the price it's hard to beat if the tests are to be believed.

I have a Metric Halo ULN-8 and I think it has a huge software edge over the others on the list, especially for mixing and mastering tools and plugins.

[Disease Factory]

Lavry blue or black.

For price, lynxtwo.