Is the Lucid AD9624 getting old? Should I buy?

caseybasichis · 13th January 2005

Hi,
Im trying to decide between a Lucid AD9624 and an RME ADI-2. Im only interested in the quality of the AD. I know the Lucid is a few years old. Is the quality really any better than the newer RME ADI-2 despite the fact that its double the cost when considering the RME has DA as well? How will the Jim Williams mod effect the comparision? It seems both can be had for around $500-600 used.

Also an someone suggest a sound card that has digital in and analog out that is fairly cheap? I need one for my powerbook and one for my desktop pc. either one pcmcia and one pci or usb or firewire.

Thanks,
Casey

ziegenh5 · 13th January 2005

I like the sound of the Lucid stuff personally. I think it's a great bang for the buck and not over-hyped like some of the others. Nice, honest, open sound. I would give Jim a call and ask him. He knows the guts of all the AD's you're talking about and reportedly had a hand in designing the analog section of the Mytek(I think). So go right to the horses mouth, I would. He's a straight shooter and won't lead you wrong.
Sean

dasbin · 13th January 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by caseybasichis
Also an someone suggest a sound card that has digital in and analog out that is fairly cheap?

Check out the E-MU 1212M. Top-of-the-line DAC and ADC chips (even if you don't need the ADC), digital ins and outs, totally decent analog sections and wordclock, very cheap.

Revelation · 13th January 2005

I was going to get the Lucid myself until I heard about the Mytek which is a newer unit with better spec's though that may not mean much. http://digitalprosound.com/articles/...e.jsp?id=29180

Jim Williams · 14th January 2005

That lucid uses the crystal 5396 adc chip which has a great digital filter that does bit reduction very well for 24 to 16 bit cd prep. Mytek is using the top line AKM part now. The new Crystal 5381 is very good for a straight 24 bit part. Haven't seen it in pro audio yet. Keep yer fingers crossed as I love using it.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

scoob · 7th February 2006

hey jim could u pm me the cost of the ad9624 upgrade
thanx

sasha222 · 7th February 2006

i used the lucid ad9624 for a while. it was a nice step up from my motu 828mkII. then i got the apogee rosetta 200 which sounds way better to my battered ears at 44.1 than the lucid at 96. i would assume that the mytek would be a big step up from the lucid as well.

i had considered Jim's upgrade for the Lucid as he has done great work on other stuff of mine however i ended up selling it.

bloodstone · 7th February 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasbin

Check out the E-MU 1212M. Top-of-the-line DAC and ADC chips (even if you don't need the ADC), digital ins and outs, totally decent analog sections and wordclock, very cheap.

I've had a 1212M just about since it was released. Not bad sounding, but I wouldn't recommend banking on it for conversion duties. Pretty shrill and brittle when compared to something like Mix Mode into a Tascam MX-2424 (which isn't saying a tremendous lot). YMMV

Also, the analog inputs on the 1212M will clip sooner than I would like. For the money, not bad

13th January 2005	#1
caseybasichis Gear interested Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 22 Thread Starter	Is the Lucid AD9624 getting old? Should I buy? Hi, Im trying to decide between a Lucid AD9624 and an RME ADI-2. Im only interested in the quality of the AD. I know the Lucid is a few years old. Is the quality really any better than the newer RME ADI-2 despite the fact that its double the cost when considering the RME has DA as well? How will the Jim Williams mod effect the comparision? It seems both can be had for around $500-600 used. Also an someone suggest a sound card that has digital in and analog out that is fairly cheap? I need one for my powerbook and one for my desktop pc. either one pcmcia and one pci or usb or firewire. Thanks, Casey

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13th January 2005	#2
ziegenh5 Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 826	I like the sound of the Lucid stuff personally. I think it's a great bang for the buck and not over-hyped like some of the others. Nice, honest, open sound. I would give Jim a call and ask him. He knows the guts of all the AD's you're talking about and reportedly had a hand in designing the analog section of the Mytek(I think). So go right to the horses mouth, I would. He's a straight shooter and won't lead you wrong. Sean

13th January 2005	#4
Revelation Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2003 Location: New York Posts: 1,131	I was going to get the Lucid myself until I heard about the Mytek which is a newer unit with better spec's though that may not mean much. http://digitalprosound.com/articles/...e.jsp?id=29180

14th January 2005	#5
Jim Williams Voiding warranties Joined: Feb 2004 Location: beautiful Carlsbad, CA Posts: 10,070	That lucid uses the crystal 5396 adc chip which has a great digital filter that does bit reduction very well for 24 to 16 bit cd prep. Mytek is using the top line AKM part now. The new Crystal 5381 is very good for a straight 24 bit part. Haven't seen it in pro audio yet. Keep yer fingers crossed as I love using it. Jim Williams Audio Upgrades

7th February 2006	#6
scoob Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 245	hey jim could u pm me the cost of the ad9624 upgrade thanx

7th February 2006	#7
sasha222 Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 695	i used the lucid ad9624 for a while. it was a nice step up from my motu 828mkII. then i got the apogee rosetta 200 which sounds way better to my battered ears at 44.1 than the lucid at 96. i would assume that the mytek would be a big step up from the lucid as well. i had considered Jim's upgrade for the Lucid as he has done great work on other stuff of mine however i ended up selling it.