Apogee Rosetta 800 vs. RME ADI-8

Lagerfeldt · 28th January 2005

Anyone done A/B tests with these two?

There's an interesting 3rd party comparison/review of the ADI-8 DS vs. Apogee AD8000 here (hosted on the RME Website): PDF comparison/review Very scientifically accurate, as these things go.

Assuming Apogee has gotten their stuff together, and improved things with the Rosetta 800, I'll be doing an A/B test.

I had a Rosetta (the old 2-ch version, but sold it), and I've tested both the RME ADI-8 DS vs. Creamware II and vs. VM7200, and the RME was a clear winner.

I'm planning on doing an A/B myself soon against the Apogee Rosetta 800. I like to do 16 identical passes of different tracks thru the A/D into a DAW, so the accumulative effect is more audible. Also I'll compare the D/A quality perception from both DACs on the each of the mixes. Obviously this test will be mostly subjective, but I'll do some measuring too.

GYang · 28th January 2005

I have RME AD 8 DS, as well as, Rosettas 800 and 200.
Rosetta has overall better sound, especially low end is apparently clearer and tighter, in 48 kHz the difference is much more in favour of Apogee.
When I need many ADC channels I put RME on the least important tracks, it is usable, but IMHO definitely not on par with Rosetta.

GYang

Lagerfeldt · 30th January 2005

Interesting, is this a general observation or have you done direct A/B comparisons?

Also I am more interested in how the sound is at 96kHz?

Thanks for your input!

GYang · 30th January 2005

Quote:

Interesting, is this a general observation or have you done direct A/B comparisons?

Well, when you have both devices in rack it is most likely easy to compare, although to be 100% objective test we should have expensive measuring equpment and plenty of time.
What I wrote is that it was quite apparent difference to me, as well as, to other engineers in favour of Apogee when we recorded sources like bass or acoustic guitars through same setup, but just different ADC.
ADI-8DS in 96 kHz works much better, so the difference is less audible in this mode.

GYang

Lagerfeldt · 30th January 2005

Objective is a good thing some of the way, e.g. providing equal and fair opportunities for each piece of equipment.

However, in the end no measurement of channel crosstalk, frequency responses, etc. can tell you exactly how something sounds like.

And that's where subjective opinion i.e. taste comes in.

So I'm quite excited about being able to compare both boxes, and buying the best one.

No doubt both are excellent, however I did sell my old Apogee Rosetta because of the high frequencies were a bit over the top to my liking. So I'm looking forward to hear how the new versions sound like.

SnakeCained · 31st January 2005

I agree with GYang as I have both too. The Apogee is certainly better but about 3 times the price! I have been happy to use the RME on a number of things but for that that "top take" I'd bring in a Pogee. Get both!

Lagerfeldt · 31st January 2005

Thanks,

I'lll get both for the test, but I shall only buy one. I don't need extra A/Ds as such, I already have 94 channels of ok quality A/D!

I just need some extra HQ A/D + D/As.

the dice · 1st February 2005

then you should buy a HQ convertor and the RME is an "ok" convertor not a HQ. the apogee is. but it has it's price...

28th January 2005	#1
Lagerfeldt Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 4,770 Thread Starter	Apogee Rosetta 800 vs. RME ADI-8 Anyone done A/B tests with these two? There's an interesting 3rd party comparison/review of the ADI-8 DS vs. Apogee AD8000 here (hosted on the RME Website): PDF comparison/review Very scientifically accurate, as these things go. Assuming Apogee has gotten their stuff together, and improved things with the Rosetta 800, I'll be doing an A/B test. I had a Rosetta (the old 2-ch version, but sold it), and I've tested both the RME ADI-8 DS vs. Creamware II and vs. VM7200, and the RME was a clear winner. I'm planning on doing an A/B myself soon against the Apogee Rosetta 800. I like to do 16 identical passes of different tracks thru the A/D into a DAW, so the accumulative effect is more audible. Also I'll compare the D/A quality perception from both DACs on the each of the mixes. Obviously this test will be mostly subjective, but I'll do some measuring too.

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28th January 2005	#2
GYang Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2004 Location: here Posts: 4,290	I have RME AD 8 DS, as well as, Rosettas 800 and 200. Rosetta has overall better sound, especially low end is apparently clearer and tighter, in 48 kHz the difference is much more in favour of Apogee. When I need many ADC channels I put RME on the least important tracks, it is usable, but IMHO definitely not on par with Rosetta. GYang

30th January 2005	#3
Lagerfeldt Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 4,770 Thread Starter	Interesting, is this a general observation or have you done direct A/B comparisons? Also I am more interested in how the sound is at 96kHz? Thanks for your input!

31st January 2005	#6
SnakeCained Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2004 Location: LONDON Posts: 662	I agree with GYang as I have both too. The Apogee is certainly better but about 3 times the price! I have been happy to use the RME on a number of things but for that that "top take" I'd bring in a Pogee. Get both!

1st February 2005	#8
the dice Gear nut Joined: May 2004 Location: Brussels Posts: 109	then you should buy a HQ convertor and the RME is an "ok" convertor not a HQ. the apogee is. but it has it's price...