Mbox 2 pro versus Apogee Duet

[Freq18Hz]

I have read every thread out there, I haven't heard many direct comparisons between the Pro, and the Duet.

Please anyone who has compared the Mbox 2 Pro, back to back with the Apogee Duet:

I have an original 828, bought an Mbox 2 Pro. The mbox 2 pro sounds night/day better than the 828 in every way.

I use Logic, and haven't used Pro Tools since version 5, TDM. If I can use Pro Tools as a bonus great, but I don't need it.

I like the convenience of the Mbox 2 Pro's connectivity.



1. How much better is the Duet sonically than the Mbox 2 Pro? Is this an absolute night/day difference? Or are we talking subtle, that requires strict A/B listening to the same source, etc etc? Can anyone provide some samples? I am interested in detailed experiences about the differences between converters, preamps, and dacs. Apogee does not publish any specs for the Duet.

I have not opened the protools software, or dongle etc, so I can still return my unit and get a Duet.

2. Are the included "Factory" protools plugins worth keeping the Mbox for? Are they better than what Logic comes with?

3. Is there any way to completely bypass the input gain circuitry (besides s/pdif) going into the Mbox? What about the Duet? I plan to use my groove tubes brick, and great river pres.

4. I am getting a buzz with the Mbox 2 Pro when it is connected to my mac mini with firewire only. When I plug the AC adaptor in, the buzz goes away. Should I expect to get this with the Duet also?

5. Does anyone find themselves switching back between headphones/monitors with the Duet, and accidentally blasting their ears off because the headphones were at a loud volume?


People often hop onto gear fads, and I can understand why the Duet is so sexy, given Apogee's track record. But past products don't mean anything about current ones. Things change. I don't care about fads, I'm all about getting stuff done. Is the Duet really night/day better, to make it worth the limited connectivity, etc? So far the Mbox 2 pro sounds pretty good to me, albeit I am comparing it to the 7 year old 828 I have.

Thanks,

-Freq

[Freq18Hz]

54 views, and not even 1 reply? Come on, I know you are out there.

[Gdub]

Hi Freq,

Here's what I know about the two after comparing a buddie's Mbox Pro with my Duet...

1. Sonically they are not at all the same. The preamps on the duet are much, much fuller and more lively. They aren't dirty, just clean and sweet, with gobs of depth and detail. Since the outputs on the duet are unbalanced, you may find them to be a bit noisier than whats on the mbox, however imho it's worth it as you get far superior depth, imaging, clarity, etc.

2. The factory plugins I would say are on par with Logic's bundled plugins, or most of them, anyway. Logic really does come with some killer plugins, a few of them are, imho, a bit lame, but most are very, very good.

3. I am not sure about the mbox, but yes, on the duet you can select via software either to use the preamp or a line-level input on the balanced XLR inputs.

4. The only time I ever got a buzz with the duet was when using a Mackie control universal pro. Other than that, clean as a whistle!

5. I personally never had that problem, no. But that will also depend on what monitors / headphones you are using, and how you have them set up as far as gain.

Hope this helps!

-g

[Freq18Hz]

So what kind of noise on the output are you experiencing? White noise, or hiss?


unfortunately I do not have the opportunity to try the duet before I buy.


-Freq

[Gdub]

I would describe it as a hiss. It really wasn't that bad, just not as quiet as it could have been, however both my friend and I agreed that the Duet's outputs where FAR more workable for monitoring despite the increased noise. Unless you are working on very soft classical passages, I honestly would not think of it as an issue.

-g

[Whitecat]

Here's my quick and dirty 2p.

Been using the Mbox 2 Pro for way too long now. It does what I need it to do - ie, run Pro Tools LE.

Yesterday, I did a session and I decided to use Logic Pro. Used my original Focusrite Saffire.

No word of a lie - the Saffire absolutely blew the Mbox away as far as sonics went. Better pres, better DA, better everything. Sounded fantastic.

Now - the Duet kicks the Saffire's arse. Alright - that's possibly slighly exaggerative, but the point is that it is much better. So if my Saffire was infinitely > the Mbox 2 Pro, the Duet is going to hammer it into the ground and take a leak on the corpse. Not even close.

You use the Mbox if you need Pro Tools LE. You use the Duet if you need anything else.

That is all.

[Gdub]

Originally Posted by terminal3

Here's my quick and dirty 2p.

Now - the Duet kicks the Saffire's arse. Alright - that's possibly slighly exaggerative, but the point is that it is much better. So if my Saffire was infinitely > the Mbox 2 Pro, the Duet is going to hammer it into the ground and take a leak on the corpse. Not even close.

That is all.

HAHAHA!!

couldn't a' put it better myself

[jmarkham]

I own an Mbox2 Pro and have used a Duet. The Duet is a superior box
in every measurable way.

However, I needed the Mbox2Pro to do some stuff with LE and needed MIDI
.. so that's why I have it.

jeff

[gracejames]

Originally Posted by jmarkham

I own an Mbox2 Pro and have used a Duet. The Duet is a superior box
in every measurable way.

However, I needed the Mbox2Pro to do some stuff with LE and needed MIDI
.. so that's why I have it.

jeff

Do you combine Logic and PT? Perhaps, audio tracking and mixing in Logic and Midi and editing in PT? I want to use both in my next upgrade. The duet is a great product. So, i assume 003 is a step down as well to the Duet.

[Freq18Hz]

I own both now. Going to post a blind listening test.


-Freq

[warlock110]

man, if you're buying a duet you better buy that mac too haha. That sucks pretty bad, I want a duet but I ain't got no mac.

[Freq18Hz]

Apogee Duet vs. Mbox 2 Pro DEATHMATCH!

[OneWerd]

Would it be worth my time and $ to purchase a duet if I'm running pro tools le? I hear that I could run the duet through the mbox via spdif and still have the advantage of the better pre's and converters while running pt.

[WB1984]

I've never done a scientific comparison, but, I can say with absolute confidence that the Duet is noticeably better.

The pres are really nice, too. I have a GR NV and, while that definitely has a more "warm/analog" vibe, the Duet hangs in there with awesome depth and clarity. If I put a mic in front of the amp and the amp sounds good, that track is going to sound good. The MBox would sound lifeless in comparison.

I still use PT LE to do editing, and it literally sounds like a blanket is draped over my monitors when I switch over.

With that said, I still love PT LE for editing and don't plan on selling my MBox at the moment. As far as sound quality goes....get the Duet.

[WB1984]

Originally Posted by OneWerd

Would it be worth my time and $ to purchase a duet if I'm running pro tools le? I hear that I could run the duet through the mbox via spdif and still have the advantage of the better pre's and converters while running pt.

No. The Duet doesn't have SPDIF out.