25th November 2008
|
#1 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York
Posts: 2,462
Thread Starter  | RME ADI-2 vs. Profire 2626 (AD/DA conversion)
I am currently running an M-Audio 1814 with an RME ADI-2 for all my conversion, both AD and DA. Pro Tools MP 7.4.
I am considering selling both of these pieces and replacing them with a
Profire 2626. My reason being more ins and outs of decent conversion, ability to actually come out $100 ahead or more after the swap, ability for more I/O in the future, more available pres on board, etc.
My main question though is, how well (or not so well) should I expect the converters in the 2626 to hold up against the RME ADI-2? I've heard the 2626 converters are quite good, maybe even on par with the RME stuff.
What do you all think? I definitely "think" I noticed an improvement over my 1814 converters when I got the ADI-2. But I'm way more of a songwriter and not as much of an engineer, so I don't always trust my ear when it comes to fine detail like this.
I listened to Peeder's recent "shootout" files so I could listen to the ADI-2 and 2626 back to back, but I'm not sure my ears aren't biased, or just confused. I thought I heard a little more depth in the ADI-2 file, but the more I listened the more they started sounding the same to me.
| 
|  | |
25th November 2008
|
#2 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York
Posts: 2,462
Thread Starter |
new day.
new bump.
| |
| | |
26th November 2008
|
#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York
Posts: 2,462
Thread Starter | bump-er cars.
| |
| | |
27th November 2008
|
#4 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York
Posts: 2,462
Thread Starter |
holiday bump!
any takers on this one?
| |
| | |
27th November 2008
|
#5 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Hotlanta
Posts: 2,120
|
I "THINK" thw 2626's conversion should be right on point with the adi... not sure but the 2626 doesnt sound bad what so ever imo
im about to grab one for my PT solution
__________________
DivineMusic 2-23-07 ppl wanna praise protools like its the best thing since pu$$y fuuck
| |
| | |
28th November 2008
|
#6 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,130
|
I'm in the same boat - 1814/ADI-2 for my portable rig. The ADI seems quite a bit better, but better than the 2626? Peeder, and I think others, have said the ADI-2 A/D is better than the D/A, so I may stick with the 1814 an get a Lavry DA-10. Or I might go the 2626 route. Finances permitting, I'd like the 2626 with a Mytek 8X192, though that combo is over 4 grand.  | |
| | |
28th November 2008
|
#7 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York
Posts: 2,462
Thread Starter |
Thanks for the responses everyone. I'm still torn as to whether I'd be making a bad move by swapping my ADI-2/1814 combo for a 2626.
I have a nice coupon that I can use on a 2626 before the end of the month, but that is approaching quickly. Not sure what to do. haha.
Any other takes?
| |
| | |
28th November 2008
|
#8 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,332
|
Do you really need more I/O at the moment?
| |
| | |
28th November 2008
|
#9 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York
Posts: 2,462
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Farshad  Do you really need more I/O at the moment? | I definitely would like more Outs for reamping, and more INS for the occasional drumkit that comes thru here, yes.
But my biggest fear is taking a big conversion quality hit by moving from the ADI-2 to the 2626.
| |
| | |
29th November 2008
|
#10 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Feb 2006 Location: South Central PA
Posts: 903
|
FWIW I swapped my RME Fireface 400 for a Profire 610. I didn't need all the I/O that the RME unit has and I saved like $800. The clincher for me was the conversion quality on the Profire. I find it hard saying this, but I actually think the Profire conversion is as good as the RME. That convinced me to make the move. YMMV
__________________
I did all the extensive and complicated work arounds that tech support suggested - like gathering mushrooms at midnight under a full moon, do a full reboot, power on the unit, rub dog feces on you left buttock while dancing a little jig on one foot, open regedit, rub your nose three times, go to currentcontrolset, and whck off to a picture of a unicorn! IT DOESN'T F'ING WORK!!!
Unnamed Post on MOTU Tech Support | |
| | |
30th November 2008
|
#11 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 168
| Quote:
Originally Posted by CassidyGT FWIW I swapped my RME Fireface 400 for a Profire 610. I didn't need all the I/O that the RME unit has and I saved like $800. The clincher for me was the conversion quality on the Profire. I find it hard saying this, but I actually think the Profire conversion is as good as the RME. That convinced me to make the move. YMMV | WOW
i just got a profire for 350....
i have older mackie/apogee converters.
they're usable but sounds nothing like the rosetta...
im not a pt user but ima use it a few times since i have a free pt8 upgrade.
im gonna use the profire2626 as my interface and my tascam fw1884 as my controller b/c with out a doubt the profire has better conversion than the 1884
| |
| | |
1st December 2008
|
#12 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York
Posts: 2,462
Thread Starter |
I think I've decided to definitely NOT get rid of my RME ADI-2. That thing has been too good to me to ditch it.
But when it comes time to replace the 1814, the 2626 is definitely on my short list.
| |
| | |
18th January 2009
|
#13 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York
Posts: 2,462
Thread Starter |
I'm kind of back on this thought again. I'm going to start recording live drums in the spring at my studio, and I'll definitely need the additional inputs and pres. The 2626 seems like the perfect solution.
The idea is to swap out the 1814/ADI-2 and replace both with the 2626.
The ONLY thing stopping me, is I'm just not too sure the 2626 AD/DA will be as good as the ADI-2. If it's comparable, or darn close, that's good enough for me. But if say... the 2626 AD/DA is closer to the 1814 than it is to the ADI-2, then I feel it would be a bad move.
I'd keep the ADI-2, but financially, both the 1814 and ADI-2 would have to go if I were to get the 2626.
Anyone out there who has both the 2626 and ADI-2, have you ever done a comparison of the conversion? Or if someone has both, could you do that and lend your opinion? Thanks!
| |
| | |
18th January 2009
|
#14 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Paris, Amsterdam, London
Posts: 2,068
|
I have in the producerroom here a projectmix what a 1814 is with controlerboard. Same pre-amps/ADDA etc etc. And for the monitoring its go from spdif to a ADI-2. Sounds great (the projectmix DA is styril and closed, sounds to from a "box").
I heard the 2626 @ a friends place with decent room threament and it sounds waaaay better then the projectmix. I will say almost in the same level as the ADI-2.
If you need the extra inputs. Buy the 2626, allot of peeps love it for what you get for that ridiculous low price of the 2626. And the drivers are so much nicer for routing/re-amping and the latency is much better.
| |
| | |
18th January 2009
|
#15 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York
Posts: 2,462
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by LeMauce I have in the producerroom here a projectmix what a 1814 is with controlerboard. Same pre-amps/ADDA etc etc. And for the monitoring its go from spdif to a ADI-2. Sounds great (the projectmix DA is styril and closed, sounds to from a "box").
I heard the 2626 @ a friends place with decent room threament and it sounds waaaay better then the projectmix. I will say almost in the same level as the ADI-2.
If you need the extra inputs. Buy the 2626, allot of peeps love it for what you get for that ridiculous low price of the 2626. And the drivers are so much nicer for routing/re-amping and the latency is much better. | thanks for your input. the latency factor is something i haven't even considered. latency better than the 1814, even if it's by little is a big deal. I'd hate to ditch the RME if it means a step down in conversion, but I'm not absolutely sure I'll notice if it's minor.
I agree with the conversion on the 1814 and projectmix. I hate it. Reminds me of my old 001, just really closed off.
I could always get the 2626. do a shootout myself, and decide if it's worth the swap or not.
Anyone else care to throw their 2 cents in?
| |
| | |
18th January 2009
|
#16 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Paris, Amsterdam, London
Posts: 2,068
|
The projectmix / 1814 has the same electric components and buildup as the 002 of digidesign, not the the original m-box (001) what had Focusrite pre-amps. What the 002 not had, and the 003 also. For the inside info.
For the rest. Check out the 2626 and you will see if you keep it or not. And perhaps keep your ADI-2 next to it. Just work a month more or 2 and spend that to keep the ADI-2.
| |
| | |
18th January 2009
|
#17 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York
Posts: 2,462
Thread Starter |
Yeah, I could definitely take the time to try it all out. AMS has a 45 day return policy (and a really good price on the 2626 to boot). If I feel it's worth it after 6 weeks of fiddling, I'll do it, if not, then maybe not.
It's just always good to hope for that post/reply from someone that says "dude, heck yeah, I got a 2626 and put it up against my ADI-2, and all my expert friends couldn't tell the difference, even in my super duper pro treated room. 9 out of 10 studio masterminds agree. you can't go wrong, ditch that stuff and get a shiny new 2626 and feel the love". lol
| |
| | |
19th January 2009
|
#18 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,562
|
Converter Dynamic Ranges:
Profire 2626 - 110db
Project Mix 18x14 - 104db (almost as bad as Digi001)
ADI-2 - 110,113 IN and 116,119 OUT
Apparently the DA on the ADI kills.
| |
| | | |
New Reply 
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
