Upgrading Audiophile 2496

JimmyM · 8th November 2009, 11:20 PM

Hey all, even though this is the Low End forum, most of your low end home studios make mine look like a joke, so bear that in mind when you answer ;)

So my home studio for the last 8 years has been a PC with an Audiophile 2496, an equally ancient ART Tube MP stereo mic preamp, AKG K141's, and a handful of even more ancient software. Believe it or not, I'm able to make pretty elaborate recordings that sound amazingly good. But I would like to step up the quality a little, and since digital recording has made some leaps in the last few years, I'm wanting to upgrade.

Problem is I don't know a thing about what's out there, and from what I have seen, there's not much going on in the way of 2-channel soundcards anymore except the Audiophile 2496 and 192. So I'm open to suggestions. I really don't need more than two channels since it's just me or an occasional guest recording here and I never use real drums. And since other than occasional parodies I send in to Howard Stern, nobody except a handful of people is ever going to hear what I record so I don't want to break the bank.

So if anyone has any good suggestions for an upgrade that will truly represent a significant tonal improvement but won't require me to sell my body to medical science, I'm all ears. Thanks in advance!

hilander74 · 8th November 2009, 11:26 PM

Focusrite Audio Engineering | UK Site | Products | Saffire | Saffire 6 USB

JimmyM · 11th November 2009, 07:45 AM

Thanks for that suggestion, but is it really a step up in sound quality from what I have already? Honestly, it doesn't look like it.

I'm guessing from the lack of response that there isn't much else in the way of 2-channel interfaces. OK, so let's try a different approach...if I want to step up the sound quality from the Audiophile 2496, I might be willing to go 4-channel if the quality is a step up. From what I hear the weakness of the M-Audio 2 channel cards is their AD/DA conversion. So let's say I want to step up to a higher level of conversion that's got a noticeable effect on tone but won't cause me to spend a grand or more. What should I be looking at?

FredYeah · 11th November 2009, 08:06 AM

What about a (used) RME ADI-2?

Shaolin · 11th November 2009, 08:59 AM

Lynx Audio L22

JimmyM · 12th November 2009, 06:08 AM

Hey, thanks guys...the prices aren't exactly heartwarming, but maybe I can find a deal on one of them used.

8th November 2009, 11:20 PM	#1
JimmyM Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sanford, FL Posts: 153	Upgrading Audiophile 2496 Hey all, even though this is the Low End forum, most of your low end home studios make mine look like a joke, so bear that in mind when you answer ;) So my home studio for the last 8 years has been a PC with an Audiophile 2496, an equally ancient ART Tube MP stereo mic preamp, AKG K141's, and a handful of even more ancient software. Believe it or not, I'm able to make pretty elaborate recordings that sound amazingly good. But I would like to step up the quality a little, and since digital recording has made some leaps in the last few years, I'm wanting to upgrade. Problem is I don't know a thing about what's out there, and from what I have seen, there's not much going on in the way of 2-channel soundcards anymore except the Audiophile 2496 and 192. So I'm open to suggestions. I really don't need more than two channels since it's just me or an occasional guest recording here and I never use real drums. And since other than occasional parodies I send in to Howard Stern, nobody except a handful of people is ever going to hear what I record so I don't want to break the bank. So if anyone has any good suggestions for an upgrade that will truly represent a significant tonal improvement but won't require me to sell my body to medical science, I'm all ears. Thanks in advance!

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8th November 2009, 11:26 PM	#2
hilander74 Gear nut Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 75	Focusrite Audio Engineering \| UK Site \| Products \| Saffire \| Saffire 6 USB

11th November 2009, 07:45 AM	#3
JimmyM Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sanford, FL Posts: 153	Thanks for that suggestion, but is it really a step up in sound quality from what I have already? Honestly, it doesn't look like it. I'm guessing from the lack of response that there isn't much else in the way of 2-channel interfaces. OK, so let's try a different approach...if I want to step up the sound quality from the Audiophile 2496, I might be willing to go 4-channel if the quality is a step up. From what I hear the weakness of the M-Audio 2 channel cards is their AD/DA conversion. So let's say I want to step up to a higher level of conversion that's got a noticeable effect on tone but won't cause me to spend a grand or more. What should I be looking at?

11th November 2009, 08:06 AM	#4
FredYeah Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 289	What about a (used) RME ADI-2?

11th November 2009, 08:59 AM	#5
Shaolin Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 340	Lynx Audio L22

12th November 2009, 06:08 AM	#6
JimmyM Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sanford, FL Posts: 153	Hey, thanks guys...the prices aren't exactly heartwarming, but maybe I can find a deal on one of them used.