echo audiofire 8 vs. sapphire pro 24 audio quality?

[nitsel]

You can use something like the TC level Pilot to control your monitor level.

[Robbie777]

Originally Posted by blacklion

Hi There,

Debating on keeping my audiofire 8 (no adat, only sdif/rca) or swapping it for a new focusrite sapphire pro 24.

One reason is for future use with an isa one digital through the adat connection without having to deal with rca/spdif connectors, etc.

I love my echo's stability but the headphone routing and lack of master gain/monitor gain knob can be a little frustrating. Soundwise, it's pretty good and has a rounded sound, though I wish there was a little more clarity at times.

(1) Anyone try a sapphire pro 24 and an audiofire 8 (old version with no adat) and can say which converters sound better?

(2) Any reliability issues with the new units Mac or PC? (I use both)

Finally: Won't be using the pre's since I have outboard stuff, though I would assume the FR pres are better and might give me a suitable option to work with so pre quality not that important. Just wondering if it's worth the trouble to try out new gear...only going to if it will help me mix better.

Thanks!

Both use the same Cirrus Logic ADA converters...exact same...the Pro 24 is a newer designed/beast in that you have much more control of your outputs and signals...and can route them to inputs, record loopbacks (like record from internet radio etc)...when the echo audiofire went with adat, they changed the ada converters to AKM's

[vonrichter]

Originally Posted by blacklion

I love my echo's stability but the headphone routing and lack of master gain/monitor gain knob can be a little frustrating. Soundwise, it's pretty good and has a rounded sound, though I wish there was a little more clarity at times.

I would characterize my Audiofire8 as leaning subtly towards bright and airy in character (I'm speaking in incredibly subtle terms here). I do believe there was a revision of the unit at some point... mine is the later one with the ADAT connectors. Certainly no cloudiness or lack of clarity to the sound, it just records what goes in accurately.

I'm only talking about the conversion BTW. I use outboard preamps for the most part, but I do use the onboard preamps if I need the channels. The Audiofire8 preamps are rather bright, even slightly brittle on some sources. They are OK for what they are.

[Gharper23]

Originally Posted by blacklion

I love my echo's stability but the headphone routing and lack of master gain/monitor gain knob can be a little frustrating. Soundwise, it's pretty good and has a rounded sound, though I wish there was a little more clarity at times.

Get a monitor controller like an mpatch2 or tc electronic level pilot and that will solve both of these problems. Set the monitor outs in the dsp mixer to 0db full gain and then just use the controller for levels. You'll get the best sound quality out of it that way. Lowering the fader in the mixer will decrease clarity the further down it goes.

Taken straight from the manual..

[Gharper23]

holy thread bump batman.. I just noticed.. Oh well maybe someone else will see it that didn't already know.

[LTJazz]

Does the Apogee duet still share the same converters as well?

Originally Posted by Robbie777

Both use the same Cirrus Logic ADA converters...exact same...the Pro 24 is a newer designed/beast in that you have much more control of your outputs and signals...and can route them to inputs, record loopbacks (like record from internet radio etc)...when the echo audiofire went with adat, they changed the ada converters to AKM's

[gizm770o]

I have never been super impressed with the echo. I got a Saffire Pro 40 last year and I've been absolutely loving it. The flexible routing make it perfect for what I do (half recording half theatre) and it sounds great.

[LolrusPl]

I've got an audiofire 4 and a Saffire 40, and I assume they share the same circuitry as the audiofire 8 and Saffire 24. In my opinion, both are fantastic, with the audiofire being slightly brighter and more detailed. The saffire offers a slightly darker sound, but much more indepth supporting software and general utility (Better meters, nicer pots etc).