Echo Layla 3G or Focusrite Saffire Pro

dickiefunk · 25th September 2006

Hi. After a few weeks of searching and reading I have narrowed down my search for an 8in 8out, ADAT and MIDI audio interface. The 2 interfaces that I am interested in are the Echo Layla 3G and Focusrite Saffire Pro which I've been told has the same converters as the original Saffire. I don't need preamps, bundled software or any extras, just good A/D D/A conversion and audio quality. I have decided not to go for MOTU and the RME stuff is out of my price range. Which audio interface do you think would deliver the best sound (not including preamps)?

Ashermusic · 25th September 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by dickiefunk

Hi. After a few weeks of searching and reading I have narrowed down my search for an 8in 8out, ADAT and MIDI audio interface. The 2 interfaces that I am interested in are the Echo Layla 3G and Focusrite Saffire Pro which I've been told has the same converters as the original Saffire. I don't need preamps, bundled software or any extras, just good A/D D/A conversion and audio quality. I have decided not to go for MOTU and the RME stuff is out of my price range. Which audio interface do you think would deliver the best sound (not including preamps)?

I think both are fine choices and will have roughly the same converter quality.

My Layla3g has been very relaible as was the Layla24 I had before it.

Reag1502 · 25th September 2006

there's a guy that has a small music shop in town and he has a used Echo Layla that he said he would sell me for 20 bucks. The thing is though, the guy that sold it to him left the audio card in his computer and forgot to give it to him. If I were to grab this thing, are the audio cards cheap? Is it worth it? Thanks

Acoustic Cloud · 25th September 2006

Reag
I would check with echo too see if you can buy the card seperate, because I know with Motu for example, you cant.

The Saffire looks good, but its a brand new release.... may be buggy. I dnt know how stable the desktop Focusrite interfaces are, maybe there wont be problems with the Saffire Pro.

treymonfauntre · 25th September 2006

its not THAT new, i've had my eye on it all summer and i'm pretty sure its been out since spring. there seems to be no buzz about it whatsoever which is really strange.

Acoustic Cloud · 25th September 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by treymonfauntre

its not THAT new, i've had my eye on it all summer and i'm pretty sure its been out since spring. there seems to be no buzz about it whatsoever which is really strange.

Actually the physical release of it is VERY new. The info was available online maybe 8 or 9 months before it was available, as I have been watching it also.

I also had several emails with their US office on detailed specs, which have only been on the site for less than a month.

dickiefunk · 25th September 2006

Well after a bit more digging, I've found that the Focusrite Saffire Pro has a slightly better jitter clock but the Echo Layla 3G has a greater dynamic range on the A/D D/A converters and also handles latency better. The info for the Saffire Pro has been around for a while but it has still not been released (should be any day).

Theo Desktop · 26th September 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashermusic

I think both are fine choices and will have roughly the same converter quality.

My Layla3g has been very relaible as was the Layla24 I had before it.

I was just curious how you rate the Layla3g to the Layla24. I have the Layla24 and recently upgraded to a LynxTwo and a Lucid AD9624.

It was a real eye opener for me that the AD of the Lynx and the Layla24 were fairly close (the Lynx was slightly better, but not much) while the Lucid sounded much more open and clear than the Lynx to me. The DA of the Lynx, however, kills the DA on the Layla24.

My G5 would sleep with the Layla24 no problem, though, and that's not possible with the Lynx without causing Kernel Panic's (yeah Lynx knows about it and will probably never fix it). The Echo control panel is much easier on the eyes, too (though it is a bit limited in its routing capabilities).

Sorry to get off topic, but I have always been very impressed with Echo products and their customer service has been great with me (I can always talk to a live person when I call!).

Theo

dickiefunk · 30th September 2006

Hi. After a lot of research I've decided to go for the Echo Layla 3G and have put the let over money towards the SPL Goldmike. Managed to buy both of them for a little over £500. Will let you know how I get on!!

Ashermusic · 30th September 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theo Desktop

I was just curious how you rate the Layla3g to the Layla24. I have the Layla24 and recently upgraded to a LynxTwo and a Lucid AD9624.

It was a real eye opener for me that the AD of the Lynx and the Layla24 were fairly close (the Lynx was slightly better, but not much) while the Lucid sounded much more open and clear than the Lynx to me. The DA of the Lynx, however, kills the DA on the Layla24.

My G5 would sleep with the Layla24 no problem, though, and that's not possible with the Lynx without causing Kernel Panic's (yeah Lynx knows about it and will probably never fix it). The Echo control panel is much easier on the eyes, too (though it is a bit limited in its routing capabilities).

Sorry to get off topic, but I have always been very impressed with Echo products and their customer service has been great with me (I can always talk to a live person when I call!).

Theo

The Layla 3g and Layla 24 have the same converters so there is little difference except the added mic pres and lower price.

dickiefunk · 30th September 2006

Do you mean the Layla 3G and Audiofire12? They have the same converters but the Layla 24 has older converters.

Acoustic Cloud · 30th September 2006

Yeah the Layla 24 is about 8 years old or so. I had one as my first real interface, and im sure they still sound good, but I would assume the technology in almost all of it has been improved.

The feature sets in all the new Echo products are the only difference. I cant see any type of internal quality differing at the close price points.

Because of PC's being so fast now, vs. 5 years ago, Im not sure why they have a pci version of the same model, but it must be neccesary. Im not a market guru, but many poeple liked usb and fw a few years back solely because of card installation fright, I was one of them!! har har!

mentalattica · 2nd October 2006

I have a Layla3G Card and Cable, my breakout box was stolen (who ever took it didn't know anything about gear I suppose). I contacted echo about a replacement but they were kind of flaky insisting they can't sell them seperately so I never repurchased the layla instead I went with a 1010. That may be why the guy who owns the shop hasn't gotten a replacement card.

If you can't find a card and or cable PM me and we can work something out if you want to or I'd be interested in buying the Layla off of you for a bit more than the $20 you'd pay.

25th September 2006	#1
dickiefunk Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 3,088 Thread Starter	Echo Layla 3G or Focusrite Saffire Pro Hi. After a few weeks of searching and reading I have narrowed down my search for an 8in 8out, ADAT and MIDI audio interface. The 2 interfaces that I am interested in are the Echo Layla 3G and Focusrite Saffire Pro which I've been told has the same converters as the original Saffire. I don't need preamps, bundled software or any extras, just good A/D D/A conversion and audio quality. I have decided not to go for MOTU and the RME stuff is out of my price range. Which audio interface do you think would deliver the best sound (not including preamps)?

25th September 2006	#4
Acoustic Cloud Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2006 Location: around the corner Posts: 1,990	Reag I would check with echo too see if you can buy the card seperate, because I know with Motu for example, you cant. The Saffire looks good, but its a brand new release.... may be buggy. I dnt know how stable the desktop Focusrite interfaces are, maybe there wont be problems with the Saffire Pro. __________________ If the Earth wasnt created, where'd all the dirt come from?

25th September 2006	#5
treymonfauntre Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 567	its not THAT new, i've had my eye on it all summer and i'm pretty sure its been out since spring. there seems to be no buzz about it whatsoever which is really strange. __________________

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25th September 2006	#3
Reag1502 Gear addict Joined: Jul 2006 Location: overlooking the pacific ocean Posts: 367	there's a guy that has a small music shop in town and he has a used Echo Layla that he said he would sell me for 20 bucks. The thing is though, the guy that sold it to him left the audio card in his computer and forgot to give it to him. If I were to grab this thing, are the audio cards cheap? Is it worth it? Thanks

30th September 2006	#9
dickiefunk Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 3,088 Thread Starter	Hi. After a lot of research I've decided to go for the Echo Layla 3G and have put the let over money towards the SPL Goldmike. Managed to buy both of them for a little over £500. Will let you know how I get on!!

2nd October 2006	#13
mentalattica Gear Head Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 36	I have a Layla3G Card and Cable, my breakout box was stolen (who ever took it didn't know anything about gear I suppose). I contacted echo about a replacement but they were kind of flaky insisting they can't sell them seperately so I never repurchased the layla instead I went with a 1010. That may be why the guy who owns the shop hasn't gotten a replacement card. If you can't find a card and or cable PM me and we can work something out if you want to or I'd be interested in buying the Layla off of you for a bit more than the $20 you'd pay.