Apogee Duet vs. M-Audio FW410

techsupport · 20th February 2008, 05:41 PM

Hi

Am thinking of getting the apogee duet.
Disregarding the difference in track counts etc... Will I notice a real improvement as far as monitoring is concerned over the M-Audio 410 I have at the moment?

I don't do much recording, just the odd guitar part, so can get away with just the 2in 2out, am really trying to find out if the converters are that much better.

Many Thanks

Roc Mixwell · 20th February 2008, 05:48 PM

YES!!
The ADC and DAC are much higher quality than the M-audio box,

I think you will notice a very big improvement in depth, tone and the general "size" of the audio.

Plus, it offers WAY cooler features, with the MIDI assignable control, that can be anything you want inside DAW land, for example; Master fader, pan control, song position, record arm...whatever you want dude.

Vocalvoodoo · 20th February 2008, 05:50 PM

I've never used the 410, but I will say I think the Duet's converters sound great. They blow my Mbox2 out of the water. To me, the Duet sounds very clear and the Mbox2 sounded like there was a blanket over the monitors.

Dysanfel · 20th February 2008, 06:35 PM

The Duet sounds better than my 002R as well.

TopCatz · 20th February 2008, 06:47 PM

I'd see if you can do a home trial first so you can hear for yourself.
I recently tried an Ensemble and didn't like it compared to my M-Audio ProjectMix. There's a long thread on that test on this site. If you read it and others you will also note how some people really tend to push certain products, so bear that in mind very carefully.
It's always best to listen for yourself. Good luck!

thermos · 20th February 2008, 07:06 PM

I can only truthfully speak for the D/A, but I have a lightbridge and I think I'd be hard pressed to find a unit with worse D/A than that. The Duet D/A is great.

Check out topcatz thread, but I strongly feel there were some other problems with the test, like unmatched levels, different mic distances, and the extra detail of the Ensemble A/D picking up the nastiness of the room he was in. Good A/D can be startling at first, but is so welcome once you get accustomed to it and it comes time to mix.

Kappi · 20th February 2008, 07:10 PM

I 've got both.
Consider the m-audio as a toy.

techsupport · 20th February 2008, 08:43 PM

Thanks all for replies.

I think that settles it for the duet then.
don't think a demo is an option. I haven't even seen an add for it in the shops in london, let alone a unit to take home and try in my room.

will just have to take a chance I think.

Many Thanks

durre · 20th February 2008, 09:14 PM

I made the exact same thread a month ago or something and bought a duet after that. Very happy I did! You will definately notice the difference.

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20th February 2008, 05:41 PM	#1
techsupport Gear interested Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6	Apogee Duet vs. M-Audio FW410 Hi Am thinking of getting the apogee duet. Disregarding the difference in track counts etc... Will I notice a real improvement as far as monitoring is concerned over the M-Audio 410 I have at the moment? I don't do much recording, just the odd guitar part, so can get away with just the 2in 2out, am really trying to find out if the converters are that much better. Many Thanks

20th February 2008, 05:48 PM	#2
Roc Mixwell Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Foxboro, MA Posts: 3,794	YES!! The ADC and DAC are much higher quality than the M-audio box, I think you will notice a very big improvement in depth, tone and the general "size" of the audio. Plus, it offers WAY cooler features, with the MIDI assignable control, that can be anything you want inside DAW land, for example; Master fader, pan control, song position, record arm...whatever you want dude. __________________ Adam Brass Mercenary Audio adam@mercenary.com ________________ "Any opinions expressed above are worth exactly what you paid for them." Anonymous "Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." Thomas Jefferson "If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward. Thomas Edison RTFM

20th February 2008, 05:50 PM	#3
Vocalvoodoo Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 539	I've never used the 410, but I will say I think the Duet's converters sound great. They blow my Mbox2 out of the water. To me, the Duet sounds very clear and the Mbox2 sounded like there was a blanket over the monitors. __________________ Josh Mahler Vocalvoodoo Productions/Josh Mahler VO www.vocalvoodoo.com

20th February 2008, 06:35 PM	#4
Dysanfel Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 752	The Duet sounds better than my 002R as well. __________________ MacBook Pro - 2.16ghz C2D, OSX 10.5.7, 3gb RAM, 320gb HD, Apogee Duet, PRS CE22, Mesa Boogie Mk. IV

20th February 2008, 06:47 PM	#5
TopCatz Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 41	I'd see if you can do a home trial first so you can hear for yourself. I recently tried an Ensemble and didn't like it compared to my M-Audio ProjectMix. There's a long thread on that test on this site. If you read it and others you will also note how some people really tend to push certain products, so bear that in mind very carefully. It's always best to listen for yourself. Good luck!

20th February 2008, 07:06 PM	#6
thermos Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,273	I can only truthfully speak for the D/A, but I have a lightbridge and I think I'd be hard pressed to find a unit with worse D/A than that. The Duet D/A is great. Check out topcatz thread, but I strongly feel there were some other problems with the test, like unmatched levels, different mic distances, and the extra detail of the Ensemble A/D picking up the nastiness of the room he was in. Good A/D can be startling at first, but is so welcome once you get accustomed to it and it comes time to mix.

20th February 2008, 07:10 PM	#7
Kappi Gear nut Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cologne Posts: 124	I 've got both. Consider the m-audio as a toy.

20th February 2008, 08:43 PM	#8
techsupport Gear interested Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6	Thanks all for replies. I think that settles it for the duet then. don't think a demo is an option. I haven't even seen an add for it in the shops in london, let alone a unit to take home and try in my room. will just have to take a chance I think. Many Thanks

20th February 2008, 09:14 PM	#9
durre Gear nut Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 123	I made the exact same thread a month ago or something and bought a duet after that. Very happy I did! You will definately notice the difference. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/durrekurre 24" iMac 2.8ghz, Logic Pro 8, Apogee Duet, Great River ME-1NV, Brauner Phantom Classic, Behringer Truth monitors (next upgrade).

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