New Black Lion Audio Mods

[jjdpro]

No disrespect to Black Lion, but those two Interfaces don't any "tweaking" or modifications.. The Omni and even better HD i/o are world class converters, with
a stereo dept, and stereo imaging.

This is by far, the best work Avid has done. A waste of good money (Imho)..

[ciggi]

just try their mc2 clock alone and you will notice a Difference (even better with a converter moded or from em) for example a Interface named above

[otobianki74]

Originally Posted by jjdpro

No disrespect to Black Lion, but those two Interfaces don't any "tweaking" or modifications.. The Omni and even better HD i/o are world class converters, with
a stereo dept, and stereo imaging.

This is by far, the best work Avid has done. A waste of good money (Imho)..

don't the omni and hd i/o have the same the converters? I could be wrong.

btw, agreed I was like "hmmmmm" when I got the BLA blast. owned a modded 002 and it sounded awesome, but I also have heard the avid i/o side by side to my symphony i/o and they both sounded stellar.

I'll check for samples on their site.

oto

[mirrorboy]

Originally Posted by otobianki74

don't the omni and hd i/o have the same the converters?

Yup.

Same converters...same quality.

It's the features that are different.

Scott

[otobianki74]

Originally Posted by mirrorboy

Yup.

Same converters...same quality.

It's the features that are different.

Scott

groovy. that's what I suspected.

[nst7]

To be nitpicky, they are the same converters and design, but the Omni has a smaller power supply and thus has slightly different specs in headroom and THD, but not something that most people would ever notice.

[EMR Audio]

On the website they claim the HD IO is a downgrade from the Digi blue converters. Hopefully some brave soul will take the plunge and give us a review.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by EMR Audio

On the website they claim the HD IO is a downgrade from the Digi blue converters. Hopefully some brave soul will take the plunge and give us a review.

Sounded better to me in a semi-blind test! Also did very well in blind testing with some heavy hitters involved.

I think there's a healthy dose of marketing involved here. I don't think the avid io needs modding, and of I wanted to spend another $1.5k on my converters i'd get a stunning 2-ch converter for mix printing or something, not getting .1% more out of the hd io.

The bla summary is also contrary to just about every other opinion out there. Opinions that don't have as much vested interest

[Shaman]

Originally Posted by EMR Audio

On the website they claim the HD IO is a downgrade from the Digi blue converters. Hopefully some brave soul will take the plunge and give us a review.

Not to turn this thread into the same shitstorm
like its brother on the DUC forum but from a pure
A/B listening standpoint this is a ridiculous statement.

The hd I/O sounds miles better than a blue 192-
in fact it sounds so good that I even sold my
trusty prism ada 8 xr which is almost 4 times its price.

Not shure what the mod does
but for me the hd sounds so good that I clearly
can erase the converter topic for the next decade.

Non the less I think I will mod my hd
with a less noisy fan in the near future lol.

[GnS]

Who's got an Audio Precision or a R&S UPV and a modded and an unmodded unit? We could turn subjective impressions into hard facts.

[mirrorboy]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Sounded better to me in a semi-blind test! Also did very well in blind testing with some heavy hitters involved.

I think there's a healthy dose of marketing involved here. I don't think the avid io needs modding, and of I wanted to spend another $1.5k on my converters i'd get a stunning 2-ch converter for mix printing or something, not getting .1% more out of the hd io.

The bla summary is also contrary to just about every other opinion out there. Opinions that don't have as much vested interest

Exactly.

Great post!


Scott

[mirrorboy]

Originally Posted by nst7

To be nitpicky, they are the same converters and design, but the Omni has a smaller power supply and thus has slightly different specs in headroom and THD, but not something that most people would ever notice.

I totally trust you've read this somewhere (source would be cool) and even if it were true....

...that'd literally be splitting a hair off the tip of a one-celled organism. Then taking half of the split piece of hair...and dividing it up another 1000 times until its quite literally invisible to the human eye.

Haha sorry got a little carried away there!!

Anyways, nobody (as you said), and I mean NOBODY could tell a difference b/w the two even if those minute .001 figures are true. Oh ya...IMO.

Same converters. Different features.

Just as it's advertised and experienced by real people in real-life situations every day.

--

Kinda strange how the idea that this is NOT the case came about in the first place.

--


Cheers!

Scott

[mirrorboy]

Originally Posted by EMR Audio

On the website they claim the HD IO is a downgrade from the Digi blue converters. Hopefully some brave soul will take the plunge and give us a review.

Absolute pure, biased nonsense. (not your post...their claim)

Actually, I've always kinda liked BLA even though I don't own any of their gear or mods....but this certainly rubs me the wrong way.

Slimy, I guess.


Scott

[jjdpro]

Ditto.. My point exactly..

Originally Posted by Shaman

Not to turn this thread into the same shitstorm
like its brother on the DUC forum but from a pure
A/B listening standpoint this is a ridiculous statement.

The hd I/O sounds miles better than a blue 192-
in fact it sounds so good that I even sold my
trusty prism ada 8 xr which is almost 4 times its price.

Not shure what the mod does
but for me the hd sounds so good that I clearly
can erase the converter topic for the next decade.

Non the less I think I will mod my hd
with a less noisy fan in the near future lol.

[nst7]

That's why I said I was being nitpicky. The differences are so small that no one will ever notice. But as to the source, it's a few different sources:

1. It's mentioned in a video put out by Avid when these were first introduced (might still be up on the site.

2. The specs listed on the website (they're slightly different).

3. Black Lion Audio, having opened it up and looked at it.

4. Anyone else who's opened it and looked at it.


Again, none of it really matters, I was just responding in my other post to the person before me. I have the Omni, it's great!

[projektk]

I'm considering getting my Saffire Pro 40 a BLA modification. It's seriously cheaper than I thought it would be when I first heard about the mod on the DUC. Now I wish the Saffire Pro 40's were Hybrid USB/FW. I plan to get a Scarlett 2i2. I do like that they mod the RME UFX which I have been considering.

Sent from my LG-P925 using Gearslutz App

[Shaman]

Converters have made such significant steps
in sounds AND price in the last years that it´s
pretty redundant if you go for a hd i/o or an apogee or a....

guys pick your flavor and let´s get back to work
doing great sound for mankind

[imaginaryday]

Originally Posted by projektk

I do like that they mod the RME UFX which I have been considering.

what's wrong with your ufx? just curious.

[SoundEng1]

Originally Posted by EMR Audio

On the website they claim the HD IO is a downgrade from the Digi blue converters.

Thats BS! HD I/O def sound better.

[mirrorboy]

Originally Posted by nst7

That's why I said I was being nitpicky. The differences are so small that no one will ever notice. But as to the source, it's a few different sources:

1. It's mentioned in a video put out by Avid when these were first introduced (might still be up on the site.

2. The specs listed on the website (they're slightly different).

3. Black Lion Audio, having opened it up and looked at it.

4. Anyone else who's opened it and looked at it.


Again, none of it really matters, I was just responding in my other post to the person before me. I have the Omni, it's great!

Cool...yeah I was more just talking about the marketing in general on this...not your post.

My bad if it came out wrong.

Anyways, how's that Omni working for you? Diggin' the pres?

I'm actually selling my Aurora 16 with the LT-HD card this month and replacing it with an Omni.

Mainly because one, I no longer need 32 i/o....not even close...and I'd like to complete my PT 10 | HD Native system by making it a fully closed, integrated and supported system (ie using all the Avid recommended stuff...and the interface (Omni) is all I'm missing to be current and fully supported).

I'm also looking fwd to NOT wondering anymore if my Aurora w LT-HD will be compatible in PT 11, as PT 11 64-bit is something I'm HIGHLY looking fwd to (as I'm sure many are).

Peace...have a good weekend!


Scott

[projektk]

Originally Posted by imaginaryday

what's wrong with your ufx? just curious.

I've been considering a UFX in general is what I mean. its just nice that BLA offers a mod for it. I'm not saying the UFX needs to be modded.

Sent from my LG-P925 using Gearslutz App

[T_R_S]

one of my three HD 16X16's is on it's way BLA right now so when I get it back I will report in...

[imaginaryday]

Originally Posted by projektk

I've been considering a UFX in general is what I mean. its just nice that BLA offers a mod for it. I'm not saying the UFX needs to be modded.

Sent from my LG-P925 using Gearslutz App

got it. thanks.

[mirrorboy]

Originally Posted by T_R_S

one of my three HD 16X16's is on it's way BLA right now so when I get it back I will report in...

Awesome!!!

Thanks man,

Scott

[dbjp]

Originally Posted by T_R_S

one of my three HD 16X16's is on it's way BLA right now so when I get it back I will report in...

This is going to be REALLY interesting!
Keep us posted!

[meloco_go]

Well, if you read carefully, they don't say a word about sound. They complain about "design" and not even that really, but about some components chosen and the lack of shielding the previous models have.
So both views CAN be correct. New HDs can sound way better than previous ones by some improvements in PCB design and power supply using same or ever "worser" components than previous ones.

[Shaman]

Originally Posted by meloco_go

Well, if you read carefully, they don't say a word about sound. They complain about "design" and not even that really, but about some components chosen and the lack of shielding the previous models have.
So both views CAN be correct. New HDs can sound way better than previous ones by some improvements in PCB design and power supply using same or ever "worser" components than previous ones.

That´s what I thought as well
but then it´s equally ridiculous nerd language for marketing purposes.
Who cares for "components" if it sounds good and lasts equally long

[nathaniellr]

There will always be someone fighting for that extra 2-3%, it's a bit silly to think BLA really believes these units sound BAD just because they've tweaked them and are offering modifications for them. I'm sure, however, they believe they can be better.

Some people want a little more out of the gear they have and are willing to take the risk, and some are satisfied and that's perfectly cool.

I'm actually waiting for my Motu HD192 to come home, had the signature mod done with the micro clock.

[Electrode]

Originally Posted by Shaman

Not to turn this thread into the same shitstorm
like its brother on the DUC forum but from a pure
A/B listening standpoint this is a ridiculous statement.

The hd I/O sounds miles better than a blue 192-
in fact it sounds so good that I even sold my
trusty prism ada 8 xr which is almost 4 times its price.

Not shure what the mod does
but for me the hd sounds so good that I clearly
can erase the converter topic for the next decade.

Non the less I think I will mod my hd
with a less noisy fan in the near future lol.

Originally Posted by mirrorboy

Absolute pure, biased nonsense. (not your post...their claim)

Actually, I've always kinda liked BLA even though I don't own any of their gear or mods....but this certainly rubs me the wrong way.

Slimy, I guess.


Scott

Originally Posted by SoundEng1

Thats BS! HD I/O def sound better.

I have absolutely zero affiliation with BLA. I own zero of their products and only just visited their site because of this thread.

Please read what BLA have actually said. The are clearly outlining their technical opinion of the avid HD design. You know those electronics guys... They even mention that the D/A in the Avid HD unit is better than the blue 192.

From the BLA website:

Like most converters released under the Digi/Avid name, clocking architecture is based on the standard HC49 crystals in Pierce-Gate configuration. This is the same clock found in the 002, 003, 96IO, and blue Digi HD box. We were disappointed to see that the A/D converter was built around the CS5381 A/D chip, since this chip does not offer as good of performance as the AK5394 chip used in the older blue devices. D/A conversion is built around the Texas Instruments PCM1794 converter chip, which offers improved dynamic range performance over the Cirrus Logic D/A chip found in the blue Digi boxes. What's nice about the PCM1794 is its on-chip conversion design as well as the way the filters are etched into the semiconductive substrate; this makes it a favorite among design heavyweights whose opinion we respect.
Sadly the new Avid boxes omit the wonderful copper shielding of their predecessor; something we imagine is a cost-saving move. Analog path in the new black boxes is not nearly as impressive as the older design, with most of the path built around the NE5532, Burr Brown OPA2227 and OPA4134. These are decent enough amplifiers, but we think that better options exist.