RME FF800 vs. Apogee AD16x (AD only)

[theblotted]

i had a friend's Apogee AD16x to borrow, so decided to do an impromptu test. to shootout the AD section against a RME FF800. nothing scientific, but i tried to do it to the best of my abilities.

since i don't have any other good DA's, i just used FF800's. now, i understand that all the shootout devices are under the mercy of FF800's DA (which may not be perfect); but hey, at least they were all using the same DA. like i said, nothing scientific. also, the levels that came back is left untouched. so level-matching at listener's end is recommended.

not sure if i'm violating copyright or not, but the track used was Frou Frou's "Breathe In". i figured the band broke up already... but still sounds amazing (to my ears), so they can use some post-breakup support? if this offends anyone/thing, i can simply take it down, just let me know.

here goes -

-original file: about first min of Frou Frou's "Breathe In", WAV 44.1kHz 16bit (imported via iTunes), edited in Peak 5.21
-converted to 48kHz (to be used in Logic) w/ Sample Manager, using iZotope Resampler, highest quality
-recorded in Logic 7.2.3, 48/24, WAV
-all high quality cables (balanced Belkin/Monster, Gotham WC, etc.)


FILES:

original: http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...FF38E84525093F
AD16x, Self-Clock: http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...E63DD043C41237
AD16x, FF800 Clock: http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...7B5B692AE1D9EE
FF800, Self-Clock: http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...B03BF6254B23D7
FF800, AD16x Clock: http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...328C330F2D7439


love to hear you slutters' feedback. i'll post mine a bit later.

[H-Rezz]

I'll bite ....

IMO the best way to test is with a split from the same mic/pre going to the two sets of converters , playing some instrument or voice .....

But for the sake of this test it is clear(to me at least) that the AD16x is the better converter , the bass in the intro without the drums is rounder in the Apogee and lost a bit of depth with the RME, both on their own clocks ......

Having said that does the price difference correspond with the gain in quality ? Well this is Gearslutz so even 10% better over the course of many tracked instruments can have an impact , so all of us can decide how much difference it would make ...

My opinion Apogee and RME both make great products , i'd buy products from both, and indeed have both in my studio

[theblotted]

cool, thanks for your input H-Rezz!

i'll wait for a few more before i post mine.

[theblotted]

nobody else dare to comment?

fine, here -

my quick impressions (after matching levels):

--> FF800 comes back about 0.5dB softer, whereas AD16x is about .1dB louder
--> interestingly, FF800 self-clock and FF800/AD16x clock NULLS.
--> OTOH, AD16x self-clock and FF800 clock creates a strange waved, phasing experience... sounds like clocks are trying to chase each other.
--> AD16x adds a certain fatness to low-end, but sacrificing a bit of "tightness"
--> AD16x rolls a bit of hi/hi-mid's off, not as sibilant

from this non-official test, i feel like FF800 comes back more accurately compared to the original. surely i'll get flamed for this, but comparing the 2 AD's, i prefer FF800 in this case; simply cuz it doesn't sound like it's adding stuff as much. this is not to say AD16x sucks; instead i would use it as a tool, and tame whatever inst that needs the hi-rolloff and larger bass.

btw, i'm listening thru FF800's DA (for the second time)... so i'm mos def biased.

[Land Fish]

I'm so pissed off right now!!!
no I'm not... I'm very happy. the ff800 is great.

[Zuewi]

ok old thread but can some1 please repost the files?
THE FILE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LINK HAS EXPIRED..

[andremattos]

Originally Posted by Zuewi

ok old thread but can some1 please repost the files?
THE FILE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LINK HAS EXPIRED..

+1 , please repost the files !!

[theblotted]

i'm at work at the moment, but maybe sometime over the weekend i can go back to my HD and repost'em..

the files are a bit on the large side; anybody know where i can host them other than yousendit.com (where it expires)?

[andremattos]

Hi , just try 4shared.com - free file sharing and storage

Your shootout will be very important to me !


thanks

[johnmarkpainter]

I've been using a Fireface 800 for a bit over two years and it is a good value.
BUT

I just got a Universal Audio 2192...OUCH.
Granted, it is twice the price for only two channels with no Mic preamps, no computer Interface, no extra outputs.
But it SOUNDS drastically better than the FF.

jmp

[theblotted]

sorry, i was a bit busy over the weekend.


here're the files again, you can d/l from 4shared.com.


Original: 4shared.com - music and mp3 sharing - download BreatheInEdit.wav

AD16x, Self-Clock: 4shared.com - music and mp3 sharing - download AD16xSelfClock.wav

AD16x, FF800 Clock: 4shared.com - music and mp3 sharing - download AD16xFF800Clock.wav

FF800, Self-Clock: 4shared.com - music and mp3 sharing - download FF800SelfClock.wav

FF800, AD16x Clock: 4shared.com - music and mp3 sharing - download FF800AD16xClock.wav


post some feedback.

[nativeaudio]

now, i understand that all the shootout devices are under the mercy of FF800's DA (which may not be perfect); but hey, at least they were all using the same DA.

If you have a chance to try this again using the outputs of the Apogee as sources (for both the Apogee and FF800 tests) - or use the Apogee for the D/A for the Apogee test and the RME D/A for the RME test, let's know! :)


As you say, all the DA is now under the mercy of FF800's convertors, so I'm not sure how much these files will tell us, compared with recording of the same acoustic material through high end microphones and preamps....

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by nativeaudio

If you have a chance to try this again using the outputs of the Apogee as sources (for both the Apogee and FF800 tests) - or use the Apogee for the D/A for the Apogee test and the RME D/A for the RME test, let's know! :)


As you say, all the DA is now under the mercy of FF800's convertors, so I'm not sure how much these files will tell us, compared with recording of the same acoustic material through high end microphones and preamps....

AD16x only has digital outs.

and it's not mine, so can't do the other tests at this point. perhaps later.

what these files will "tell you" is comparison of how close the AD's are from the original source. take it for what you will; it's not uber scientific. but if it helps some, great.