How does the D/A on the duet compare to central station

[Ashofapheonix]

So how does the Central Station D/A stackup to Apogees. I'm asking for people who've heard both pieces. Not someone who's read apogees marketing, or apogee fan bois.


The major reason I ask is a friend of mine (a hifi guy, not studio) is looking for either an interface or a stand alone D/A to listen to music with. He's using my tascam 1082 at the moment. To use with his setup (which is running through his iMac). From a functionality stand point the central station is a better piece for his needs, the sound has to be a factor. I've been told by people I trust that the Central Station D/A is quite good considering the price (and almost all of them are running cranesong, lavry, lucid or something higher end); I know the apogee piece is supposed to be amazing for 500$, but its still a 500$ interface and has preamps, and A/D on top of that. His step dad has a Apogee Duet for his setup, which he likes the sound of. So my question is does the apogee duet absolutely blowaway the central station, or just have a slight edge?


Your probably wondering why we're not looking at stand alone convertors. Cost is one factor, the needs of his setup is a bigger factor. The central station can switch between multiple inputs.


This will be run through a Bryston 4B-LP Pro (recapped) and Bowers and Wilkins CDM1-NTs (nautalis tweeter).

[chrysb93065]

Sorry, there have been many threaqds and posts on this. The CS convertors are not in the class of even RME, much less Apogee. If you want good sound, get good convertors. You can get a decent speaker switchbox or volume control and run powered monitors off the Apogee no sweat.

[Ashofapheonix]

Have you heard the D/A? I am skeptical that the D/A on a 500$ interface is "that" good. Thats why I'm asking directly. I don't buy hype. Its really easy to think hmm apogee is known for good convertors, there fore D/A is good. From your statement that duet is better than the Fireface D/A, is that really the case?. I know RME's d/a is better than presonus?


I actually need the opposite. I need something that can accept a signal from both a Telivision, and an iMac. and possibly a record player in the future. and can send it to one out put. Never used concurrently. The Central Station is supposedly able to do this.