Apogee Mini-DAC /Converters

[digigem]

[SIZE=3]Hi, First time here and hope i might get some opinion on converters . Am about to change my Audio interface to a M-Audio ProjectMix i/o(same pre-amps/Converters as M-Audio Firewire 1814) from a Motu 2408 Mk2 and Mbox and am thinking i need to get decent Converters(Apogee’s Mini•DAC) and have the output of the ProjectMix i/o go to the Apogee’s Mini•DAC and output to the Genelec 1031A. Would i me wasting money on buying this converter and will i hear noticable difference in quality if i got one.
Thanks.

G4 Dual 1.25 2 UAD-1's Pro tools Le,Nuendo 3,Logic 6,Cubase SX3,Reason,Motu 2408 mk2,Mbox,projectmix i/o on order, Genelec 1031,etc

[Glenn Kuras]

Oh that is a hard question to really answer.. Yes you will hear a difference but only if you have outstanding mics, pres and acoustics in your room.. Even with so so gear you might hear a little difference, but not the WOW you would get out of a great sounding room with a U87 running through a neve preamp... So basically if you are running through mid grade pres and mics and your room sounds like crap then NO you will not get a very good bang for the buck.. I myself have the AD16 and DA 16 and do hear a difference, but I also have pretty good pres, mics and a room that you can trust.. BTW, there are a lot of people using the Motu for the AD and DA and make some pretty pro recordings..

Glenn

[matucha]

I switched from m-audio delta soundcard to minidac (and lavry ad)...

MiniDAC sounds much fuller and a bit smoother. Not a night/day difference, but there is no turning back, because there is more info in the sound and so you can mix more precisely.

I didn't hear motu, but there is no volume knob on motu, so you have to buy some. Well but buying minidac/lavry black/mytek/benchmark is better idea than buying just a volume knob ;-).

[cletus]

I've got the mini me and absolutelty love it. I noticed a big difference using it as opposed to the stock 002r converters. If I understand it correctly Max Gutnik of Apogee has said that the converters in the mini series are the same as the AD and DA 16x's. I have yet to use the DAC but it is my next planned converter purchase to complement my mini me!

[feyshay]

The mini-dac is not a bad investment. I consider it a good value and is nice and portable. I consider the a/d conversion to be more important, but having both is important. More important are the preamps you are using.
I don't need many connections and use the mini-me and mini-dac in combination (or use the Firebox in the middle with the apogee units doing the converting). I won't talk you out of the mini-dac, since it is a great unit. If you are doing a lot of synth work, you will notice a difference in what you hear. If you are doing more recording and have limited funding, you might be better investing in better preamps and A/D conversion and holding on the the mini-dac.
BTW--the mini-dac also has a nice headphone output and you will notice a difference for music listening through those great genelecs and through discerning headphones.
I agree with MyFipie. The MOTU you have is very nice. You would notice an improvement, but for the relative difference you might do better spending that money on a preamp.

[FMNYC]

i use the mini-dac for monitoring and it has made a huge difference in my mixes.
prior to that i was using my 2408 mk3's outs for monitoring and was not getting the full picture.

cheers!

FM

FM has gone way beyond the pale.

[smarsland]

Originally Posted by cletus

I've got the mini me and absolutelty love it. I noticed a big difference using it as opposed to the stock 002r converters. If I understand it correctly Max Gutnik of Apogee has said that the converters in the mini series are the same as the AD and DA 16x's. I have yet to use the DAC but it is my next planned converter purchase to complement my mini me!

me too. did a recording on the mini-me last night into mbox. freakin' cool! great smooth sound. akg c451's on the stage.

s

[digigem]

Thanks for the responses. I have a Focusrite Track Master with a Digital card but dont really use it,but would like to get an Api 7600 at a later stage i would only be recording Vocals or single instrument at a time, and use Virtual Instruments and Samples.Can use the Mini-Dac as a Pre-Amp? Has anyone tried the Benchmark's Dac1 or have any opinon on which is a better buy.

[feyshay]

I think you'll get differing opinions on the comparison of the Benchmark and the Apogee mini-dac. Probably a matter of taste.
The dacs do not have preamps. The mini-me (an a/d converter) has a two channel preamp that is quite nice. It also has a crude built-in limiter/compressor which has come in handy, although the compressor can be a bit heavy handed. I usually use the light compression curves or only the limiter options.
The mini-me and mini-dac work well in tandem. Both have USB options if you want them.
That API channel looks nice.

[digigem]

Hi Feyshay,Thanks for your replies , and you seem to be knowledgable in this aspect, i havent really got the budget for a Decent pre-amp yet as i work an Audio/Music Tech and spending all my money trying to all the little bits of software i need, and guess as i only need to record few vocals at home so the i'll have to use the trackmaster 4 a short while, most of the stuff will be virtual instruments and i'll get vocals and instruments recorded in the studio with an avalon 737sp.Looks like i'll go with the Apogee as we get a better price from (sonic distribution) the uk distributors. Should a D/A Converter be the right thing to get to improve my sonic Quality?...........Just Loaned one from work, should recived it nxt week

Many Thanks Again..

[woodfoot]

Does anyone think there would be a noticable improvement if I were to buy an Apogee mini DAC to use instead of the converters on my RME multiface 2?

My room is good already and I won't be upgrading my converters until I upgrade my monitors.

Cheers

[frenzy]

Originally Posted by phizix

Does anyone think there would be a noticable improvement if I were to buy an Apogee mini DAC to use instead of the converters on my RME multiface 2?

I think so. Got a Fireface 800, Lavry DA10 and an Apogee Mini-DAC. Compared to the RME converters the Mini-DAC is definitely a step up with better lowend, lowmid and a more open midrange. I would say that it has an overall more defined sound.


Cheers
Fred

[woodfoot]

Originally Posted by frenzy

I think so. Got a Fireface 800, Lavry DA10 and an Apogee Mini-DAC. Compared to the RME converters the Mini-DAC is definitely a step up with better lowend, lowmid and a more open midrange. I would say that it has an overall more defined sound.


Cheers
Fred

Sounds good
cheers

[White Falcon]

Is the Lavry a better D/A-converter than the Apogee?

Best regards.