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E-MU 1212M goes for the modded RME's jugular

post #1 of 260
4/21/04 at 8:08pm
Thread Starter 
So after getting the card today and spending an agonizing hour downloading the driver from Sduibek, I can positively say this card in stock form spanks my oft-modded RME PAD as far as sound quality is concerned. More open, moe detailed, better soundstage, tighter imaging, far blacker background, more realistic attack/decay, smoother treble, and definitely more human sounding vocals basically sum up my brief listening impressions and comparisons to the bypass modded RME so far. I would be stoked with the performance of this card in stock form, so if mods make it even better, well holy cow!

That said, the mixer interface is a bit bloated and annoying compared to the functional simplicity of the RME driver control panel, and the cards take up a good amount of space in your system (the main card is larger than my U320 SCSI card and my video card). However, I can put up with these minor issues for the way this baby sounds!

BTW: 192K upsampling rocks!
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post #2 of 260
4/21/04 at 8:25pm
Thats very good news indeed, especially considering that the RME costs ~100 more than the 1212m. Hmmph, decision decisions - Emu 1212m or Universal SACD/DVDA player??
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post #3 of 260
4/21/04 at 8:40pm
Thanks very much for those comments. I am definitely getting one of these now. Seems like one of the biggest bargains around.

Can anyone compare the Emu 1212M to a high end CD player ? There was a thread over at AVS forums where they compared the RME to high-end DACs costing several thousand dollars and found that it was pretty competitive. So I wonder if the Emu would compete with CD players costing $1000+ ??

One more question, how is the Emu at driving headphones without an amp ? I am going to be in New York in 2 months time and will have enough money to pick up the Emu and some Sennheiser HD-650s. I will eventually get an amp (probably the Perreaux) but it might have to wait a couple more months. So in the meantime would the Emu drive the 650s well enough to get me thru ?
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post #4 of 260
4/21/04 at 8:47pm
Looks like the EMU's will be compared to the Meridian 588 and Linn Ikemi June 19th.

Crap, now I have to go buy the Emu 1820M now. Anyone want to buy my RME PAD? I guess the RME PAD has the advantage of true "plug and play". While the Emu is pretty finicky driver and interface wise.

-Ed
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post #5 of 260
4/21/04 at 9:05pm
Thread Starter 
I cannot get this thing to run RMAA properly to save my life, good god this interface is so freaking annoying if you're trying to do anything other than listen to music, and even for that it can be trying!
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post #6 of 260
4/21/04 at 9:25pm
Good news! I'm going to have to get one also... now, 1212m or 1820m, hmmm
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post #7 of 260
4/21/04 at 9:28pm
If both of the RME DIGI96/8 PAD afficiandos are loving this card now, I'm glad I waited! Knowing my luck though, once I've bought the 1212m, something even better this way comes...
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post #8 of 260
4/21/04 at 9:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Harrath
If both of the RME DIGI96/8 PAD afficiandos are loving this card now, I'm glad I waited! Knowing my luck though, once I've bought the 1212m, something even better this way comes...
Well that is just the nature of technology, and life in general, for that matter. The only way to always have the best is to spend out the nose for it.
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post #9 of 260
4/21/04 at 9:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer
Well that is just the nature of technology, and life in general, for that matter. The only way to always have the best is to spend out the nose for it.
Aye to that.

Have you tried the digital output from the card? How does that compare to the RME's digital output?
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post #10 of 260
4/21/04 at 9:45pm
Thread Starter 
I haven't a DAC to use to compare the digital outs. This card sure sounds great, I just wish the software wasn't such a PITA.
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post #11 of 260
4/21/04 at 9:48pm
But now you've got a problem - who would buy a modded RME PAD when the EMU 1212M blows it away? If the modded one is significantly better, you'd have to be selling the RME PAD for <$150 for anyone to want and pick it up.

What is the analouge daughterboard like? Does it require an extra PCI connector, or is it just a board with a bracket that connects to the main unit via a cable?
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post #12 of 260
4/21/04 at 10:06pm
What I want to know is how good the specs for the SPDIF input and output, and how the synchronisation scheme (if there is one) works.
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post #13 of 260
4/21/04 at 10:18pm
Are you listening to mp3's from your computer or what is the actual source of the music? I have 119gb worth of mp3's and i am wanting to pickup this card, but only if its going to sound better than my on-board sound, while still playing the same mp3's. mind you i dont expect anything better from my 128k encoded mp3s but i would hope my 192, 256, 320 would sound slightly better. i'm just tired of crackling when i start doing lots of HD accessing.
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post #14 of 260
4/21/04 at 10:22pm
Dammit, dammit, dammit. Out goes my M-Audio Card...
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post #15 of 260
4/21/04 at 10:25pm
Meh.

How would one hook such a card up to an unabalanced amp?
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