[tippet]

I decided to upgrade from the swans to a pair of alp-5's and am trying to decide whether to use the emu 0404 or a passive monitor controller to interface with my computer.... the techs at event recommend going the passive route...anyone have ideas or recommendations??
thanks in advance

 

[infinitesymphony]

It's a good question, and one that I've been thinking about for a few months. I have a 1212M, but no volume knob, so I've been considering the 0404 USB as a side-grade just for its monitor output control (and for its powered mic preamps).

The problem with buying a cheap passive volume attenuator is that the inferiority of the parts inside can degrade the signal quality. Finding a good preamplifier can become expensive. So, I think the 0404 USB is a fair choice. If you ever acquire a larger budget, you might consider some of the studio DACs that offer variable line outputs, such as the Benchmark DAC-1.