RME DIGI96/8 PAD

[Puddleglum]

I want to know how this card compares to the e-mu 1212m. I know it only goes to 96Hz compared to 196Hz that's obvious.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Compared directly, and unmodded, it has a noticeable high frequency distortion or ringing (due to a poorly engineered output stage), and much less overall detail, dynamics, soundstage, etc. It has a bit more of a punchy sound whereas the EMU is smoother (probably because of the AD DAC chip in the RME as opposed to the Crystal of the EMU). Modding the RME to bypass the output stage takes only a couple of capacitors and five minutes or so, which gets rid of the distorion, and improves the sound all-around, though it is still quite a ways off the EMU.

 

[Puddleglum]

thanks, that explains much.

 

[roadtonowhere08]

Ooh, that is good for me

 

[Puddleglum]

after reading a few reviews, i'm still not sure which works better for me. The purpose is to use this card under linux, which the emu doesn't support. If the RME isn't acceptable I'll dualboot with Win2k and get an emu. So, is the 1212m that much better than the RME? Is the RME better than say, the M-audio Revo?

 

[Daroid]

Judging from a computer setup with 6 installed soundcards (in a demo room), the RME Digi 96/8 PST sounded much better than the Audiophile 24/96 - it was more detailed and it felt more natural than the A24/96 for some reason. It's hard to pinpoint though, so yes, I believe it will be much better than the Revo too.
You should visit your local musical instruments dealer - if he has computer equipment too, chances are that he has a setup with multiple soundcards to try.

 

[Publius]

Just to put my 2 cents in: I have a PAD, and a Karma, and some crappier mobo audio, and an analog setup, which admittedly isn't much to compare to... and yet I have never heard any of this so-called "high-frequency distortion" alluded to by other members. If it is there, it exists at so low a level that virtually everybody on this board did not notice it at all for several months. The 1212m does score objectively better at RMAA in a lot of categories though (but the PAD scores really well to begin with).

192 (and to a lesser extent 96) is more or less moot for PC audio until DVDA or SACD gets decrypted for general use. (Or you get a card which supports DVDA, like the Audigy or Revo models)

I haven't tested Linux support but apparantly the RMA has had solid ALSA support for a long time.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Publius and yet I have never heard any of this so-called "high-frequency distortion" alluded to by other members. If it is there, it exists at so low a level that virtually everybody on this board did not notice it at all for several months.

I never heard it either, until we compared a modded card to an unmodded one, and then it was suddenly so clear what the problem was. And you're right I had lived with the sound of the stock card for months and really enjoyed it.

 

[Puddleglum]

Does anyone here know someone that does the mod to the RME or actually do it themselves, incase I ever do get one?

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

I could do it for you. It is so easy that I would do it for just the cost of parts and shipping, which would be about $15. Drop me a PM if you ever want to have it done. I have done this for several other members, and they have been extremely happy with the results.

 

[Puddleglum]

Thanks, I'll let you know if I decide to get one.

 

[Puddleglum]

Actually, do you know what the analog outputs are on the DIGI96/8? Are they RCA or 1/4"?

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

It is a single 1/4" stereo plug, you can actually plug headphones into it.

 

[Puddleglum]

That means that one could not hook up an amp running both channel inputs. Hmmmm.

 

[Puddleglum]

I really wan't to know how do you hook a card with one 1/4" output to an amp with L and R RCA Inputs? Especially a tube amp if that makes a difference