[tschanrm]

There's also two other options from Edirol, both can be purchased for under $500, and both are made in Japan, not china like the fa-66 and ua-25:

Fa-101/UA-101 (slight variation of options between the two):

10 in/10 out@96
6 in/6 out @192
S/N Out: 108 (A weighted)
S/N In: 102 (A weighted)
50db input for mic/guitarx2 (via XLR)
Direct monitor capable
Frequency selector on front side

http://www.edirol.com/products/info/fa101.html

 

[halcyon]

I've read quite a lot around different forums about Edirol FA-66, ESI QuataFire 610, M-Audio firewire 410 and Presonus Firebox.

Out of all these, Presonus Firebox is the one that most people praise for just working out of the box. No hassle, no driver problems, no losing synch. It just works.

Quatafire has been very problematic for many. In fact, one user here was told by the American tech support for ESI that just return the card, they've had a lot of problems with it. The sentiment is echoed on many forums.
QuataFire RMAA results:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...7/dal161_3.htm
http://www.ibsenstudio.no/prod/esi_p...rightmark.html

Edirol FA-66 is harder to find info on. It seems to be ok, but the driver support isn't on the level of M-Audio apparently. The sample rate must be hardware selectec by a switch on the back of the box (!).
RMAA results for FA-66:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...0221/24_96.htm
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...221/24_192.htm

M-Audio performs a bit better in RMAA than Edirol, on par with ESI (roughly). It appers to be an ok / solid piece of gear. RMAA results for Firewire 410 (M-Audio):
http://www.ixbt.com/multimedia/m-aud...wire-410.shtml

However, apparently M-Audio and ESI are both based on a same reference design by another company, who also makes the drivers (?), with some company specific tweaks.

The black horse if of course the yet to be shipping Focusrite Saffire, that everybody in forums seem to be drooling over.

I'm going to wait for some reviews on that before I plunk down my hard earned cash.

However, based on what I've read, it's either the Focusrite or Presonus for me (even though Presonus is "only" 24/96 gear).

EDIT: I just read that most of the above are all based on various reference designs by BridgeCo (maybe with manufacturer specific tweaks):

http://www.bridgeco.net/products/beb...ustomers.shtml

 

[MrYman]

great info halcyon, thanks!

i am still waiting for Focusrite to come out.... i'll probbably but it

if you find any more info on such products, and esp. Focusrite pls share

 

[clackman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrYman great info halcyon, thanks! i am still waiting for Focusrite to come out.... i'll probbably but it if you find any more info on such products, and esp. Focusrite pls share

I wanna know why 1616M cost so much!!!?

 

[MrYman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clackman I wanna know why 1616M cost so much!!!?

Echo Indigo dj costs $200, and it is ONLY a cardbus audio card, while 1616M
is so much more (and most prob. also of a better quality)...

Indigo: http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/Ca...goDJ/index.php
1616M: http://www.emu.com/products/product....4&product=2302

 

[yeeyy]

There are some users have bought 1616m and you can read their thought HERE and HERE.

 

[clackman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeeyy There are some users have bought 1616m and you can read their thought HERE and HERE.

however, it can never support 7.1?

 

[yeeyy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clackman however, it can never support 7.1?

If you are refering to DD/DTS decoding, the answer is No.

It work the same as 1820m.

 

[clackman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeeyy If you are refering to DD/DTS decoding, the answer is No. It work the same as 1820m.

But it seems 1820M support 8 channels,and 7.1 speakers

 

[yeeyy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clackman But it seems 1820M support 8 channels,and 7.1 speakers

It did support for multi channel output, but not DD/DTS decoding. These are different thing.

 

[clackman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeeyy It did support for multi channel output, but not DD/DTS decoding. These are different thing.

If i wanna connect it to 7.1 speakers, what should I do?

 

[yeeyy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clackman If i wanna connect it to 7.1 speakers, what should I do?

If you think of multi channel gaming purpose, the answer is no. The multi output is for music creation use.

 

[halcyon]

Initial word on Focusrite saffire is not very encouraging:

http://www.nuendo.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5815

 

[MrYman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by halcyon Initial word on Focusrite saffire is not very encouraging: http://www.nuendo.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5815

Thanks for the link! Don't know if you've read his last post there, where he said: "I was quite surprised by the sound for SAFFIRE, sounds a lot better then maudio410 and there lineup, also better then yamaha and roland,...." Well, to me it seems that he is satisfied with the sound but disappointed with software part of DSP and its control panel... There are two things to consider: 1) Perhaps there is something "wrong" with his computer, because I don't believe that it would crash on every PC (one can hardly think that if it doesn't work on ONE computer that it won't work on all), 2) Even if it's true that there are software problems, they can still fix it with firmware update....

To me it seems way more important to know that hardware is good

Wondering how its headphone output works.... Let's try to ask that guy

 

[MrYman]

Any news on Saffire? Product started shipping for a bit now... I am prob.
getting mine next week... Will update this page once I listen via it...