Separate DACs?

[bayswater]

Anyone using separate ADCs and DACs?

I rarely use more than two output channels but often want multiple input channels. So could I get noticeably better sound, at least on the master output for a few $000 rather than a few $0,000 with a dedicated two channel DAC?

One that comes up in searches is from Apogee, but from what I remember reading here and GS, they're not good at updating converters. And they're using the ESS Sabre chip -- isn't that the one MOTU is using in newer converters?

Any suggestion from anyone using a separate DAC?

[mikehalloran]

Typical of many of the recent MOTU releases

Re-engineered with renowned ESS Sabre32 Ultra™ DAC technology and a new front panel design, the 828es connects to a Mac, PC or iOS device over Thunderbolt™ or USB with low latency, high performance drivers to deliver 60 total channels of I/O, 48-channel mixing and 32-bit floating point DSP effects processing.

According to a number of threads at Gearslutz, it's the next generation of what Apogee has been using. They're still touting ESS Sabre32 over at Apogee.
https://apogeedigital.com/ess-sabre

[bayswater]

Looking at the Apogee more closely, the basic DACs connect to headphones or amps but not both. To get the necessary connections you end up with a more expensive full ADC/DAC unit comparable in cost to a higher end MOTU box.

[labman]

We use Mytek ADCs and DACs hung off all our MOTU interfaces here.

[Phil O]

My situation is unique. For various reasons I had to work out of my home for many years. I built a studio in the basement, but I mix on the second floor (not in the studio control room). I have converters in each area now, but for a long while shlepped an Apogee Rosetta up and down. I've often thought that for mixing, a dedicated DAC would be the way to go, but a recent insurance claim bought me a new Lynx Aurora and I use the Aurora for tracking and was able to repair the old Apogee for use as a DAC only. I think your approach is reasonable. What are you using now, just the scarlett?

Phil

[bayswater]

My situation is unique. For various reasons I had to work out of my home for many years. I built a studio in the basement, but I mix on the second floor (not in the studio control room). I have converters in each area now, but for a long while shlepped an Apogee Rosetta up and down. I've often thought that for mixing, a dedicated DAC would be the way to go, but a recent insurance claim bought me a new Lynx Aurora and I use the Aurora for tracking and was able to repair the old Apogee for use as a DAC only. I think your approach is reasonable. What are you using now, just the scarlett?

Phil

Mostly the Scarlett. Older 828 Mk3 and 2408 Mk2 are still in the rack.
As per above, the MOTU units appear to have the same or similar chip to the Apogees. But hearsay says that while Apogee's analog circuit components sound better, they are less reliable with driver updates. Do you have any opinions on those observations?

[Phil O]

You know what, that 828 MK3 has some pretty good sounding converters. I'm not saying that there aren't better sounding units out there, but if you're looking to buy something for a few hundred bucks I doubt it'll sound better than the 828. JMHO

Phil

[bayswater]

You know what, that 828 MK3 has some pretty good sounding converters. I'm not saying that there aren't better sounding units out there, but if you're looking to buy something for a few hundred bucks I doubt it'll sound better than the 828. JMHO

Phil

I have a 828-3. Yes it sounds OK. To me, the Scarlett I use regularly sounds about the same. I had some older Tascam DA stuff and to me it sounds like the difference between a SM57 and a Royer 121. Maybe not quite that different, but that sort of thing.

[Tonio]

Bays,

I have used a Lavry DAC w/ my old MOTU 1224. I don't remember what converters are in the Lavry, but the frequency response was more robust than the 1224. I mainly purchased for the converters and connections- XLR to monitors and AES ( digital)from the 1224 ,and it also has SPDIF and headphone jack.

Others you might consider is the Benchmark- but they do get to the $1k price point. I'm sure there are newer models by other mfg's that are under $1K

[bayswater]

Thanks Tonio. I'll have a look.

[Tonio]

Bays,

You might consider your monitors- and learning them and room treatment before getting a DAC. I think having the right monitors appropriate for your mixing room is a big factor, and you can only hear what the room environment does to the monitors response within the room.

And a DAC probably will not get you much unless you get to at least the $1k price point compared to a " interface".

[bayswater]

My rooms not all that great and there isn't much I can do about it. I do a lot with the NX plugin and Sennheiser 650s, then play the mix in a few different placed to listen for problems.

On the cost of a DAC that makes a difference, that is what I need to consider. Apogee makes a very simple not very expensive DAC for headphones and I'd bet that sounds better than what I have now although it's not very flexible. After that, its more like $1K.

[Phil O]

I didn't realize you were looking for something with headphone out. In the under 1K price range there's also this:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... -amplifier

I don't know anything about the converters in this unit but I do know Grace prides themselves on pristine sound. I've had one of their preamps for years and I use it almost daily, it's excellent. Good reviews on Sweetwater.

[bayswater]

I didn't realize you were looking for something with headphone out.

Well, I wasn't looking specifically for headphone out -- the Apogee has only that. I don't really want to be futzing around with splitters and such. So I guess the minimum would be USB in, two channels out with connections for headphone and monitors. This unit looks like it does that. Thanks for the suggestion.

[gseibert]

It's more of an audiophile unit, but have you looked at any of the Schiit products. They come very highly recommended. I have their inexpensive Modi DAC and it sounds great. It's major drawback is the RCA outputs, but if you can tolerate that it might be a decent solution.
https://www.schiit.com/products