Comparing a Rode AI-1 to a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen (with audio samples)

[dfira]

So I recently got a hold of the Rode AI-1 thinking it may be a minor upgrade to the Focusrite. Most reviews cite the AI-1 to be low noise, and what I found couldn't be further from the truth. It was by far the noisiest and most amateur sounding interface I had ever encountered. Weak output to speakers, incredibly noisy preamp, noisy headphone outs... Do you think I had a defective product? The DAC conversion was a little better than the scarlett (which is interesting because the DAC inside the Rode is a completely uninspiring consumer grade chip (NAU88L25) , but the noise rendered it all unusable.

You can here it for yourself in this comparison I made: https://soundcloud.com/arifd/scarlett-s ... -rode-ai-1

[muzines]

A quick glance at the specs of each, dynamic range, gain range etc shows the Focusrite to be better equipped.

Eg Rode dynamic range 104dB, Focusrite 111dB...

EIN is –128dBA on the Rode, -128dBu (A-weighted) on the Focusrite...

[Hugh Robjohns]

The comment about a weak output to the speakers is not surprising when the specs give a max level of -6dBu, which is unusually low. The dynamic range figure is also surprisingly low by modern standards, so the complaints of noise don't really surprise either.

The one spec I really don't understand though is the EIN figure which seems unfeasibly high for a preamp with only 45dB of gain available. I fear some laws of physics might have been redrafted there....

[dfira]

Hah! Right, well I've had a reasonably thorough back and forth with Rode support, and while grateful for their response and attempts to help solve my issue, interestingly they evaded confirming or denying whether my noisy results compared to the focusrite were par for the course or abnormal.

Thanks guys for taking a look at the specs. I think i know which of the two cases is the right one here.

Suffice to say i don't own the AI-1 anymore.

[uselessoldman]

Sadly the internet is awash with fake reviews even websites you would expect to be honest are sometimes lets say economical about the truth. Best to take them all light heartedly and not seriously. This is especially true of new kit cos few if anyone actually has seen these wonderful ground breaking innovative gadgets never mind used and actually owned one.

Focusrite have made great kit for many years, as much as I have my issues with them not supporting my firewire gear anymore (replaced by USB) I understand the business logic even if I do not support or agree with them.

I love my Liquid 56, it does exactly what I need it to and didn't cost the earth cos its now "obsolete" replaced by something "new".