Hugh Robjohns Top Ten Interfaces/Convertors?

[Guest]

That’s revealing…and surprising. I won’t mention any brands here. Anyway, I trust you more than anyone else.

[forumuser840717]

Interesting lists.

Quick questions for Hugh - the Focusrite Rednet and Merging Hapi AD and DA conversion all come in different versions. With Focusrite, it's different hardware boxes, the older series is (mostly) 2U and the newer stuff is 1U with dual PSUs but with the Merging boxes the conversion quality comes down to a choice of input and output cards, of which there are several. Do you know which ones you tested?

[Hugh Robjohns]

Not off the top of my head, but the details will be in the relevant reviews, and you can look those up as easily as I can.

In the case of older reviews, its possible that newer updated converters might be employed in later versions.

The only old/new version i can recall testing were the optional 8-channel A-D cards for Focusrite's ISA428 (and related products), with the updated (current) version being significantly better.

[ManFromGlass]

Thanks!

[Arpangel]

Digital recording is all different degrees of crap.

There is no such thing as a "good" AD/DA converter.

I’ve been away from this forum for four days, glad to see it’s business as usual.

[ken long]

A little surprised the Prismsound Dream convertors didn't feature on that list. I may have missed a criterion though.

[Wonks]

The main one being that Hugh's had them submitted to test. If they aren't submitted and then selected to be testd by the mag and for Hugh to review as opposed to someone else, then I doubt he actively goes out finding units to test for fun.

[ken long]

Fair enough!

[Hugh Robjohns]

A little surprised the Prismsound Dream convertors didn't feature on that list. I may have missed a criterion though.

Ha! I feared this kind of response...

I have explained, in bold, why the devices I've listed are there, and why other devices are not.

[ken long]

Point one: This list is ONLY of the products that happened to have crossed my test bench. It is categorically NOT a comprehensive list of 'The Best (or worst) Converters and Interfaces', and not a list of recommendations.

There are many brands and specific products that I haven't had the opportunity to measure. Their omission from this list does not imply anything about their performance in any way; I simply haven't tested them (yet).

[ConcertinaChap]

I’ve been away from this forum for four days, glad to see it’s business as usual.

In fairness the original comment floated off into the distance on its back with all four legs in the air. That's business as usual round here

CC

[Matt Houghton]

Point one: This list is ONLY of the products that happened to have crossed my test bench. It is categorically NOT a comprehensive list of 'The Best (or worst) Converters and Interfaces', and not a list of recommendations.

There are many brands and specific products that I haven't had the opportunity to measure. Their omission from this list does not imply anything about their performance in any way; I simply haven't tested them (yet).

I'd add to this that different generation products from the same manufacturer can be very different — so do pay attention to the review dates that Hugh thoughtfully included in his post!

Eg he tested the first-gen UA Apollo and quoted the figures for that in his table, but UA's claims of their latest-generation Apollos would, if confirmed accurate, put those interfaces at the top of the list. I'm sure some others have made significant leaps too...

[Hugh Robjohns]

Good point, and I've extended the intro slightly to make that clear.

For me, the biggest take away is that there is a 20dB difference in performance between the worst and best models to have passed across my test bench.

Although the very best performers are generally the most expensive models, and the very worst the least expensive -- much as you might expect -- a surprisingly high number of affordable devices manage to deliver extremely good figures, which is encouraging. And even the worst is still capable of high quality results in practical home-studio circumstances.

[Aled Hughes]

Not that it matters, but I'll soon be buying the new RME AIO Pro. Your (Hugh)'s review in July stated that "the AIO‑Pro sits just inside my top 10 rankings". Any reason it's not on this list? Because it's essentially the same circuitry as the ADI-2 perhaps?

[Hugh Robjohns]

Any reason it's not on this list?

incompetence, mainly.

Apologies, both the original and the pro cards scores fell off my chart! Now added back in.

[Aled Hughes]

Any reason it's not on this list?

incompetence, mainly.

Apologies, both the original and the pro cards scores fell off my chart! Now added back in.

!

I feel a bit of a twerp for mentioning it- it’s just that it had stuck in my mind since I read the review a few times as I was seriously contemplating buying one.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I've always loved the feature-set and performance of the AIO card, and have used it for years and years. I've used the digital I/O for most things, but when I reviewed the new Pro updated version I bought the card simply because its analogue I/O outperforms the converters in my Crookwood console. So I now have both the original and the new card installed side by side in my studio computer, doubling my digital I/O (which is very handy when working with double sample rate material on ADAT connections). They work seamlessly together. Can't recommend them highly enough....

...but since it uses AKM converters there may well be quite a delay in product being available!

[claz]

Just a suggestion, if this is to be sticky, that Hugh's quote below also be attached to the initial lists.

For me, the biggest take away is that there is a 20dB difference in performance between the worst and best models to have passed across my test bench.

Although the very best performers are generally the most expensive models, and the very worst the least expensive -- much as you might expect -- a surprisingly high number of affordable devices manage to deliver extremely good figures, which is encouraging. And even the worst is still capable of high quality results in practical home-studio circumstances.

I can imagine many folks not reading through the whole thread, and coming away with a very different impression.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Just a suggestion, if this is to be sticky, that Hugh's quote below also be attached to the initial lists.

I've 'un-stuck' this thread, and added the comment referred to back into the original details post... and I've also copied that full post into the useful Information Archive for ongoing reference.

[claz]

For what it's worth, I agree with the decision to un-stick as well, despite being an interesting read!

[Airfix]

As this thread now wanders through space for infinity - legs up as previously mentioned - a question for us.
What intrigues those of us who are interested/obsessed with audio technology?
I think - it is a constant never ceasing quest for 'perfect' and beautifully captured recordings.
Top Ten Converters in this event was fair - I am now tipped off - I'll be checking ADC dynamic range specs - Thanks Hugh

[FD10]

I've always loved the feature-set and performance of the AIO card, and have used it for years and years. I've used the digital I/O for most things, but when I reviewed the new Pro updated version I bought the card simply because its analogue I/O outperforms the converters in my Crookwood console. So I now have both the original and the new card installed side by side in my studio computer, doubling my digital I/O (which is very handy when working with double sample rate material on ADAT connections). They work seamlessly together. Can't recommend them highly enough....

...but since it uses AKM converters there may well be quite a delay in product being available!

Is the RME AIO PRO AD/DA Converters and Headphone AMP on same Level as the from the Merging Anubis?