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Apogee Duet (-) Apogee Duet2

Posted by hfavandepas on October 5, 2013 at 03:21:03

In Reply to: RE: Focusrite Saffire LE, TC Electonic Konnekt series, Steinberg MR816X posted by beppe61 on October 3, 2013 at 21:22:54:

Hi Beppe,

You are looking for old(er) but good sounding firewire converters and also you state, you have very good opportunity too buy an Apogee Duet. However the Duet uses an USB interface.

The Duet ($ 649,-) is succeeded by the Duet2 ($ 595,-). Apogee themselves write on there website that the new Duet2 has beter sound quality. While I haven’t listened too their Duet or listened too their Duet2, I tend too believe what Apogee writes on their website.
I listened (extensively) too both their Symphony I/O and Quartet. Both the Symphony I/O and the Quartet have a much (!) better price/performance ratio (mind the: ‘ratio’), than previous Apogee products.

Moreover this is a general trend I see with almost all serious Pro AD/DA converter manufacturers. In recent years Sound Quality coming from newly released AD/DA converters has MUCH improved, while at the same time prices where (much) lower. Last 5 years the price/performance ratio on Sound Quality coming from Pro AD/DA-converters roughly changed from 1/1 to ½.

So, it’s only a very good opportunity too buy a first generation Duet, if that first generation Duet is offered too you a very low price level (!). This because the new Duet2 is has a much better price/performance ratio on sound quality.

The Steinberg MR816X was an immediate hit at the gearsluts forum. Same as on every forum it can be very hard too distinguish between forum members who are real knowledgeable and the ones who just produce “bla bla”, the knowledgeable inmates on the gearslutz forum praised the Steinberg MR816X on it’s sound quality. After SoundonSound also praised it’s sound quality, a friend of mine went out for a listening session and bought it immediately (and mind you: he heard A LOT AD/DA converters).

So now I hear the Steinberg MR816X at regular intervals. It indeed has a damn good price/performance ratio.

But as always: make a short list and listen before you buy.

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