HD Audio Converter shootout: Avid HD IO, Digidesign 192 IO, Prism Sound ADA-8XR, Apogee Symphony I/O →
The cream of the high-grade converter crop were pitted against each other in a double-blind test with leading recording engineers. So who won?
Four units were included in the tests: the new Avid HD IO(which has the same A-D and D-A converters as the Omni, and thus should in theory sound identical to it); an original Digidesign 192 IO from the previous generation of HD interfaces; a Prism Sound ADA-8XR; and the newApogee Symphony I/O, with beta Pro Tools HD drivers.
When the patch cables were unscrambled to reveal the results, it turned out that the golden ears had indeed picked out the two newest converters as being the best-sounding. Converter B was revealed to be the Avid HD IO, while the other favourite on the day, converter D, was the Apogee Symphony I/O. Most of those present were surprised to see the Prism ADA-8XR, aka converter A, beaten into third place, but it was perhaps less of a shock that the 192 I/O came last. Once again, though, it should be emphasised that the most notable feature of the entire test was the lack of difference between all four. Without repeated, careful listening within the sweet spot and repeated switching, the differences were all but inaudible.
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