We use the CEDAR DA/AD. It has both DA and AD functions in one box. The CardDeluxe is SPDIF, but has an AES/EBU daughter card for about $80, which is also what we use also.
The CEDAR unit is about $1000. Our primary goal was to get the A/D conversion away from the fans and hard drives and other electrical interference inside the computer. In my opinion, this is where your biggest difference in sound quality comes from with an external DA, not from the higher quality of the AD converters. During our last computer upgrade we noticed a significant increase in the amount of noise in the signal, even though the sound card was the same. At this point I felt we had to get the AD out of the computer.
David Seubert UCSB
Folks,
Since we're on a product-suggestion line right now, I'm looking for recommendations for an external 24/96 A/D converter with AES/EBU output. Not interested in USB.
Price range is $200-$2,000 or so, but leaning toward the middle of that range. Would be going into a PC via a DAL CardDeluxe.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
andy ********************************* Andy Kolovos Archivist/Folklorist Vermont Folklife Center P.O. Box 442 Middlebury, VT 05753 (802) 388-4964 akolovos@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.vermontfolklifecenter.org