budget(?) AD-DA converters and stereo DSP

[Gibbo]

With my current setup (m-Audio 2496), I really only need stereo analogue In/Out.
All my analogue sources go through an analogue mixer and I only send one at a time to the audio interface for recording and I only need stereo analogue out which goes straight to the power amp.
Having heard the difference some really pro AD-DA make (Apogee I think), I think I'd like to update my audio interface.
I could lose the MIDI on the m-Audio 2496 as I have a MOTU MTPAV USB to perform MIDI I/O tasks.
I can't stretch to a piece of pro equipment (like the Apogees) and would probably only have a budget of £300 - £500 GBP (pounds sterling).
A quality AD-DA converter needs precise timing to maintain the desired sample rate with accuracy and is probably the most critical part of the chain.

So what, do you lot reckon, is the audio interface with the most accurate AD-DA converters available within that budget. I am not fussed if it is PCI or Firewire, either will do. I just would like to know which boxes to request an audition of before I part with funds.
This is a 'budget' home studio btw.

[chis]

Gibbo, I think you're asking in the wrong place.

Have a look at http://www.soundonsound.com and perhaps also ask around the forum there.

In the meantime, you could do much MUCH worse than something like a Presonus Firebox, or even their newer Inspire, but there are no balanced TRS jacks on it, only unbalanced phonos and two balanced XLRs.

There is also EMU's 0404, however this new Emu range of cards has a history of incompatibility with motherboards (specifically, some boards wouldn't POST with the card in!). If you need (proper) high-quality audio, but only stereo in and out, and would prefer the lower latency of a PCI interface, this is probably your best option in this price range. Martin Walker over at Sound On Sound, however, claimed that Presonus have one-upped them since, so if you don't mind firewire, go for a Presonus. I hope your firewire adapter has a Texas Instruments chipset though!

Quick notes: M-Audio are let down by their driver quality, Terratec are reliable but not the best audio quality, Focusrite's interfaces are just hideous overall, MOTU don't do simple stereo interfaces, and Echo are very reliable but aren't quite up to EMU or Presonus' audio quality. Supposedly. Shame though, Echo have a damned good reputation.

[Gibbo]

I hope your firewire adapter has a Texas Instruments chipset though!

The PCI card does.

[Gibbo]

Looking at :

RME Fireface400 http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/product...00&context=WEB £519
E-MU 1616MPCI http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/product...CI&context=WEB £268
Focusrite Saffire http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/product...RE&context=WEB £293



Sadly, the Lynx2 PCI card is well over budget http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/product...X4&context=WEB at £930

[chis]

I don't recommend Focusrite. At all. Nor Turnkey, for that matter. Give Digital Village a go.

Presonus Firebox
Presonus Firepod
E-MU 1616M PCI
Echo Audiofire 8