Pro Audio: Rme Fireface 800, Disease Factory’s take.
January 2nd, 2008 by Hexfix93
By far my favorite AD and DA convertor. Is it the best sounding? No. I think the best sounding is still the Lavry Blue or the prism high end converters. But I prefer the RME fireface 800 to the apogee DA16 AD16, because the apogee colors the mid range in a way that really does not compliment electronic music that well. What makes this the best in my opinion? The drivers, and how it works amazingly perfect with the PC and the MAC. The built in mixer and control panel in the os are simply amazing and very useful for metering and making sure levels are good. This is a solid stable product. So many devices out there have crappy drivers, tc electronics is horrid. This is the best best buy. You get a ton of ins and outs. And kick ass sound quality. I shot it out with the lynx two cards, and my kurzweil AD DA. I would say the the rme had better bass than all the other converters I tested. But the high end seemed a little pinched and not as open as either the lynxtwo or the kurzweil. But mastering can usually help that enough. The lynxtwo and the Kurzweil both cannot touch the low end of the RME FireFace 800. So for bass, stability, drivers, and utilities the rme fireface 800 won me over hands down.. And don’t think the fireface 400 is the same thing, that thing is over priced garbage. Don’t even bother with the fireface 400. If you look around and hagle on price, you can get the fireface 800 for about 1150 new.
Input AD: 8 x 1/4″ TRS, 4 x XLR Mic, 1/4″ TRS Line, all servo-balanced. 1 x 1/4″ TS unbalanced
Output DA: 8 x 1/4″ TRS, servo-balanced, DC-coupled signal path. 1 x 1/4″ TRS unbalanced
Input Digital: 2 x ADAT optical or SPDIF optical, SPDIF coaxial (AES/EBU compatible)
Output Digital: 2 x ADAT optical or SPDIF optical, SPDIF coaxial (AES/EBU compatible)
MIDI: 1 x MIDI I/O via 5-pin DIN jacks, for 16 channels low jitter hi-speed MIDI
Dynamic range AD: 109 dB RMS unweighted, 112 dBA
THD AD: < -110 dB (< 0.00032 %)
THD+N AD: < -104 dB (< 0.00063 %)
Crosstalk AD: > 110 dB
Dynamic range DA: 116 dB RMS unweighted, 119 dBA (unmuted)
THD DA: < -103 dB (< 0.0007 %)
THD+N DA: < -100 dB (< 0.001 %)
Crosstalk DA: > 110 dB
Input/Output level for 0 dBFS @ Hi Gain: +19 dBu
Input/Output level for 0 dBFS @ +4 dBu: +13 dBu
Input/Output level for 0 dBFS @ -10 dBV: +2 dBV
Sample rate internally: 32, 44.1, 48, 64, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 128, 176.4, 192 kHz
Sample rate externally: 28 kHz – 200 kHz
Frequency response AD/DA, -0.1 dB: 5 Hz – 21,5 kHz (sf 48 kHz)
Frequency response AD/DA, -0.5 dB: < 5 Hz - 43.5 kHz (sf 96 kHz)
Frequency response AD/DA, -1 dB: < 5 Hz - 70 kHz (sf 192 kHz)
Category: 09-ProAudio Reviews | 
8 Comments »
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January 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Great, I love reading your gear reviews. Is there any chance you can review more synths and gear, as there were a lot more on the previous website?
March 7th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I thought I was going to buy the 400 until I read your review (among others concerning equip and SW–especially DAWs). After listening to your music, though I am not a BIG “industrial” fan, I at least know what I like and can at tell you certainly have a quality ear. That’s what gives me the confidence in your review. I lived in Nashville for 4 years (and no, no country) and if there is anything anyone talks–it is equipment. Your ability to say what you like and do not like is pretty solid. I look forward to more gear posts.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
After working with different converters in the past, this is the best. Forget about the overpriced Apogees. I managed to get one for about 800 dollars, fully working and in mint condition off ebay.
September 16th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Perfect review. After reading around about the fireface 400 and 800, you’ve made it 100% clear.
Of course i have to take into account subjects like this are always sensitive to individual ear and sometimes a matter of taste, but you’ve (quite favourably) brutally punched the 400 in the nuts.
My only issue is raising the funds for one.
You mentioned yoou used a Kurzweil converter, tell me have you ever used a Kurzweil Rumour (fx unit) for its converters?
To me it sounds really good for what it is but im curious to know if you’ve heard it, what your opinion is.
Also, anything else in the FF400 budget range that is worth the weight in converter quality ? Cheers.
September 16th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
The kurzeweil units are good, but lack the bass of the fireface 800, but they have a slightly better stereo image and better high end.
Rme ff 800 does bass right. better than the the ensemble as well.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
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November 17th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
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November 25th, 2009 at 3:02 am
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