Edirol DA-2496 opinions, anything better?

[robains]

I would like to get some opinions of a good digital audio interface for my PC.

I was looking at Edirol DA-2496 -- which seems to be available for around $500. http://www.edirol.com/products/info/archive/da2496.html

I currently have a 1212m with a 1820m (breakout box).

How are the A/D and D/A's in the Edirol? Any compatibility issues with Sonar 3 PE (or Sonar 4)?

I do a lot of DXi/VSTi work and I'm trying to find the best digital audio interface. I'd be willing to go as high as $2000 for a unit so long as it truely added some value.

Thanks, Rob.

[dxl]

undrer 1k USD nothing can kill 1820m.... in sound

[robains]

What can kill it over $1000?

Rob.

[dxl]

i'm sorry i'm not too sure
but EMU 1820m has the same level of the sound VS Protool HD , and thats way everyone raves about it, as for the reason for cheap retail price of 1820m and poor WDM driver are ... maybe..
coz they already have the factory and personal for making their audigy and other multimedia stuff... soo..
and if they make great WDM driver, audigy will die very soon!!

Be awared, the quality of sound also depends on the Audio Sequencer you are using, eg. Cubase SX2 sound better than SX1.

[kritikon]

Aardvark are very solid - pristine A/D/A converters, no noise whatsoever (very well shielded) and a very flexible set of routing options. Also useable with any format apparently. The Q10 apparently has well thought of mic pres too. Quite a few broadcast facilities seem to use Aardvark. And I remember an SoS review that reckoned the wordclocking came out tops with Aardvark, if that's a consideration. I'm not sure if Aardvark can handle 192KHz (I use a slightly older one) but they can certainly go upto 96KHz, but I would imagine the latest ones can do the sooperdooper samplerates.

Having said that, I haven't come across many grumblings about Edirol either.