Apogee AD-16X Review Manual

REPRINTED FROM APRIL 2007
Apogee
Recording System
This competitively priced, high-performance
native DAW is a challenge to the industry
pervasiveness of TDM systems.
Apogee Electronics has unveiled the
Symphony System, perfectly timed with the
rollout of ultra-fast, multi-core Intel-based
Apple Mac Pros
and the state of the art Logic Pro 7.2 DAW
update. The Symphony System is a complete
DAW that offers the greatest number of I/O
channels per card of any CoreAudio compati-
ble digital interface. It is actually the only solu-
tion capable of 96 channels of I/O for Mac
without the need for an expansion chassis. The
system maintains a low CPU load, thus con-
serving the computer's processing power for
plug-ins. Connection between the computer
and the audio hardware is completed via one
high performance balanced cable that is capa-
ble of flawlessly transmitting digital audio
over long distances. And the Symphony
System is a competitively priced package,
Copyright 2007 JRS Publishing (USA), Inc. Reprinted with permission.
Symphony
regardless of the exact configuration.
| FEATURES
The Symphony System is made up of three
components: first, a combination of X-Series
converters (Rosetta Series converters are
equipped with X-Symphony Cards
($195); second, the Symphony PCI Express
(PCI-e) card ($795); and lastly, a compatible
Apple computer (such as the Mac Pro, price
variant upon configuration) running Logic Pro
($999), or any other CoreAudio-based applica-
tion, and optional Maestro software (included
with the Symphony PCI card). A PCI-X version
of the Symphony card is available for earlier
model Mac G5s not supporting PCI-e.
The AD-16X and the DA-16X ($3,495 each)
are Apogee's latest and most advanced con-
version systems. They ramp up Apogee's leg-
endary build quality by incorporating a
redesigned power supply, standard 192 kHz
sampling rates (the C777 clocking technology
found in the Big Ben) and several optional
expansion cards.
by Russ Long
also supported) each
WWW.PROAUDIOREVIEW.COM
The power supply in the AD-16X and the
DA-16X is a specially designed Synchronous
Switching power that works in conjunction
with Apogee's low jitter clock and filtering
technology. It provides better heat and noise
performance and an improved transient
response, thus creating an ideal power system
for first-rate conversion.
The AD-16X incorporates Apogee's classic
SoftLimit and UV22HR features. SoftLimit is
an analog peak limiter that enables the cap-
ture of an additional 4-6 dB of level without
any overs. UV22HR is Apogee's industry
standard bit-reduction/dithering technology
for CD and DVD mastering; UV22HR can also
be used to produce improved Internet and
computer audio content without increased file
sizes or data rates.
The DA-16X incorporates Apogee's elec-
tronically balanced line drivers, which were
originally designed for the Mini-DAC. These
APPLICATIONS
Studio, broadcast, audio post
KEY FEATURES
32-channels of I/O per card; 1.6
milliseconds of latency at 96 kHz
(the lowest available in a native
audio system); amazing sound;
flexible configuration; reasonable
price; built-in Big Ben-quality clock
PRICE
Symphony PCI Series card: $795
AD-16X: $3,495
DA-16X: $3,495
X-Symphony Card: $195
Logic Pro: $999
CONTACT
Apogee Electronics Corp. |
☎
310-584-9394
➲
www.apogeedigital.com