A16 Ultra Opinions?

edmann · Post by **edmann** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:42 pm

If anyone would care to post their experiences and/or opinions of the A16 Ultra - I will appreciate it very much.

Some people I speak with love it and compare it to converters costing much more. Others say it is about the same quality at MOTU gear.

thanks in advance!

Ed

Post by **hubird** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 11:04 pm

try a search, lotsa discussions B4!
cheerz.

kimgr · Post by **kimgr** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 1:24 am

It's by far the best "cheap" convertor I've ever tried.
It doesn't have very impressive techspecs, but it "sounds good"...
In denmark it's below half price pr. channel compared to RME ADI-8 DS, so I got A16

Kim.

Music Manic · Post by **Music Manic** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 8:04 am

Sounds crispy clear.Not disatisfied yet.Rock steady too!

scary808 · Post by **scary808** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 8:59 am

It sounds great! If you do buy it, be sure to use TRS jacks. I used TS jacks & I fried two of my D/A converters.

edmann · Post by **edmann** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 6:10 pm

wonderful! Thank you everyone!

more please!

anyone using it with acoustic music?

thanks

ed

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 7:12 am

yep, A16U + vdat = very dynamic acoustic music

edmann · Post by **edmann** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 9:32 am

On 2003-10-24 08:12, legros wrote:
yep, A16U + vdat = very dynamic acoustic music

what is vdat?

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 9:39 am

check it out:
http://www.creamware.de/EN/products/sof ... efault.asp

edmann · Post by **edmann** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 8:13 am

On 2003-10-24 10:39, legros wrote:
check it out:
http://www.creamware.de/EN/products/sof ... efault.asp

wow - cool.

thank you legros!

ed

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 12:54 pm

I have the original A16 and while I'm happy with it I don't like the fact that it is very loud (the fan).

snoopy4ever · Post by **snoopy4ever** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 2:07 pm

I guess it's going to be good for you to know that Hans Zimmer has TWO A16 Ultra on his rack...

Snoopy

edmann · Post by **edmann** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 7:23 am

On 2003-10-27 14:07, snoopy4ever wrote:
I guess it's going to be good for you to know that Hans Zimmer has TWO A16 Ultra on his rack...

Snoopy

yes - I know about this and I have been curious how they are being used. I presume that it is z-link out from his Creamware PCs such as he discusses. If this is true then it means that the AD is not being used. From there, I presume that it is either the DA outputs into his console - or the ADAT outs into a digital console (more likely - I have been in his room and it is digital city), in which case the DA (also) is not being used. If anyone (Creamware people?) know how HZ is using these it would be very helpful! If the AD/DA enter into the HZ equation that will say a lot for the A16-U.

thanks

Ed

edmann · Post by **edmann** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 7:25 am

On 2003-10-27 12:54, braincell wrote:
I have the original A16 and while I'm happy with it I don't like the fact that it is very loud (the fan).

ahhh---does anyone know if the A16U has the loud fan? It is difficult to get the Creamware people to say much - they are very quiet. They referred me here for all answers. Interesting.

thanks!

Ed

marcuspocus · Post by **marcuspocus** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 8:03 am

There is no fan at all on the A16U, no noise either

krizrox · Post by **krizrox** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 10:35 am

On 2003-10-23 19:10, edmann wrote:
wonderful! Thank you everyone!

more please!

anyone using it with acoustic music?

thanks

ed

I am, along with many other forms of music recording here in my studio. The A16 Ultra is worth every penny. Quiet. Accurate. Silky. I don't know what other adjective to throw at it.

16 channels for around a grand. I don't think there is another product with the same feature set for less money. It's really a great mid-level product. I can't say enough good stuff about it. If you're trying to make a buying decision, I say buy buy buy! You won't regret it!

I've had one in my rack for about a year now. This thing is "on" almost 14 hours a day, 6-7 days a week. Wish I could say the same thing about some of my other gear.

edmann · Post by **edmann** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:33 am

On 2003-10-28 10:35, krizrox wrote:
On 2003-10-23 19:10, edmann wrote:

The A16 Ultra is ...Quiet. Accurate. Silky....

extremely well defined? - as in great definition?

several steps above the MOTU stuff?

thank you in advance

ed

krizrox · Post by **krizrox** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:32 pm

Great definition? Yeah, I'd say yes. Even the Luna 2496's sounded great.

I don't have any experience with MOTU gear but I've heard good things about MOTU convertors. Does MOTU make a 16 channel convertor? I know they make 8 channel units. If you compare the price of two MOTU units to a single A16 I think you'll find the A16 is a better deal. Anyone else care to comment?

I guess the question you need to answer for yourself is whether you need 16 channels of conversion capability. You might not think so right now (if you're just doing home project stuff) but you might find yourself outgrowing 8 channels in the near future. Anyway, all I can say is the A16 is a very good unit. Well featured and priced competitively. Having Z-Link is a big plus. No futzing with word clock. Just plug and play!

scary808 · Post by **scary808** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 3:34 pm

On 2003-10-28 13:32, krizrox wrote:
No futzing with word clock. Just plug and play!

Is the A16 getting sync from the CPU or the CW card itself? That's something I've always been unsure of. If it is, the A16U conversion quality could perhaps be enhanced by syncing to a standalone hardware device's word clock. .When synced to a standalone device that has word clock, it normally reduces jitter. I just don't have such a device to try it out. The A16 sounds VERY good in it's own right but I wonder if it could sound better. Hmmmmmmmm....

edmann · Post by **edmann** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:44 pm

On 2003-10-28 15:34, scary808 wrote:
On 2003-10-28 13:32, krizrox wrote:
No futzing with word clock. Just plug and play!

Is the A16 getting sync from the CPU or the CW card itself? That's something I've always been unsure of. If it is, the A16U conversion quality could perhaps be enhanced by syncing to a standalone hardware device's word clock. .When synced to a standalone device that has word clock, it normally reduces jitter. I just don't have such a device to try it out. The A16 sounds VERY good in it's own right but I wonder if it could sound better. Hmmmmmmmm....

There is a fellow named Hans in Sweden who sync's to a Lucid Clock - and he says that it absolutely did improve the sound. He records Rock and metal, but loves the A16U.