This was the first soundcard I purchased, about 4 years ago at £60, it was and still is an absolute bargain!
While this is certainly an entry level professional soundcard, with 2in/2out, it's been designed carefully and with as much detail as higher-spec sound cards which I've purchased ... Read review
This was the first soundcard I purchased, about 4 years ago at £60, it was and still is an absolute bargain!
While this is certainly an entry level professional soundcard, with 2in/2out, it's been designed carefully and with as much detail as higher-spec sound cards which I've purchased from M-Audio.
Installation is extremely simple as with nearly all PCI devices these days: chuck in the driver CD, or download and install ... ...On. Installed.
What I like, amongst many other things, is the reliability of the drivers. I've never once had a problem caused by the soundcard in any of the various host programs I use and it's a testament to great software engineering. I've used a MOTU 828 mkII for a few months on a recording project and every once in a while, audible clicks and pops occurred, and a number of times it crashed programs running on the computer. For ... more
This was the first soundcard I purchased, about 4 years ago at £60, it was and still is an absolute bargain!
While this is certainly an entry level professional soundcard, with 2in/2out, it's been designed carefully and with as much detail as higher-spec sound cards which I've purchased from M-Audio.
Installation is extremely simple as with nearly all PCI devices these days: chuck in the driver CD, or download and install the latest versions. Power Off. Slot in the card. Power On. Installed.
What I like, amongst many other things, is the reliability of the drivers. I've never once had a problem caused by the soundcard in any of the various host programs I use and it's a testament to great software engineering. I've used a MOTU 828 mkII for a few months on a recording project and every once in a while, audible clicks and pops occurred, and a number of times it crashed programs running on the computer. For me, software stability is one of the highest considerations when buying an audio interface, but it's difficult to find honest reviews that actually mention this. Hopefully this will help any of you potential buyers out there!
However, just as important as great software is great hardware, and once again it's bang on! The 2in/2out interface is perfect for anyone requiring a simple stereo in and out solution. This is particularly useful for those who primarily produce music on a computer-internal basis, ie not requiring any outboard hardware equipment or don't use more than 2 channels at once to effectively multitrack.
The breakout cable provides S/PDIF In and Out and Midi In and Out. Handy for those MIDI controllers or Digital recording equipment.
The interface supports all standard audio protocols like CoreAudio on Mac, ASIO2 on PC, etc... and has extremely low latency, perfect for using MIDI controllers/keyboards. I challenge anyone to hear the latency, it's so miniscule! In the years I've been using this card I simply cannot find any problems. It's been entirely reliable! I've produced some great work on it, and I've felt comfortable and relaxed knowing my computer isn't teetering on the edge of a crash!
You can certainly buy the Audiophile 2496 with confidence, get uninterrupted performance and superb value for money!
Advantages: Value for Money, Rock-Solid Performance Disadvantages: Quite simply none :D
Just so you are aware: I've reviewed this already, but there's two of these on Ciao, exactly the same product - thought I'd cover both with my review so you buyers get to read it :D
This was the first soundcard I purchased, about 4 years ago at £60, it was and still is an absolute bargain!
While this is certainly an entry level professional soundcard, with 2in/2out, it's been designed carefully and with as much detail as higher-spec sound cards ... ...as with nearly all PCI devices these days: chuck in the driver CD, or download and install the latest versions. Power Off. Slot in the card. Power On. Installed.
What I like, amongst many other things, is the reliability of the drivers. I've never once had a problem caused by the soundcard in any of the various host programs I use and it's a testament to great software engineering. I've used a MOTU 828 mkII for a few months on a recording project ...
Radical-Machine 27.07.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496
Product Information for "M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496" »
Audio output
Sound Output Mode
Stereo
DAC Data Width
24-bit
Sample Rate
8 kHz (min) - 96 kHz (max)
MIDI Channels Qty
16
Response Bandwidth
22 - 22000 Hz
Features
Full-duplex support
Compliant Standards
Dolby Digital 5.1
Manufacturer's product description
The Audiophile 2496 delivers uncompromising professional grade digital audio to the home and project studio markets, but at a new price that makes such quality available to everyone. Music professionals are uncompromising when it comes to the quality and performance of their audio cards. They don't just demand realism; they demand reality. The Audiophile 2496 can achieve this standard because it doesn't rely on gimmicks that compromise sound quality. The Audiophile 2496 is an all-in-one high fidelity soundcard solution for a wide variety of applications, ranging from multitrack recording to computer-based home theatre. Analog I/O is available on RCA jacks, utilizing the same professional 24-bit, 96kHz conversion as the Delta 44 and Delta 66 cards. S/PDIF I/O and MIDI I/O provide connectivity to both digital devices, and the world of MIDI. You can also utilize the S/PDIF I/O for DVD surround sound playback with an external decoder. The Audiophile 2496 includes a powerful digital mixer/router, and control over SCMS (Serial Copy Management System). Delta Series cards support all computer platforms and major software programs.
