Sound Pure's Take

How do you improve upon one of the best sounding multi-channel converters on the market? That was the goal for Apogee’s exciting new Symphony I/O MKII, which features a sleek new touch screen display, a standard Thunderbolt connection option, and further improved converter technology. Additionally, Apogee plans to add connectivity options through HD and SoundGrid expansion cards later this year, giving the Symphony system even more compatibility with a huge amount of existing systems. One of our absolute favorite improvements to the Symphony design is a quieter cooling fan. The fan on the previous model was known to have occasional noise issues when recording quieter, more intimate sources in the same room as the Symphony system, so this improvement is sure to make the lives of home-studio engineers after pro-level converter technology much easier!

From Apogee Digital

The best sounding Apogee converters and mic preamps ever

 

  • The culmination of 25 years of Apogee's design excellence and experience
  • Next generation converter quality
  • Refined and updated circuitry with fewer, more advanced components:
    • Fewer components means a shorter audio path and more recording clarity and transparency
    • Lower converter latency
    • More efficient power distribution
    • Big Ben built-in with enhanced C777 clocking performance
  • Mic preamp module
    • 8 Mic Preamps
    • 85 dB of gain
  • Front panel control of headphone and output levels, and mic preamp gain (mic preamps optional)
Symphony I/O builds upon the award-winning design approaches of Apogee’s X-Series* and Rosetta Series converters*, the Big Ben master clock and the Trak2 mic preamps. It also refines and updates these proven designs with fewer but more advanced components while optimizing their performance with efficient power distribution. These enhancements allow audio to travel through less circuitry, offering lower converter latency, more accurate clocking and even more transparency and clarity in your recordings.
 
Apogee's engineers do not merely rely on specs and data sheets when selecting converter components, they listen. Each component is auditioned and carefully selected to best reflect the characteristics of the Apogee sound. Symphony I/O’s audio path design is elegant and efficient, incorporating the most advanced opamps that offer better performance than multiple parts used in previous designs.
 
This design improvement minimizes the audio path circuitry and maximizes sound quality. And in the tradition of the X-Series and Rosetta series, the entire audio path is DC coupled, resulting in ultra flat frequency response and extremely low phase error.

INPUTS

  • Analog IN: 8 Mic/Line balanced inputs on 1 DSUB 25-pin connector
  • *AES-EBU IN: 8 inputs on 1 DSUB 25-pin connector
    • (192k single wide compatible)
  • *Optical IN: Supports ADAT, SMUX & S/PDIF
    • ADAT: 8 channels 44.1-48 kHz
    • SMUX: 8 channels 88.2-96 kHz
    • S/PDIF: 2 channels, up to 96 kHz
  • CoaxIN:2 channels of S/PDIF, up to 192 kHz

OUTPUTS

  • Analog OUT: 8 balanced outputs on 1 DSUB 25-pin connector
  • *AES-EBU OUT: 8 outputs on 1 DSUB 25-pin connector
    • (192k single wide compatible)
  • *Optical OUT: Supports ADAT, SMUX & S/PDIF
    • ADAT: 8 channels 44.1-48 kHz
    • SMUX: 8 channels 88.2-96 kHz
    • S/PDIF: 2 channels, up to 96 kHz
  • Coax OUT: 2 channels of S/PDIF, up to 192 kHz

*Dig I/O hardware switch selects AES or Optical digital I/O format

Connection:

  • Pro Tools HD Digilink MINI Cable

Performance:

  • 44.1kHz – 192kHz
  • Latency: 1.35 ms with Logic Pro X (96 kHz / 32 buffer)

Computer:

  • Thunderbolt-enabled Mac computer, including Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac & MacBook Air
  • Operating System: Mac OS 10.9.5 or greater

Control:

  • Maestro app (included in software installer) and front panel touchscreen

Compatible Software:

  • Logic Pro X
  • Any Core Audio application on Mac

Free 3-Year Warranty

Sound Pure stands behind our products. Free three-year warranty on this item. Coverage exclusions live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.

Level of support and expertise that simply isn't available at big-box megastores. Read the warranty →

Returns

This item is not eligible for the Try-Before-You-Buy 48-hour audition. Standard return policy applies — see Terms & Conditions, Section 18 for details.

Sound Pure Studios Control Room A — Durham, NC

Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC

Come hear it in our control rooms.

Sound Pure is a working studio in Durham, NC — a 1,000 sq ft live room and two pro control rooms. Book a session to audition gear in a world-class acoustic space before you buy.

$6,399