Several months ago, I purchased the PreSonus Digimax 8-channel preamp. I am pretty thrilled with the results, however...I spent a fortune ($1,600+ US). Now I hear that PreSonus had released the Digimax LT with very similar features for around $800. The main differences revolve around the digital outs. My system has 3 types of digital outs, ADAT lightpipe, S/PDIF, and AES/EBU, whereas the new unit only has the lightpipe. The new unit also has TRS inserts that my unit lacks. (Grrr...) But my unit also has a word clock output that the LT lacks...
PreSonus continues to sell both units, so they must feel there is a market for both units, even with the extreme difference in price.
My question (finally!): I am currently using the lightpipe output from the DigiMax. Are either of the other available digital outputs better than the ADAT lightpipe? (S/PDIF or AES/EBU), or are they just different formats that will give similar results? If PreSonus feels they can get double the price by adding these additional 2 digital outputs, there must be something to them that I don't understand...Also, I am sync'ing the Digimax using the ADAT lightpipe as well. Should I be using the wordclock output since it is there, or does the ADAT work just as well (I haven't had any problems with it...just wondering).
I guess my problem is that if the digital outputs are similar, and the word clock output doesn't buy me anything, I am kinda ticked that I didn't wait for the LT version! It even has inserts, and is half the price! If everything is the same except for the versatile outputs, and they continue to sell the full version, there *must* be something that I am missing here (higher quality pres?)? Any comments before I flame the PreSonus Web site? (j/k!)
Comments
Hey, The simple answer from your your perspective is that the
Hey,
The simple answer from your your perspective is that there is no functional difference between the formats, other than ADAT optical is 8 channels per connector, and the others are two channel. AES will allow considerably longer cable runs, but that doesn't sound like it is an issue for you. There are a couple of slight differences as to what ancillary information the data streams carry, but nothing you need to worry about.
You might want to check if the converters in both units are indeed exactly the same. Don't know the answer myself, but if I have time I will check.
Hope this helps.
Peace,
Yorik
Anyone? Any advantages to ADAT lightpipe over S/PDIF or AES/EBU,
Anyone? Any advantages to ADAT lightpipe over S/PDIF or AES/EBU, or all they just different ways to skin the cat?