RME soundcard - do I need the 'PAD' or not ?

[Mark Grant]

Hello,

I am considering upgrading from an M Audio Audiophile 24/96 to an RME soundcard.

If I only use the digital outputs on the RME will the DIGI96/8 be OK or does the DIGI96/8 PAD have a better quality digital output?

I realise the analogue outputs of the DIGI96/8 Pad are superb, but my preamp converts inputs to digital anyway (Sony 9000ES), so analogue inputs might be wasted on this.

Will the RME DIGI96/8 (non PAD) be an improvement with DD and DTS compared to an Audiophile 24/96 soundcard?

(The non pad version is cheaper, hence the questions.)

Also, who is the cheapest supplier of RME?

Thanks,

Mark.

[Steve Bate]

Hi Mark,

I cant answer your questions directly however I just upgraded to the PAD version and it's quite a significant improvement over the Audiophile card, I got mine from a German site here it now appears to be £200 ish

HTH

Steve

[nfordenfield]

Is going this route a big improvement in using the motherboard digital out? If the RME is taking the source directly from the DVD digital out, is this cleaner than going across the Motherboard?

Gonna run out of PCI slots at this rate, should have bought a server

Rgds

Nathan