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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 20, 2024 20:26:13 GMT -6
Just thought I’d put this out there in case people were searching.
After using the Apollo x, Burl AD and now the Hilo AD, I think I can say this: the Apollo comes in third there…but it’s not bad at all IMO. I notice more spikeyness, or strident mids. The Burl just kinda cooks things. Smiley face curve. Ive only done two vocals with the Hilo so far, but it’s the most transparent AD I’ve ever used.
Same order for the DA…
The Apollo is slightly mid forward and I hear distortion on top when things get pushed. The Burl DAC is great. Punchy as hell but a little shiny on top. Smiley face…it’s “exciting.” The word that comes to mind with the Hilo is “clean.” Like tons of headroom. I feel like it’s flat-er compared to the Burl…
Anyway - short review, but if anyone has any specific questions.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,940 
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Post by ericn on Mar 20, 2024 20:47:52 GMT -6
Clean is good in conversion, I can add color at the AD, and we’ll clean on the DA tells me more of the truth.
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Post by wiz on Mar 20, 2024 22:13:49 GMT -6
Just thought I’d put this out there in case people were searching. After using the Apollo x, Burl AD and now the Hilo AD, I think I can say this: the Apollo comes in third there…but it’s not bad at all IMO. I notice more spikeyness, or strident mids. The Burl just kinda cooks things. Smiley face curve. Ive only done two vocals with the Hilo so far, but it’s the most transparent AD I’ve ever used. Same order for the DA… The Apollo is slightly mid forward and I hear distortion on top when things get pushed. The Burl DAC is great. Punchy as hell but a little shiny on top. Smiley face…it’s “exciting.” The word that comes to mind with the Hilo is “clean.” Like tons of headroom. I feel like it’s flat-er compared to the Burl… Anyway - short review, but if anyone has any specific questions. Have you got it all sorted with your Trinnov etc? cheers Wiz |
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 20, 2024 22:35:10 GMT -6
Just thought I’d put this out there in case people were searching. After using the Apollo x, Burl AD and now the Hilo AD, I think I can say this: the Apollo comes in third there…but it’s not bad at all IMO. I notice more spikeyness, or strident mids. The Burl just kinda cooks things. Smiley face curve. Ive only done two vocals with the Hilo so far, but it’s the most transparent AD I’ve ever used. Same order for the DA… The Apollo is slightly mid forward and I hear distortion on top when things get pushed. The Burl DAC is great. Punchy as hell but a little shiny on top. Smiley face…it’s “exciting.” The word that comes to mind with the Hilo is “clean.” Like tons of headroom. I feel like it’s flat-er compared to the Burl… Anyway - short review, but if anyone has any specific questions. Have you got it all sorted with your Trinnov etc? cheers Wiz Yes! It was the Carbon that was the nightmare (just in my particular instance.) I have to be honest, when I had one of these years ago (damn, it could’ve been 10 years) I didn’t grasp all the IO on it…but I picked up on it immediately this time. As for the Trinnov, I go spdif out of Apollo to AES in of Trinnov then AES out to AES IN of Hilo. Clocking everything with the Hilo. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 20, 2024 22:43:11 GMT -6
Oh - but get a load of this…right after I return the Carbon, I get the Hilo and go through it not being loud to find out you just have to remove some jumpers…then I go to measure the Hilo and the Trinnov Mics not working…
They were great and I got the loaner mic in. Tried my mic with the new cable and it worked. So just a cable issue. I’m finally back up…I checked a couple mixes I did for a few clients (told them I’d have to listen again) and they were mostly fine…Anyway - back up and running!
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Post by Dan on Mar 20, 2024 22:43:23 GMT -6
The tonal clarity of Lynx!
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Post by Dan on Mar 20, 2024 22:48:53 GMT -6
Monitoring is key.
If I have to monitor off a Yamaha or something trying to be an LS 3/5A I always worry the guitars won't jump out of the speakers enough on anything not Yamaha. I fear the same whenever I hear an Apollo.
Anything really colored or cool sounding, I feel I won't cook the mix enough to universalize it. The same is true with anything too exciting like a pair of A7X or some of the older Focals.
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Post by wiz on Mar 20, 2024 22:54:07 GMT -6
Monitoring is key. If I have to monitor off a Yamaha or something trying to be an LS 3/5A I always worry the guitars won't jump out of the speakers enough on anything not Yamaha. I fear the same whenever I hear an Apollo. Anything really colored or cool sounding, I feel I won't cook the mix enough to universalize it. The same is true with anything too exciting like a pair of A7X or some of the older Focals. 8) you would hate my room dan LOL... Apollo and Adams A7s 8) Wiz |
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Post by Dan on Mar 20, 2024 22:57:52 GMT -6
Monitoring is key. If I have to monitor off a Yamaha or something trying to be an LS 3/5A I always worry the guitars won't jump out of the speakers enough on anything not Yamaha. I fear the same whenever I hear an Apollo. Anything really colored or cool sounding, I feel I won't cook the mix enough to universalize it. The same is true with anything too exciting like a pair of A7X or some of the older Focals. 8) you would hate my room dan LOL... Apollo and Adams A7s 8) Wiz i dunno. i thought a7x always sounded really good whenever i heard them in the sweet spot. they were really good for producing music and listening to music on. i dunno about fixing up other peoples' music aka mixing. |
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Post by FM77 on Mar 21, 2024 5:18:04 GMT -6
Just thought I’d put this out there in case people were searching. After using the Apollo x, Burl AD and now the Hilo AD, I think I can say this: the Apollo comes in third there…but it’s not bad at all IMO. I notice more spikeyness, or strident mids. The Burl just kinda cooks things. Smiley face curve. Ive only done two vocals with the Hilo so far, but it’s the most transparent AD I’ve ever used. Same order for the DA… The Apollo is slightly mid forward and I hear distortion on top when things get pushed. The Burl DAC is great. Punchy as hell but a little shiny on top. Smiley face…it’s “exciting.” The word that comes to mind with the Hilo is “clean.” Like tons of headroom. I feel like it’s flat-er compared to the Burl… Anyway - short review, but if anyone has any specific questions. Yeah John, agreed.
HILO is clean/transparent while also being pleasant/not sterile. It is really a bit of a classic, if that can be said of converters.
The I/O and routing is the ultimate conversion HUB for a small studio, it simplified my workflow. Big improvements. Large touch screen, even with older tech is very intuitive. I hope you get years of forward movement with it. Been a real asset here.
I switch to the RME ADI-2 DAC (another sleeper gem) for a bit of 'next level' hyper transparency when self mastering/mastering, but the HILO is always the most pleasant.
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