MOTU 16A- who is using it? What are similar options?

DA is ESS Sabre 9016

AD... (lol!)

This info reinforces my opinion of the 16A as a great value. At the risk of repeating myself, if I wasn't staying with my Symphony MK1 and AD/DA 16Xs for now, I'd own two of them for 32x32 I/O.

Something else that is interesting and that I'd really love to find out is that ESS states that the new ES9026PRO is a pin compatible direct upgrade to the ES9016. If that's true it seems like you could upgrade the DAC's as well. The only thing that makes me think no is that the new generation has the built in filters, distortion compensation and a few other features. I'm not sure if there are some dead pins on the 9016 that they use for these features on the 9026. If that's the case then it technically could be possible to drop the new generation chip in and go. I guess Motu would be the only ones to answer that one. In fact, I would bet that when they do another version of the 16a, instead of going up to the ES9038PRO they'll go to the ES9026PRO because they don't have to change the architecture of what is there now, and would only have to program in the distortion compensation and filters.

The Pro-ject S2's filters and distortion compensation don't do a whole lot IMO. I usually keep the dist comp off and keep the filter at brick wall. Anyways, If the 9026 would drop in along with dropping in the OPA16XX's, for a $100 or so you could juice your 16a up quite a bit. The 4580's and NE5532's have a plastic sound to my ears and are not very open. Remember that the 4580 is basically the same chip as the JRC4558 (the chips used in the Tubescreamers) only I believe it'll drive heavier loads. I imagine the reason they've used 4580's is because the 16a doesn't have dedicated HP outs, so they used the 4580's in case someone planned on using the box for a massive HP Dist. I surely can't think of anything my 16a drives that a OPA2134 or OPA1612 isn't more than capable of handling.

Also, on the DAC opamps, you could remove the coupling caps and bridge the pads. That's another mod to note.

I’ve got a line on one for $850. Should I pull the trigger? Surely I could get my money back if I decide not to go with it, right?

That's an insane deal..... For the quality and I/O count how could you not? Unless you don't have the $$$, that's the ONLY reason I wouldn't grab that. Damn sure wish I had the spare cash, I'd grab that sucker and use it as R/D to mod. 

If anyone has a 16a that they don't depend on every day and can live without for a few days I'll do the mod if you cover all the parts and shipping etc. 

I'm considering modding 2 channels both in and out to see how it does...... The only problem is I can't be down for more than half a day. I truly believe this mod will take it beyond the Apogee Symphony MKII's. 

I ask myself a series of questions every time I decide I want a piece of gear.

Will this piece make my work at least 10% better?

Will this piece justify me raising my price per mix?

Will the wow factor help me get more clients?

If they are all a yes, then I save up triple what it costs. 1 part buys the gear and the other 2 parts goes into savings.

It honestly just keeps me from spending on what I don’t actually need. I usually get 1 thing a year. I did my buying this year already so I try not to even entertain the idea of getting something unless it falls in my lap for next to nothing.

I'm not in the camp of the Symphony's D/A being better..... I've heard both and I honestly believe the Motu is more extended on top. Apogee has always from memory tuned their converters to be a little softer/smoother sounding. Honestly the Motu and Symphony as so close in builds that some guys did a null test on the purple site and found they nulled out to something like -76db. You can do a search and find that thread over there. Now, that was the MKI not the MKII, but the D/A side of the MKII were not all that much different, mainly the A/D side was what Apogee made much better. 

If you look at the guts of the MKII and 16a two things are absolute; the MKII uses the AKM A/D chips (which are great, but so are the Cirrus chips used in the 16a, which both Prism and Cranesong HEDD192 uses) and the other is the MKII uses the OPA1632's as the diff amp into the A/D. The 16a is set up a little different, but changing over the opamps to the OPA1642's would likely keep the detail extension of the 16a but also give it a bit more of a warmer/softer overall tone. Swapping all the opamps I truly believe would put the 16a over the Symphony, but that's just my theory, whether this is true or not is probably about to be found out as I believe I've got someone willing to mod 2 channels  to start. I believe this person also still has their MKII's as well, so we'll absolutely know for sure. 

The bigger picture here is that if you can get a 16a for $850 or ever $1k, it can be tuned and upgraded to go above Apogee and you're saving a pile of money for the I/O. 

Well, I bought it. Sigh. I get to be my own judge. I'll report back. I got it off of the Guitar Center site...and they freaking charged me tax...so it ended up being $940. Sucks, but I think I could flip it pretty easily at like $950 if I don't keep it.