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Post by BenjaminAshlin on May 12, 2019 17:18:25 GMT -6
Hi Guys,
How does the ULN-2 hold up in 2019?
Background:
I have recently sold my Apollo BF and will use my remote rig (profire 2626) but I have the potential to pickup a ULN-2 for around 300USD.
Certainly better than my old profire.
Currently most of my hardware is packed up, but I need a decent 2 channel AD/DA to hold me over until some home renovations are finished.
Thanks in advance.
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Post by the other mark williams on May 12, 2019 17:56:34 GMT -6
The ULN-2 is still a good interface. The new 3D expansion improves its clock, and supposedly sounds better than the 2D version (or the OG version). Any version is upgradeable. The pres are great, though clinical. Really great for classical and jazz. I had a 2D version for probably 6 yrs +. I wouldn't necessarily put the 2D conversion on the same level as the new Apogee stuff or the new MOTU stuff, but it's rock solid. And $300 is a steal. You'd probably be able to get that much back whenever you sell, due to its upgradeable nature. I've thought about picking another one up for easy location work. It's really solid.
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Post by BenjaminAshlin on May 12, 2019 21:23:53 GMT -6
The ULN-2 is still a good interface. The new 3D expansion improves its clock, and supposedly sounds better than the 2D version (or the OG version). Any version is upgradeable. The pres are great, though clinical. Really great for classical and jazz. I had a 2D version for probably 6 yrs +. I wouldn't necessarily put the 2D conversion on the same level as the new Apogee stuff or the new MOTU stuff, but it's rock solid. And $300 is a steal. You'd probably be able to get that much back whenever you sell, due to its upgradeable nature. I've thought about picking another one up for easy location work. It's really solid. Thanks for the feedback. I figured it is a pretty decent for price. I'm not sure how it compares to the Apollo DA. |
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rpc
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by rpc on May 13, 2019 6:15:42 GMT -6
It is a great box, very neutral. Be aware that you need a Mac with a Firewire interface (if it's stock or 2D) or you have to use the public beta software (if it's 3D).
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Post by swafford on May 13, 2019 7:59:13 GMT -6
Hi Guys, How does the ULN-2 hold up in 2019? Background: I have recently sold my Apollo BF and will use my remote rig (profire 2626) but I have the potential to pickup a ULN-2 for around 300USD. Certainly better than my old profire. Currently most of my hardware is packed up, but I need a decent 2 channel AD/DA to hold me over until some home renovations are finished. Thanks in advance. I use my 2x ULN2 with a ULN8 every single day. The preamps and AD/DA hold their own without issue. All my units are upgraded to 3D. For $300 you are probably looking at a legacy model and I would imagine you will need to upgrade with a 3D board, which is totally worth it IMO. |
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Post by the other mark williams on May 13, 2019 14:54:05 GMT -6
Hi Guys, How does the ULN-2 hold up in 2019? Background: I have recently sold my Apollo BF and will use my remote rig (profire 2626) but I have the potential to pickup a ULN-2 for around 300USD. Certainly better than my old profire. Currently most of my hardware is packed up, but I need a decent 2 channel AD/DA to hold me over until some home renovations are finished. Thanks in advance. I use my 2x ULN2 with a ULN8 every single day. The preamps and AD/DA hold their own without issue. All my units are upgraded to 3D. For $300 you are probably looking at a legacy model and I would imagine you will need to upgrade with a 3D board, which is totally worth it IMO. @swafford, how much sonic difference did you notice when going from 2D —> 3D on your ULN-2s? |
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Post by swafford on May 13, 2019 15:35:59 GMT -6
I use my 2x ULN2 with a ULN8 every single day. The preamps and AD/DA hold their own without issue. All my units are upgraded to 3D. For $300 you are probably looking at a legacy model and I would imagine you will need to upgrade with a 3D board, which is totally worth it IMO. @swafford, how much sonic difference did you notice when going from 2D —> 3D on your ULN-2s? Can't really say. I use an original DBox for DA and clock everything off a Svart (which also handles my my 2Bus conversion.) When I first installed the 3D cards, I did some quick listening test from the ULN8 and my impression was there was an improved sound stage, but not so great to give up two channels of Analog I/O and dump the DBox, but I haven't monitored off the ULN2 in 10 years or so. However, dumping Firewire and being able to move one of the ULN2's in the area where I track by simply running some RJ45 was worth the upgrade and I also run the DBox off the Edgecard AES on that ULN2 and the Svart off the other ULN2 Edgecard. There's a lot of great stuff on this upgrade and amazing potential. Such a great company. And the whole idea of linking them via RJ45 is fantastic. |
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Post by BenjaminAshlin on May 13, 2019 21:12:46 GMT -6
Thanks for the information. Yeah it is a legacy model. I would use it in standalone mode attached to the profire for monitoring and tracking. Most of my tracking is single instruments, so a stereo AD should be fine.
Listening to AD comparisons the ULN2 seems natural. It doesn't have the high end sheen of an Apogee but nicer than the Apollo.
I guess to judge the DAC i will have to buy it. I don't think you can evaluate a DAC without listening to it on a familiar system.
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Post by brucerothwell on May 14, 2019 11:38:06 GMT -6
Someone said they think the pres sound "clinical"... I say "transparent". But there are countless ways to warm up a track after being tracked, or if you have the DSP built in, you can apply the Character plugin when tracking, and there are some great sounding choices there.
I upgraded mine to the new 3D card, and can say it sounds fantastic.
The only concerning thing is that if you get one, you will want to eventually get the 3D upgrade, as support using the older version of the MIO console software, and Firewire, will likely die on the vine.
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Post by BenjaminAshlin on May 14, 2019 21:09:01 GMT -6
Someone said they think the pres sound "clinical"... I say "transparent". But there are countless ways to warm up a track after being tracked, or if you have the DSP built in, you can apply the Character plugin when tracking, and there are some great sounding choices there. I upgraded mine to the new 3D card, and can say it sounds fantastic. The only concerning thing is that if you get one, you will want to eventually get the 3D upgrade, as support using the older version of the MIO console software, and Firewire, will likely die on the vine. Yeah I would use it stand alone for now. The new 3D card isn't exactly cheap once i'd payed for import costs, but it would ensure that the interface will last may more years. Both RME and MH are excellent for long product support. Pres aren't critical to me I have some neve and API clones I am quite happy with. |
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Post by reddirt on May 14, 2019 23:26:47 GMT -6
Just chiming in to say I've had mine almost Ten years and it's never missed a beat
Cheers,Ross
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Post by swafford on May 15, 2019 2:08:31 GMT -6
Pres aren't critical to me I have some neve and API clones I am quite happy with. The pres are definitely good, but I mostly use mine as an insert point for either my RCA BA31a's or Coil CA70 when re-amping or doing overdubs and in that regard, I've never once thought to myself "gee, I wish I had a better converter there." I also use one of the monitor sends to feed the single Dynaudio BM15 in the tracking area for either casual listening to mixes or when I'm working out overdub stuff with players. Pretty handy. It's a nice box and if you can get to work for you as a stand alone/legacy that's awesome (don't know what's involved there). Having the added bonus of updating it at some point is also pretty great. |
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