[LAU] Microphone Pre-amp with an S/PDIF output?

[Hans Wilmers]

On 06/18/2014 03:17 AM, Ivan K wrote:
>
> The time has come for myself to acquire a microphone pre-amp.
> I do not require more than two channels and in fact, will
> probably do mostly mono recordings.
>
> My current audio card is a an M-Audio 2496, which has
> RCA and S/PDIF inputs.
>
> Due to the phasing out of PCI slots, it seems
> that USB interfaces are what most people are choosing
> to purchase these days.
>
> However, I was thinking about getting a microphone pre-amp
> with an s/pdif output.  My thinking is:
>
>   (1) One will always be able to buy PCIe cards in the
>   future with S/PDIF
>
>   (2) I don't have to worry about drivers.  Just plug
>   this pre-amp into the s/pdif input.
>
> However, it seems that the options for such a pre-amp
> are limited.  I found the following items:
>
>     (1) ART DPS-II Digital/Tube $265
>     The price does not seem unreasonable for a quality pre-amp.
>     This thing does have a lot of knobs though, and therefore
>     probably has more functionality than I know what to do with.
>
>     (2) Samson C-Valve Tube Microphone Preamp $99
>     This item is discontinued but still available on amazon.
>     This item did not review well on this list, but ...
>     it is inexpensive.
>
> Is anyone aware of other options?
>
Sounddevices USBPre2:
http://www.sounddevices.com/products/usbpre2/key-features/

Superb quality, and doubles as a USB interface.
But it has become quite expensive recently.

/ Hans


---
Hans Wilmers
NOTAM
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