quote:

Originally posted by jayxthekoolest Rann: I had a couple issues with the echo. First, the volume knob for the headphones on the front panel degraded and stopped working after perpetual use over a year's time. Also, the echo's drivers had weird issues. Sometimes they would stop working all together and the only way to reset them was by unplugging and plugging back in the soundcard. Also, sometimes the volume would reset, and my speakers (Yamaha HS80m) would make me feel like i'm going to lose my hearing (because they are ultra loud and I use the soundcard to lower the volume - my friend with an echo and same speakers has the same issue but deals with it by unplugging the card). My friend still owns an echo card and noted that they recently updated their software - like complete remake. I'm not sure if that would have solved my issues though. The steinberg card indeed has the same level of audio quality. However the build quality is certainly much better and the software has zero issues.

That bizarre. I've had it for two years on OSX and abused it without it ever flinching. Quality has been outstanding, to the point I've recommended it to a few dozen people and they love it. Granted, the drivers that came on the CD in the box were badly out of date and I was using the most recent version from the echo website but that's kind of given with any new kit. I know there was a recent PC revision of the drivers but it was just a few bug fixes (for the AF8 & 12) from the early 2011 driver (which as a major overhaul) which itself by all accounts I know of was super solid.

I will say I've heard good things about the UR28 but I don't like any soundcard that has potentiometers on them for the volume. At some point, they are going to die and then you're screwed. I also HATE (with a passion) using software for volume control, not to mention it fucks up your gain staging and monitor calibration, so really everything should be set to unity, and then turn down the monitors themselves and use a passive in line volume control to adjust. That way if the volume control ever starts to give out it's a $60 fix rather than dealing with a chunted soundcard.