Topic: RME Fireface 802 & UAD Apollo X4
Hey everyone
In addition to my RME Fireface 802 I got an Apollo X4 last year. For Monitoring I want to use the Apollo X4 DA and I also want to use the clocking from the Apollo. But I also want to use RME Totalmix and the Digicheck Analyser.
So my routing is:
RME Fireface is the main audio interface. Then I send the masterout to the ADAT 5-6. The 2nd ADAT out on the RME is going to the Apollo X4 into the ADAT in. On the Apollo X4 I send the Adat to the main out and this is connected to my speakers. On both units I run in the same sample rate (96khz). Apollo is the clock master, and RME is set to "get clocking from ADAT2 in" (ofcourse RME Adat 2 in is connected to Apollo Adat out).
It works. I hear the sound and the Digicheck is working nicely.
But when I select the Apollo as the audio interface in the preferences, I can hear a difference in sound. It sounds more smooth, especially in the midrange and it sounds a bit more wider.
When I go via total mix and RME fireface, it sounds similar to when I listen to the fireface directly ... a bit harder in bass, less smooth and a little bit harshness in the top end.
So my questions is: how can this be? In both scenarios the Apollo X4 does the DA converversion. There should be no difference in sound. But it´s there. Is this to the clocking maybe or the RME total mix? Does anyone have similar experience?