Topic: Budget setup for 7.1 surround

I would like to build a Windows-based 7.1 setup with RME devices, but there are so many RME products and so many unknown connectors that I don't know what exactly I should buy.
What I need:
- completely noiseless output, no hissing is accepted
- high dynamic range
- balanced output
- 8 channels and windows master volume control need to adjust them together
- work as a WDM driver, so ASIO is not good, since Equalizer APO will handle the crossover, delay and PEQ operations, and it does not work with ASIO driver.
- be cheap. Maximum 600 EUR

Is it possible to achieve these for this much money?

2 (edited by Kubrak 2026-03-21 10:03:06)

Re: Budget setup for 7.1 surround

New one not for sure. And secondhand as well.

Otherwise you would be 900-1000+ EUR for secondhand device.... Say Fireface 802. If you could use firewire, even older Fireface 800 might work. But, probably it is better to raise the budget.

I would recomend to buy RME interface that has RoomEQ. It is quite probable that if you buy older/cheaper solution, you will miss it sooner or later and regret that you have not invested more right away....

EDIT.
The following was wrong, I thought expansion has 6 channels, but it has only 4. So, 6 in total...

Maybe something like PCIe card HDSPe AIO and expansion card with outputs. If you are lucky...

FF UCX II, Digiface USB, Babyface Pro FS

Re: Budget setup for 7.1 surround

Thank you for your reply!
Which is the cheapest interface with RoomEQ support?

Re: Budget setup for 7.1 surround

Probably Fireface 802 FS, if you want also 8 analog ballanced outputs.

FF UCX II, Digiface USB, Babyface Pro FS

Re: Budget setup for 7.1 surround

Buying new for that budget, you could only go with a digiface usb and a behringer ada 8200 converter, digiface usb has no dsp for room eq though.

6 (edited by ramses 2026-03-25 07:21:01)

Re: Budget setup for 7.1 surround

See my interface comparison sheet: https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=35156

Products with RoomEQ and 8 analog outputs, for max 600 € .. sorry, impossible.

Models that meet your requirements:

- Current models
       USB2: 802 FS, UFX II
       USB3: UFX III
- Additionally, from the used market:
      USB3/TB: UFX+

Even when buying an 802 FS from the used market, the price will be much higher than €600.
The 802 FS is a model from 2023, so the price will be in the range of 75% of the street price: €1599 * 0.75 = €1119.

melorin wrote:

- completely noiseless output, no hissing is accepted
- high dynamic range

I bet in most cases you have more often hissing coming from active monitors than actually from the recording interface.
What is high dynamic range, when does it start for you?
You won't hear this high dynamic anyway without blasting your ears.
The usual listening levels / work levels to not ruin your ears after hours of work are much below your SNR/DR expectations and what those devices nowadays deliver.

To stay in budget with new devices you would need something like Digiface USB in combination with Behringer ADA8200:
€425 + €159 = €584

But then you do not have RoomEQ and the RME conversion quality.
Also useful things like a few Mic/Inst inputs and Word Clock wouldn't be part of the setup.

Even when it's over budget I would go for an 802 FS, UFX II or UFX+ from used market.
Expect prices around 70-80% of street price depending on age and condition, due to quality and long firmware and driver support.
Then you have RoomEQ, excellent RME converters and many useful features on top.

Just as an information. 802 FS and later models of the UFX II (starting with 2023) have the same analog I/O board (except Mic/Inst inputs) like the UFX III (since 2023) with AKM 4490 converters, that are known from the reference converter series ADI-2 Pro [FS].

BR Ramses - HDSPe MADI FX, M-1620 Pro D, 12Mic, UFX III, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, Nuendo 15, Win10 IoT Ent

Re: Budget setup for 7.1 surround

If you would accept 6 ballanced and two unballanced outputs and no phones output (that one would be already used for unballanced out), then also Fireface UC (no RoomEQ, no effects) UCX (effects, but no RoomEQ) or UCC II (effects and RoomEQ) would be possible...

Secondhand UCX can be found for about 600 EUR (UC for about 500 EUR) and UCX II for about 1000 EUR. If your budget is tight, I would go for UCX and try if it works for you. If not, you may sell it again. It will not loose much value in following years.

But, if you want "the best", then at least Fireface 802 FS or Fireface UFX II. But the pricetag will be over 1000 EUR secondhand. (Even old FF UFX+ sells 1200+ EUR....)

FF UCX II, Digiface USB, Babyface Pro FS