Creamware A16 vs Behringer Ada8000

[Marco]

Compare the A16 vs Behringer Ada8000

Advantages
A16 never crackles works with any light pipe and is always in sync
Ada8000 has 8 Microphone inputs
A16 is cheaper than 2x Ada8000 used one
A16 each channel has a input switch for sensitivity
A16 has a loud output and sounds really good

Disadvantages
A16 no microphone input, no XLR connection but balanced stereo Jacks might be a disadvantage.
A16 has a stupid loud fan, I replaced it, problem solved
Ada8000 makes me crazy with sync and crackling while the A16 is always working correctly (maybe I am to stupid to connect?)
Ada8000 is not a charming device (depending on my person)
Ada8000 cost more than a A16 2x
Ada8000 microphone input is not highend but usable better get ada8200
A16 has an external power transformator, a lot of people hate that, I never understood why?

[Marco]

For what is this? The quick logic?
Also found on the old tripledat

Here you see that new fan!

[ShogunSpy]

Nice I have one ..should do the fan mod! And give it a good clean

[Marco]

I used the air compressor for a cleanup after I bought used. The more dust inside the more danger for electric overheat killing. Same in your beloved PC, after finest configuration praying to it, until your baby was ready to run like a charm, the faster it could die by.
And certainly the most worthful, your Creamware card!overheat.
Only for the Ada8000 I would not really cry! It's a behringer with lots of problems. But not all behringer products are bad. Who can do everything perfect? Maybe I try a compressor cleaning at the Adat lighting IO and then I go into peacefully future with this unbeloved device. I just got this idea now, it is my last idea.

[DragonSF]

In what universe is the A16 cheaper than 2 ADA8x00? In my world, 2xADA8200 go for $400, but A16 is $850 (if available).

[garyb]

he's talking about the original A16. the first version...

[DragonSF]

he's talking about the original A16. the first version...

You mean the A16 was cheaper than the ADA8000 then?

[garyb]

no, now.
there was no ADA8000/8200 back then. there was MOTU and Frontier Tango and Digi and not a whole lot else...

it was a darned good sounding 18bit converter, nicer sounding than many current 24bit converters.

the ADA8000/8200 is a bargain, of course. i've had plenty of success with those.

the A16 is smoother sounding than the Behringer, in my opinion, but the Behringer has better specs and might be a bit more "accurate". i'd use either, but right now i'm very happy with my two A16 Mk2, the kind that don't work for some users here...

i think it's great that a piece of gear that was super cutting-edge in it's day is still useful, and as someone's first choice! i don't believe in disposable gear. if it wears out, ok, but stuff that just breaks, or worse was planned to be abandoned so that the gear consumers could consume more kinda sucks. it's not fun or cool or special.

[faxinadu]

i prefer the ada. had both twice.

now i have a lunabox and an ada, happy with this at the moment.

[Marco]

For me it is something emotional, the old blue A16 was the first converter I have ever had. I like the massive steel housing and it's cool blue color. It sounds perfect enough for all my musical projects. For me the most important is still the music you play with your hands. Guitar bass guitar keys real piano percussion and real and electronic drums, and of course, synthesizers. They all arrive in the A16 and this is a nice port. I'm not a friend of disposable equipment. When I like it, it stays for my life.

[babaorum]

I'm happy with my ADA8200 but it's a bit unstable because if I move my rack the optical cables loose sometimes the sync !
I think Z-Link has a very good stability instead.

[pemi]

Hi, could you tell us which fan you were using to replace in the Creamware A16?

[Marco]

Loosing sync with that behringer Was the reason to replace the behringer against the original A16. And the A16 is cheaper than 2x Behringers!

[dawman]

I’ve got modified ADA8200s and for live work they’re great because you can use a Mutec Clock then go into and out of ALL I/Os simultaneously.
A16s you get more I/Os thanks to Z-Link.

So with the clock and modifications on 2 x ADA8200s I spent 1475.
A16 cost 550 USD.