I know some people here wish there were fewer posts about gear, but there is very little about the Crimson online and I feel like I need to vent
I’ve been looking for a ”serious” iOS-compatible audiointerface for some years now, and finally ended up eyeing the SPL Crimson mk III. After selling off some old bits n bobs, I got the money together for one Crimson 3 from Thomann…
And with just one weekend into using the crimson, I am already a fanboi! The unit has stellar A/D & D/A conversion, better than RME or UA Apollo IMO, superfast headphone amp with a phenomenal transient response (I’m back on my AKG sextetts ), heck I even like the i/o switching buttons.
For anyone looking for an audio interface that goes beyond the entry-level specs in terms of conversion, mic preamp and headphone amp quality, the SPL Crimson 3 deserves a look. My only gripe with it is that it ships with a 1 meter power cable - what were they thinking there?
I think we’re all just going though it lately, questioning our lives, gear choices, and what we do on the forum…
Eventually I’d like to have a dedicated IPad interface as right now I use an Iconnect that needs to be hooked up to a computer and separate interface, would be nice for a traveling setup… I’ll take a look…
I didn’t know they had a version 3 already. I’ve been eyeing the Creon (white version), and also the Focusrite X2P. Do you think the SPL sounds better than the X2P?
Sorry, I have no idea what that focusrite sounds like…
All I can say is that the Crimson is the best sounding audio interface I ever had the pleasure of working with so far. When I audition stuff in the analog domain vs. what I have recorded with it, I hear zero difference in sound. This has never happened to me before. I don’t have GAS for Lake People DAC nor ADC anymore
I could try doing some A/B against heat’s converters, but unsure as on what would be the best source for such a test…
I ended up ordering an AH earlier tonight. I’m counting on it as being an audio interface too though. It was either the AH or the SPL/X2P. Ok, I’m done buying shit for now lol.
Regarding RME converters, I’ve never owned an RME card, but I used to do some tracking and mixing in one studio which had a fireface… And I recall the topend sounding stressed somehow (?) But to be fair, the monitoring and everything else in that room was unfamiliar to ne, so it would be more truthful to state that I have no proper isolated experience with RME converters, all my opinions about RME are based on visits to friends’ studios/project spaces. Many of my friends are using RME, and there always seems to be a sonic signature to them in my subjective mind…
In any case, you shouldn’t take my word as gospel. We all are expected to form our own opinions on things and not just follow public opinion blindly… My subjective experiences with using audiointerfaces for the past 10 years or so have lead me to the spl Crimson, everyone’s mileage will surely wary…
Ok thanks. Just asking because the difference between Silver and Blackface Apollo converters is significant, so I was wondering if you had tried those. Have fun with your Crimson
Ok, yes I have read there is a distinct diff between Apollo mk I & mk II conversion. For all I know the mk II conversion might sound as good as the Crimson…
While I am generally satisfied with my Apollo mk I conversion, I find the soundstage gets slightly smaller in AD capture, and the higher frequencies exhibit this feeling of stiffness I associate with digital audio… But at the end of the day I have no worries using my Apollo either, music gets recorded, music comes out of the speakers.
), heck I even like the i/o switching buttons.
I know it sounds funyy but I haven’t had a need for using it that way.