Antelope Audio Pure2 - 2-Channel Mastering Converter

As with many other pieces of gear, I did what most may do. Opened the box, connected it up and hit the power button. You will get a msg saying authenticate first. its a bit of a PTTA, but you will need to create an acct at antelope audio, then confirm the acct via email, then plug your Pure2 into the PC to activate the unit, you will need to enter personal info on yourself, serial no of the unit, etc. Once that is done, then you will need to set up all the settings on the unit. This is done again with a PC. If you are using the PURE2 with a workstation, then may not be too big of an issue, but it you are using as a stand alone, it becomes a pita. But once all the above is done the sound quality is clear, open and focused. I do live to 2 track recordings, so feed the output from my avalon 737 mic pres into the analog in on the Pure2. The Pure2 AES/EBU output feeds into a Tascam DA 3000 recorder, along with the Pure2 master clock signal. Conversion is extremely good especially at 24/192 or 24/176.4. Have tried several other converters, and this is the best so far.... Have not tried the MX10 master clock with the Pure2 yet.

The Pure2 should really be advertised as a revolutionary product. Its sound is stunning. It has Neve’s sound without Neve color and just a little of the SSL clean surgical sound. It’s a great sound, it’s "totally" 1970’s “Analog” and contains all that sweetness and punch. It’s modern, warm, and transparent. The Soft Clipping (Overload Protection) was another BIG selling point. I’m old school and my mixes can be Hot as hell. I drove the Pure2 Hard and it’s sweet. Not quite like pushing tape to the edge, the tape gives and stuff gets blobby. The Pure2 adds some really cool harmonics, overtones, and saturation before it hits hardcore Grit. With anything, you can go too far.

Its modern fidelity and can be compared to the best on the market. I pared the Pure2 with a pair of Audeze LCD-2, Mix Cubes, crappy nearfields, and Sonarworks 4 to correct my monitors. It's apparent with the quality that a lot of time, hard work and thought went into this little unit.

The integration of a Trinity Master Clock is worth its weight in gold. I tied everything I could to Pure’s master clock. The Pure2 feeds the USB audio from the DAW (PT) and is Monitor Out 1. When I record the USB feeds the DAW. My Allen and Health SQ5 feeds the Pure2 through AES at 96K. The analog inputs are in the Patchbay and are used to track vocals with the Antelope Edge Strip modeling mic, or any mic/signal. The Toslink (Optical) feeds a Tascam DA 3000 mastering recorder. The analog outs will be used to bounce to ¼ tape for effect or mastering for Vinyl. One unit did all this!.

I go between the Pure, SQ, and Focusrite 18i20. There are grand differences between the Focusrite and Pure. The SQ on the other hand is great, clean, and punchy. The SQ is British and has an SSL'e VHD kinda sound which is great with Pure2. The Focusrite is Monitor 2 but there is so much of a difference that it's being replaced with an Antelope Synergy 8 Core. The Pure2 is a Mastering DAC and its easy to “hear” why.

Another bonus is Customer service. I called for something basic and the company answered the phone. The second time I left a message and within 30 minutes I had a callback. It was a pleasant experience. Not the case with some companies.

I own a very small home-based / mobile studio that specializes in new Jazz, Neo Soul, Blues based rock, and anything acoustic. I EQ at the source and it needs to sound like that coming out of the system. I’m old and heard a lot of systems, but it’s all in what you want/hear as an individual. If you want some of the best sounding gear try Antelope. Its good stuff, and a grand solution for my little set-up.

This Converter is literally the best converter i use for mixing. When i did a mix with this unit recently me and my client couldn't believe how clear and full the sound quality was. We loved it so much we remix the whole record with this unit. This unit made my ITB mixes have more clarity in my mixes.