Neve 8816 AD Output Card Option

I've been lusting after this ADC card ever since I bought my 8816 in 2009. I have an Apogee PSX-100 AD/DA that served well for years, but it had to be patched every time I wanted to bounce a mix, and knew that it added a certain color for better or worse. As good as the PSX was in its day I was pretty sure I could do better in 2021 and started looking at new A/D converters in the $3K+ range.

I knew this ADC uses the well-regarded Burr-Brown PCM1804 chipset, and really liked the idea of tight internal integration with the 8816. There were favorable reviews comparing this converter to high-end units, and it seemed to make a lot of sense to pay for just the digital card since I already have a good host platform and didn't necessarily need a new standalone device.

It took a while to arrive from Neve, but it's been worth it - the converter is a very noticeable upgrade to my system. It's a very transparent A/D with tons of detail and dynamic range. It's far cleaner and more accurate than the PSX, and having the conversion happen internally in the 8816 is so obviously more efficient and practical for me. No patching and extra connection points required. Just a nice simple AES output back into my DAW for mixdowns.

I'd say the biggest effects are the detail in the high end, and the stereo imaging. The bounces now sound identical to live DAW session playback through my monitors. It's kind of eerie to me, and I've realized how much I was missing for so long. (I haven't tried the insert patching to use the converter on its own, but that's a nice option to have.)

If you're looking to upgrade or buy an external A/D converter, and you have an 8816, I believe this choice is a no-brainer.