Babyface vs USBpre2? (For preamp quality, etc) Options

[Sauve Premis]

Hey all.

I keep hearing that the two 'best' interfaces in the mid price range are the RME babyface and the SD USBPre2. My question is, hwo do they compare to each other? I know the babyface offers a LOT more channels, plus MIDI, whilst the USBPre2 only offers 2 channels and no midi. From a UK standpoint, the USBPre2 is also nearly £100 more expensive than the babyface.

Seeing as the babyface seems to win in connectivity features, how do they compare for sheer quality? The SD unit looks a lot more well built, but how about it's A/D D/A converters and preamps? Do they blow the babyface's out of water, or is it so close that they might as well as be even? How about the latency?

Was just wondering as I'm going to drop the ball on either one shortly, but I have no idea which one I should go for (I'm basically looking for pure quality, doubt I'd need more than 2 channels anyway, although it IS nice to have them there).


The only main thing I have seen against the USBPre2 so far is:

I cannot recommend this interface for Windows users at the current time, due to the issues noted above and some intermittent cyclic sample rate issues. (You can hear what that sounds like here: http://www.2shared.com/file/9CyrgcFH/usbp2_test01.html) I've tested this on multiple machines, and even my new box after a reformat.

No one from the SD forums has replied to my concerns since August, and I guess I'm going to go back to email support to see if I can get this figured out... If not I guess I will be selling this unit and getting an RME babyface.

[Sauve Premis]

I see, thanks for that.

I may get the Mico then. It's £150 cheaper than the USBPre2, and then I could get an interface with SPDIF and MIDI (solves the no midi issue of the USBPre2) and it could still come to a lower total cost. I don't need to go out in the field, so the ruggedness of the USBpre2, while attractive, I probably wouldn't make use of.

Someone also suggested the Dav BG-1 as being better than all of those listed, but I haven't seen too much comparisons. I'm not sure if at that level it turns to the standard audiophile 'pseudo' effect or not, haha.