re: AD & DA converters
Everyone uses Burr Brown chips. It's the analog components for that end of the circuit that make the difference.
That modern B-word converter unit IS actually going to deliver a high bang for the buck! Welcome to the 21st century. Some things are cheap and nice now. The Apogee/RME/Prism unit will have better analog components for the analog signal handling circuits. Remember, those Burr Brown chips can only digitize what they get delivered to them from the analog front end to the AD circuit. Just OK analog precision gets you just that and no more digitized. You'll never restore or pull out what hit the cutting room floor from the bits no matter how deep you dig.
We can still be reasonable with this however! If the B-word unit hits 85% of what's possible, the Apogee and Prism units will get you to 98%. Invest in that last 2% with caution!
I was kind of throwing out B&W and Adams as buzzwords. Are those no longer worthy of investment? Hmmm... I bet they give you more bang for the buck than the stupid $60,000 preamp! Genelecs are going to have to continue to suffice for the time being here.
Nicer preamps in general give you a wide working range with pristine consistent quality from top to bottom. Cheaper units might give you the same results in the sweet spot but you get a smaller window. The better dialed in units' entire working range is the sweet spot as it were.
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