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M-Audio Audiophile 2496

M Audio's Audiophile 2496 card is the latest addition to its highly successful Delta family of soundcards. The Audiophile 2496 is an all-in-one high fidelity soundcard solution for a wide variety of applications, ranging from multi-track recording to computer-based home theatre. Learn More...

    • New $99.95
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Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Feature:
This soundcard doesn't have many fancy features, but what it does do, it does perfectly. For the vast majority of people, your sounds' limiting factor will be your other equipment, not this card. I've never gotten better sound out of my stereo. Mind you, you can only have two input channels, and two output channels, which almost always ends up being stereo. Still, amazing for its price.

Quality:
Looks nice, sounds nice. Rugged for a sound card.

Value:
Easy to use, Sounds great. Definitely worth your $107.

Desirability:
Ah... is blue. Is nice. Come on! It's a sound card. Even if this one is plain, everything ever made by Soundblaster is still like the hunchback of Notre Dame or something. For a sound card, it's lovely.

Sound:
Obviously not the best sound out there, but quite probably the best sound for its price. It's hard to tell, because it's good enough that my speakers are holding it back. o_O

Ease of Use:
I triple boot Ubuntu Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows Vista. This soundcard works perfectly for me in all three- no fiddling around in menus, not even in the notoriously finicky Linux. I've had more trouble with setting up (shudder) integrated soundcards than with this one.

Support:
I haven't needed this card repaired, but I've dealt with M-Audio's customer service before and they are quite nice.

Overall:
As I've mentioned already, this soundcard is being held back by my other equipment. If/when I upgrade to the point that it's the other way around, I'll have to upgrade this too. Until then, it's worth it for sure.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
I like the way it can be used as a primary or secondary soundcard. For any house computer this thing really gets the job done.

Quality:
Pretty good, it hasn't broken or even failed to do what it's supposed to do yet.

Value:
Reall cheap, with overnight shipping. .......Metal!!!

Desirability:
For a 100 dollars. C'mon

Sound:
I used it to record an album over the summer and when I connected my Roland Hard Disk Recorder into it, it basically transferred all the music on it digital and it sounds badass.

Ease of Use:
Just plug in load software and you're ready to go.

Support:
none. Didn't need any

Overall:
Damn good, buy it, buy it now

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Feature:
Basic expected for the price. Software bundling a bit lacking compared to its biggest competitor the EMU0404, over all good choice.

Quality:
Drivers in development for 7 years, rock solid.

Value:
theres nothing cheaper that usable.

Desirability:
Oh yeah! green silocon, what nonsense a sex apeal question...

Sound:
A semi professional 2 channel card for 100$, with spidf I/O for future upgradablity. Not much to complain with as good as any other audio interface (motu, EMU,) for conversion quality.

Ease of Use:
As easy as any other audio interface

Support:
never dealt so i'm giving them a 5

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
i guess

Quality:
once again .. u really cant beat this card for the price ... if this is your first time buying a nicer sound card ... this is the one you want !!!!

Value:
see above

Desirability:
come on now .. how sexy can a sound card be ,,,,

Sound:
for the price .. there isnt another sound card that can match it !

Ease of Use:
yeah .. plug n play .. never had an issue

Support:
never needed it

Overall:
im totaly happy w/ it

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
It has all the features of the Delta series minus wordclock BNC connections, but cam use it's SPDIF to sync to a master clcok.

Quality:
Excellent quality for this price range.

Value:
The card is hands down the best soundcard for the price anywhere. Period.

Desirability:
It's just a pci card.

Sound:
The sound is fantastic for the price.

Ease of Use:
Quite easy. the patchbay router is a bit confusing but overall very simple to use.

Support:
Driver support is excellent, that is why i bought it. M audio keeps their drivers up to date and ASIO drivers are very stable.

Overall:
The design is so intelligent and the card is the most versatile card for it's price anywhere. that is why so many musicians and producers use it because it can still be used even when expanding your studio. And incredible card.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10

Feature:
I expected three things from this card: quality recording, quality playback, and straightforward routing of the audio signal via the software. It pretty much does all three well. Recording has been flawless. For some reason, I never could get it to playback via the digital output into the digital input of the sampler I owned. The software was a little tricky to figure out at first, but I was new to PC DAW when I got this card, so there was a lot I couldn't initially grasp in all of the equipment I was using.

Quality:
Have had for 3 years now (and I obtained it second-hand!) with no problems whatsoever. Has been pulled and installed in different PCs five or six times without incident.

Sound:
I've had no pops, hiss, or other artifacts from this card. It has delivered perfectly in recording (via analog and digital inputs) and playback.

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Overall:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * . . . . . . . 3 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10

Feature:
What features? It's pretty much a bare bones sound card. Use other hardware and software for features.

Quality:
Seems to be ok but needs 1/4" i/o or XLRs.

Value:
Would rate it higher on value if it didn't have the crackle. 100 bucks isn't bad for 24/96

Desirability:
pretty bland. Not much sex in a sound card

Sound:
Sound is fine except for the annoying crackle. Crackle isn't level based but appears at times and not at others. Will not be able to continue use if unable to resolve crackle. Set control to output Monitor/Mixer crackle less prominent but is still there. Fairly usable at this setting. No change with variation in sampling rate and buffers.

Support:
None or haphazard at best

Overall:
Would rate it much higher if not for the crackle

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Support:
* * * . . . . . . . 3 out of 10

Feature:
Great Midi setup, it's pretty much got it all here.. if there's no conflicts

Quality:
Wonderful look and feel, actually feels sturdy for a PCI card.

Value:
Would be great if it would work, sounds wonderful other than the pops.

Desirability:
Very "desireable"... I wanted one so bad =D

Sound:
This is where it falls a little short.. it's got great sound but it has a lot of problems with IRQ's and pops and such. I still get pops in my recordings and when I listen and I've had it for like 6 months.. been trying to figure it out, but it's not solveable on my system. Kinda sucks in this respect.. I wish I'd shelled out the extra cash for a better card just to stop these pops.

Support:
They're pretty much the worst support *I* have ever encountered.. they didn't know how to solve my specific problem so they just stopped responding to my emails, I've sent *34*.. yes *34* unanswered emails now.

Overall:
It works well except for the minor problems.. but I'm going to have to get a new card eventually.. it's my next purchase.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10

Feature:
Use this in the shop for testing DACS and CD Transports. Also great for vinyl transfers and editing. (No latency issues)

Quality:
Use a good pre or mixer as source buffer and you don't wear out the bogy rca jacks.

Value:
Can't beat it for the price. I use the firewire version on a regular basis, and guess what- I don't seem to have all the problems that other complain about!

Sound:
Sound is far better than expected for the price. If you use a tube output driver stage to feed the analog in, be advised that the input impedance is lower than avedtised. If used in a tape loop, make sure it is buffered or may load down your source.

Support:
Did not have issues with the 2496 Audiophile, but did have compatibility problems with some software (non-pro) seeing this card. Definately not M-Audios fault here as Sound Forge and Adobe Audition/ work well.

Overall:
Don't know how many I have setup for others, and buying another one for a converted Dell server with no onboard sound.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Quality:
It seems to be well made and havent had any problems, have been very impressed especially considering the price!!

Value:
Its so cheap! For something of this quailty and specification, i certainly am not going to complain!

Sound:
Really is superb for the price! have been blown away by the quality and accuracy of the reproduction of highs and lows from this card. After using alot of the modern sb cards i didnt really expect much of an improvement as far as play back was concerned, as the card was bought for recording. However i was shocked! playback is clean and crisp, recording is as impressive

Overall:
Cheap, suberb audio quailty with endless uses

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Feature:
Good everything u need if u doing 1 or 2 tracks at a time, got good midi...never used the s/pdif

Quality:
Nice gold plated rca's all connectors look classy and not cheap

Value:
GREAT VALUE....this quality at 99 dollars.....anyone can have it at their palms even poor people like me lol....i remember when it was close to $200 (yes i was looking at it since then lol)

Desirability:
i got it

Sound:
Great crisp clear sound...Both recording and listening....and its very silent when is idle, u will forget u had on your monitors lol...if ur upgrading from a onboard card, u will be blown away, if upgrading from a audigy or one of those u will also be cause they can't record clear as this charm...9, well its not perfect, show me a card that is

Support:
never called yet, never had to

Overall:
great product for a home/project studio

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Feature:
You get what you pay for. I do not use this card as the only piece of hardware to record, and if you do, you need help.

Quality:
Nice...

Sound:
The quality is near perfect. Rule one.. Know what your doing... I use it not by itself. I use it alongside other pieces of hard ware equipment. The sound card is just a way I can route my sound from my mixer to my computer for further engineering.

Support:
Didn't have to use them

Overall:
I was very satisified with this card. Though I knew I could get a 44 or 66, I chose this card for my home setup.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
not many, but again i only use it to get clean sound. never used spdf nor midi !

Quality:
no doubt!! great card, i like the RCA inputs, because they last forever!

Value:
best value for beginner producer now that is only $99 its a sheep with a wolf heart!

Desirability:
FOR IT"S VALUE! I will dafenately say good bye to it when I get its bigger sister with few tears too.

Sound:
paid $250 and I have it for 4 years now, it had few problems when changing my computers system, but again it was fixed by getting the right driver. Sound is very good, clean! well i dont know how much clearer we need, its a simple card, but proffesional, again it never gave me any headaches.a after upgrading to XP pro.

Support:
e-mailed m-audio when i had a problem they responded in 2 days with good advice. well maybe i was lucky!

Overall:
I was happy with it , knowing its inside my system. i gave it 9 because i need more inputs now, i do more complicated work than last 4 years!

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Overall:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Features:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Quality:
* * . . .