Looks like 2020 is the year for portable/desktop solutions :

Wow interesting move cant wait for the proper reveal..

I understand that it was apple’s decision to no longer develop fw audio drivers, but I felt totally abandoned by apogee with my fw ensemble. The trade in credit they offered was a joke. It will take A LOT of convincing for me to buy another one of their products. It makes me sad, because I really liked that unit.

Beautiful and looks like $1300 retail. I have the Apogee Element and love it. The Apogee products are classy and sound great. This looks like a a serious upgrade to Quartet - and I love that it runs on Windows and Mac and...iPad Pro! (my only complaint with Apogee is that it only runs on Mac).

Blessings!

More please!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora...-at-its-zenith

B&H has it listed for $1,299.00

https://apogeedigital.com/products/symphony-desktop

This is wild. Has everything you could possibly need in a small desktop interface. It even has support for windows(!). That's bananas.

I wonder if you can bypass the mic pres and hit the converters directly?

For the cost that seems kind of meh for what you get.

I have been with Prism interfaces for quite a while now, I forgot to even check what's new with Apogee. They do plugins now!? And put them on their hardware as well? This has become a lot more interesting! This Symphony Desktop looks very interesting for ITB workflow (and a single pair of monitors, sigh), with occasional recording of vocals/guitar/synth! (Assuming the whole DSP story is of their expected audio quality, and the platform is stable enough... cough Antelope cough)

$1000.00 and i'm IN !

"Sounds" interesting

I love Apogee's interfaces (in fact I own a little Element 24 and it sounds awesome) I just don't understand how this interface should be connected to my Mac.

It says it's "USB" but they should at least clearly state if it's usb 2 (or usb 3) over usb-c connector. I'm a little disappointed it's not thunderbolt 3, but maybe that would have been an issue for Windows.

Anyway it checks many things (for me) like 2 headphone outputs, very good D/A for mixing, monitoring with plugins (and they included a reverb! At last!). Not sure I would ditch my Apollo, but it's tempting...

Lox

In what way? the Quartet has more i/o features and is around the same price if i'm not mistaken.

Because the conversion will be better, the dual-path, onboard Fx engine, mic-pre emulations, etc. You are getting the premium Symphony experience in a smaller package. The I/O isn't far off (10x14) vs (12x8 - with two more built-in pres) and it is a desktop package.

For me it is similar enough price-wise and form factor, with the new one edging out the Quartet in terms of sound-quality and features. For others perhaps they see it differently, but that is why I guess I looked at it in that fashion.

looks great - wondering if can be used as an expansion/control of an existing Symphony mk2 system.

Also, does this mean dualpath is coming to the rest of the Symphony line?

That's amazing. Unfortunately, wether an UAD Apollo Twin nor the new SSL2 interfaces do offer the possibility to make high quality recordings with the iPad while on the road. Well done, Apogee!

Are you sure about the SSL 2? The USB is class compliant which leads me to believe it will work with iPads.

No, I'm not sure to be honest but there is no mentioning on their website, FAQ nor in the manual that they will work with an iPad.

This appears to be much closer to a Duet replacement. Not sure why folks are comparing it to the Quartet. Very limited I/O for $1299. Even with the DSP, that price is high. An Apollo Twin is $400 less. This thing better sound like heaven.

Lots of cool features. I am interested in all the extra plugins they are releasing along with it like the vintage mic pre emulations. I am hoping they update the Ensemble with similar features. I'd much rather have a thunderbolt interface, so I doubt I will jump on this, but hopefully we will see some thunderbolt 3 releases from Apogee this year. I need some extra I/O, my Element 46 isn't cutting it anymore.

Duet is only 2 in/ 2 out. This one is closer to the in/out of the Quartet when expanded. Also, it will be the sound-quality of the Symphony which is way above the Quartet, plus have wonderful DSP features.

So you are right...as far as analog in/outs - it more matches the Duet.

Sound Quality - above Quartet

DSP - not in Duet or Quartet

Expanded in/outs - brings it close to Quartet

So I stand corrected as far as it "replacing" the Quartet - but I certainly for one would buy this new tech over the outdated Quartet for the same price....

if its the same conversion as Symphony it should sound much better than the Apollo.




Not a lot of talk about latency, usb2/usb3?, clocking etc. etc.

Converters.

It's USB, you're gonna get 4ms at the lowest if you're name is RME, everyone else gets ~5-6ms.

An apogee guy here...
Had the duet, duet for iOS, quartet and now own an element 24.
Never needed much I/o and so I always wanted a symphony mk2 2x6se in a 1 u version.

From my understanding the SE version has the best converters in the apogees lineup.

I guess this as close as it’s going to get tho.
I wish this thing has a 1 u version, would look great in my rack.

As for the DSPs: I don’t mind it but my iMac Pro does not suffer in the CPU department.
As for the plug-ins: over the years I have accumulated the plugins I use the most so I don’t care much for more plug-ins.

if the element is thunderbolt two isn't it natural for the symphony to be thunderbolt three?

System Requirements:

macOS 10.12 or later, Quad Core i7 Processor or higher

https://apogeedigital.com/products/symphony-desktop

I am definitely considering buying this interface. I currently have an Apogee Element. I'm wondering if this would be a noticeable upgrade. I also didn't see anything on what it uses besides USB type c which I'm assuming is maybe USB 3.1 ? My Element is thunderbolt 2. I'm more interested in the converters and I love the design. I'll most likely buy it either way.

No need to talk about latency. It's got a latency free DSP based recording path- with preamp emulation and plugins either getting printed or just for monitoring. Well played Apogee!

In this NAMM of low priced desktop interfaces, someone is finally taking it up to UA! Game on!