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The Lynx Aurora has been a mainstay in recording since 2005 and is still considered the best I/O option by many top engineers. Last year's news that it was the primary interface used in the making of Daft Punk's Random Access Memories (arguably the 21st century's best-sounding album release to date) has brought more attention to the device. In 2012, Lynx released the Hilo (pronounced HE-low) 2-channel converter system, which provides worldclass D/A and A/D conversion as well as an audiophile-quality headphone amp. Both interfaces are equipped with Lynx's LSIot expansion slot, allowing use of the Lynx LT-TB Thunderbolt Interface released earlier this year. The LT-TB provides Thunderbolt connectivity, making the Aurora and Hilo perfect options for engineers and musicians seeking outstanding sound quality in a Thunderbolt-equipped device.
I purchased Lynx Aurora after reviewing it for the March 2006 issue of PAR (www.lynxstudio.com/nav/getFile. asp?i=9&t=contentfile), and it's been my primary converter ever since.
On the other side of the glass, I've been using AEA's N22 active ribbon mic for the last six months to record nearly everything that's come across my plate. I love it. While it's billed as an affordable ribbon mic offering by AEA, it is truly high-end in every aspect except the price and is sonically unlike any ribbon mic I've encountered.
Lynx Aurora 16
The 1U Aurora 16 A/D-D/A supports sample rates up to 192 kHz and provides outstanding conversion. The sound is open and transparent and almost impossible to discern from the source material at high sample rates. The internal clock is spectacular and since the unit operates without an internal fan, there's no issue in having the converters in the control room.
Lynx has followed the Aurora's release with numerous LSIot interfaces that allow the Aurora to be used in various interfacing configurations. The LT-HD (which I currently use in my studio) allows the Aurora to be recognized and controlled from Pro Tools. Initially the LT-HD's firmware tricked Pro Tools into thinking the Aurora was a 192, but with the latest firmware update, Pro Tools now sees the Aurora as an Avid HD I/O (Avid's current premium I/O). The LT-HD card has a DigiLink connector and can be connected to an HD System with a standard DigiLink cable or...