The 8×8+8MP version of the Symphony I/O Mk II – Audio Interface from Apogee Electronics consists of the Symphony I/O Chassis outfitted with the 8×8 Mk II – Analog/Digital In/Out Module and the A8MP 8-channel boutique microphone preamp module with 4 instrument inputs and 8 inserts.

Features
– Legendary AD/DA conversion
– Up to 32 channels of modular analog I/O with optional 8 mic preamps
– Ultra-low latency performance
– Intuitive touchscreen display and front panel control
– Option card slot for future platform flexibility
– Dynamic Temperature Control
– Designed in California, built in the U.S.A.

The chassis’s front-panel touch screen offers convenient access to nearly every setting including sample rate, clock source, headphone & speaker output levels, meters for all I/O and section navigation, as well as input levels, digital I/O, and configuration settings. The rear panel provides access to the additional I/O Module slot for adding another optional I/O card, while the two Thunderbolt connectors ensure compatibility with newer Mac computers. Also included are Wordclock I/O connectors & termination, an option card slot, and a quiet, digitally controlled fan to keep everything running cool.
The 8×8 Mk II module offers any combination of 8 x 8 analog input and output, and 8 x 8 AES/EBU or optical digital input and output. The module occupies one of the two slots available on the chassis. The A/D circuit has been refined to offer a streamlined circuit design, resulting in the most transparent signal path to the A/D stage possible. A dual-sum A/D stage is utilized where two conversion stages are summed for each analog channel, offering the lowest distortion and the greatest dynamic range of any A/D converter Apogee has ever designed.

The D/A section has been optimized with a more powerful and robust output driver that is capable of driving virtually any input without a decrease in performance, regardless of the load presented by the connected gear. The analog inputs and outputs are offered on DB25 connectors and require optional breakout cables, available in various configurations to suit individual requirements.

The A8MP is a module that enhances the system’s analog input by adding 8 microphone preamps. Additionally, up to 4 instrument inputs can be connected directly to the module and twin D-Sub connectors deliver 8 fully balanced inserts points. Microphones do not connect directly to the Mic Preamp Module. They must be connected to the analog inputs of an analog I/O Module that has been installed in slot 1 of the Symphony chassis. The microphone preamps are then enabled in the Maestro software. Phantom power can also be enabled individually from the software.

Symphony I/O Mk II Chassis (Thunderbolt)
The Symphony I/O Mk II from Apogee Electronics is an advanced, flexible multi-channel audio interface featuring the newest flagship AD/DA conversion, modular I/O (up to 32 inputs and outputs), and an intuitive touchscreen display. The chassis provides two I/O Module slots for a variety of digital audio conversion options that form the interface side of the Symphony I/O Mk II. The front-panel touch screen offers convenient access to nearly every setting including sample rate, clock source, headphone & speaker output levels, meters for all I/O and section navigation, as well as input levels, digital I/O, and configuration settings.

The rear panel provides access to the two I/O Module slots that are capable of a combined thirty-two channels of input and output, while the two Thunderbolt connectors ensure compatibility with newer Mac computers. Also included are Wordclock I/O connectors & termination, an option card slot, and a quiet digitally-controlled fan to keep everything running cool.

The Symphony I/O Mk II features a single ultra-high-fidelity DAC and headphone amplifier with Apogee’s Constant Current Drive technology, which was first introduced in the Apogee Groove. The headphone amplifier dynamically compensates for non-linearities of any connected headphones, providing massive power while maintaining extremely low distortion and linear frequency response.

The optional five I/O Modules allow the user to choose from standard configurations, or customize the following – channel count, analog to digital input, digital to analog output, microphone preamps (requires an analog card), and digital I/O.