I can give a kudo to the M-audio 410 myself. We first used this in Asia a few months back, and it is a great little box! Preamp is kinda colored, but for so cheap, what can you expect?

I just started firing up my Firewire-410. Seems just great then again anything would compared to the audio built into the mobo.
Just one thing that I didn't quite realise before I got it, the mic inputs are not balanced. Probably I'll never have an issue with this, just that when you see XLR mic inputs with phantom power you kind of expect them to be balanced.

Really looks like a good solution... on top of that, I called a place here renowned to sell to all the professionnal musicians in town and he mentionned the same model according to price and performance!
I expected something a little lower in price but I might go with that one since it's been "improved". Better be satisfied and 100-200 in red than spending money for something that doesn't work or works after months of "patching/tweaking/updating"...

farss: it's supposed to be balanced mic inputs:

(from their site)
"2 analog audio input channels
Two independent analog input channels accept a wide variety of input signals. A front-panel switch for each channel selects between 1/4” TS (-10dBV) line-level input on the rear and Neutrik (1/4” TS and balanced XLR) mic/instrument input on the front. Connect microphones, guitars, keyboards, samplers, CD players and more. The driver software allows you to route these internally to any analog or digital outputs." (by the way, what's "TS" ?)

Oh yeah, and did you resolved this anomaly (the 10dB difference on your meters)?

I'm happy this card seems to be working great. I now prefer to ask *before* buying. Sometimes, you get disapointed just by "trusting the specs". I got ripped off with a motherboard, a soundcard and a webcam and since then, I tend to be a little... cold about "what the company says" or what "the seller who knows it all says"... (Ok, enough about violins'n'tears now).

Thanks again for feedback guys. You definitely make this forum rock!

> (by the way, what's "TS" ?)

Finally, an answer I know.

TS = tip / sleeve. The tip is the end of the 1/4" plug, and the sleeve is the grounded shaft. Some 1/4" plugs and jacks are TRS (for unbalanced stereo or balanced mono), where R is a ring on the plug that carries a third conductor.

Sure they're balanced, Farss. Don't let the combo input fool you. they are XLR and TRS both in one connector, and they are balanced. Electronically rather than transform, but they are balanced. And they're pretty quiet inputs too. Just a little coloration on the very top and bottom ends.

My goodness, that'll teach me to read the damn manual.
I was certain the specs said balanced but the manual describes them as:
1. MIC/INST INPUTS - Unbalanced Instrument and Mic level inputs.

Now stupid me thought the Unbalanced referred to both the intrument and mic inputs!

Well it was 3am and they could have been just a little clearer.

All I can say is compared to the AC97 mobo audio which on a good day managed 35dB S/N on line inputs this thing is heaven and I can turn my laptop into a half decent HD recorder. And too think I almost bought a DAT.