The Symphony Desktop Compact Interface: Apogee at its Zenith

No mixing or recording engineer needs to be briefed on Apogee: its rackmount units represent the pinnacle of sonic reproduction at the conversion stage. Yet there’s always been a gulf between those who use these desktop devices—the Duet and the Quartet, namely—and those who seek the Symphony, the flagship in AD/DA conversion. Today, that gulf is no more: Apogee has released the Symphony Desktop, an interface offering the legendary specs of the Symphony I/O mkII in a portable form factor.

It does that, and so much more.
This interface offers an impressive 10-in x 14-out configuration, making use of USB and optical connections. Over USB, you can achieve sample rates and resolutions of up to 192 kHz / 24-bit.
Two stepped gain preamps can give you up to 75 dB of gain, as well as variable impedance values to engender different sounds. These preamps make use of two XLR-1/4" combination inputs located on the back of the unit. You’ll also note the front-panel 1/4" instrument input, also with variable impedances to accommodate different instruments, and two different headphone outputs—one 1/4", the other 3.5mm.

All of this hardware plays nicely with two included preamp emulations, one modelled on a Class A Neve 1066 preamp, and the other modeling a 1950s-era Ampex 601. Whether you want a round British sound or a lush ’50s timbre at the input stage, the Symphony Desktop can provide just the right thing.