Is there any truth in what this guy is saying?

postbop64 · Post by **postbop64** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:19 am

http://cgi.ebay.com/MOTU-24-I-O-PCI-COR ... dZViewItem

TnMike · Post by **TnMike** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:33 am

I've heard about this mod.
Not sure...could be worth the money.

blue · Post by **blue** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:54 am

The blurb at the bottom is taken from this site.

Apparently a lot of people have done the mod and endorse Black Lion's work. Do a search of the hardware forum on this board and you will find some threads and many posts.

builder · Post by **builder** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:47 am

I got the mod done one my 828mkII... Great sounds, great communication.... great guys....

Timeline · Post by **Timeline** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:08 am

that's the real deal. RME chips sound great but i think black only does th op, not in-p

Kawentzmann · Post by **Kawentzmann** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:33 am

This reminds me, is there a way of having my 2408 MKI (!) fitted with 24bit converters? Of yourse the automatic aliasing of the current 20bit converters has to go out, too. I am in Germany, so a good techs adress in Europe would be cool.

KK

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:38 pm

Nothing is impossible, but everything comes at a cost. This would be a custom job and a rather unusual one. The current Black Lion adjustments are costly as they are. It could be just cheaper to buy a new 24-bit compatible unit since the MKI would nearly have to be rebuilt from the inside out.

The first trick is to find someone who does this sort of upgrade. Perhaps you might want to write to Black Lion to begin your search:

http://www.blacklionaudio.com/motu_firewire_mod.html

info@blacklionaudio.com

postbop64 · Post by **postbop64** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:11 pm

So Builder, you can really hear a difference in your 828 MKII after the mod? Did you have both upgrades done?

Matcher · Post by **Matcher** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:51 am

I had both mods done to my Traveler, and it's remarkably better now. The sound was lifted from the prosumer level to a pro level IMO. Now there's much better clarity and definition and some nice sparkle. The only downside is that the BLA clock can be slaved only via the BNC, not s/pdif. Still well worth the money IMO.

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:13 am

"in my opinion............................ To my ears......................... They seem to............"

It sounds like his attorney wrote his copy?

Matcher · Post by **Matcher** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:49 am

There are also some audio examples demostrating the effect of the mod at the BLA site and some A/B comparisons have been posted at gearslutz too. Still, the bomb is to hear the difference in your own room with the same setup, so you can really hear the difference the mod makes.

emulatorloo · Post by **emulatorloo** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:47 am

There is a HUGE thread on the Black Lion Mods right here on unicornation. . .pages and pages, over in the Motu Hardware forum. . .Check it out. People seem quite happy w them.

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builder · Post by **builder** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:35 am

Yes I can hear the difference.... Especially in the pres.... they are actually usable

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:36 am

I was a little suspicious at first of the user reviews on Black Lion's site, but when I started reading the raves here by so many familiar U-nation member names, there was little left not to believe.

Add to that the fact that adding a word clock to my set up has resulted in noticeable improvements with sync and depth of sound, and the whole Black Lion update concept takes on additional merit.

Also, when you read about some of the problems people are having like interfaces going offline and BTD dropouts, it makes it very difficult to refute the consistency of the claims.

With that said-- for the cost of the retrofit, I'd probably sooner put the money towards a better audio card and interface.