The DigiMax 96 is still the best. If this box had built-in limiters, it would be unbeatable. I have both the FS and the 96, and it is a great combination for the studio! The quality is first rate! I highly recommend this A/D!

When I purchased my PreSonus Digimax FS, I was putting together an extra outboard box, and wanted (as with my other rack units) to be able to connect everything to my digital boards with only ADAT.

I had considered a full on Digimax (instead of the FS), of which I own three, as well as the Mackie unit. In the end though, a friend let me play aroung with his Digimax FS and I was impressed. Ultimatly, given the price range, I came down to the Digimax FS or the M-Audio octane. Ultimatly, I chose the Digimax because of the one rackspace design and the front mounted imput connectors -- more convenient in a mobile situation, as this unit is for me.

I would say that the main difference between the Digimax FS and the Digimax is the quality of the pre amps. If, you want an all in one unit, with pretty nice built in pre amps, the regular digimax is for you (and will probably save you some dollars).

If, on the other hand, you really want the unit just to use as a A/D converter, than the Digimax FS is for you, as I think that the A/D D/A is the same (or aurally the same) as the Digimax.

For me, I use it in a rack which only contains it and pre amps, which is essentially a giant snake head. The connectors are solid, and I frequently use a return ADAT cable to send back some monitors lines for my actors.

This unit has a solid internal clock and works fine when clocked from the ADAT, although in a fixed situation, it would probably be a good idea to run the word clock line out as well.

The knobs are solid, and the dual XLR/TRS connectors seem sturdy.

The Digimax FS does have two minor issues.

1) When phantom power is enabled, the TRS jacks DO NOT recieve the phantom signal. Many will say "Duh" but if you use an all TRS patching system, then one must insert XLR-TRS converters, a minor headache, but a headache nonetheless.

2) I have had issues with this unit when powering it up before the word clock source is active. While I realize that one should generally turn on the word clock gen first, most of my gear does not have an issue synching to the clock, no mattter what order I power things up in.

Finnally, for those of you considering a Behringer ADA 2000. Don't. This is a far superior unit, and while most behringer gear at least does what it says it will, the ADA 2000 does not, and will interfear with other digital stuff in your system.