Okay, seems like most of you guys picked #2. Interesting!
All three #1 clips are the Babyface, and all three #2 clips are the Firepod.
I think the Babyface is slightly clearer. But I did blind tests for myself and almost always picked a different unit than what I thought was playing back.
More thoughts on the Babyface:
It is less stable than my Firepod. I cannot run it at similar buffer settings in a CPU intense project. When it spikes the CPU usage, the Babyface likes to make many many small spikes. This is more annoying and disrupts work-flow more than the Firepod which will exhibit only a couple of bigger spikes.
I seem to notice more audible distortion on my reference material when using the headphone output on the Babyface. I can't figure out if it is the better DA converters making this more noticeable in the source material, or if it is actually clipping somewhere in the unit. That being said, the Babyface seems to make things slightly clearer and more dynamic. The Firepod seems a little bit foggy in comparison, but I'm really nitpicking with this observation. This is noticeable with headphones, but with my Yamaha MSP10 monitors it is harder to say the same. Overall, babyface DA is better spec'd and it does sound a small amount better.
It likes to make loud noises when turning on or if I forget my monitors are on, it makes a lot more noise than the Firepod when connecting/disconnecting. If I put headphones on and turn it on, I am greeted with a loud pop. I can't leave it plugged in and turn on my laptop or else it will hang and I am forced to make a hard shut down of my computer. TotalMix is annoying as hell for me. I cannot change buffer settings while I'm working on a project, if I do change buffer I get no playback. I have to shut down C5 and restart with the new buffer settings.
I thought the Babyface would help decrease my frustration with mixing and editing. But it actually causes me quite a bit more anguish than the Firepod. Maybe I am just too used to my old ways, but the Firepod is a hell of a lot easier to use.
I'm not defending the Firepod here. In fact, I can't stand it. But maybe it's not as terrible as the internet professionals claim. These observations are simply that, observations. I'm not trying to bash RME or give Presonus praise. It is just what I have observed.
UPDATE: I've been listening more through my MSP10's. I have set the left output of each interface to one monitor and have been flipping through reference material and comparing. It's hard to tell when a full band is blasting, but on acoustic instruments there is a clear difference that the Babyface has a superior DA. There is more clarity, more crisp high end, and more balance. Sounds almost scooped, but this is likely the result of more detailed high and low end shining through that I am not used to hearing. It is a slight difference, but perhaps enough that I'll keep the Babyface.
