How are the Focusrite ISA preamps?

[MetalWorks]

I see that the ISA is priced between the Platinum series and the Red Series preamps.

The Red 1 description says "The design employs the same topology as the acclaimed ISA 215 pre-amps."

I assume the ISA 215 back in the day are better than the current ISA.

The cool feature I like about them is the ADAT option which would work nice for my Digidesign 96 I/O.

So where do the current ISA preamps rank?

 

[colonel kurtz]

i haven't used the current ISA offerings, but i have used the original 110 and 215, which i believe were designed by rupert neve, and they totally slay. only preamp i've heard them side-to-side with was an averill 1073, and the focusrite seemed a bit more transparent - not quite as much harmonic distortion, but still a really good sounding preamp. the EQ is kick-ass as well.

OTOH, i've heard that the newer ISA offerings are crap in comparison...but again, those are the opinions that i've heard from others, so who knows

 

[greenacre]

I own the ISA220 session pack channel strip and love it