Lynx Hilo 2 Audio Interface Review

[amirm]

Saw this picture on their manual, I really like the front screen, real-time analyzer and VU meters.

I did too..... Except, I could not discover how to see any of those visualizations! I did not read the manual but shouldn't have to, to figure out how such a promoted function is found.

 

[fin]

They say you can press anywhere in the currently active meter to see four options:

 

[Sokel]

I did too..... Except, I could not discover how to see any of those visualizations! I did not read the manual but shouldn't have to, to figure out how such a promoted function is found.

It's by pressing the upper left corner on the original screen and then choose whatever you want.
You can then configure them any way you like, including backlight, etc.

It's definitely not a plug 'n' play gear, but can be heaven for scrutinizers
As with RME ADI-pro , one has to study the manual which is no small.

 

[dfuller]

I also don't understand how a stand-alone box like this can have PCIe interface.

They make PCIe interfaces.

 

[amirm]

They make PCIe interfaces.

They do but they are not called Hilo 2. At least I hope they don't!

On this topic, I bought one of their PCI interfaces back in late 1990s. They had the reputation of having the best sound. For a while, even if their digital out was considered to be the best with folks putting together music players using them.

 

[Bacchusoo7]

It's a coin flip whether you're going to find Mac or PC in any given professional or prosumer recording studio. If it's a logic-based system it'll be Mac. Protools it's a tossup, Reaper PC or Linux. The idea that recording professionals are all on Mac is about 25 years out of date. And every piece of hardware I've used in this space has robust drivers for PC and for Mac.

Probably not a coin flip. Studios that invest in Hilo level gear are probably running Macs unless they're classical focused. My main point is he would haven't all these driver/compatibility issues if he were using a Mac (or at least a lot fewer). Small studios or people on a tight budget might not be or people needing to run specially-focused DAWs (again like classical music folks), but most big studios run Macs.

 

[Cbdb2]

This device exists in this strange realm where it offers quite a lot but at the same time doesnt offer enough.

This device is for studios not living rooms. Thats why it has word clock and this would be one reason studios would buy it. For home my Motu M4, like many consumer ADC/DACs is audibly indistinguishable. It also has 4 in/outs and costs $200. Theres no reason to buy this Lynx interface unless you have a larger studio.

 

[Cbdb2]

Just for info. Word clock is generated by a single device and this signal is sent to all the digital machines (tape) DAWs and digital converters to keep all the devices in sycn. With out it they use there internal clocks and can drift. Say your laying back a 1 hour TV show. You have to sync the audio to the video. A drift as small as .001% will cause a drift of 1 frame. Dosnt sound like much but wont pass QC. (quality control)

 

[SuicideSquid]

Probably not a coin flip. Studios that invest in Hilo level gear are probably running Macs unless they're classical focused. My main point is he would haven't all these driver/compatibility issues if he were using a Mac (or at least a lot fewer). Small studios or people on a tight budget might not be or people needing to run specially-focused DAWs (again like classical music folks), but most big studios run Macs.

1. Amir uses a PC. That the device has extremely outdated drivers is relevant. "Buy another computer" is not a solution to this problem.
2. It's probably not 50/50, sure, it's likely more like 60/40 or even, being very generous, 70/30. Failing to support 30% of your potential user base is bad.

 

[Theogenes]

I've had the original Hilo since 2014, and with all provisos around sighted listening bias et al, it's still my favorite-sounding DAC. I also have the RME ADI-2 FS, an old dCS DAC, and a few random audiophile converters. My Hilo 2 is on its way to me right now, and I'm excited to see how it goes! A few quick notes from the discussion so far:

• I'm not sure what's going on with the driver issues Amir ran into-- maybe they just haven't had enough requests to update it yet. But I will say I've had a really good experience with driver support in the past.
• On the software support as a whole, I had a compatibility issue at one point years ago, so I reached out to their support team. They remotely logged into my system, verified the issue, and issued a firmware update within a few days to fix my issue. They did this even though I am not in the audio industry (and thus am not their bread-and-butter demographic), and certainly not someone who has any clout to bring to the matter. They just jumped on it and got it fixed for me, and although it would be great if all companies handled issues like this, I've rarely encountered one that actually does. As such, Lynx has received my continued support, and of course I bought the newer Hilo.
• While the device is unquestionably incredibly flexible and powerful in the use cases it covers for the professional set, I have absolutely found the interface difficult to understand and use (on the Hilo 1, of course). I've chalked this up to a lack of knowledge and familiarity on my part, and I've always been able to eventually stumble my way into having it work by poking around enough.
• I blew magic smoke out of my Hilo 1 recently and sent it back for repairs. The entire repair, with shipping, was a little over $100 as I recall. While that's not nothing, it seemed reasonable to me, and I have trouble imagining a lot of consumer/audiophile brands performing a similar fix on a decade-old piece of gear for a comparable price-- but I could certainly be mistaken.
• The noise issue Amir pointed to is a bit disappointing. Hopefully all the other advantages will outweigh it.
• Sound On Sound (pro audio site) looks like they use a different testing protocol than Amir does, but they list the Hilo 2 as the best in terms of dynamic range (forum discussion, ranking list - requires login).

My trusty ol' OG Hilo might still be the best fit for me. But I'm excited to get a chance to listen to this new puppy too!

 

[xema]

wanted to see something inside it... if possible to do so

 

[amirm]

wanted to see something inside it... if possible to do so

It is an expensive and brand new device. I can't risk voiding the warranty by messing with it.

 

[billou5767]

That's very impressive since Windows 11 was released in 2021!

Very nice measurements, good to see a pro device that actually delivers.

w11 is based on win 10 , thunderbolt driver is not every month like graphic card

 

[Bacchusoo7]

1. Amir uses a PC. That the device has extremely outdated drivers is relevant. "Buy another computer" is not a solution to this problem.
2. It's probably not 50/50, sure, it's likely more like 60/40 or even, being very generous, 70/30. Failing to support 30% of your potential user base is bad.

You're right a different computer doesn't solve the drivers issue of that particular device. But Amir seems to have a fair number of issues with drivers because he's test all this stuff with a PC. So, having a Mac in his toolbox might be useful to get the most out of his testing time even if it's a ding on the device for not having up-to-date drivers. By way of example, there are no Hilo 2 USB drivers for the Mac, presumably because it doesn't need them. (there are for the thunderbolt/PCI version). This also illustrates my other point, Windows is second fiddle in the audio world. Mac versions are generally developed first (prioritized), PC second. Obviously, this is a convention not an absolute or anything.

Sorry for quibbling regarding percentages. I have no idea what actual numbers look like or where one would even find that data. Speaking personally/anecdotally (which, I recognize is of minimal value), every major studio seems to still run on Mac, every studio I've run across that is a business seems to run on Mac, but there are a lot of personal/project studios, so who knows? But you see this reflected in the industry regarding plug-ins and software and updates etc. That said, I see a lot of classical people using PCs because they're running Pyramix or Sequoia which are aimed at a different market than ProTools or Logic, etc.

 

[M.C. Logan]

This is aimed at recording professionals, right? Mac is still king in that world. Windows drivers are a far second because most of their market doesn't use Windows.

Just get a Mac mini for the bench for whenever you test pro audio gear and save yourself countless hours of hassle.

Not sure that's true, especially outside the US, which does seem to be rather Apple obsessed. Were it the case all the DAWs, except Apple's proprietary one, wouldn't be multi platform.

 

[M.C. Logan]

I think you may be misunderstanding what this device is. It does not need Wifi, eARC or PEQ. It's not a preamplifier, it's a professional ADC/DAC converter for recording studios and live applications.

Absolutely.
Which, lest it need pointing out, is called an audio interface by those who use them.

 

[Bacchusoo7]

Not sure that's true, especially outside the US, which does seem to be rather Apple obsessed. Were it the case all the DAWs, except Apple's proprietary one, wouldn't be multi platform.

I don’t believe they all are, I’m pretty sure there are a few that are Mac only and a few that are PC only.

As far as I can tell, most pro studios are still running ProTools on a Mac. Many use logic, many use other DAWs, but that particular combination still seems to predominate. But it’s very much workload dependent, if people are interfacing more with film/broadcast they may be more likely to lean towards PC but for standard rock/Pop less so. It also depends on how likely people are to need to share sessions with other facilities. (Regarding DAW selection, not mac/pc)

 

[IngMishael]

This is aimed at recording professionals, right? Mac is still king in that world.

This is such an out of date take lol

 

[Bacchusoo7]

This is such an out of date take lol

People keep saying that, without providing any explanation, and I'm willing to entertain that they're right. However, if they were Lynx would probably have prioritized PC drivers. As I've said more above and I see no reason to waste everyone time and repeat it again.

 

[amirm]

So, having a Mac in his toolbox might be useful to get the most out of his testing time even if it's a ding on the device for not having up-to-date drivers.

Audio Precision software doesn't run on Mac so that is out of the question.

As to Lynx, I distinctly remember their original offerings being far more popular on Windows.

Regardless, in this day and age, proper Windows support is mandatory for any product like this. 15 years ago it would be minor share of market but not today.