The Audiophile Firewire features two channels of line-level analog inputs, four channels of unbalanced analog outputs, two channels of digital S/PDIF inputs and outputs, a headphone output with dedicated volume control and two computer firewire interface ports. The device also accepts MIDI in and out (but no MIDI through port) for musical control, and the interface receives its operating voltage over an 8-pin Firewire bus, and includes an external power supply used when operating from a 4-pin Firewire bus.
The Audiophile Firewire features both software and hardware controls. Hardware controls include physical knobs on the face of the device for headphone volume and an assignable rotary knob, which defaults as a monitor volume level for outputs 1 and 2. A headphone source selector button toggles between analog stereo outputs 1 and 2, and 3 and 4 by default, but can also be digitally reassigned. The device's software controls include an integrated virtual mixer which features mutes, solos, aux busses and panning, as well as multiplexing outputs and connecting multiple units together. The programmable rotary control knob can also be assigned to control output busses, input busses, aux sends or digital busses.
This device is designed to run with either the Windows 2000 operating platform or Apple's OS 10.1.5 or higher. The included installation software in required for full set-up and features, as the M-Audio Audiophile Firewire is not compatible with any other software drivers.
The Audiophile interface allows a maximum analog input of +2dBV and a maximum dynamic range of 101dB in its digital conversion. The output section rates similarly, with a maximum output of 108dB. Both the analog-to-digital converters and digital-to-analog converters feature a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz at 48kHz sample rate, and 20Hz-40kHz at 96kHz sample rate. Input impedance is rated at 11kOhms, and output impedance is 100Ohms.