# How do popular brands compare in terms of their Firewire audio interfaces? — Verified Specification Comparison

> All specification data verified from official manufacturer documentation.

How do popular brands compare in terms of their Firewire audio interfaces?

## Products

### MOTU Audio Express 6x6 FireWire
```yaml
product: motu-audio-express-6x6-firewire
brand: MOTU
price_gbp: 372.8
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
bit_depth: 24-bit
i_o_count: 6 in / 6 out
sample_rate: Up to 96 kHz
phantom_power: 48V (individual per mic input)
number_of_preamps: 2 mic/guitar preamps
```

- **Price:** £372.8 [^1]
- **Summary:** Compact 6-in/6-out hybrid FireWire/USB2 audio interface with two combo mic/guitar preamps, two additional stereo line inputs, four analog outputs, S/PDIF I/O and built-in CueMix FX mixer for low-latency monitoring. Supports sample rates up to 96 kHz and offers stand-alone mixing and individual 48V phantom power for each mic input, suited for solo musicians and small project studios.
- **Ideal For:** Good for comparing FireWire interfaces because it offers hybrid FireWire/USB2 connectivity, 6x6 I/O and two mic preamps with individual phantom power (shows tradeoff between channel count and portability).

### Apogee Ensemble FireWire
```yaml
product: apogee-ensemble-firewire
brand: Apogee
price_gbp: null
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
latency: 0.6 ms (hardware monitoring)
bit_depth: 24
i_o_count: 18 (8 in / 8 out analog + ADAT + S/PDIF)
sample_rate: 192000
phantom_power: 48V selectable
number_of_preamps: 4
```

- **Price:** £None [^2]
- **Summary:** The Apogee Ensemble FireWire is a 1U rackmount high-quality FireWire audio interface offering 8 analog inputs, 8 analog outputs, ADAT and S/PDIF expansion, four mic preamps with 75 dB gain, and converters up to 24-bit/192 kHz. It includes hardware monitoring with very low roundtrip latency and is aimed at Mac-based project and studio users seeking premium converters and stable FireWire integration.
- **Ideal For:** Useful for comparing FireWire interfaces because it offers high-spec converters (24-bit/192 kHz), multiple I/O (18 total), and low hardware-monitoring latency (0.6 ms), representing a high-end FireWire option.

### RME Fireface 802 FS
```yaml
product: rme-fireface-802-fs
brand: RME
price_gbp: 1717.56
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
bit_depth: 24-bit
i_o_count: 60 channels (30-in/30-out)
sample_rate: 192 kHz
phantom_power: 48V (individually switchable)
number_of_preamps: 4
```

- **Price:** £1717.56 [^3]
- **Summary:** The Fireface 802 FS is a 1RU, 60-channel professional USB 2.0 audio interface with reference-class converters, four high-transparency mic/instrument preamps, ADAT/S/PDIF/AES I/O and onboard DSP with TotalMix FX. It targets studios and live rigs needing large I/O counts, ultra-low-latency operation and robust driver stability.
- **Ideal For:** Suitable for comparing Firewire audio interfaces because it offers 60 channels, four high-quality preamps and 192 kHz/24-bit operation, showing RME's focus on high channel count and converter quality. 

### Universal Audio Apollo FireWire (series) UAD
```yaml
product: universal-audio-apollo-firewire-series-uad
brand: Universal Audio
price_gbp: null
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
latency: 1.1 ms @ 96kHz
bit_depth: 24
i_o_count: 18 x 24
sample_rate: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
phantom_power: +48V switchable
number_of_preamps: 4
```

- **Price:** £None [^4]
- **Summary:** The Apollo FireWire is an 18-in / 24-out professional audio interface with onboard UAD real-time DSP, Unison mic-preamp integration, high-quality A/D-D/A conversion, ADAT and S/PDIF I/O, and two FireWire 800 ports. It offers low round-trip latency and front-panel control with multiple monitor and headphone outputs, suited for tracking and mixing in professional and project studios.
- **Ideal For:** Ideal for comparing FireWire interfaces because it offers 18x24 I/O, four Unison-enabled mic preamps, 24-bit/192kHz conversion, and low 1.1 ms round-trip latency, representing high-end FireWire specs.

---
## References & Sources
[^1]: Markertek, accessed 2026-06-13. https://www.markertek.com/product/motu-audexpress/motu-audio-express-6x6-half-rack-hybrid-firewire-usb2-audio-interface
[^2]: Tape Op (review listing, not a retailer), accessed 2026-06-13. https://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/62/ensemble-audio-interface
[^3]: Sound On Sound (pricing reported), accessed 2026-06-13. https://www.soundonsound.com/news/rme-fireface-802-fs-now-available
[^4]: Perfect Circuit, accessed 2026-06-13. https://www.perfectcircuit.com/universal-audio-apollo-quad-firewire-mac-win.html