ESI announces U168 XT and U86 XT USB Audio Interfaces

ESI has announced upcoming availability of U168 XT and U86 XT — a pair of USB 2.0 high-speed audio interfaces for Mac and PC.

U168 XT provides 16 line Inputs and eight line Outputs on balanced 1/4-inch TRS connectors. This full-featured 24-bit/96kHz solution also includes four integrated Microphone preamps with XLR inputs and switchable +48V phantom power, positioned on its front panel for easy access alongside two (switchable) MIC/HI-Z high-performance instrument inputs (1/4-inch connector) for electric guitars; plus (rear-mounted) coaxial S/PDIF IN and OUT on RCA connectors. Two independent headphone outputs are also easily accessible alongside an integrated monitoring mixer. Meanwhile, external keyboards, synthesizers, and sound modules can be connected via the 16-channel MIDI with an Input and Output on the unit's rear panel.

Providing fast, high-performance, low-latency drivers based on proprietary DirectWIRE technology — that can be used for routing audio streams internally within applications using ESI's EWDM — with support for the latest WDM, ASIO 2.0, and CoreAudio technology for both Mac (OS X 10.7 and above) and PC (Windows Vista, 7, 8.1, and 10), U168 XT works with all current standard audio applications available for professional usage.

As an equally versatile USB 2.0 high-speed audio interface for Mac and PC with an ADC dynamic range of 107dB (a) and DAC dynamic range of 112dB (a), U86 XT shares the same flexible feature set and functions as its U168 XT bigger brother, but with a reduced number of physical analogue inputs (eight) and outputs (six) and reduced (310 x 145 x 45mm) dimensions (down from U168 XT's 450 x 145 x 45mm).

Both bundle packages come complete with an eight-track version of Bitwig Studio as well as a license for DJ specialist Stanton's Deckadance LE software.

U168 XT starts shipping worldwide in early May 2017 with an MSRP of €549.00 EUR; U86 XT follows in early June 2017 with an MSRP of €399.00 EUR. For availability and pricing internationally, please visit the ESI website to find a distributor for your region.