I use a LynxONE. Have not owned Echo or M-Audio products. The LynxONE
hardware is solid, dependable, audio quality is superb. The LynxTWO has
even better specifications than my LynxONE. The LynxONE does NOT have WDM
drivers, MME or ASIO are all that is supported, and there are no plans to
develop WDM for LynxONE. The LynxTWO has just begun public beta testing of
WDM drivers, it also has MME and ASIO.

I did have an issue crop up with the LynxONE driver. Lynx Support was
reluctant to 'fix' it for me, instead citing the issue as a problem with the
application software vendor's design of initializing the soundcard drivers.
Lynx Support gave me detailed write up of the problem and cause, and a link
to a Microsoft article on windows driver initialization and the issue in
question (a change in the way the init should be handled, in Win2k and XP,
which changed since NT 4.0). Lynx Support also worked with the software
vendor to help their developers get their software corrected. This did take
some time, and in the meantime, the software did not work my Lynx, I had to
switch to the onboard sound module on the motherboard for that application.

A short time later, the same issue came up again, with another application
vendor. I sent this vendor the same information about the error, and
contacted Lynx Support to let them know of this application. Lynx Support
was again wlling to work with the developers. But this time, the
application vendor was not forthcoming with code changes.

Lynx Support responded to my frustration by giving me a new driver that
would 'forgive' the incorrect initialization calls from these applications.

So, yes, it was frustrating and I did not have the use of the Lynx card for
certain applications for a period. But I can't complain with the level of
support I received from Lynx, and although it was against their better
judgement, they changed their driver code rather than stick to principle on
'what is right'.

When my budget can support the purchase of a LynxTwo, I will buy one.

My $0.02 USD.
--
Sue Morton

"Nick" wrote in message
. net...
"Michael C. Monroe" wrote in message
...
Is there a Tom's Hardware-like site out there that will compare these 3
main home-studio soundcard lines head-to-head?

I really can't decide between the three companies.

FWIW, I have the Lynx Two and previously owned the Echo Layla 20. That's
not really a fair comparison because the newer Layla is probably better,
but I certainly have been very happy with the sound quality of the Lynx
Two.

I have had frequent problems with Windows drivers for both though, which
can really be maddening. I would rate the hardware for Lynx A+ and for
Layla B. I would rate the software driver support for both companies a D.

--Nick