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PreSonus · Quantum HD 8

Quantum HD 8

A 1U USB-C 26-in and 30-out interface with eight digitally controlled MAX-HD preamps, dual ADAT, S/PDIF, word clock, MIDI, 10 line outputs and two re-amp outputs
Market statusCurrent eight-preamp USB rack interface with auto-gain and re-amp outputsChecked Aug 19
Reference price$791.99 current promotional U.S. retail priceExact Quantum HD 8 interface-only promotion at Sweetwater
Product cyclecurrentRelease history under review
EvidenceWell supported7 publishers · 3 independent
Next full checkAug 26, 2026Price checks run sooner
01

Ready to buy

Verify compatibility, routing and service

The retained reference is $791.99 current promotional U.S. retail price. This limited retailer promotion can end; do not substitute the older Thunderbolt Quantum, HD 2 or an expansion bundle, and the included Studio One term is not lifetime hardware support. Download the current manual and driver, map every physical and digital channel at the intended sample rate and test return and support terms.

02

Current market

The facts that change the ownership choice

Each line carries its own check date because price, software, specifications, and product cycle do not age at the same speed.

QuestionCurrent answerFreshnessBasis

Current price

$791.99 current promotional U.S. retail price

This limited retailer promotion can end; do not substitute the older Thunderbolt Quantum, HD 2 or an expansion bundle, and the included Studio One term is not lifetime hardware support. Confirm authorized new stock, tax, shipping, return terms and exact software edition before paying.

Checked 5 days agoDirect source1 evidence item

Interface architecture and workflow branch

eight-preamp USB rack with recall and re-amping
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis3 evidence items

Exact interface and purchase boundary

The Quantum HD 8, mains lead and DB9 breakout are retained; optical and BNC cables, microphones, re-amp cabling, rack, monitors, DAW after the included term and external converters are separate
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis3 evidence items

Computer connection, OS, driver and latency

USB-C carries USB 2 audio through Universal Control on supported macOS and Windows systems. This is not the earlier Thunderbolt low-latency platform, and actual round trip varies with host, driver, buffer, sample rate and DAW
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis3 evidence items

Physical I/O and simultaneous-channel boundary

Eight combo preamp inputs, 10 balanced line outputs, two re-amp outputs and two headphones are physical. The 26-in and 30-out total includes dual ADAT, S/PDIF and loopback at base rates and changes under S/MUX
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis2 evidence items

Preamps, gain, phantom, line and instrument inputs

Eight MAX-HD preamps provide digitally recalled 75 dB gain, 20 dB pad, phantom power, Auto Gain and stereo linking; the first two add instrument jacks. Re-amp outputs are DAW destinations, not extra inputs
Checked 5 days agoDirect source3 evidence items

Digital expansion, sample rate and clocking

Two optical input and output pairs, coaxial S/PDIF and BNC word clock support expansion. Exact DB9 breakout, S/MUX count, clock source and termination must be verified
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis3 evidence items

Monitoring, cue routing, DSP and latency boundary

Universal Control provides low-latency mixes, scene recall, loopback and remote preamp control, with DAW integration dependent on supported software. Auto Gain cannot set artistic headroom or prevent later analogue overload
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis4 evidence items

Power, mobile, desktop, rack and cabling

The full-width 1U interface uses IEC mains power and needs rack ventilation, secure DB9 breakout, optical and re-amp cabling; it is not bus powered
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis3 evidence items

Software, license, account and privacy

Universal Control, firmware, PreSonus account and the included Studio One Professional access have separate terms and support windows. A one-year software entitlement is not a perpetual service guarantee
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis3 evidence items

Firmware, compatibility, warranty and service

PreSonus publishes manuals, control software and a two-year regional warranty path. Test eight-channel auto-gain, every output, re-amp level, optical banks, S/PDIF, clocking, MIDI and scene recall
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis3 evidence items

Hearing, electrical and installation safety

A high-output headphone or monitor path is capability, not a safe level. Control exposure time and level, mute outputs before phantom or power changes where instructed, use intact grounded power and rated rack or desktop support, keep liquids away and route cables to prevent trips, disconnection and connector damage.
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis3 evidence items

Sound quality, reliability and production outcome boundary

No interface, converter specification, preamp, clock, driver, buffer, direct-monitor path, DSP, plug-in, review, owner report, warranty or service plan guarantees sound quality, latency, compatibility, data integrity, uptime, hearing safety, electrical safety, client approval, productivity or any recording, production, commercial, health or safety outcome.
Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis5 evidence items

Current verdict

The recallable eight-preamp value reference

Quantum HD 8 is defended for high-input USB sessions needing 75 dB recallable preamps and re-amp outputs when its Universal Control workflow and non-Thunderbolt latency boundary fit.

Checked 5 days agoOur synthesis9 evidence items
03

Other paths

The alternatives change what the Quantum HD 8 is worth

These are not generic competitors. Each one represents a different way to buy into the same market.

01lower upfront

Focusrite

Scarlett 18i20 4th Generation

$749.99 current U.S. retail price
Best fit
expandable eight-preamp project-studio rack
Tradeoff
The fourth-generation 18i20 rack interface, mains lead and supplied USB cable are retained; rack, microphones, cables, ADAT preamps or converters, monitor controller, DAW and remote device are separate
Open the source
02premium

Universal Audio

Apollo x8p Gen 2

$3,399 current U.S. UAD Analog Classics price
Best fit
premium eight-preamp Thunderbolt DSP rack
Tradeoff
The x8p Gen 2 rack unit, current included plug-in tier and mains cable are retained; Thunderbolt cable or adapters, DB25 snakes, optical cabling, microphones, speakers, UAD upgrades and rack hardware are separate
Open the source
04

What changed

The product has a history

Older observations stay in the ledger when the current view changes. That lets a buyer tell the difference between an old complaint, an active issue, and a problem that was corrected.

  1. notable

    Current interface, price and host-system boundary retained

    Quantum HD 8 was checked against exact identity, current U.S. price, manual, support, host and driver, physical and digital I/O, preamps, monitoring, DSP, power, software, service, safety, independent evidence and bounded owner reports.

Price record

The price history starts here

Each amount stays tied to its source and capture date. Conflicting prices remain visible until the seller resolves them.

  1. $791.99 current promotional U.S. retail price

    Current reference priceA structured timeline will begin with the next source capture

05

Owner experience

What repeats after the purchase

Owner discussion returns to universal control, usb latency, auto gain, optical routing, re-amp level, firmware and studio one entitlement rather than a universal sound-quality or reliability result.

These are self-selected reports from different hardware revisions, computers, ports, hubs, operating systems, drivers, buffers, sample rates, DAWs, plug-ins, firmware, clocks, cables, microphones, monitors, power conditions and service regions. They identify acceptance tests and ownership questions and do not establish sound quality, latency, compatibility, uptime, defect, data-loss or safety rates.
SignalWhat owners reportOur readEvidence

Universal Control, USB latency, Auto Gain, optical routing, re-amp level, firmware and Studio One entitlement

Self-selected owners discuss drivers, operating systems, buffers, latency, preamps, phantom power, clocking, routing, firmware, noise, power and service. Reports span different computers, cables, software versions and studio conditions, so they identify acceptance tests rather than sound-quality or reliability rates.

Benchmark the current USB driver and save a fully tested scene before valuing the Quantum name or recalled gain as session continuity.

1 evidence record
06

Sources

Why we believe the current view

The page separates what a source states directly from what we conclude across sources.

01
Quantum HD 8 current manufacturer identityPreSonus · identity

PreSonus identifies Quantum HD 8 as the current eight-preamp USB rack with recall and re-amping system described here.

Source type
manufacturer
Content hash
a84fd6765611ec27
Use
store excerpt
Open PreSonus
02
Quantum HD 8 current U.S. priceSweetwater · price

$791.99 current promotional U.S. retail price was retained for the exact interface with configuration and package qualifications visible.

Source type
retailer
Content hash
ccfafc9d0c15a80e
Use
store snapshot
Open Sweetwater
03
Quantum HD 8 manual and technical specificationPreSonus · specification

The current manual defines host connection, physical and simultaneous I/O, input modes, phantom power, clocking, power, routing and safety boundaries for Quantum HD 8.

Source type
support
Content hash
a59fddb149cd267e
Use
store excerpt
Open PreSonus
04
Quantum HD 8 drivers, firmware and servicePreSonus · software

PreSonus retains downloads, compatibility guidance and a regional support path for the exact model.

Source type
support
Content hash
c11881190feadc34
Use
store excerpt
Open PreSonus
05
PreSonus Quantum HD 8 independent professional reviewSound On Sound · specification

Independent product-specific testing examines connection, conversion, I/O, monitoring, software and workflow behavior. Measurements and review impressions remain tied to the tested host, driver, buffer, sample rate and unit and do not guarantee sound quality, latency or reliability.

Source type
editorial
Content hash
864bce38bb033657
Use
store excerpt
Open Sound On Sound
06
PreSonus Quantum HD 8 interface bounded owner discussionsAudio-interface owner communities · consensus

Self-selected owners discuss drivers, operating systems, buffers, latency, preamps, phantom power, clocking, routing, firmware, noise, power and service. Reports span different computers, cables, software versions and studio conditions, so they identify acceptance tests rather than sound-quality or reliability rates.

Source type
community
Content hash
bf597dff853618d9
Use
store excerpt
Open Audio-interface owner communities
07
Occupational noise and hearing boundaryNIOSH · specification

Noise exposure depends on sound level and duration. A headphone or monitor output capability is not a safe operating level, and monitoring requires conservative level and exposure control.

Source type
editorial
Content hash
f36f8e86575daa25
Use
store excerpt
Open NIOSH
08
Scarlett 18i20 4th Generation defended alternativeFocusrite · alternative

Scarlett 18i20 4th Generation is a current defended alternative in the expandable eight-preamp project-studio rack branch.

Source type
manufacturer
Content hash
fad2bb8a9ae7163a
Use
store excerpt
Open Focusrite
09
Apollo x8p Gen 2 defended alternativeUniversal Audio · alternative

Apollo x8p Gen 2 is a current defended alternative in the premium eight-preamp Thunderbolt DSP rack branch.

Source type
manufacturer
Content hash
715da5b41779dcea
Use
store excerpt
Open Universal Audio

Manufacturer identity, exact current U.S. price, manual, driver or firmware support, independent professional evidence and bounded exact-model owner reports were checked on August 19, 2026. This desk covers complete current U.S.-supported desktop and rack computer audio interfaces with integrated host connection and conversion for recording, production and post. It excludes standalone mixers or recorders already covered, preamps and converters without a host-interface path, monitor controllers, expansion-only boxes, unsupported imports, obsolete models, cosmetic duplicates and padded bundles. Preserve connector protocol rather than connector shape, supported operating systems and drivers, class compliance, buffer and latency test basis, physical versus advertised and simultaneous I/O, sample-rate-dependent digital counts, mic preamps, gain, phantom, line and instrument modes, headroom, digital format, clock master and termination, monitor and cue routing, DSP and plug-in capacity, software entitlement, bus or external power, form factor, cable and rack requirements, firmware, accounts, privacy, warranty, service and recovery. Use conservative headphone and monitor levels, grounded intact power equipment, dry stable placement and competent wiring. No specification, converter, preamp, clock, driver, buffer, DSP, review, owner report, warranty or service plan guarantees sound quality, latency, compatibility, data integrity, uptime, hearing safety, electrical safety, client approval, productivity or any recording, production, commercial, health or safety outcome.

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