I've been thinking about getting a new board for my production workstation. I've been using my trusty A&H MixWizard 14:4:2 for monitoring and inputs for a while and it works ok. The pre-amps sound pretty good and I use the direct outs to drive the line ins on my MOTU 2408, I use a UA 6176 when it matters.
I've been looking at the Toft boards and they look pretty nice but I've also been looking at some of the new digital stuff (Behringer/Midas). I've kind of been anticipating some collaboration between Cakewalk and Tascam so I'm wondering about the Tascam digital console and how well integrated it might be or become with X3.
These days I do most of my stuff 'in the box' so I mainly just use the mixer for monitoring. I do my final mixes in Sonar so some integration/automation might be nice but I have Mackie control for that (largely unused, I usually end up pushing faders or doing automation with the mouse). So far I haven't found the perfect match, the consoles I've looked at are either way out of my price range or designed for live sound and not recording.
Any suggestions?
 
 

Somebody will probably hang me for this, but anyway:
I am using the v700 and I think it is a very good solution with Sonar regardless of all the discussions going on. Automation is nicely integrated for most functions. I have been using it for some years and have not had any problems. I use a lot of acoustic instruments/vocals in addition to softsynths.
 
Regards Tore.

I have a very nice Soundtracs Project 8 24 channel board and a 32 channel sitting in storage gathering dust for the last several years since switching to doing everything in the box. I use an old M-Audio Keystation 88 Pro as my control surface and it has worked very nicely. Eventually, it will be replaced. It's getting long in tooth but it has been reliable. I was going to buy an A&H while shopping for a new mixer but I got an unbelievable deal on the Soundtracs with the meter bridge thrown in.
The Behringer digital was one I was looking at when it came out but a very reliable tech in Atlanta advised me to steer clear. It seems the closest shop that repairs them under warranty was in South Carolina somewhere. Quite a trip to get a repair done. There's no telling what the shipping would cost. I thought I would wait a while and see how they stand up when the smoke clears. I do location recording from time to time and it would be a little less worrisome to use a mixer but in the studio I am very happy with ITB. By the way, I probably mention that I use 2 Roland Studio-Captures in sync. That's why it is so easy to just not use a mixer at all.

If the A&H works - esp. for monitoring and routing - you would likely have to spent a bunch more money to get anything better.  It might make more sense to see if Tascam comes out w/ something.  I have a friend who got the Toft for his project studio (including recording) and he loved it for the ergonomics, but you already have that w/ the A&H.  I'm not sure how much better the Toft EQ is.  I've always found A&H EQ good.  To me, the toft sounds more like a sideways step than major upgrade sonically.
 
The Focusrite 2802 is something you might be interested in - more of a summing mixer (16 ins) but w/ motorized faders for 8 more channels, including nice preamps.  They had some quality control issues when they moved production to china, but if you get a good one it is a nice package.  Clean, not much color and a patchable stereo bus comp.  I think it has two sends, which should be enough for simple headphones or mixing.  It could really shine if you have a lot of outboard.
 
Which brings me to personal experience here at home.  I think the best thing, as far as bringing quality to my home sound, is the RND Portico II channel strip.  Yes, it costs almost as much as a board, but it adds a big console sound to lead and overdubs.  Since I rarely record more than 2 tracks at a time here at home, it gets used most of the time.  That or a high quality stereo comp, since you already have the UA (which ain't really the same as the Portico etc.  - the 6176 is go to for bass but can be a little thick if used on everything).
 
Anyway, my two cents.
 
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Hi TomHelvey,
 
Within the A&H Line please consider the recording console R16.  While the R16 has a bigger sibling in the GSR 24, the R16 is at a more efficeint price point. It is an analog board, with a firewire interface for up 26 channels to the daw (16 channes, 8 Adat and the Stereo Master). It is designed around being a recording desk with DAW integration via ACT, and Midi. It also has considerable routing capability. I should mention that it comes with  very good track templates for Sonar and works very well for me as a controller.
 
This unit would be a jump in the quality of pre amps over the Mix Wizard and as stated earlier the eq on the A&H's are very good with the one on the R16 being musical, prestine and very effective. This board accomodates the use  of external gear and works in sync with internal Instruments and effects. It allows for running the daw tracks back through the board for print ( the board has very good headroom) which facilitates running your DAW mix "through an analog console. For me the experience has been very rewarding, the build quality great. It has quickly become the nerve center of the studio and accomplished the task very well ( I was before the A&H in the box via digital mixer).
 
I should also mention that the D/A conversion is first rate and the noise specs for the board are excellent.. There is a huge thread on gear slutz about it and SOS did a nice review on the kit.  It may well give you what you are looking for in a package that has some efficient familiariy for you.. Can you tell that I like it?? Good hunting.... IHTH....