Profire 2626, Fast track Ultra and C600 here, all worked first time, every time. What interface? I don't even notice it until someone asks.
 
I had a Focusrite 8i6 on this laptop but the device lost connection within 5 minutes of use and the software control interface would disappear. Swapped it for the C600, and never looked back.
 
The 2626 is an interesting piece of gear. There, the ADAT and SPDIF ports give me a total on 32x32 hardwired I/O, (with the FTU controlled from a second PC, coming into the SPDIF ports on the 2626, and with a pair of ADA-8000s feeding the ADAT ports), for a functional 26x26 I/O rig in realtime.
 
Upstream from the 2626 is a Focusrite ISA 2 in the patch matrix for pre-amp options, so I haven't totally given up on Focusrite.
 
An approach that has served me well is to purchase interfaces from local brick and mortar stores, instead of online. By nature, an interface has to function between two very comples arrangements of gear, the PC and everything else. There are likely to be issues at times, and a quick turnaround when making adjustments is key. Check the return policy before you pay.

Been using a Delta 2496 for five years (PCI), has never let me down. If you have a PCI slot, and only need on stereo I/O and one MIDI I/O, it is an excellent card for under $100.

I bought a Delta 1010 refurbished for $299 about 9 years ago and it's been solid besides a couple flaky driver releases over the years. I'm using windows 7 with the latest drivers now and it's been flawless. I wish they still made this particular product.

As SuperG said, M-Audio is not the same company anymore. They where bought buy Avid and then sold to InMusic who also owns Alesis, AKAI, Ion and Alto, among other brands.

I would be worried about this.

FWIW, I was also using a M-Audio Audiophile 2496 a decade ago or so. I cannot believe the difference in sound quality when I swapped it out for a Edirol FA-66 which i later exchanged for the VS-700R/UA-1010.

Best Regards
Ludvig

I started recording with M-audio Fast Track Ultra.  The bone that people pick about drivers is that Maudio took forever to get Vista Support.  They seemed to drag their feet on Windows 7 drivers and 64 bit support.  They update drivers only once in a blue moon, but once they update their drivers, the units work good until a Windows update breaks them.  Today I use a Fast Track Ultra with my laptop and an I've used Maudio Profire 2626 with my desktop for a little over a year and a half.  My only problem with Profire was that my firewire port died.  No problem with either of my units.
 

Well here's an interesting issue - maybe a PC thing - but I just installed the Windows 8 driver for the Fast track Ultra, and everything was going great.  However, some other app's install of Microsoft Visual C++ must have hosed the ASIO driver.  WDM worked fine, but everytime i tried a reinstall, i got a runtime error for the installation.  So, I did a complete uninstall of the Ultra's drivers, and, well, now I have a brick that won't install at all.  :  (   I doubt if I will uninstall everything and start over (but I suspect BFD2 for some reason) nor am I giddy about uninstalling all of the C++ redistribuables hoping to find a scenario that makes the Ultra happy.
I did notice, before I uninstalled, that there was an ASIO4ALL dll in the M-Audio folder. FWIW.
 
I am also open to suggestions.  : )
 
Brian
 

Ludvig
As SuperG said, M-Audio is not the same company anymore. They where bought buy Avid and then sold to InMusic who also owns Alesis, AKAI, Ion and Alto, among other brands.

I would be worried about this.

FWIW, I was also using a M-Audio Audiophile 2496 a decade ago or so. I cannot believe the difference in sound quality when I swapped it out for a Edirol FA-66 which i later exchanged for the VS-700R/UA-1010.

Best Regards
Ludvig

How would you describe the difference in the sound, when you say you cannot believe .....?
Thanks
dan
 
 

Used two Delta 1010’s from Sonar 5 to X2 ( - the rack version with PCI cards), and only issues involved M-Audio dragging their feet on OS driver updates. Otherwise they were both stable.
Switched to Lynx, but keeping the 1010's for backup... assuming I can stay with Win7... :j

love my Maudio Audiophile 192 card.
 
no issues at all.
 

Dan,

it's always difficult to describe sound ... But there was a whole new level of distinction, especially in the midrange. Much easier to hear and define small things, even on material recorded with the old sound card.

Best Regards
Ludvig