MOTU · Pro · Thunderbolt · From 2017
MOTU 828es
The 828 name goes back to 2001. MOTU says the original was the first FireWire audio interface, and the 828x swapped FireWire for Thunderbolt in 2014. The 828es followed in September 2017, keeping the one-rack-space layout of two front preamps, eight line ins and outs, XLR mains and two optical banks. It added ESS Sabre32 converters carried over from the 1248 (MOTU quotes 123 dB on the outputs), AVB networking over Ethernet, a 48-channel DSP mixer you run from a web browser, a built-in talkback mic, and A/B, mute and mono buttons for your speakers. It connects over Thunderbolt or USB 2.0, and Mac drivers are still current. MOTU's 2024 redesign, simply called the 828, is USB only, so the es is the one to hunt if you want Thunderbolt or AVB expansion.
828es (2017)828x (2014, Thunderbolt and USB, no AVB)828mk3 Hybrid (FireWire and USB)828 (2024, USB redesign)
Spec at a glance
- Maker
- MOTU
- Size
- Pro
- Connects over
- Thunderbolt
- Made
- From 2017
- Inputs
- 2 front combo XLR/TRS mic, line or hi-Z guitar, 8 balanced 1/4-inch line, built-in talkback mic
- Outputs
- XLR main pair, 8 balanced 1/4-inch TRS (DC coupled), 2 headphones
- Mic preamp gain
- 0 to +63 dB in 1 dB steps; 48 V and -20 dB pad per channel
- Converters
- ESS Sabre32 DAC; MOTU quotes 123 dB dynamic range on the line and main outs, 118 dB on the mic inputs; up to 192 kHz
- Digital I/O
- 2 optical banks (16 ADAT channels at 44.1/48 kHz; bank A can be TOSLink), RCA S/PDIF, BNC word clock, 1/4-inch SMPTE time code
- Connection
- Thunderbolt or USB 2.0 (one at a time), plus AVB/TSN Ethernet
- Power
- Internal universal supply, 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz, 35 W, IEC mains socket
- MIDI
- 5-pin DIN in and out, plus a footswitch input
- Also listed as
- MOTU 828 es, MOTU 828ES Thunderbolt, MOTU 828es AVB
- Typical eBay ask (Oct 14, 2026)
- $500–$525
In the photos
How to tell it apart
The 828es has two combo inputs on the front, a pair of color LCDs, a built-in talkback mic, and TALK, A/B, MUTE, MONO and NET ID buttons. On the back it has both a Thunderbolt port and a USB port beside an RJ45 AVB network jack. The older 828x has no network jack, and the 2024 828 has one large 3.9-inch screen and connects over USB only.
Mac and Windows
Drivers and support
Over USB it's class compliant on a Mac and iPad. MOTU's Pro Audio installer for Mac (March 2026) supports macOS 12 through macOS 26 on Apple silicon and Intel, an older build covers macOS 10.13 to 10.15, and the Windows installer (January 2023) covers Windows 10 and 11 64-bit with ASIO drivers for USB and Thunderbolt. MOTU lists the 828es as compatible with macOS Tahoe and macOS Golden Gate.
Power, cables and licences
What should come with it
- An IEC mains cord. The supply is internal and auto-switching (100–240 V), so any standard IEC cord works.
- One USB cable. MOTU never included a Thunderbolt cable.
- Rack brackets, fitted at the factory and removable for desk use. Check they're still on it.
- For Thunderbolt on a Mac with USB-C Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports, you'll need Apple's Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter, which Apple's store no longer lists. USB 2.0 needs no adapter.
- AudioDesk came with it through registration, and MOTU says AudioDesk owners can ask customer service for Performer Lite. Transfers go through MOTU customer service, and only the registered owner can approve one.
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing power supply or a licence that won’t transfer should come off the price.
What to check
We found no documented hardware fault pattern. Sound On Sound found the browser-based control app slow to switch pages, and MOTU's 2019 firmware added a low-bandwidth mode to help USB on X99-chipset PCs, so update before blaming the unit.
- 01Network port: Check the rear photo for an RJ45 network jack beside the Thunderbolt and USB ports. That confirms an 828es rather than an 828x.
- 02Connection plan: Decide whether you'll use USB 2.0 or Thunderbolt. USB works on any current Mac or PC, while Thunderbolt on a USB-C Mac needs Apple's Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter.
- 03Mic preamps: Ask for a short video turning each front gain knob through its range with a mic connected. The LCD should show smooth 1 dB steps and clean signal.
- 04Phantom and pad: Ask the seller to switch 48V and the pad on both mic inputs. Each should engage and the meters should respond.
- 05Outputs and headphones: Ask for music playing through the XLR mains and both headphone jacks. All should be clean, with no hum or dead side.
- 06Firmware: On arrival, open the web app and check the firmware at the bottom of the Device tab. Good is the current 828es and 8pre-es release from MOTU's download page.
- 07Packing: Ask how it'll be packed. Good is a double box with the front knobs and rack ears padded.
Buying your first one? How to pick a first used interface covers inputs, mic gain and drivers, and the power supply guide covers which ones need their adapter.
Buying guide
Which one to buy
§ Oct 14, 2026There's one 828es for sale on eBay US today, so its $525 delivered isn't a market read, and we can't pick it. It's a $500 auction with no bids from a zero-feedback seller, so expect the price to climb and pay only through eBay checkout. The title includes Apple's Thunderbolt 3 adapter and cables, a real plus because a USB-C Mac needs that adapter for Thunderbolt and Apple's store no longer lists it, though USB 2.0 works on any current Mac or PC without one. The supply is built in, so any standard IEC mains cord runs it, and the rear photo should show an RJ45 network jack beside the Thunderbolt and USB ports, which rules out an 828x.
- Listed now
- 1
- For parts
- 0
- Typical ask
- $500–$525
- Full range
- $500–$500
Snapshot
For sale on eBay
1 of 1 listedChecked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used- Check the seller
MOTU 828es Thunderbolt / USB Audio Interface + Apple TB3 Adapter & Cables
$524.71est. delivered
$500.00 + $24.71 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 4d 8h
Check the seller
Zero-feedback seller. Auction with no bids, so the price will climb. Titled with Apple's TB3 adapter and cables.
Seller: chlorine-dream
No feedback yet
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 14, 2026.
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