Most of RME's products are indeed marketed towards the professional, I don't believe that to be the case for this one. There where alot of audiophile features added to this unit, and RME did push it more towards prosumer/consumer market. They have similiar, even cheaper products that are a better fit for Pro-only use, like the ADI2. This was ADI's unofficial "stab at the audiophile" market. For example the dac filters, those are purely there for the consumer market, you'd never use that in the pro market. I found the amp to actually be quite good, but make sure it's in "hi-power" mode, and it is very, very flat. Easily remedied with the built in EQ, I found EQing the built in AMP, made a huge difference, and you could get dynamics and flavor it however you wanted. I found the EQ to be so good, you can almost make this thing sound like anything. Alot of people don't take the time and/or don't understand how to properly use an EQ. Don't be so quick to sell it and/or get rid of it. I've heard alot of dac's over the years, be prepared to buy it again.
While this product leans more at the audiophile audience it is quite good tool for mixing and mastering in the studio.Adi 2 has no USB connection, it's not an audio interface, it's just an AD/DA, while ADI-2 DAC fs although aimed at the hi fi market can easily be used in studio as a reference DAC. And the filters and eq are really handy there.
Hello, I have U12T Um Melody MeskII, so, for this hig-end IEMS, what is the best DAC you can recommend? Hugo 2? Or RME ADI 2 DAC? Or high-end DAP (Sp2000, FiooM17, iBasso Dx320) (please regardless of the price:))
@@savanaviolenta Hello, I have U12T Um Melody MeskII, so, for this hig-end IEMS, what is the best DAC you can recommend? Hugo 2? Or RME ADI 2 DAC? Or high-end DAP (Sp2000, FiooM17, iBasso Dx320) (please regardless of the price:)) I am So confused how to get end game system
I am currently an owner of chord mojo 2, but I am planning to upgrade the DAC to the RME. I hope there will be Improvement and general sound quality will be better on the RME. The decisive factor towords RME is the myriad of sound options. Love your review :)
I did one mainly for HiFi uses. In my reckonings its a chord Qutest killer. I definitely don’t think it’s dry or analytical. I’ve reviewed pretty much all the chord, Qutest, m scaler, TT2, Dave, dCS Bartok, PS Audio DirectStream. It’s a much better DAC than the schiit Multibit types. And considering the price it’s more value than a Qutest for HiFi uses.
Hello, I have U12T Um Melody MeskII, so, for this hig-end IEMS, what is the best DAC you can recommend? Hugo 2? Or RME ADI 2 DAC? Or high-end DAP (Sp2000, FiooM17, iBasso Dx320) (please regardless of the price:))
You can also use the main volume dial as a button for switching between phones and line out when you have the TogglePh/Line selected, just press and hold for a second and it toggles. It's a useful bit of kit, now has an ESS DAC chip instead as AKM ones are in short supply.
Thank you 👍To give it a Naim sound taste but with amount of details, I use EQ. +2 100Hz, +1 250Hz, +1,5 1kHz and -0,5 5 kHz. Playing with Q factor. I love this Dac .....it replaced an old 2500€ DAC. You can do what you want with it. Soundstage is real not zooming voices etc. Enjoy music.
Would you argue that "dry sounding dac" actually means "sonically transparent"? That's perhaps the reason why they have the build in EQ option, to tweak the sound anyway you like, depending on the current playlist or genre instead of locking you in with a particular sound, for all your music? It's something I recently discovered and was told since I was looking at tube amps, or ladder DACs. But depending on who you talk to, it seems much logical to buy a "as neutral" as possible device without any coloration of the sound signal, and bring your own flavor through DSP or EQ, which gives you the option to switch between genres of music for instance. If I'd have bought a tube amp, I'd be stuck with the tube sound for all music, which might not be ideal. My only other option is to own multiple DACs and amplifiers OR I could go with an as neutral signal chain as possible and flavor the music through software, or with my choice of headphones/speakers. Don't get me wrong, as a photographer I do prefer to use filters in the field, instead of spending time behind my computer using Photoshop to get a picture right like I wanted. So bringing that same philosophy would put me in the camp of ladder DACs, or tube amps. But I've never heard a comparison for myself between the different designs. So I could go out and buy multiple devices to finally figure out what I like the most, or I could get something like this and be done with it.
It sounds much more logical to buy a DAC/amp which sounds nice from the shelf. Also, watching vids like these and opting to buy standalone DACS for a 1000 bucks has nothing to do with logic.
@@RafiGish just that, this isn't a standalone dac. this is an "All in One" device, it has a stellar DAC, a pretty good Amp, a built in multi profile EQ (PER CHANNEL + PER INPUT), built in DSP etc. if you actually think about it, most DAC + AMP stacks that reach the same sort of levels of performance of this little RME cost nearly as much if not more (depending on the stack components you choose), and still lack the extra features that the RME brings to the table. in my opinion the RME ADI-2 is probably one of the best deals for a DAC at 1000-1100 bucks, let alone a DAC+AMP+EQ+ whatever else they managed to cram into it. and if you still want some more "flavour" to your sound you can just use the EQ and add that in, and if you are a "no EQ purist" type of guy, you can pair whichever good amp you want with the RME for around 300-400 bucks and that would STILL be a much better deal than buying any other combination of kit at the same price. i personally was at a dilemma recently when i wanted to get myself new kit for my new HD800S's, i was looking at building a stack of Bifrost 2 + Jotunheim 2 or THX 789s. then i was recommended and also came across the RME in comparison reviews and holy fuck, for 1100$ i can actually get a piece of kit that essentially covers ALMOST all of my needs. seriously the only feature that the RME is lacking is Balanced output out of its AMP, so you have to buy an external amp to get that balanced output. and i think the cheapest balanced amp is like what? 180-200 bucks? that's still 1300 bucks for a fully balanced dac+amp setup that sounds crystal clear (and depending on the amp you stack it with could sound tonally to your liking). so based on what i said, i say for 1000 bucks this is a VERY logical purchase to make, not just if you are an "audiophile" who wants a good deal but also for a professional that wants a single piece of kit that does everything he needs other than having to deal with a couple of stacks of hardware under his display.
Ironically when I started watching this video I did not have the adi 2 fs but by time the video ended it had arrived. Obviously therefore my thoughts are at this stage are speculation but I guess I will know soon. You made one comment I hope I will disagree with. You called the sound "Dry" . I considered MANY DAC's including the Schiit Bifrost 2 64 ,and the Dodge 7 . The first at approx. £200 less sounds like the perfect DAC for someone who just wants lovely sound without messing around. the Dodge 7 on the other hand at twice as much being a valve DAC is said to be comparable to a £20000 to £30000 DAC. I chose this one(RME) because I think that given the endless refinements you can make in the settings if I end up not licking the sound then it would be my fault for not doing a good job with the settings. You call the sound "Dry" and yet you have sett your EQ totally flat and haven't even tried to see if you could Taylor it to your taste.
Ive had it for a year aswell and it is quite analytical and cold sounding no matter how you configure the eq and the rest of the settings. You cant get warmth just from boosting the mids and lowering the highs. I own multiple dacs for reference.
@@PreBlazed89 I'm a hobbyist composer looking for a dac/audio interface for my studio. If I could find a device where bit depth, accuracy/neutrality meets with sonic richness and vibrancy, I'd never need to buy another interface again. I currently use a Motu M4 (ESS Sabre dac32 ultra). I've been considering RME for its speed, DSD handling, EQ features and detail/accuracy. I've also been considering Denafrips Ares 2 for its naturalness and R2R form factor instead of a dac chip, and just started looking at Schitt Bifrost 2. Any suggestions or feedback would be appreciated. ☺️👍
@@Jonathan-ff4wo In a production standpoint i think the RME is a perfect dac and i don't think you will be disappointed. I however think that for my taste listening with my hifiman aryas, the RME can be a bit tiresome listening long sessions with becasue it really squeezes out every little bit of information and detail from the songs and it is incredibly neutral (and in my taste a little "boring" sounding therefore since i would prefer a little bit of coloration in especially the midrange). With a warmer set of headphones like audeze lcd-2c it might would have appealed to me more. However, if you produce music this is probably a fantastic product because of the extreme detail and neutral sound signature. It's probably perfect for hooking up with some proper studio monitors too which you then could tune with all the settings in the rme to get the best sound in your room. I don't think you would be disappointed.
@@gerard3797 All from different price ranges really but i own Fiio btr5, aune x1s, technics stc700d and the rme. I mostly prefer the technics stc700d and the aune. The technics provide great clarity without overdoing it with details like the rme. The aune x1s provides a nice round sound with more focus on the midrange and less on the treble. Not the best on clarity but a rather full bodied sound with more midbass. Tonally i prefer the technics and the aune over the RME but thats my opinion. Any serious production would not be possible with either of those, in that case the RME would crush the competition.
I have mine set up as a dac only outputing to a Graham Slee Solo headphone amp and Shure SRH1540. After the initial fiddling with the multiplicity of options on the RME I now feel that I have achieved an extraordinary level of fidelity with this setup. I have tried the Chord Qutest and the Mojo but neither satisfied in the way that the RME does. I will be adding the Slee PSU1 to the Solo to add the final touch (hopefully)
I think it's important to but a review on this that people can relate to if with little or not a lot of audio experience. This will *without any settings altered* play your music to you as it is. I listen to Garage, and House in terms of EDM types, this exposes a lot of flaws in terms of recordings, similar to a high quality set of studio headphones, which can be classed as linear and very neutral. I have flac recordings of classical, which I believe sounds great on this, if you recording has grain, you will hear grain, if your recording has static, you will hear static. Now for the important part.... Do you have headphones, that have roll off, or lack of sub bass response, lacking in treble or mids - This is where the EQ comes in, and whilst I always suggest a software based EQ, this is fucking awesome as far as frequency response, and granular levels of adjustment in terms of gain, tone, and EQ. Please do not think that this will not make music sounds fun, because that simply isn't the case. If you buying this to leave the product exactly as it is then DONT BUY IT, if you buying for the feautures, incredible Dac, high powered and clean Amplification, then this is a must have and end game IMO, unless you want ad hoc dac's amps for different purposes, E.G tube amps for their sound etc...
Hello, I have U12T Um Melody MeskII, so, for this hig-end IEMS, what is the best DAC you can recommend? Hugo 2? Or RME ADI 2 DAC? Or high-end DAP (Sp2000, FiooM17, iBasso Dx320) (please regardless of the price:)?
Well, I see so many comments stating the « flatness » of its sound. But coming from a pro audio interface, that’s hardly surprising. And that’s all I’d want from a DAC. You don’t hear such buzzwords as « true to source » or « transparent » in the music production business, because that’s a given. No color, high signal-to-noise ratio. If I wanted to play along with tubes and add flavor, I’d probably buy a preamp from Schiit. When I record a guitar or a keyboard through a tube preamp/amp, I want it played back just the way it was recorded. To achieve a similar result, no one would record everything « dry », so that a few Audiophiles can apply their favorite color to the music later on.
Don't roll about laughing too much .. but looking for a gaming DAC... I want the best to hear all sound in game using hd 58xx headset. Any help for me. Thank you...
I don't want any of my hifi-equipment to have any sonic flavour, and I wonder why anyone would want that. For me the only task of the hifi-equipment is to reproduce the original sound, and change it as little as possible while doing that. I don't want my DAC sound musical, if the recorded sound didn't sound musical. A DAC with musical sound would make my recordings with musical sound sound unnaturally musical. I know how acoustic instruments sound (I have played several instruments myself), and I prefer their sound as it is. The most reliable way to asses the quality of a DAC would be to arrange an acoustic and live music presentation to be captured by a microphone and have the signal reproduced by headphones or speakers, note the possible sonic differences between the live presentation and reproduced sound, and then put an ADC and a DAC in the middle, and again note possible additional differences in the sound. If the DAC would change the sound for example to more "musical" or "analytical", the DAC could be better. If the DAC would be indistinguishable from the undigitized capture, the DAC would be good. The matter is of course different to someone who doesn't really care about how natural the sound is, or if he is looking for a certain kind of sound. My guess is that many high-end DAC manufacturers actually intentionally tune the sound of their DACs from natural to pleasingly distorted (in a subtle way), and advertise the result as "musical" or "analog". Most digital recordings don't sound as good as they might have, and digital recording and mixing errors generally sound worse than analog errors, so there's a lot of room for DACs that make the less than perfect recordings sound better. I think it would be better to leave the job for a separate sound processor, which could be switched on and off, and tuned up and down, than apply the same sonic change to every recording.
@Aman Sawhney isn’t that why we can color the sound more so with the headphones or speakers we choose? Also the EQ function can add more to color the sound as well? This is where I am a noob. I would think you would want neutral, clean and transparent dac and then color that with a v shaped headphone or by adjusting the EQ to add in more flavor?
@Aman Sawhney - "I understand that perspective for monitoring. But we are just trying to have fun." Three questions: Who "we"? What exactly is the fun you are referring to? How is what I said above in conflict with that fun? If you mean that having a DAC that distorts sound is fun, that's like saying that an equalizer with all knobs locked in a certain position is fun. I believe that for most people who like to experience different sounds it's more fun to have more options and more freedom with experimenting. You seem to be saying that for you the pinnacle of audio fun is to apply the exactly same sound processing to all of you recordings, what ever they are, Beatles or Beethoven. That sound processing isn’t even decided by you, but the manufacturer of your non-accurate DAC.
Thanks for the review. It would be better if you identified what all the features are that you blip by and say you aren't familiar with. In other words, read the manual before you review a complex widget like this. DUH. In this case, the manual is comprehensive and excellent.
I got one 8 months ago and I have just completed their user training crash course in only six months as opposed to the 12 months it normally takes to scratch the surface. And I can say without doubt that if I could get it to work it would probably be good. LOL
Thanks for the review. Hope you like the new Soekris 1541. I've been using the ADI-2 for a bit now as well and really love it. Excellent piece of equipment with loads of features, and a very capable DAC + AMP. Agree with you that it can be a bit clinical, especially if coming from something musical like say a Schiit Multibit dac. It definitely also lacks dynamics like you said, especially when compared to the 789. I've never thought to try IEMs out of the 1/4" output so I'm about to do that right now, thanks for the recommendation!
Does the USB input support higher res than 24 / 96K? You can go direct from a MacBook Pro to USB? Do you really hear a difference when you are streaming Apple Music hi res and the computer is set to play higher res...when I check to see what the high res on Apple Music most don't go over 24 / 96. most are still 16 / 44.1 when I check. I have high end focal speakers and headphones.
@@auro8649 Das Problem ist bei Günstigeren geräten es muss immer über einen PC gehen der solche Musik Dateien abspielt Leider wird von solcher hoch aufgelösten Musik einfach zu wenig produziert mit richtig viel Dynamik und extrem sauberer abmischung
@@enjaderletsplayer2259in Ordnung. stimmt teilweise schon - super gemastert ist nicht viel aber wenn klingt es wahnsinnig gut! Musik über den PC zu senden ist aber nicht mit schlechter Qualität gleich zu setzen. Ein DAC und guter Verstärker wie der RME ADI zB und ein Tidal Abo (selbst Spotify reicht) und ein anständiger Kopfhörer kreieren da schon wunderbare Klänge wenn der Titel stimmt! :-)
I am considering the combo of the iFI Pro iESL with the RME ADI-2 DAC to go with my STAX SRL-700. Do you think this combo would work well together? As a solo unit the iFi has no volume control but I’m assuming the volume control on the RME would be fine? My source at this point is my iPhone with a sub with Master Tidal. Please feel free to make other recommendations if the above set up will not be a good match up for my L-700s, which I currently run with the STAX D-10 DAC/ENERGIZER amp combo. Thank you for the advise, and the great videos you post here on UA-cam.
yes not using 4499 and the strange way of doing balance output on the PRO, is disappointing. first you spend 1100Euro and don't get the latest chip, 2nd I am expected to build my own cables now? why not put a 4 pin XLR. As someone who is just starting and building my way up, those 2 reasons made me look for a TOPPING D90. Sure it is a semiprofessional/professional equipment and can do this and that, but my end game, is to come from work, pick a headphone, put a 512 DSD song that I feel like at the moment and enjoy a cigar. I don't want to set room correction, headphone profiles, or spend months to determin the exact amount of sound that should cross feed from left to right channel.
@@kurt120032002 I understand your point... I normally "do not have" the same amount of time :) Nonetheless our ears are different (I did have a pro check and you can easily see any one of us has different ear capabilities, and unluckily degrading with age) and our musical tastes too... These changes maybe will be required every 2 years... manageable. So... probably I'll wait for an RME 4499 version, but I've decided not to immediately shift to a D90 (that was my former choice too): I'll stay stick to my current old ES9018s based dac and wait for the new RME: I love these features, I love their insightful approach (only look at the manual!), the frequent fw upgrade and community, and even the high quality screen: they're a "stable" pro audio company, that will probably exist in 20 years (I've not had the same luck with some asean company, unluckily).
@@gmeardi I choose to wait. SMSL M400 is out and are people selling their 2-3000$ DACs after trying that one, and we got the new AUNE S8 with custom fpga. For the moment I ordered a pair of Arya and will follow a class A Rebelamp. Next year I will decide between SMSL or Aune, taking in to account their players, because pc and good audio doesn't really match. After all that, I am considering a RME ADI-2 PRO with Chord phono, to get good dsd out of vinyls, since good music in DSD is hard to find.
Thanks for the review. I actually just got my ADI-2 in last week and I encountered an " overload/short" error screen the other day when using the 1/4 headphone out - I hope it's just a one off issue, not a faulty unit. Have you run into any errors in the year you've owned your unit?
I had one issue where occasionally it would begin to freak out and sound robotic at random., but a software update and re-flash of the firmware fixed that and no issues since.
24:40 Well if "it's just going to depend on what headphones you have" then that is not really a judge for the amps themselves are they? So how does that make them "dry sounding" ?
Thank You for your precious review. I just bought it, and i totally agree with you. Very detailed sound, but dry and flat. Not engaging, exciting or fun sound. Playing with EQ can help, but the overall sound signature is what it is. Made to work with sound signals, not for pure enjoyment. I used to have a Jolida tube dac. More congested sound, but more lively and absolutely not boring.
@John Gian oh look another Chord fanboy. i fucking hate Chord fanboys, i don't get it... does Chord actually pay you to praise their overpriced products? i seriously don't understand the amount of craze around their products that in the eyes of Chord fans everything that's not made by Chord is a piece of shit garbage, that actually reminds me Apple fanboys and i find it extremely funny... this DAC is NOT made for "audiophiles" AT ALL which is why it is exceptionally detailed and also exceptionally flat. the entire Chord lineup is both overpriced and NOT suitable for audio engineers which require the flattest signal output out there. (that is, for professional studio use). this is definitely a high end product, just because it is not overpriced like Chord products which cost an arm and a leg just because of their in-built DAC chips does not mean they are better. in audio Price does NOT always equal better sound. the Chord Qutest is a dumb proposition for a DAC, just like any other Chord product outside of the Hugo family. it is lacking in features and it is overpriced (especially compared to the Hugo 2 within their OWN product lineup, its like what? 200$ more and you get so much more bang for buck out of it compared to the tiny Qutest) HOWEVER, the chord Hugo 2 costs over twice as much as the RME and in terms of audio fidelity the only benefits the Hugo 2 have over the RME are: 1. it has a noticeable increase of soundstage depth over the RME 2. since it is using the proprietary Chord DAC chip, it has Chord's sound signature of more sweet and more warm sounding audio. now both could be said about the Qutest and the Hugo 2, they both use the same DAC chip, but with the Qutest you need to spend even more money to buy yourself a pure neutral amp that won't mess with the sound signature of the Qutest, and in that stage you are already well into the Hugo 2 territory so why even bother with the Qutest in the first place? and this is before even talking about how the entire Chord product line does not support a balanced output except for the Hugo TT2. does Balanced really matter? yes and no, it depends on what you are trying to achieve with it, if you are in a very noisy environment (electrically) than you SHOULD use a balanced connection. if your headphones actually are one of those who benefit from the greater output power of a balanced connection than that is also something to consider. if you don't apply to both of these two very specific conditions than okay the Hugo 2 is for you, but if you have an issue with electrical interference you are fucked with any of Chord's options unless you buy the TT2... it is not even an apples to apples comparison, you simply can't compare two products which were designed for two completely different markets and one of them costs more than twice the cost of the other, it is like comparing a 27" 1440p 240hz Samsung PC Monitor to a 85" Sony OLED 8K TV - both do essentially the same thing (show a digital video signal) but are built for two entirely different market sectors and for two completely different prices... so that being said, is the Chord Hugo 2 (which is more accurate to compare to the RME) a better DAC/AMP than the RME for Audiophile listening? yes obviously it is... but is is 2.5 times better than the RME? well fuck no it isn't lol. EDIT: just as a point i'll mention i used to have a Chord Mojo and tested my HD800S's extensively with my friend's Hugo TT2. i don't HATE Chord products, i just think they are extremely overpriced and significantly lack in features.
Hi yes, the ADI-2 DAC is a DAC and headphone amplifier combo. You can also use it to feed audio to your speakers, but you'll still need a dedicated amplifier of course (assuming they're passive speakers).
depends. Topping are just pumping out products, this is PRO level company, they offer quality, options and long term support. For example I am aiming to use this for DSD only, so the clock needs to be on point, and I do trust RME more then Topping to pay attention to that level of details. For anything else I went for Geshelli Enog 2 PRO. at 200$ balanced dac at that quality is hard to beat, and it looks cool a.f.
The D90 sounded very similar to the first ADI-2 (non FS). But it’s not as good as either the FS version (AKM 4490) or the newest v2 with the AKM 4493. I actually demoed the newest RME against a Chord Hugo TT2 and preferred the RME by a nose when the right filters were selected. But, if you’re on a budget, the D90 sounds great and should serve you well.
Mark Donen For the ADI-2 FS v2, the SDLD was the best. I forget the finger names for the TT2, but the incisive was one of my favorites. For the RME, the SDLD sounded best in everything but bass-light 80's music. I preferred the slow filter for that stuff.
Can anyone suggest a reliable music streaming unit to attach to this DAC? I don't need to pay for the expensive DAC/Streamer combos as I just need it to bring the tunes from the clouds and into this DAC. Thanks!
Really, WHY there are no more digita inputs for streamer, tv, bluRay and so on? There is place enough for 2 additional coax inputs. For this reason a no go for me.
I always wondered how much of a difference a dac made. I have Fulla2 and dragonfly red and cobalt. Never experienced anything higher end. How much of a gain in sq is there with an expensive one? How audible are those differences and how much is a placebo, I’m sure there’s some?
Once your DAC is transparent enough, meaning: uncolored, flat FR, noise/distortion-free and with decent dynamic range, it will be indistinguishable to any other decent DAC. Of course, once both are level matched. Others DAC may have a different sound signature on purpose (like a drop in HF or intentional 3rd harmonic distortion), but that is NOT the way to go, IMHO.
To be frank with you, a DAC will make the least difference in your audio chain. I would say if you're looking to upgrade into a difference price range (for example between 500 and 1000), buy headphones first, then buy an amp, then look into a DAC around $500 (there are many good ones at this price). A good DAC I would say to upgrade to for you would be the SMSL-SU8 for it's feature set alone such as being a balanced DAC. Not to mention its sound quality and superior measurements.
late to reply, but I recently purchased the rme adi-2 dac. Using decent headphones, Mr Speakers Aeon closed, and sennheiser 660s open back, i can notice an immediate obvious difference. My previous DAC and AMP was a shciit magni 2 and motherboard DAC. My audio already sounded good, I was very happy with the sound but was interested in trying to EQ and what a better DAC might bring as well as future balanced options. The difference I notice, is immediately audio that I though sounded clear, becomes clearer, details and impact actually pop out more. Sounds that were a bit muddled together become more distinguished. Ive tried a few mid-tier DAC options in the past and was never really convinced of a good DAC value, from sound cards to dedicated. The mid tier stuff is mostly the same quality inside a computer or phone these days and im talking about $300 dedicated DAC's. Now, for $1000 this still isnt a major jump in quality, and if the headphones arent decent, forget about noticing anything. But it does improve things, much more than I ever expected, the EQ and other features are also amazing and a huge part of the value because these let you fine tune headphones to exactly how you want them to sound given you have headphones capable of some play. This is an end game DAC for me. I will be getting a tube amp eventually for fun. Many a headphone I desire. Possibly a balanced amp as well. But this is a fantastic DAC.
I have a dragonfly cobalt too (it has 2,1 V output!), and a genelec 8040 monitors. Looking for adi-2 pro fs r black edition, but mainly for recording a string instrument with a mic preamp than a dac/headphone amp. I suppose Genelec 8341 the ones through aes will be a better upgrade for me than any expensive dac.
@Homesteader Workouts hmm well in contrast they can sound tinny, digital, cold, dry, etc. if all dacs perform the same, why do you think their price could differ so much between those capable of converting similar rates?
Most of RME's products are indeed marketed towards the professional, I don't believe that to be the case for this one. There where alot of audiophile features added to this unit, and RME did push it more towards prosumer/consumer market. They have similiar, even cheaper products that are a better fit for Pro-only use, like the ADI2. This was ADI's unofficial "stab at the audiophile" market. For example the dac filters, those are purely there for the consumer market, you'd never use that in the pro market. I found the amp to actually be quite good, but make sure it's in "hi-power" mode, and it is very, very flat. Easily remedied with the built in EQ, I found EQing the built in AMP, made a huge difference, and you could get dynamics and flavor it however you wanted. I found the EQ to be so good, you can almost make this thing sound like anything. Alot of people don't take the time and/or don't understand how to properly use an EQ. Don't be so quick to sell it and/or get rid of it. I've heard alot of dac's over the years, be prepared to buy it again.
While this product leans more at the audiophile audience it is quite good tool for mixing and mastering in the studio.Adi 2 has no USB connection, it's not an audio interface, it's just an AD/DA, while ADI-2 DAC fs although aimed at the hi fi market can easily be used in studio as a reference DAC. And the filters and eq are really handy there.
Hello, I have U12T Um Melody MeskII, so, for this hig-end IEMS, what is the best DAC you can recommend? Hugo 2? Or RME ADI 2 DAC? Or high-end DAP (Sp2000, FiooM17, iBasso Dx320) (please regardless of the price:))
@@savanaviolenta Hello, I have U12T Um Melody MeskII, so, for this hig-end IEMS, what is the best DAC you can recommend? Hugo 2? Or RME ADI 2 DAC? Or high-end DAP (Sp2000, FiooM17, iBasso Dx320) (please regardless of the price:)) I am So confused how to get end game system
Owner of RME before staring that company was a technical writer of manuals amongst other jobs.
That explains the manual (in the best of all possible ways)
I am currently an owner of chord mojo 2, but I am planning to upgrade the DAC to the RME. I hope there will be Improvement and general sound quality will be better on the RME. The decisive factor towords RME is the myriad of sound options. Love your review :)
I did one mainly for HiFi uses. In my reckonings its a chord Qutest killer. I definitely don’t think it’s dry or analytical. I’ve reviewed pretty much all the chord, Qutest, m scaler, TT2, Dave, dCS Bartok, PS Audio DirectStream. It’s a much better DAC than the schiit Multibit types. And considering the price it’s more value than a Qutest for HiFi uses.
You're just saying "it's not as good as qutest but costs less". Well it should cost less....it's not as good.
You're on the money and breadth of experience with varied models speaks volumes. RME slays dragons.
@@IronHorsey3 Mmh I just want a DAC no dragons please!
Hello, I have U12T Um Melody MeskII, so, for this hig-end IEMS, what is the best DAC you can recommend? Hugo 2? Or RME ADI 2 DAC? Or high-end DAP (Sp2000, FiooM17, iBasso Dx320) (please regardless of the price:))
You can also use the main volume dial as a button for switching between phones and line out when you have the TogglePh/Line selected, just press and hold for a second and it toggles.
It's a useful bit of kit, now has an ESS DAC chip instead as AKM ones are in short supply.
Thank you 👍To give it a Naim sound taste but with amount of details, I use EQ. +2 100Hz, +1 250Hz, +1,5 1kHz and -0,5 5 kHz. Playing with Q factor.
I love this Dac .....it replaced an old 2500€ DAC. You can do what you want with it. Soundstage is real not zooming voices etc. Enjoy music.
Would you argue that "dry sounding dac" actually means "sonically transparent"? That's perhaps the reason why they have the build in EQ option, to tweak the sound anyway you like, depending on the current playlist or genre instead of locking you in with a particular sound, for all your music? It's something I recently discovered and was told since I was looking at tube amps, or ladder DACs.
But depending on who you talk to, it seems much logical to buy a "as neutral" as possible device without any coloration of the sound signal, and bring your own flavor through DSP or EQ, which gives you the option to switch between genres of music for instance. If I'd have bought a tube amp, I'd be stuck with the tube sound for all music, which might not be ideal. My only other option is to own multiple DACs and amplifiers OR I could go with an as neutral signal chain as possible and flavor the music through software, or with my choice of headphones/speakers.
Don't get me wrong, as a photographer I do prefer to use filters in the field, instead of spending time behind my computer using Photoshop to get a picture right like I wanted. So bringing that same philosophy would put me in the camp of ladder DACs, or tube amps. But I've never heard a comparison for myself between the different designs. So I could go out and buy multiple devices to finally figure out what I like the most, or I could get something like this and be done with it.
It sounds much more logical to buy a DAC/amp which sounds nice from the shelf. Also, watching vids like these and opting to buy standalone DACS for a 1000 bucks has nothing to do with logic.
@@RafiGish just that, this isn't a standalone dac.
this is an "All in One" device, it has a stellar DAC, a pretty good Amp, a built in multi profile EQ (PER CHANNEL + PER INPUT), built in DSP etc.
if you actually think about it, most DAC + AMP stacks that reach the same sort of levels of performance of this little RME cost nearly as much if not more (depending on the stack components you choose), and still lack the extra features that the RME brings to the table.
in my opinion the RME ADI-2 is probably one of the best deals for a DAC at 1000-1100 bucks, let alone a DAC+AMP+EQ+ whatever else they managed to cram into it.
and if you still want some more "flavour" to your sound you can just use the EQ and add that in, and if you are a "no EQ purist" type of guy, you can pair whichever good amp you want with the RME for around 300-400 bucks and that would STILL be a much better deal than buying any other combination of kit at the same price.
i personally was at a dilemma recently when i wanted to get myself new kit for my new HD800S's, i was looking at building a stack of Bifrost 2 + Jotunheim 2 or THX 789s.
then i was recommended and also came across the RME in comparison reviews and holy fuck, for 1100$ i can actually get a piece of kit that essentially covers ALMOST all of my needs.
seriously the only feature that the RME is lacking is Balanced output out of its AMP, so you have to buy an external amp to get that balanced output.
and i think the cheapest balanced amp is like what? 180-200 bucks? that's still 1300 bucks for a fully balanced dac+amp setup that sounds crystal clear (and depending on the amp you stack it with could sound tonally to your liking).
so based on what i said, i say for 1000 bucks this is a VERY logical purchase to make, not just if you are an "audiophile" who wants a good deal but also for a professional that wants a single piece of kit that does everything he needs other than having to deal with a couple of stacks of hardware under his display.
Ironically when I started watching this video I did not have the adi 2 fs but by time the video ended it had arrived.
Obviously therefore my thoughts are at this stage are speculation but I guess I will know soon.
You made one comment I hope I will disagree with. You called the sound "Dry" .
I considered MANY DAC's including the Schiit Bifrost 2 64 ,and the Dodge 7 . The first at approx. £200 less sounds like the perfect DAC for someone who just wants lovely sound without messing around. the Dodge 7 on the other hand at twice as much being a valve DAC is said to be comparable to a £20000 to £30000 DAC.
I chose this one(RME) because I think that given the endless refinements you can make in the settings if I end up not licking the sound then it would be my fault for not doing a good job with the settings.
You call the sound "Dry" and yet you have sett your EQ totally flat and haven't even tried to see if you could Taylor it to your taste.
Do you think if you were to use the equalizer it would’ve added some color to that dry analytical sounds
Straight to the point ; Subscribed
25:45 That's why it has a parametric EQ, separate tone controls and a loudness control, so that you can tune it to your taste :P
Ive had it for a year aswell and it is quite analytical and cold sounding no matter how you configure the eq and the rest of the settings. You cant get warmth just from boosting the mids and lowering the highs. I own multiple dacs for reference.
@@PreBlazed89 Which multiple DAC's do you have and how do they compare soundwise?
@@PreBlazed89 I'm a hobbyist composer looking for a dac/audio interface for my studio. If I could find a device where bit depth, accuracy/neutrality meets with sonic richness and vibrancy, I'd never need to buy another interface again. I currently use a Motu M4 (ESS Sabre dac32 ultra). I've been considering RME for its speed, DSD handling, EQ features and detail/accuracy. I've also been considering Denafrips Ares 2 for its naturalness and R2R form factor instead of a dac chip, and just started looking at Schitt Bifrost 2. Any suggestions or feedback would be appreciated. ☺️👍
@@Jonathan-ff4wo In a production standpoint i think the RME is a perfect dac and i don't think you will be disappointed. I however think that for my taste listening with my hifiman aryas, the RME can be a bit tiresome listening long sessions with becasue it really squeezes out every little bit of information and detail from the songs and it is incredibly neutral (and in my taste a little "boring" sounding therefore since i would prefer a little bit of coloration in especially the midrange). With a warmer set of headphones like audeze lcd-2c it might would have appealed to me more. However, if you produce music this is probably a fantastic product because of the extreme detail and neutral sound signature. It's probably perfect for hooking up with some proper studio monitors too which you then could tune with all the settings in the rme to get the best sound in your room. I don't think you would be disappointed.
@@gerard3797 All from different price ranges really but i own Fiio btr5, aune x1s, technics stc700d and the rme. I mostly prefer the technics stc700d and the aune. The technics provide great clarity without overdoing it with details like the rme. The aune x1s provides a nice round sound with more focus on the midrange and less on the treble. Not the best on clarity but a rather full bodied sound with more midbass. Tonally i prefer the technics and the aune over the RME but thats my opinion. Any serious production would not be possible with either of those, in that case the RME would crush the competition.
I have mine set up as a dac only outputing to a Graham Slee Solo headphone amp and Shure SRH1540. After the initial fiddling with the multiplicity of options on the RME I now feel that I have achieved an extraordinary level of fidelity with this setup. I have tried the Chord Qutest and the Mojo but neither satisfied in the way that the RME does. I will be adding the Slee PSU1 to the Solo to add the final touch (hopefully)
I think it's important to but a review on this that people can relate to if with little or not a lot of audio experience. This will *without any settings altered* play your music to you as it is. I listen to Garage, and House in terms of EDM types, this exposes a lot of flaws in terms of recordings, similar to a high quality set of studio headphones, which can be classed as linear and very neutral. I have flac recordings of classical, which I believe sounds great on this, if you recording has grain, you will hear grain, if your recording has static, you will hear static. Now for the important part.... Do you have headphones, that have roll off, or lack of sub bass response, lacking in treble or mids - This is where the EQ comes in, and whilst I always suggest a software based EQ, this is fucking awesome as far as frequency response, and granular levels of adjustment in terms of gain, tone, and EQ. Please do not think that this will not make music sounds fun, because that simply isn't the case. If you buying this to leave the product exactly as it is then DONT BUY IT, if you buying for the feautures, incredible Dac, high powered and clean Amplification, then this is a must have and end game IMO, unless you want ad hoc dac's amps for different purposes, E.G tube amps for their sound etc...
Hello, I have U12T Um Melody MeskII, so, for this hig-end IEMS, what is the best DAC you can recommend? Hugo 2? Or RME ADI 2 DAC? Or high-end DAP (Sp2000, FiooM17, iBasso Dx320) (please regardless of the price:)?
@@kaankucuk1612 If sound is all that maters I would have paid twice as much for the Dodge 7
Awesome piece of kit. Thanks Max
Great compact review, thank you so much. *SUBSCRIBED*
Hi, you refer to dry sound... isn’t it possible to adjust it to your taste using EQ? I am not sure why people do not tweak it as they wish.... Thanks.
So true if you spend the time to adjust EQ you can make it sound like any dac on the market
Looking forward to that Soekris 1541 review on Sep 24, 2020.
Well, I see so many comments stating the « flatness » of its sound. But coming from a pro audio interface, that’s hardly surprising. And that’s all I’d want from a DAC. You don’t hear such buzzwords as « true to source » or « transparent » in the music production business, because that’s a given. No color, high signal-to-noise ratio. If I wanted to play along with tubes and add flavor, I’d probably buy a preamp from Schiit. When I record a guitar or a keyboard through a tube preamp/amp, I want it played back just the way it was recorded. To achieve a similar result, no one would record everything « dry », so that a few Audiophiles can apply their favorite color to the music later on.
The entire point of this product, was to make a version of their DAC for audiophiles - this isn't the version for 'pro' users.
And yet a ton of pros use it :)
30 minute review on an amp, dac... MIND BLOWNN!!
Imagine a 30 min review on a basic headphone cable lel
@@moefa7423 Imagine how long it would take Zeos to review this, if he had to convey the same important information
@@HenryFanboy He already did. Actually, that review is the reason why I have this DAC.
Don't roll about laughing too much .. but looking for a gaming DAC... I want the best to hear all sound in game using hd 58xx headset.
Any help for me.
Thank you...
Thanks for the review, very informative. Have you heard the new ESS chip version by any chance?
Thanks for getting this up 👍
I don't want any of my hifi-equipment to have any sonic flavour, and I wonder why anyone would want that. For me the only task of the hifi-equipment is to reproduce the original sound, and change it as little as possible while doing that. I don't want my DAC sound musical, if the recorded sound didn't sound musical. A DAC with musical sound would make my recordings with musical sound sound unnaturally musical. I know how acoustic instruments sound (I have played several instruments myself), and I prefer their sound as it is.
The most reliable way to asses the quality of a DAC would be to arrange an acoustic and live music presentation to be captured by a microphone and have the signal reproduced by headphones or speakers, note the possible sonic differences between the live presentation and reproduced sound, and then put an ADC and a DAC in the middle, and again note possible additional differences in the sound. If the DAC would change the sound for example to more "musical" or "analytical", the DAC could be better. If the DAC would be indistinguishable from the undigitized capture, the DAC would be good.
The matter is of course different to someone who doesn't really care about how natural the sound is, or if he is looking for a certain kind of sound. My guess is that many high-end DAC manufacturers actually intentionally tune the sound of their DACs from natural to pleasingly distorted (in a subtle way), and advertise the result as "musical" or "analog". Most digital recordings don't sound as good as they might have, and digital recording and mixing errors generally sound worse than analog errors, so there's a lot of room for DACs that make the less than perfect recordings sound better. I think it would be better to leave the job for a separate sound processor, which could be switched on and off, and tuned up and down, than apply the same sonic change to every recording.
@Aman Sawhney isn’t that why we can color the sound more so with the headphones or speakers we choose? Also the EQ function can add more to color the sound as well? This is where I am a noob. I would think you would want neutral, clean and transparent dac and then color that with a v shaped headphone or by adjusting the EQ to add in more flavor?
@Aman Sawhney - "I understand that perspective for monitoring. But we are just trying to have fun."
Three questions: Who "we"? What exactly is the fun you are referring to? How is what I said above in conflict with that fun? If you mean that having a DAC that distorts sound is fun, that's like saying that an equalizer with all knobs locked in a certain position is fun. I believe that for most people who like to experience different sounds it's more fun to have more options and more freedom with experimenting. You seem to be saying that for you the pinnacle of audio fun is to apply the exactly same sound processing to all of you recordings, what ever they are, Beatles or Beethoven. That sound processing isn’t even decided by you, but the manufacturer of your non-accurate DAC.
Thanks for the review. It would be better if you identified what all the features are that you blip by and say you aren't familiar with. In other words, read the manual before you review a complex widget like this. DUH. In this case, the manual is comprehensive and excellent.
Love the display! Seems the price has gone up $300 in the last few months.
I got one 8 months ago and I have just completed their user training crash course in only six months as opposed to the 12 months it normally takes to scratch the surface. And I can say without doubt that if I could get it to work it would probably be good. LOL
Great review!
Can the EQ be configured independently for each output?
Yes and each output can be configured with multiple EQs and named.
Hey. Is it possible to run the xlr outputs and the RCA at the same time but using different eq setting?
Thanks for the review. Hope you like the new Soekris 1541. I've been using the ADI-2 for a bit now as well and really love it. Excellent piece of equipment with loads of features, and a very capable DAC + AMP. Agree with you that it can be a bit clinical, especially if coming from something musical like say a Schiit Multibit dac. It definitely also lacks dynamics like you said, especially when compared to the 789. I've never thought to try IEMs out of the 1/4" output so I'm about to do that right now, thanks for the recommendation!
Quantify that objectively and not subjectively please. I think the Schiit sounds like a house falling off a cliff - totally meaningless.
Does the USB input support higher res than 24 / 96K? You can go direct from a MacBook Pro to USB? Do you really hear a difference when you are streaming Apple Music hi res and the computer is set to play higher res...when I check to see what the high res on Apple Music most don't go over 24 / 96. most are still 16 / 44.1 when I check. I have high end focal speakers and headphones.
Sehr schönes Gerät um HD Musik über den Kopfhörer sehr gut zu hören
das kann man auch mit deutlich günstigeren Equiptment. Und was ist ''HD Sound''? :-)
@@auro8649 Das Problem ist bei Günstigeren geräten es muss immer über einen PC gehen der solche Musik Dateien abspielt Leider wird von solcher hoch aufgelösten Musik einfach zu wenig produziert mit richtig viel Dynamik und extrem sauberer abmischung
@@enjaderletsplayer2259in Ordnung. stimmt teilweise schon - super gemastert ist nicht viel aber wenn klingt es wahnsinnig gut! Musik über den PC zu senden ist aber nicht mit schlechter Qualität gleich zu setzen. Ein DAC und guter Verstärker wie der RME ADI zB und ein Tidal Abo (selbst Spotify reicht) und ein anständiger Kopfhörer kreieren da schon wunderbare Klänge wenn der Titel stimmt! :-)
I am considering the combo of the iFI Pro iESL with the RME ADI-2 DAC to go with my STAX SRL-700. Do you think this combo would work well together? As a solo unit the iFi has no volume control but I’m assuming the volume control on the RME would be fine? My source at this point is my iPhone with a sub with Master Tidal. Please feel free to make other recommendations if the above set up will not be a good match up for my L-700s, which I currently run with the STAX D-10 DAC/ENERGIZER amp combo. Thank you for the advise, and the great videos you post here on UA-cam.
Sadly you cannot use just the RME and the iESL. The iESL needs to be fed by some sort of speaker amp in order to operate.
Max Settings - oh I see. Ok thank you.,
Audio sound engineer required
Not having a balanced input kills it for me.
Thanks for the review. Can Rme be us as a dac/preamp to a power amplifier?
Why not ?
Can you use this as pre-amp to connect directly to a power amplifier?
FWIW, these now use the AKM AK4493...
yeah it seems AKM is discontinuing the AK4490 as a few brands are switching to the 4493. Makes sense since there's the 4493, 4497 and 4499.
yes not using 4499 and the strange way of doing balance output on the PRO, is disappointing. first you spend 1100Euro and don't get the latest chip, 2nd I am expected to build my own cables now? why not put a 4 pin XLR. As someone who is just starting and building my way up, those 2 reasons made me look for a TOPPING D90.
Sure it is a semiprofessional/professional equipment and can do this and that, but my end game, is to come from work, pick a headphone, put a 512 DSD song that I feel like at the moment and enjoy a cigar. I don't want to set room correction, headphone profiles, or spend months to determin the exact amount of sound that should cross feed from left to right channel.
@@kurt120032002 lol you're not wrong
@@kurt120032002 I understand your point... I normally "do not have" the same amount of time :) Nonetheless our ears are different (I did have a pro check and you can easily see any one of us has different ear capabilities, and unluckily degrading with age) and our musical tastes too... These changes maybe will be required every 2 years... manageable. So... probably I'll wait for an RME 4499 version, but I've decided not to immediately shift to a D90 (that was my former choice too): I'll stay stick to my current old ES9018s based dac and wait for the new RME: I love these features, I love their insightful approach (only look at the manual!), the frequent fw upgrade and community, and even the high quality screen: they're a "stable" pro audio company, that will probably exist in 20 years (I've not had the same luck with some asean company, unluckily).
@@gmeardi I choose to wait. SMSL M400 is out and are people selling their 2-3000$ DACs after trying that one, and we got the new AUNE S8 with custom fpga. For the moment I ordered a pair of Arya and will follow a class A Rebelamp. Next year I will decide between SMSL or Aune, taking in to account their players, because pc and good audio doesn't really match. After all that, I am considering a RME ADI-2 PRO with Chord phono, to get good dsd out of vinyls, since good music in DSD is hard to find.
Thanks for the review. I actually just got my ADI-2 in last week and I encountered an " overload/short" error screen the other day when using the 1/4 headphone out - I hope it's just a one off issue, not a faulty unit. Have you run into any errors in the year you've owned your unit?
I had one issue where occasionally it would begin to freak out and sound robotic at random., but a software update and re-flash of the firmware fixed that and no issues since.
24:40 Well if "it's just going to depend on what headphones you have" then that is not really a judge for the amps themselves are they? So how does that make them "dry sounding" ?
Thank You for your precious review.
I just bought it, and i totally agree with you.
Very detailed sound, but dry and flat.
Not engaging, exciting or fun sound.
Playing with EQ can help, but the overall sound signature is what it is.
Made to work with sound signals, not for pure enjoyment.
I used to have a Jolida tube dac.
More congested sound, but more lively and absolutely not boring.
@John Gian oh look another Chord fanboy.
i fucking hate Chord fanboys, i don't get it... does Chord actually pay you to praise their overpriced products? i seriously don't understand the amount of craze around their products that in the eyes of Chord fans everything that's not made by Chord is a piece of shit garbage, that actually reminds me Apple fanboys and i find it extremely funny...
this DAC is NOT made for "audiophiles" AT ALL which is why it is exceptionally detailed and also exceptionally flat.
the entire Chord lineup is both overpriced and NOT suitable for audio engineers which require the flattest signal output out there. (that is, for professional studio use).
this is definitely a high end product, just because it is not overpriced like Chord products which cost an arm and a leg just because of their in-built DAC chips does not mean they are better. in audio Price does NOT always equal better sound.
the Chord Qutest is a dumb proposition for a DAC, just like any other Chord product outside of the Hugo family.
it is lacking in features and it is overpriced (especially compared to the Hugo 2 within their OWN product lineup, its like what? 200$ more and you get so much more bang for buck out of it compared to the tiny Qutest)
HOWEVER, the chord Hugo 2 costs over twice as much as the RME and in terms of audio fidelity the only benefits the Hugo 2 have over the RME are:
1. it has a noticeable increase of soundstage depth over the RME
2. since it is using the proprietary Chord DAC chip, it has Chord's sound signature of more sweet and more warm sounding audio.
now both could be said about the Qutest and the Hugo 2, they both use the same DAC chip, but with the Qutest you need to spend even more money to buy yourself a pure neutral amp that won't mess with the sound signature of the Qutest, and in that stage you are already well into the Hugo 2 territory so why even bother with the Qutest in the first place?
and this is before even talking about how the entire Chord product line does not support a balanced output except for the Hugo TT2.
does Balanced really matter? yes and no, it depends on what you are trying to achieve with it, if you are in a very noisy environment (electrically) than you SHOULD use a balanced connection. if your headphones actually are one of those who benefit from the greater output power of a balanced connection than that is also something to consider.
if you don't apply to both of these two very specific conditions than okay the Hugo 2 is for you, but if you have an issue with electrical interference you are fucked with any of Chord's options unless you buy the TT2...
it is not even an apples to apples comparison, you simply can't compare two products which were designed for two completely different markets and one of them costs more than twice the cost of the other, it is like comparing a 27" 1440p 240hz Samsung PC Monitor to a 85" Sony OLED 8K TV - both do essentially the same thing (show a digital video signal) but are built for two entirely different market sectors and for two completely different prices...
so that being said, is the Chord Hugo 2 (which is more accurate to compare to the RME) a better DAC/AMP than the RME for Audiophile listening? yes obviously it is... but is is 2.5 times better than the RME? well fuck no it isn't lol.
EDIT: just as a point i'll mention i used to have a Chord Mojo and tested my HD800S's extensively with my friend's Hugo TT2.
i don't HATE Chord products, i just think they are extremely overpriced and significantly lack in features.
6:30 This definitely IS a "HiFi consumer" version of their Pro model. Just dig in their you UA-cam channel.
Noob question. It has a volume knob and headphone outs. Does that mean it DOES have an amp?
Hi yes, the ADI-2 DAC is a DAC and headphone amplifier combo.
You can also use it to feed audio to your speakers, but you'll still need a dedicated amplifier of course (assuming they're passive speakers).
smsl vmv d1. What. Is better or rme adi2.? I bought the smsl vmv d1
Rme adi 2 dac is better but any high end dac gets the job done as long as you can enjoy music from it
" What is he saying? " sent me 💀💀
Can it drive Arya with its full potential to get the best out of it? thanks
Did you get an answer for this? I am looking at purchasing the Arya and looking for suitable dac and amp :)
Can one adjust the voltage for the inputs into the amplifier?
The volume knob does that.
Beat Topping D90?
depends. Topping are just pumping out products, this is PRO level company, they offer quality, options and long term support. For example I am aiming to use this for DSD only, so the clock needs to be on point, and I do trust RME more then Topping to pay attention to that level of details. For anything else I went for Geshelli Enog 2 PRO. at 200$ balanced dac at that quality is hard to beat, and it looks cool a.f.
The D90 sounded very similar to the first ADI-2 (non FS). But it’s not as good as either the FS version (AKM 4490) or the newest v2 with the AKM 4493. I actually demoed the newest RME against a Chord Hugo TT2 and preferred the RME by a nose when the right filters were selected. But, if you’re on a budget, the D90 sounds great and should serve you well.
@@DBravo29er which filters did you like? Do you recall?
Mark Donen For the ADI-2 FS v2, the SDLD was the best. I forget the finger names for the TT2, but the incisive was one of my favorites. For the RME, the SDLD sounded best in everything but bass-light 80's music. I preferred the slow filter for that stuff.
Can anyone suggest a reliable music streaming unit to attach to this DAC? I don't need to pay for the expensive DAC/Streamer combos as I just need it to bring the tunes from the clouds and into this DAC. Thanks!
Kulkulan Bluesound node 2i
Isnt it a amp/dac combo ?
Yes
@@maxsettings7884 So why getting THX 789 amp ?
@@nicktan4530 Because the 789 is a better amp.
@@maxsettings7884 but you cant hear the difference so why bother ?
@@nicktan4530 You can easily tell the difference.
No balanced out? Seriously?
DOITSU NO KAGAKU WA SEKAI ICHI
I turned this guy up to 1.5X and he just sounded normal.
@Free Speech LOL
I actually listened to you... Funny how you discovered this. 😀
It costs 10x more because labour costs are so high in Germany ;)
Perhaps you should take the time to learn something (like the difference between sample rate and bitrate, or what m/s means...) before doing reviews
Really, WHY there are no more digita inputs for streamer, tv, bluRay and so on? There is place enough for 2 additional coax inputs. For this reason a no go for me.
I always wondered how much of a difference a dac made. I have Fulla2 and dragonfly red and cobalt. Never experienced anything higher end. How much of a gain in sq is there with an expensive one? How audible are those differences and how much is a placebo, I’m sure there’s some?
Once your DAC is transparent enough, meaning: uncolored, flat FR, noise/distortion-free and with decent dynamic range, it will be indistinguishable to any other decent DAC. Of course, once both are level matched. Others DAC may have a different sound signature on purpose (like a drop in HF or intentional 3rd harmonic distortion), but that is NOT the way to go, IMHO.
To be frank with you, a DAC will make the least difference in your audio chain. I would say if you're looking to upgrade into a difference price range (for example between 500 and 1000), buy headphones first, then buy an amp, then look into a DAC around $500 (there are many good ones at this price). A good DAC I would say to upgrade to for you would be the SMSL-SU8 for it's feature set alone such as being a balanced DAC. Not to mention its sound quality and superior measurements.
late to reply, but I recently purchased the rme adi-2 dac. Using decent headphones, Mr Speakers Aeon closed, and sennheiser 660s open back, i can notice an immediate obvious difference. My previous DAC and AMP was a shciit magni 2 and motherboard DAC. My audio already sounded good, I was very happy with the sound but was interested in trying to EQ and what a better DAC might bring as well as future balanced options. The difference I notice, is immediately audio that I though sounded clear, becomes clearer, details and impact actually pop out more. Sounds that were a bit muddled together become more distinguished. Ive tried a few mid-tier DAC options in the past and was never really convinced of a good DAC value, from sound cards to dedicated. The mid tier stuff is mostly the same quality inside a computer or phone these days and im talking about $300 dedicated DAC's. Now, for $1000 this still isnt a major jump in quality, and if the headphones arent decent, forget about noticing anything. But it does improve things, much more than I ever expected, the EQ and other features are also amazing and a huge part of the value because these let you fine tune headphones to exactly how you want them to sound given you have headphones capable of some play. This is an end game DAC for me. I will be getting a tube amp eventually for fun. Many a headphone I desire. Possibly a balanced amp as well. But this is a fantastic DAC.
I have a dragonfly cobalt too (it has 2,1 V output!), and a genelec 8040 monitors.
Looking for adi-2 pro fs r black edition, but mainly for recording a string instrument with a mic preamp than a dac/headphone amp.
I suppose Genelec 8341 the ones through aes will be a better upgrade for me than any expensive dac.
DSD rate he said: "I don't care." Fail.
Its a pass for me purely because of their choice to use the AKM chip
@Homesteader Workouts its not as musical
@Homesteader Workouts hmm well in contrast they can sound tinny, digital, cold, dry, etc. if all dacs perform the same, why do you think their price could differ so much between those capable of converting similar rates?
Please do a little more preparation before reviewing!!!
Way too complicated.
You don't care about DSD? I don't care about this video. Dislike.