RME ADI-2 DAC Review

[Bulldog]

Check this review out from 'The Master Switch'

https://www.themasterswitch.com/rme-adi-2-dac-review

[SailorZH]

There’s also a review coming soon of the RME adi-2 pro at http://archimago.blogspot.com

[Gandalf]

It looks like a DAC well worth the price, but I for one would not have a clue how to gain advantage of it as it has so many options, I would get lost without an idiosyncratic explanatory manual written for laymen.

[SailorZH]

It looks like a DAC well worth the price, but I for one would not have a clue how to gain advantage of it as it has so many options, I would get lost without an idiosyncratic explanatory manual written for laymen.

Yes indeed, it seems to be great DAC and was positively reviewed. See also
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/f...-review.13379/

Somewhere in those reviews I read that one can get lost in all the functions the ADI-2 provides. But there seems to be a great manual shipped with it.

There is also an RME user forum: https://forum.rme-audio.de

[Bulldog]

The DAC is actually really easy to use. It is a plug and play option in the true sense. The beauty of this DAC is it's ability to appeal to both the casual as well as the professional listener.

[SailorZH]

The DAC is actually really easy to use. It is a plug and play option in the true sense. The beauty of this DAC is it's ability to appeal to both the casual as well as the professional listener.

There was a time when I was very much interested in DACs. At one point exclusively in R2R DACs. With my former system I used to have an Aqua La Voce DAC (https://www.aquahifi.com/products.html). It was nice DAC, I loved it. But seeing what modern Delta-Sigma-DACs can do, I'd probably never go back to an R2R DAC. In that respect, the RME ADI-2 would be my DAC to go, I am sure of that.
At one point I thought of a very simple design: a DAC with good volume control feeding active speakers. But I decided on the all-in-one Devialet box and I am very happy with it. But should my Devialet break down fatally, I'd jump on the ADI-2 and active speakers, preferably ATCs!

[SolarMusic]

I had a Metrum Adagio Pre / DAC (R2R DAC) before the RME ADI-2 DAC FS.
It had 6 times the price of the RME, the RME sounds a little different, but i like it more now.
Bass is a bit better (not stronger) and the highs and mids are the same quality for me (on SLOW Filter)
I do not regret the change

[SailorZH]

DARKO has a small Film about the RME ADI-2 DAC at

https://darko.audio/2019/12/rme-quie...eir-adi-2-dac/

[Bulldog]

DARKO has a small Film about the RME ADI-2 DAC at

https://darko.audio/2019/12/rme-quie...eir-adi-2-dac/

Cool. Thanks for the link.

[SolarMusic]

John Darko did a video with the RME ADI 2 FS

https://youtu.be/WFJQIPymJGk

[SolarMusic]

Hi ADI-DAC-users

there is a new firmware (V35) for the RME ADI DAC 2 from 26.03.2021

Biggest change i found, is a improved SteadyClock, filter and phase control. SteadyClock’s jitter filter now operates down to 1 Hz instead of about 200 Hz, thus reduces even very low frequency input jitter efficiently.

Did not do a longer sound compare yet but a improved clock is a good thing (i said to myself )
Sounds good on my 45A as before

the update App is here, took a minute over USB for me without a problem. (from V34 to V35)

https://www.rme-audio.de/adi-2-dac.html

from release note

03/26/2021 ADI-2 DAC DSP 35, ADI-2 Pro FPGA 250 DSP 102. All Pro: improved performance of SRC, headroom reduced to +3 dB. New option 'SRC Gain dig' to preserve digital headroom during USB recording and digital loop-through. Pro and DAC with MRC: Over display in level meters now takes actual headroom into account (+2.5 dB Line/IEM, +1 dB Phones). All DAC: When loading a setup, the current sample rate is not changed.

03/17/2021 Digiface USB: v17 supports new PCBs. Devices with V14 do not need to be updated. ADI-2 DAC FGA 35, ADI-2 Pro FPGA 249: Improved SteadyClock, filter and phase control. SteadyClock’s jitter filter now operates down to 1 Hz instead of about 200 Hz, thus reduces even very low frequency input jitter efficiently.

happy easter to you all!
tom

[Bulldog]

Thanks, SolarMusic for the info. I am downloading the update now.