New RME ADI-2 Pro EX DAC

[Sokel]

Since RME had to switch its AK4493-based products to ESS following the fire—because none of the AK4493 chips produced prior to the fire were available anymore—we can reasonably assume that the new production run of the chip is being used.

That's fair to assume, but we better be precise about naming, even the newest products have different versions.

Newest is the AK4493SEQ I believe, from 2022.

 

[Roland68]

That's fair to assume, but we better be precise about naming, even the newest products have different versions.

Newest is the AK4493SEQ I believe, from 2022.

From the production and availability lists, I am only familiar with the AK4493SEQ, even though it is often incorrectly abbreviated as AK4493, AK4493EQ, or AK4493S.

 

[Bland_username42069]

Quoting RME: "these new RIAA centered features were possible due to the updated ASP in the updated ADC chip, so can most probably not be back-ported to existing 2/4 Pro SE."

So maybe thats also partly an answer to your question @Pearljam5000 . Maybe the ESS chips have extended functionality in this regard. Additionally, improved distortion and noise performance over the AKM chips was mentioned in other sources. But we're poking in the dark here.

That’s annoying. As a layman I can’t see why you can’t just use the full gain stage with a toggle for RIAA on / off but if they are saying it’s not likely not possible then so be it.

 

[LucreciaBorgia]

....and apparently, unfortunately, still no AES (normal one) digital imput apart from this strange proprietary connection

 

[BassTinker]

I guess this comes down to taste...I prefer to have a smaller case with a breakout cable for these additional "not so often used" I/O.

 

[enricoclaudio]

Just placed my order with Sweetwater with delivery for end of July, early August. I did it now to take advantage of the 48 months financing which ends by June 30th.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Since RME had to switch its AK4493-based products to ESS following the fire—because none of the AK4493 chips produced prior to the fire were available anymore—we can reasonably assume that the new production run of the chip is being used.

When making assumptions, it is helpful to be precise in stating the presuppositions.

• Following the fire, RME switched some of their AK4493 products to ESS. The continued production of ADI-2 Pro FS R using the AKM chips contradicts your implied presupposition that RME had to switch all of their products to ESS.

• Around the time the ADI-2 DAC was switched to ESS, RME said there was no plan to switch the ADI-2 Pro and that they still had several years worth of chip supply.

• When RME recently discontinued the ADI-2 Pro FS R, they also discontinued the ADI-2 DAC and ADI-2/4 Pro SE around the same time. Because two of the three products used ESS chips that remain available in the market, I don't think we can simply assume the ADI-2 Pro FS R was discontinued because they ran out of AKM chips (especially since they could have just migrated it over to the AK4493S/SEQ).

• RME has never focused on the use of cutting-edge chips; and will often release products using chips that are not the "top of the line" flagship chips at the time of launch. A good example is the ESS chip that RME chose to use in the ADI-2 DAC; and their stated lack of plans to jump to the AK4499 prior to the fire.

• RME is known as a precision engineering company, so it is reasonable to assume that details about the ADI-2 Pro EX on their website will be technically accurate. The website lists AK4493 (not AK4493S or AK4493SEQ).

Further scenario conjecture (since I don't have facts for this):

• RME had purchased a sizable batch of AKM AK4493 chips (large volume purchase for low per-chip price) prior to the AKM fire in 2020.
• Following the fire, RME estimated that new AKM chips would not become available until late 2022.
• Looking forward, RME made the strategic decision to transition the ADI-2 DAC (and upcoming ADI-2/4 Pro SE) to ESS chips, reserving the remaining supply of AKM chips for the ADI-2 Pro.
• The subsequent release of the ADI-2/4 Pro SE picked up ("cannibalized") a lot of the future ADI-2 Pro purchase volume.
• As a result of releasing the ADI-2/4 Pro using ESS, it further extended the length of time AKM chip supply would remain available for use in the ADI-2 Pro.

Given the number of years since the AMK fire, it is reasonable to assume that audio companies are no longer using ADC / DAC chips from before the 2020 AKM fire in their current product line. Especially in a newly launched product.

However, based on the above, I do not think we can just assume that RME must be using the newer version of AKM chips.

And personally, my suspicion is that if if RME still has any of the older chips in stock, they would continue with those chips until their supply was fully depleted. So I'm going with 50/50 odds that the new ADI-2 Pro EX is still using the older AKM AK4493 DAC chips.

 

[Rngrsn94]

When making assumptions, it is helpful to be precise in stating the presuppositions.

• Following the fire, RME switched some of their AK4493 products to ESS. The continued production of ADI-2 Pro FS R using the AKM chips contradicts your implied presupposition that RME had to switch all of their products to ESS.

• Around the time the ADI-2 DAC was switched to ESS, RME said there was no plan to switch the ADI-2 Pro and that they still had several years worth of chip supply.

• When RME recently discontinued the ADI-2 Pro FS R, they also discontinued the ADI-2 DAC and ADI-2/4 Pro SE around the same time. Because two of the three products used ESS chips that remain available in the market, I don't think we can simply assume the ADI-2 Pro FS R was discontinued because they ran out of AKM chips (especially since they could have just migrated it over to the AK4493S/SEQ).

• RME has never focused on the use of cutting-edge chips; and will often release products using chips that are not the "top of the line" flagship chips at the time of launch. A good example is the ESS chip that RME chose to use in the ADI-2 DAC; and their stated lack of plans to jump to the AK4499 prior to the fire.

• RME is known as a precision engineering company, so it is reasonable to assume that details about the ADI-2 Pro EX on their website will be technically accurate. The website lists AK4493 (not AK4493S or AK4493SEQ).

Further scenario conjecture (since I don't have facts for this):

• RME had purchased a sizable batch of AKM AK4493 chips (large volume purchase for low per-chip price) prior to the AKM fire in 2020.
• Following the fire, RME estimated that new AKM chips would not become available until late 2022.
• Looking forward, RME made the strategic decision to transition the ADI-2 DAC (and upcoming ADI-2/4 Pro SE) to ESS chips, reserving the remaining supply of AKM chips for the ADI-2 Pro.
• The subsequent release of the ADI-2/4 Pro SE picked up ("cannibalized") a lot of the future ADI-2 Pro purchase volume.
• As a result of releasing the ADI-2/4 Pro using ESS, it further extended the length of time AKM chip supply would remain available for use in the ADI-2 Pro.

Given the number of years since the AMK fire, it is reasonable to assume that audio companies are no longer using ADC / DAC chips from before the 2020 AKM fire in their current product line. Especially in a newly launched product.

However, based on the above, I do not think we can just assume that RME must be using the newer version of AKM chips.

And personally, my suspicion is that if if RME still has any of the older chips in stock, they would continue with those chips until their supply was fully depleted. So I'm going with 50/50 odds that the new ADI-2 Pro EX is still using the older AKM AK4493 DAC chips.

Very well thought out post...

 

[john61ct]

IMO it matters not to the buyer, I trust RME to do right by me.

 

[Chanur]

Do these models all have the same headphone power? Do we know what it is?

Also I thought the only difference in the AKM chips was where they were manufactured?

 

[Claus_J]

Today RME has released some details and the Manual for the
ADI-2 Pro EX

 

[BassTinker]

I just read parts of the manual and it is such a joy to do this. Love the way of writing: you can really see that they love the products they make. And gosh, the amount of functionality in this device is insane...

Even when a functionality is limited in some way, they properly explain why they took certain decisions and present the compromises. You can really learn something from their manuals. I'm really really in awe here. I am almost 100% certain that the 2/4 Pro will be a buy for me. They really have to mess up hard for me not to own one soon (or an OEM industry line burns down....oops).

 

[enricoclaudio]

I just read parts of the manual and it is such a joy to do this. Love the way of writing: you can really see that they love the products they make. And gosh, the amount of functionality in this device is insane...

Even when a functionality is limited in some way, they properly explain why they took certain decisions and present the compromises. You can really learn something from their manuals. I'm really really in awe here. I am almost 100% certain that the 2/4 Pro will be a buy for me. They really have to mess up hard for me not to own one soon (or an OEM industry line burns down....oops).

RME user manuals are always rich regarding technical info, same for Benchmark Audio user manuals. You can see their products are made by engineers with love and passion for audio. The ADI-2/4 Pro EX is going to be amazing but also overkill and very expensive for most people. The ADI-2 Pro EX is already 20% more than the predecessor so I wouldn't be surprised if the 2/4 Pro EX is close to $4000. I just paid $2350 for my ADI-2 Pro EX, which is already $350 more than the ADI-2 Pro FS BE last price.

 

[BassTinker]

Yes, good point. The price could kill it. I might go with a used 2/4 Pro SE if it is too high. There are some available in my region.

 

[Chanur]

RME user manuals are always rich regarding technical info, same for Benchmark Audio user manuals. You can see their products are made by engineers with love and passion for audio. The ADI-2/4 Pro EX is going to be amazing but also overkill and very expensive for most people. The ADI-2 Pro EX is already 20% more than the predecessor so I wouldn't be surprised if the 2/4 Pro EX is close to $4000. I just paid $2350 for my ADI-2 Pro EX, which is already $350 more than the ADI-2 Pro FS BE last price.

Yeah I was planning to buy one of these new models but I'm somewhat turned off by the big price increases.

 

[Rngrsn94]

RME user manuals are always rich regarding technical info, same for Benchmark Audio user manuals. You can see their products are made by engineers with love and passion for audio. The ADI-2/4 Pro EX is going to be amazing but also overkill and very expensive for most people. The ADI-2 Pro EX is already 20% more than the predecessor so I wouldn't be surprised if the 2/4 Pro EX is close to $4000. I just paid $2350 for my ADI-2 Pro EX, which is already $350 more than the ADI-2 Pro FS BE last price.

Thomann lists it for $1939 USD, where did you purchase it from?

 

[enricoclaudio]

Thomann lists it for $1939 USD, where did you purchase it from?

I'm in the USA so I got it from Sweetwater. The price from Thomann does not include import fees and customs duties in the USA. MSRP in the USA for the ADI-2 Pro EX is $2499 USD.

 

[Rngrsn94]

I'm in the USA so I got it from Sweetwater. The price from Thomann does not include import fees and customs duties in the USA. MSRP in the USA for the ADI-2 Pro EX is $2499 USD.

Gotcha, also I believe you would have to use a step down converter... so not really worth the hassle. I wonder what the RME ADI-2 DAC EX is going to retail for as I don't need the analog inputs.

 

[enricoclaudio]

Gotcha, also I believe you would have to use a step down converter... so not really worth the hassle. I wonder what the RME ADI-2 DAC EX is going to retail for as I don't need the analog inputs.

The ADI-2 DAC is usually the cheapest of the 3 units, so I would say maybe close to $2000 USD.

 

[Andreas007]

The price is indeed high. I still think you get excellent value for your money.
The question is really what you’re generally willing to pay.

I’m very happy with my first-generation ADI-2 Pro (it wasn't cheap either).
The constant improvements and new features in the firmware and user interface have repeatedly reaffirmed my decision.
The encoder issues were a major concern for me, but even that was resolved thanks to some clever software based solution.

I guess the overall value for money was a bit better back then because the features were really something special.