RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE - RIAA mode measurements

[DrCWO]

It would be nice to have native bridge device support, instead of having to rely on the radio station input and incurring additional latency for that.

Unfortunately, the latency remains even when using the audio API. You really only save on setting up the radio station.

Software comes with recurring costs and keeps changing, possibly into a direction you can't live with.

If you get a lifetime license from Roon and also for my Roon Extensions there are no recurring costs.
Maybe your Windows host has to be upgraded some day but Roon offers the Roon Rock image for Intel NUC that is updated by Roon for no cost.

I'm also wondering if I can somehow take the analog input on the RME, apply RIAA, than use that as an input interface on my PC for recording,

With rooPlay you can record while playing the analog input. Plug in a USB stick or hard drive, lower the needle and the entire record ends up on the USB stick as FLAC.With rooPlay you can record while playing the analog input. Plug in a USB stick or hard drive, lower the needle and the entire record ends up on the USB stick as FLAC.
All this is described in detail in the rooExtend-Box Manual in my download area.

In theory, do all of the rooExtend plug-ins require a separate physical box?

Yes, either a Raspberry Pi (DIY) or the rooExtend-Box.

The separate box has an advantage too though, assuming the electronics are quiet. I could run the Roon core somewhere else and remove the PC from the hifi rack.

That's exactly how it's intended because the Raspberry Pi or the rooExtend-Box are fanless and therefore quiet. If you then use a USB power supply that has no grounding, this solution also prevents any ground loop!

That just leaves the best way to generate my filters, the time investment for Acourate might be unrealistic for me in the short term.

I don't know where you live, but in Germany I can do this for you locally


Best DrCWO

 

[Bland_username42069]

I have finally set mine up. I am actually using it as a phono and preamp.

1. PEQ of cartridge in phono stage is good
2. If you are willing to use a preamp or can deal with a loss in volume then it also becomes a universal phono stage if you turn RIAA off. Just add your own curves in PEQ and you can play 78s, FFRR etc which I enjoy

Aero is right imo - lack of dedicated ground screw is a pain.

It would be good if you could turn riaa off but still use the extra amplification for other equalisation curves.

There is still things RME could do with phono stage - I don’t see why, in principle, it could not have software to auto peq the cartridge with a calibration record for instance, or include other equalisation curves.

Sound quality of phono stage is first class.

But run this into a small class D power amp or pair of active speakers and stick a wiim in the back and you have a tiny stereo of the very highest quality and flexibility.

 

[Erogen]

Hello
A year ago, as Quando, I commented on this device as a phono preamplifier.
I recently bought this device.
I wanted to sincerely apologize for my comments from a year ago; they were stupid.
This is an absolutely fantastic device, one of the few devices I'm very happy with my purchase.
The phono preamplifier function is implemented absolutely brilliantly. The ability to shape the cartridge's frequency response is brilliant, as is the ability to adjust other parameters.
Regarding my comment from a year ago, the ability to connect a ground wire requires the purchase of a computer screw; the really nice ones cost less than a pack of matches.
The lack of external potentiometers for adjusting the recording level is absolutely inconsequential. It can be easily adjusted in the device's software on your computer, and it's very convenient.
I was wrong, and I apologize to the manufacturer again.
This is an absolutely brilliant product.

 

[DrCWO]

I wanted to sincerely apologize for my comments from a year ago; they were stupid.

I remember your persistent and very strange posts well

I'm very glad that the weight of the facts ultimately convinced you
I'd be interested to know what made you, as a declared opponent of the ADI-2/4 Pro, decide to buy the device after all.

I use it since it came out and I'm still convinced...

Best DrCWO

 

[Erogen]

I remember your persistent and very strange posts well

I'm very glad that the weight of the facts ultimately convinced you
I'd be interested to know what made you, as a declared opponent of the ADI-2/4 Pro, decide to buy the device after all.

I use it since it came out and I'm still convinced...

Best DrCWO

Hello

What convinced me to buy this device was the ability to use it as, firstly, a phono preamplifier, and secondly, the ability to digitize vinyl records that don't have digital editions.
Thirdly, the extremely attractive purchase price.
This device is fully configurable, which gives you a lot of options to adapt it to your needs, expectations, etc.
There's no user manual in my native language, which I complained about at the time, but I hardly ever look at the manual; I just ask the AI (artificial intelligence) and it knows everything.
I use moving coil cartridges via an Ortofon T-30 Step-Up. The turntable's ground is connected to the Step-Up, so it doesn't need to be connected to this device.
A very, very good product.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Namm 2026 is over and there's no ADI-3 DAC

 

[DrCWO]

What convinced me to buy this device was the ability to use it as, firstly, a phono preamplifier, and secondly, the ability to digitize vinyl records that don't have digital editions.

I'm also a big fan of the RME ADI-2/4.
I use it as a 4-channel DAC for my active setup (two horn speakers and two woofers) with Roon where the XO and Room Correction is processed with FIR filters in Roon. Also as ADC for my turntable routing the digitized LP signal back to Roon processing it there and playback via the DAC.

As I'm the creator of the Roon Extension Box rooExtend I digitize my LPs by plugging a USB memory stick in the rooExtend-Box and using the Roon Extension rooPlay to digitize. I have also a video about rooPlay in my YouTube channel and plan to distribute a new video about how to measure the performance of your phono cartidge with rooPlay. So stay tuned.
Best DrCWO

 

[Erogen]

I'm also a big fan of the RME ADI-2/4.
I use it as a 4-channel DAC for my active setup (two horn speakers and two woofers) with Roon where the XO and Room Correction is processed with FIR filters in Roon. Also as ADC for my turntable routing the digitized LP signal back to Roon processing it there and playback via the DAC.

As I'm the creator of the Roon Extension Box rooExtend I digitize my LPs by plugging a USB memory stick in the rooExtend-Box and using the Roon Extension rooPlay to digitize. I have also a video about rooPlay in my YouTube channel and plan to distribute a new video about how to measure the performance of your phono cartidge with rooPlay. So stay tuned.
Best DrCWO

I use headphones almost exclusively for listening to music. This device has a very good headphone output with parametric equalization, which is a great feature. For me, it's very good.
Vinyl records are technically a terrible sound source, but with this device, you can correct many parameters, starting with the nonlinear frequency response of most turntable cartridges, channel level imbalances, and reducing the very high resonance level in the 20 Hz range. It's very well designed and well-made.
This device meets all my needs in this regard.
It's true that it won't make scrambled eggs in the morning, but that's not a problem either, because my wife makes the best scrambled eggs.

These devices have recently gone up in price, and there's also a problem with availability.
I bought a used unit, I think at a good price.
I wasn't familiar with this seller before.
The transaction went completely smoothly; the unit was nicely packaged and delivered in 4 days. It was packaged in its original, brand-new packaging, with all accessories included. The device itself was in like-new condition, with no signs of use.
I see they're offering another unit for sale. It might be worth buying.

RME ADI2/4 Pro SE Neuwertig - www.gkmusik.de

Gebraucht in OVP 12 Monate Garantie Diffbest §25a UstG

www.gkmusik.de

 

[Bland_username42069]

I'm also a big fan of the RME ADI-2/4.
I use it as a 4-channel DAC for my active setup (two horn speakers and two woofers) with Roon where the XO and Room Correction is processed with FIR filters in Roon. Also as ADC for my turntable routing the digitized LP signal back to Roon processing it there and playback via the DAC.

As I'm the creator of the Roon Extension Box rooExtend I digitize my LPs by plugging a USB memory stick in the rooExtend-Box and using the Roon Extension rooPlay to digitize. I have also a video about rooPlay in my YouTube channel and plan to distribute a new video about how to measure the performance of your phono cartidge with rooPlay. So stay tuned.
Best DrCWO

interesting set up. What cartridge do you use for your turntable?

 

[DrCWO]

What cartridge do you use for your turntable?

I own Pro-Ject RPM9 Carbon turntable with a Shure V15V-MR with NOS Beryllium needle.

Here the measurement of the Cartridge plus RIAA with ADI-2/4 Pro.

Best DrCWO

 

[Bland_username42069]

I own Pro-Ject RPM9 Carbon turntable with a Shure V15V-MR with NOS Beryllium needle.

Here the measurement of the Cartridge plus RIAA with ADI-2/4 Pro.
View attachment 510158
Best DrCWO

Hard to see how you could better vinyl playback than that.

Very cool setup with horns and subs.

 

[Erogen]

I own Pro-Ject RPM9 Carbon turntable with a Shure V15V-MR with NOS Beryllium needle.

Here the measurement of the Cartridge plus RIAA with ADI-2/4 Pro.
View attachment 510158
Best DrCWO

The frequency response is almost linear, which is very good. However, there is a mechanical problem, as evidenced by the uneven crosstalk between channels in the range of around 2-7 kHz. These NOS styluses are often very old; the cantilever suspension and damping brush suspension lose their original technical parameters over time. This is not good.
Your graph doesn't show what happens in the range up to 20 Hz.
This video clearly shows how high the unwanted resonance level can be in this range.
In the RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE, you can adjust the parametric equalizer to cut off or reduce this resonance level so that it isn't transmitted further in the signal.

 

[Erogen]

After adjusting the parametric equalizer, the signal might look like the one in this video. The unwanted resonance has been reduced quite significantly.
This is a great device!

 

[Bland_username42069]

After adjusting the parametric equalizer, the signal might look like the one in this video. The unwanted resonance has been reduced quite significantly.
This is a great device!

there’s a rumble filter preset in the EQ list. I think it’s set at 20hz from memory

 

[Erogen]

there’s a rumble filter preset in the EQ list. I think it’s set at 20hz from memory

Yes.

 

[Labjr]

Vinyl playback has so many technical issues. Glad I'm not doing that anymore.

 

[DrCWO]

there is a mechanical problem, as evidenced by the uneven crosstalk between channels in the range of around 2-7 kHz.

Crosstalk can be adjusted via the azimuth settings, but it's very sensitive to even the smallest changes. I couldn't get it any better than shown in this picture with my ProJect 9" Tonearm. With a tonearm that allows for more precise Azimuth adjustments, it would certainly be possible.

The rubber damper is a problem with many cartridges. Fortunately, not with Shure V15V-MR. The damper hardening manifests as a sharp drop in frequency response above 1kHz and reduced tracking. This isn't the case with my stylus, thankfully. It easily handles the Shure tracking disc, and the frequency response is linear.

I bought my stylus unused, in its original packaging and sealed. It has 67 hours of playtime

 

[DrCWO]

there’s a rumble filter preset in the EQ list. I think it’s set at 20hz from memory

Figure out the Mono-Bass setting in the ADI-2/4 Pro. Will probably help with this.

 

[Erogen]

Odtwarzanie płyt winylowych ma mnóstwo problemów technicznych. Cieszę się, że już tego nie robię.

Crosstalk can be adjusted via the azimuth settings, but it's very sensitive to even the smallest changes. I couldn't get it any better than shown in this picture with my ProJect 9" Tonearm. With a tonearm that allows for more precise Azimuth adjustments, it would certainly be possible.

The rubber damper is a problem with many cartridges. Fortunately, not with Shure V15V-MR. The damper hardening manifests as a sharp drop in frequency response above 1kHz and reduced tracking. This isn't the case with my stylus, thankfully. It easily handles the Shure tracking disc, and the frequency response is linear.

I bought my stylus unused, in its original packaging and sealed. It has 67 hours of playtime

There is some mechanical problem, it can be seen in the diagram.

 

[DrCWO]

There is some mechanical problem, it can be seen in the diagram.

As said, I can adjust the height of the red and blue curve by adjusting Azimuth but can't get them closer with my tonearm. Either the blue curve is above the red or vice versa. This also alters the shape of the curves...

Here you can find measurements of other cartridges. They look quite similar in this region.
From my point of view mechanical problems will show up as increased distortion that I can't see here.

Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

Skip to the index. After years of development we are finally launching our phono cartridge measurement library. These measurements were created using the brilliant cartridge response python script, SJPlot, written by the legendary @scott wurcer and @JP. Information about its origins can be...

www.audiosciencereview.com