RME ADI-2 DAC FS - AKM Versus ESS Measurements (DAC, Preamp & Headamp)

[40th Anniversary]

The three features I found useful were, built in EQ, being able to attenuate a digital output and analogue in, the last two ADI-PRO.
Domestic customers often weren’t overjoyed with the units UI this was long before the app but most learnt how to use it in time.
Keith

Curious: how do you attenuate a digital output. I'm using a Pro Unit to drive a second RME ADI-2 DAC which in turn drives an amp + speakers (for a total of 4 speakers and two amplifiers). Thanks for advising how you attenuate the digital output or passthrough. Thank you.

 

[Purité Audio]

ADI ‘pro’ version, using the AES ‘out’ ( accessory dongle) and a simple change to the main digital out in the menu.
Keith

 

[tech2enth]

for house music, would y'all recommend an ADI-2 with the AKM or ESS chip?

 

[johny_2000]

for house music, would y'all recommend an ADI-2 with the AKM or ESS chip?

Choose ESS chip as it is more efficient and supported by equipment manufacturers.

 

[RandomEar]

for house music, would y'all recommend an ADI-2 with the AKM or ESS chip?

The type of music is irrelevant for choosing the device / chip. RME guarantees that the ADI-2 operates in accordance with the specs regardless of the DAC chip that is inside.

Choose ESS chip as it is more efficient and supported by equipment manufacturers.

???

 

[alekksander]

for house music, would y'all recommend an ADI-2 with the AKM or ESS chip?

Choose ESS chip as it is more efficient and supported by equipment manufacturers.

it's a german engineering, so obviously it's more efficient with techno rather than house music.

 

[24U]

Nice review, summarize what both RME and most others have said. I will endeed stick to my AKM4493, for the best possible tweak there is, for a silly low price, you get a DAC open for external resampling using DSD Direct. In my case the Signalyst HQPlayer. The option of sampling up to DSD256 and apply filters the way I feel sound the best is the most significant feature a DAC kan ever bring to the table. The price for next level, T+A D200 is simply too much, but should be the logical if the weekly lottery strike.
Not that the standard setting is bad in any way, probably one of the better there is, but together with HQP on a powerful PC over NAA it is in my opinion unparalleled for the price. This DAC is a keeper for me, as my ears anyhow is slowly deteriorating and level of computing already at DSD256 means significant computing power.

 

[Ali-Pacha]

Great job ! Now eagerly waiting for the same stuff looking at HDSPe AIO Pro, AKM (Rev 1.3) vs ESS (Rev 1.4)

 

[Chazz6]

Curious: how do you attenuate a digital output.

See the section "Fixed Output Level – Lock Volume" in the user manual, which details the four reference levels realized in the analog domain.

 

[unpluggged]

See the section "Fixed Output Level – Lock Volume" in the user manual, which details the four reference levels realized in the analog domain.

The question was about setting the digital output to be affected by the volume knob, not about analog reference levels.

Curious: how do you attenuate a digital output.

See chapter 14.1.2 of the manual (page 30), the "Dig. Out Source" setting. Autoref should be disabled for this setting to work as expected so that the digital level would not jump around to accommodate for analog ref level changes.

 

[Higherland]

Sorry but the review was done with the first version of the ADI-2 DAC FS with AK4490...as we can see on the rear panel there is no Kensington lock...The AK4493 version is recognized by a small "B" at the end of the serial number sticker and "C" stood for ES9028Q2M...
Where can I find a "B" v/s "C" review please?

 

[danadam]

Where can I find a "B" v/s "C" review please?

RME ADI-2 DAC FS - AKM Versus ESS Measurements (DAC, Preamp & Headamp)

RME ADI-2 DAC FS - AKM Versus ESS Measurements Hey Folks, Today's review is slightly different from usual, with not only one, but two products tested. Well, it is not exactly two "different" products either, strictly speaking... You don't get it? Alright. What about two different units, but...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[RandomEar]

Sorry but the review was done with the first version of the ADI-2 DAC FS with AK4490...as we can see on the rear panel there is no Kensington lock...The AK4493 version is recognized by a small "B" at the end of the serial number sticker and "C" stood for ES9028Q2M...
Where can I find a "B" v/s "C" review please?

The comparison of A vs. C is in this thread. There are also separate reviews of A and B on ASR. By using those, you can compare all three revisions and identify the (tiny) differences. They all perform as specced by RME or better and will sound 100% identical.

EDIT: Seems to be B vs C in this thread is correct. Some batches lacked the "B" marking. It's confusing.

 

[danadam]

The comparison of A vs. C is in this thread.

I haven't even noticed

But wait, is it A?
"What you are about to see is a direct comparison with measurements between the (discontinued) "Version 2", that came with AKM AK4493 DAC chip"
Isn't AK4493 version B or 2?

 

[Higherland]

I haven't even noticed

But wait, is it A?
"What you are about to see is a direct comparison with measurements between the (discontinued) "Version 2", that came with AKM AK4493 DAC chip"
Isn't AK4493 version B or 2?

Yes AK4493 is version B. But the reviewer was wrong because on the rear panels picture we can see the AK4490 versus the ES9028Q2M, don't we? The AK4490 is the one without Kensington lock and no B on the serial number label...right???

 

[Higherland]

The comparison of A vs. C is in this thread. There are also separate reviews of A and B on ASR. By using those, you can compare all three revisions and identify the (tiny) differences. They all perform as specced by RME or better and will sound 100% identical.

I saw both thanks!

 

[RandomEar]

Yes AK4493 is version B. But the reviewer was wrong because on the rear panels picture we can see the AK4490 versus the ES9028Q2M, don't we? The AK4490 is the one without Kensington lock and no B on the serial number label...right???

Yes, that should be correct. A review of the 4493 revision clearly shows the "B" (and the new remote).

 

[VintageFlanker]

Sorry but the review was done with the first version of the ADI-2 DAC FS with AK4490

You're clearly mistaken. Turns out that I'm the original owner of the AKM sample (then sold it to @Starus who loan back to me that same unit for the purpose of this review).

It was one of the first V2 from late 2019, with the new remote and the SD LD Filter.

For the record:

the reviewer was wrong

Please don't come with such statements. Especially more than 3 years after @MC_RME himself validated the review.

I myself owned two V1 (4490) and one V2 (4493). The later being, again, the AKM unit reviewed here.

 

[VintageFlanker]

The comparison of A vs. C is in this thread.

Nope. It's indeed B Vs C.

A review of the 4493 revision clearly shows the "B" (and the new remote

That "B" thing came after the first V2 batches.

But wait, is it A?

It's B.

By the way, you don't get 114.8dB SINAD with A / V1 / 4490.