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RME ADI-2 FS Version 2 DAC and Headphone Amp Review
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Soria Moria
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Dacs/amplifiers do not have soundstage. Soundstage is the result of pinna interaction, frequency response and more importantly your mind/senses.
Okay, I give an example : I own the iFi Audio micro iDSD Signature and RME ADI 2 DAC FS
Tested with many different headphones. With RME, the soundstage is absolutely amazing, compared with iFi Signature
From a review ( D16 Taipan )
Soundstage & Imaging:
Despite its portable size, the iBasso D16 Taipan offers a nearly desktop level of spaciousness within its soundstage presentation. Instruments are precisely positioned within a well-defined stereo image, creating a clear sense of separation and depth. The soundstage feels expansive and holographic, surpassing many portable DAC/Amplifiers on the market. This spaciousness enhances the overall listening experience, drawing you deeper into the music and creating a sense of immersion. Tracks with a wide soundstage, like classical compositions or orchestral pieces, benefit greatly from this presentation, allowing you to appreciate the full placement of instruments within the sonic landscape.
Tested with many different headphones. With RME, the soundstage is absolutely amazing, compared with iFi Signature
From a review ( D16 Taipan )
Soundstage & Imaging:
Despite its portable size, the iBasso D16 Taipan offers a nearly desktop level of spaciousness within its soundstage presentation. Instruments are precisely positioned within a well-defined stereo image, creating a clear sense of separation and depth. The soundstage feels expansive and holographic, surpassing many portable DAC/Amplifiers on the market. This spaciousness enhances the overall listening experience, drawing you deeper into the music and creating a sense of immersion. Tracks with a wide soundstage, like classical compositions or orchestral pieces, benefit greatly from this presentation, allowing you to appreciate the full placement of instruments within the sonic landscape.
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That sound stage text is mostly imagination but there are reasons in an A/B test the RME ADI-2 DAC FS can sound much better than a standard DAC. If you have used the "Loudness" controls to tweak the sound the difference can be enormous. The beauty of the Loudness controls is you can be listening to your favorite music and add a bit of kick to the music even when listening at lower levels. Or if you have speakers/headphones that sound somewhat dull you can make them sharp and clear with a few adjustments.
You would need to verify EQ and Loudness are both OFF to properly compare the RME to a standard DAC, as with the Loudness controls turned on just the way you like them nothing else will beat it. You can call it Soundstage if you like. But to most it's the difference between an exciting music playback session and an adequate one.
Apologies if this question is a bit silly.
I am using a wiim pro plus as a streamer connected to the rme adi-2 dac via coax.
When applying REW measurements I have tried both device's prametric EQ's and have the impression that the difference between with and without the PEQ filters (of course, applying the same filters) is clearer when using the RME.
Now I wonder if there is a difference in the PEQ quality or am I just biased and projecting on the sound something that is not there?
Has anyone had a similar experience?
I am using a wiim pro plus as a streamer connected to the rme adi-2 dac via coax.
When applying REW measurements I have tried both device's prametric EQ's and have the impression that the difference between with and without the PEQ filters (of course, applying the same filters) is clearer when using the RME.
Now I wonder if there is a difference in the PEQ quality or am I just biased and projecting on the sound something that is not there?
Has anyone had a similar experience?
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The only difference I know of is that when applying overall negative gain to offset any possible digital clipping that your EQ may cause, the WiiM does it fully in the digital domain, while the RME uses its AutoRef hybrid gain. In theory this may give you extra SNR compared to digital attenuation only.
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I may be wrong too but I think applying eq in the rme may be louder too. It has acres of headroom so doesn't apply negative preamp. So if OP is adding any negative on the Wiim, rme doing the eq will be that amount louder. You may have explained the same thing differently.
Welcome to ASR. Read this post carefully and then you can understand how higher SINAD and PEQ alone is not enough to have better SNR in all volume ranges like the RME does.
RME ADI-2 FS Version 2 DAC and Headphone Amp Review
Sure it can. I use the original AEON with it, and unless you want to enter real basshead territory (at least +20 dB gain below 60 Hz plus earth-shaking volume) it is fully ok. Nice. Original AEONS had 92dB/1mW sensitivity. New AEON 2 are quite a bit harder to drive 86 dB/1mW (into 13 ohms...
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I did a test with EQ and Loudness off, and compared to iFi Audio micro iDSD Signature
RME, even with EQ and Loudness off, blows away the iFi Audio micro iDSD Signature
It sounds much better, larger, I don't know how to explain it
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My RME ADI-2 DAC FS sounds better than any other DAC or AVR I have tried at any price. It's a superb clean sound with the ability to tweak just the way I like it using it's unique "Loudness" function. With the ADI-2 software remote installed it's simple to configure. I wish it had builtin wifi for computer control of the app but I got around that by using my old MacBook Pro on the ADI-2 DAC FS USB port with screen sharing turned on and control it with another computer on the sofa. It's pretty great.
I had the Topping D90SE and the Pre90 but that combination didn't give my music the same transparency as the RME. I also have the MiniDSP Flex and even with it's EQ capability it's not the equal of the RME ADI-2. I couldn't find anything that matched my ADI-2 so now I have one in each listening room. I have two "B" AKM models and one "C" ESS model. They all sound absolutely fabulous. You can use them with a Wiim mini to add wifi streaming for $90 or use Audirvana on the Mac connected via USB. While it's rare to find the ADI-2 on sale, I have been successful asking on-line stores via email for a 10% off coupon so I could buy another unit. Some will say "no" but I only needed one "yes" to add to my tribe of ADI-2 DAC FS DACS.
While some may think ADI-2 DAC FS is expensive, when you consider the fact that you're not only getting a DAC but a fantastic pre-amp with features not available anywhere else - the price is pretty reasonable. Negotiating a small discount at point of purchase is icing on the cake.
If you don't currently have an ADI-2 DAC FS and you are one of these guys continually trying new DAC's and amps in search of nirvana, I would suggest getting one. If your ears are like mine you may want to sell your old gear after mastering the ADI-2 Loudness feature. It's that good, in a land where so much of the gear sold is simply adequate.
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Although there is an existing thread about remote controls for the RME DAC, I thought it would be helpful to also post here information on how you can control the volume and mute on the RME ADI-2 DAC with Roon, something I had been trying to do since I got the RME. You simply need a Raspberry Pi4 with RooExtend and RooADI, and your RME becomes a fully Roon controlled streamer. Works perfectly with all sample rates I tried and DSD. Lossless. Sounds great. Compatible with Auto Ref Level.
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Have a look at Device Volume Control for RME ADI-2 family DACs on Sellcodes.com:https://sellcodes.com/DrCWO/roon-device-volume-for-rme-adi-2-family-of-dacs
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unpluggged
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"Simply". And just for $13 on top of that.
And haven't you already got warned for advertising this exact product?
No, I haven’t been warned. I’m a customer explaining what worked for me and included a link to the product website. Yes it happens to have a buy button, but it’s also the only place where I see any information on this.
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unpluggged
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Why crossposting then?
Simply trying to share information I found very useful with RME owners where it’s most likely to be seen. Is there a problem with that?
unpluggged
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Sounds like a reasonable approach to avoid the possible audible effects of the DAC filters when listening to sources with 44.1 and 48 kHz sample rates. Not that I would consider it necessary, though, and definitely would be satisfied by 2× upsampling.
Roon allows you to set the SRC individually for each source sample rate or simply max power of 2. So it was just easier to do the latter. Seems to work fine, no dropouts. 176/192 I’m sure would be more than enough. It also lets you choose linear or minimum phase, and precise or smooth. They all sound very similar. Not sure I can tell much difference
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