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RME ADI-2 FS Version 2 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

took a gamble and ordered a Radeon rx6400 for £113
its bottom of the range but supports directx12 ultimate, so my fingers are crossed.
 
MC_RME said:
You seem to have missed the fine details. You have an AMD HD7800, and according to this

Feature levels in Direct3D - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

the feature level up to AMD7900 is only 11_1.
Click to expand...
you are absolutely correct.

just about to download Remote again having just fitted my new gpu.

how things have changed, the new card is tiny compared to old one.
 
Just thought I'll share here that RME ADI-2 dacs are currently on sale (pretty rare occurrence) in US in few places online. Here's a link to B&H, for example! Wish they had these deals when I got mine ;)


Screenshot 2025-04-01 at 10.20.45 PM.jpg
 
Question: I've had both the DAC2 FS and the ADI2 Pro Black and they are by far the best measuring DACs I tried..

The problem for me is that I absolutely can't stand listening to music on them. There is something really wrong. I'm no audiophool and wanting to be objective I'd conclude that the way these DACs reproduce music is more "correct" and whatever is bothering me is actually in the recording and possibly obfuscated by less precise DACs.

I also owned a Fireface UC 15 years ago and I remember having similar thoughts about it.

My subjective and completely unverified experience with all RME devices is that:

  1. They seem to have these sharp artificial high frequency range that makes the sound "thin"
  2. Lack of body in transients, flat and uninvolving, undynamic
I'm not sure how this can be but making the dubious assumption that I have a sensitive ear I'm thinking:
  • Something about the current output / analog output stage and how it drives the pre/amplifier?
  • Ultrasonic noise not measured but interfering with speakers/headphones?
So far the only thing that I've been able to verify is that at very high sample rates (352k+) there is ultrasonic noise in the ADC that gets up to -75db, but it's unclear if there would be any in the DAC output because I can only loopback into itself and have no other ADC. This has been confirmed as normal by RME and is quantization noise from the AKM chip, there is a mention in the manual too about the noise floor levels at higher sample rates. This is likely unrelated however..

Other than that another observation that I'd make is that RMEs are the only DACs that in my experience have no variation in sound whatsoever provided that the same bits are sent to them. I have noticed in several other DACs that changes in buffers / output modes / USB streaming modes do change the sound subtly. Unfortunately I haven't found a way to measure that conclusively yet, but I think it's worth something that on these particular devices I can't observe the same thing, which I suppose is a testament to the quality of their drivers / implementation.

So just my thoughts here to see if anyone shares the same experience or part of it and has some ideas.
 
kieko said:
Question: I've had both the DAC2 FS and the ADI2 Pro Black and they are by far the best measuring DACs I tried..

The problem for me is that I absolutely can't stand listening to music on them. There is something really wrong. I'm no audiophool and wanting to be objective I'd conclude that the way these DACs reproduce music is more "correct" and whatever is bothering me is actually in the recording and possibly obfuscated by less precise DACs.

I also owned a Fireface UC 15 years ago and I remember having similar thoughts about it.

My subjective and completely unverified experience with all RME devices is that:

  1. They seem to have these sharp artificial high frequency range that makes the sound "thin"
  2. Lack of body in transients, flat and uninvolving, undynamic
I'm not sure how this can be but making the dubious assumption that I have a sensitive ear I'm thinking:
  • Something about the current output / analog output stage and how it drives the pre/amplifier?
  • Ultrasonic noise not measured but interfering with speakers/headphones?
So far the only thing that I've been able to verify is that at very high sample rates (352k+) there is ultrasonic noise in the ADC that gets up to -75db, but it's unclear if there would be any in the DAC output because I can only loopback into itself and have no other ADC. This has been confirmed as normal by RME and is quantization noise from the AKM chip, there is a mention in the manual too about the noise floor levels at higher sample rates. This is likely unrelated however..

Other than that another observation that I'd make is that RMEs are the only DACs that in my experience have no variation in sound whatsoever provided that the same bits are sent to them. I have noticed in several other DACs that changes in buffers / output modes / USB streaming modes do change the sound subtly. Unfortunately I haven't found a way to measure that conclusively yet, but I think it's worth something that on these particular devices I can't observe the same thing, which I suppose is a testament to the quality of their drivers / implementation.

So just my thoughts here to see if anyone shares the same experience or part of it and has some ideas.
Click to expand...
Not much point in speculating about the cause until you do more controlled testing. What you hear seems very unlikely to be an issue with the DACs.
 
kieko said:
Question: I've had both the DAC2 FS and the ADI2 Pro Black and they are by far the best measuring DACs I tried..

The problem for me is that I absolutely can't stand listening to music on them. There is something really wrong. I'm no audiophool and wanting to be objective I'd conclude that the way these DACs reproduce music is more "correct" and whatever is bothering me is actually in the recording and possibly obfuscated by less precise DACs.

I also owned a Fireface UC 15 years ago and I remember having similar thoughts about it.

My subjective and completely unverified experience with all RME devices is that:

  1. They seem to have these sharp artificial high frequency range that makes the sound "thin"
  2. Lack of body in transients, flat and uninvolving, undynamic
I'm not sure how this can be but making the dubious assumption that I have a sensitive ear I'm thinking:
  • Something about the current output / analog output stage and how it drives the pre/amplifier?
  • Ultrasonic noise not measured but interfering with speakers/headphones?
So far the only thing that I've been able to verify is that at very high sample rates (352k+) there is ultrasonic noise in the ADC that gets up to -75db, but it's unclear if there would be any in the DAC output because I can only loopback into itself and have no other ADC. This has been confirmed as normal by RME and is quantization noise from the AKM chip, there is a mention in the manual too about the noise floor levels at higher sample rates. This is likely unrelated however..

Other than that another observation that I'd make is that RMEs are the only DACs that in my experience have no variation in sound whatsoever provided that the same bits are sent to them. I have noticed in several other DACs that changes in buffers / output modes / USB streaming modes do change the sound subtly. Unfortunately I haven't found a way to measure that conclusively yet, but I think it's worth something that on these particular devices I can't observe the same thing, which I suppose is a testament to the quality of their drivers / implementation.

So just my thoughts here to see if anyone shares the same experience or part of it and has some ideas.
Click to expand...
I would recommend a truly blinded, level-adjusted test between the RME ADI DACs and other DACs, with someone else doing the switching.

I have often experienced that a knot came undone afterwards.
 
kieko said:
Question: I've had both the DAC2 FS and the ADI2 Pro Black and they are by far the best measuring DACs I tried..

The problem for me is that I absolutely can't stand listening to music on them. There is something really wrong. I'm no audiophool and wanting to be objective I'd conclude that the way these DACs reproduce music is more "correct" and whatever is bothering me is actually in the recording and possibly obfuscated by less precise DACs.

I also owned a Fireface UC 15 years ago and I remember having similar thoughts about it.

My subjective and completely unverified experience with all RME devices is that:

  1. They seem to have these sharp artificial high frequency range that makes the sound "thin"
  2. Lack of body in transients, flat and uninvolving, undynamic
I'm not sure how this can be but making the dubious assumption that I have a sensitive ear I'm thinking:
  • Something about the current output / analog output stage and how it drives the pre/amplifier?
  • Ultrasonic noise not measured but interfering with speakers/headphones?
So far the only thing that I've been able to verify is that at very high sample rates (352k+) there is ultrasonic noise in the ADC that gets up to -75db, but it's unclear if there would be any in the DAC output because I can only loopback into itself and have no other ADC. This has been confirmed as normal by RME and is quantization noise from the AKM chip, there is a mention in the manual too about the noise floor levels at higher sample rates. This is likely unrelated however..

Other than that another observation that I'd make is that RMEs are the only DACs that in my experience have no variation in sound whatsoever provided that the same bits are sent to them. I have noticed in several other DACs that changes in buffers / output modes / USB streaming modes do change the sound subtly. Unfortunately I haven't found a way to measure that conclusively yet, but I think it's worth something that on these particular devices I can't observe the same thing, which I suppose is a testament to the quality of their drivers / implementation.

So just my thoughts here to see if anyone shares the same experience or part of it and has some ideas.
Click to expand...
When your comments are *objective and verified* post your data and let us know....
 
Yuhasz01 said:
When your comments are *objective and verified* post your data and let us know....
Click to expand...
I am doubtful that this will:

A. Be believed.
B. Be well received.

:p

Are there not RME folks that have recommended galvanic isolation....

- Rich
 
Xyrium said:
Sounds like it's time for new speakers. The RME is revealing their shortcomings.
Click to expand...
One might inquire, what speaker this person has, what speakers are recommended, and who is paying for them. ;)
It might be cheaper to try a different DAC, preferable one that is returnable.

I am quite fond of the Topping D90 ||| Discrete when connected via a Pi5 with Pi2AES (streaming Roon).

- Rich
 
kieko said:
Question: I've had both the DAC2 FS and the ADI2 Pro Black and they are by far the best measuring DACs I tried..

The problem for me is that I absolutely can't stand listening to music on them. There is something really wrong. I'm no audiophool and wanting to be objective I'd conclude that the way these DACs reproduce music is more "correct" and whatever is bothering me is actually in the recording and possibly obfuscated by less precise DACs.

I also owned a Fireface UC 15 years ago and I remember having similar thoughts about it.

My subjective and completely unverified experience with all RME devices is that:

  1. They seem to have these sharp artificial high frequency range that makes the sound "thin"
  2. Lack of body in transients, flat and uninvolving, undynamic
I'm not sure how this can be but making the dubious assumption that I have a sensitive ear I'm thinking:
  • Something about the current output / analog output stage and how it drives the pre/amplifier?
  • Ultrasonic noise not measured but interfering with speakers/headphones?
So far the only thing that I've been able to verify is that at very high sample rates (352k+) there is ultrasonic noise in the ADC that gets up to -75db, but it's unclear if there would be any in the DAC output because I can only loopback into itself and have no other ADC. This has been confirmed as normal by RME and is quantization noise from the AKM chip, there is a mention in the manual too about the noise floor levels at higher sample rates. This is likely unrelated however..

Other than that another observation that I'd make is that RMEs are the only DACs that in my experience have no variation in sound whatsoever provided that the same bits are sent to them. I have noticed in several other DACs that changes in buffers / output modes / USB streaming modes do change the sound subtly. Unfortunately I haven't found a way to measure that conclusively yet, but I think it's worth something that on these particular devices I can't observe the same thing, which I suppose is a testament to the quality of their drivers / implementation.

So just my thoughts here to see if anyone shares the same experience or part of it and has some ideas.
Click to expand...

I would recommend you open the manual and thoroughly review the "Loudness" controls and install the ADI-2 app. With those controls I can make the ADI-2 sound anyway I want it. It's only limited to my imagination.

When I read this post it tells me the writer has only scratched the surface of what the hardware can do. The RME ADI-2 is not like a Topping DAC or others where you turn it on and get one sound no matter what you do. It can produce hundreds of different variations of tonal variances, bass boost and excitement in your music based on EQ and Loudness settings. If treble from your speakers is thin it can be adjusted to be crystal clear and if bass in the music is lacking, it can be adjusted to provide massive bass thump yet still remain totally in control. The results of the RME ADI-2 are solely based on the taste and skill of the user.
 
kieko said:
Question: I've had both the DAC2 FS and the ADI2 Pro Black and they are by far the best measuring DACs I tried..

The problem for me is that I absolutely can't stand listening to music on them. There is something really wrong. I'm no audiophool and wanting to be objective I'd conclude that the way these DACs reproduce music is more "correct" and whatever is bothering me is actually in the recording and possibly obfuscated by less precise DACs.

I also owned a Fireface UC 15 years ago and I remember having similar thoughts about it.

My subjective and completely unverified experience with all RME devices is that:

  1. They seem to have these sharp artificial high frequency range that makes the sound "thin"
  2. Lack of body in transients, flat and uninvolving, undynamic
I'm not sure how this can be but making the dubious assumption that I have a sensitive ear I'm thinking:
  • Something about the current output / analog output stage and how it drives the pre/amplifier?
  • Ultrasonic noise not measured but interfering with speakers/headphones?
So far the only thing that I've been able to verify is that at very high sample rates (352k+) there is ultrasonic noise in the ADC that gets up to -75db, but it's unclear if there would be any in the DAC output because I can only loopback into itself and have no other ADC. This has been confirmed as normal by RME and is quantization noise from the AKM chip, there is a mention in the manual too about the noise floor levels at higher sample rates. This is likely unrelated however..

Other than that another observation that I'd make is that RMEs are the only DACs that in my experience have no variation in sound whatsoever provided that the same bits are sent to them. I have noticed in several other DACs that changes in buffers / output modes / USB streaming modes do change the sound subtly. Unfortunately I haven't found a way to measure that conclusively yet, but I think it's worth something that on these particular devices I can't observe the same thing, which I suppose is a testament to the quality of their drivers / implementation.

So just my thoughts here to see if anyone shares the same experience or part of it and has some ideas.
Click to expand...

Ideas? Yes!
Try the dynamic eq. Have it in my speakers. I love it. Very natural and engaging in my speakers. I imagine it could be the same in rme adi dacs.

Try to adjust the frequency response with eq to have less treble. I know quite a few peopke who prefer that over a completely flat response.
 
kieko said:
Question: I've had both the DAC2 FS and the ADI2 Pro Black and they are by far the best measuring DACs I tried..

The problem for me is that I absolutely can't stand listening to music on them. There is something really wrong. I'm no audiophool and wanting to be objective I'd conclude that the way these DACs reproduce music is more "correct" and whatever is bothering me is actually in the recording and possibly obfuscated by less precise DACs.

I also owned a Fireface UC 15 years ago and I remember having similar thoughts about it.

My subjective and completely unverified experience with all RME devices is that:

  1. They seem to have these sharp artificial high frequency range that makes the sound "thin"
  2. Lack of body in transients, flat and uninvolving, undynamic
I'm not sure how this can be but making the dubious assumption that I have a sensitive ear I'm thinking:
  • Something about the current output / analog output stage and how it drives the pre/amplifier?
  • Ultrasonic noise not measured but interfering with speakers/headphones?
So far the only thing that I've been able to verify is that at very high sample rates (352k+) there is ultrasonic noise in the ADC that gets up to -75db, but it's unclear if there would be any in the DAC output because I can only loopback into itself and have no other ADC. This has been confirmed as normal by RME and is quantization noise from the AKM chip, there is a mention in the manual too about the noise floor levels at higher sample rates. This is likely unrelated however..

Other than that another observation that I'd make is that RMEs are the only DACs that in my experience have no variation in sound whatsoever provided that the same bits are sent to them. I have noticed in several other DACs that changes in buffers / output modes / USB streaming modes do change the sound subtly. Unfortunately I haven't found a way to measure that conclusively yet, but I think it's worth something that on these particular devices I can't observe the same thing, which I suppose is a testament to the quality of their drivers / implementation.

So just my thoughts here to see if anyone shares the same experience or part of it and has some ideas.
Click to expand...
I only scanned through what you were saying, but did you say how you were listening and what the rest of the chain looks like? If you are listening with headphones or speakers and what are they. It has built in eq so why not use it to tame whatever is bothering you?
 
I was also going to as politely as possible, recommend a speaker check and also of course, how said speaker works in @kieko's room!

I remember being a huge part of the 80s UK 'Flat Earth Linn/Naim fraternity. When CD came along we HATED it, as what it was doing was basically showing the severe odd-order distortion in that era of this maker's amps and the seriously odd response of the other maker's speakers (at the time, plenty of 'Bextrene Quack' with boom and fizz kind-of added by the turntable at that time). The old-school Thorens/Quad/Rogers/Spendor group embraced digital and CD with open arms, many selling all their vinyl and turntables on the way...

I'd suggest some speakers with proper bass extension (not boom), no cone/suspension issues in the upper mids as so many seem to have and with a smooth crossover region with no phase or response nasties (a small dip in the lower kHz region I'd say is allowable and often put there by *experienced* speaker designers for good reason (I'd call it 'listening comfort'), although it doesn't look so good on a Klippel plot ;) ).

Obviously, gentle eq by whatever means (easy on the RME) may help a bit too... I currently have the opposite requirement, to lift the upper mids and top a little, or to reduce the lower mid-upper bass region a touch which is arguably where my ancient speakers deviate (I'm using my inherited 1974 speakers which have huge sentimental attachments).

Just my take of course. Umm - the speakers ARE in phase, aren't they? (I have memories of an audio forum owner and box swapper, who ran his too-large-for-his-room speakers for months out of phase and didn't realise it. Once corrected, the excess bass made him sell them and go off on another speaker quest).
 
I find the RME DAC to sound great, particularly so when partnered with a Ropieee Roon endpoint that allows full volume control turning the RME into a streamer digital preamp. In my case it replaced a much more expensive Meitner MA3 and Berkeley Reference DAC. Both of those also sounded great, but switching to the RME freed up significant dollars.

That said, I had an old friend audiophile tube fan over to listen to my system, first with the Berkeley, then the Meitner and finally with the RME. These were months apart, totally unscientific comparisons. The results were the he liked the system with the Berkeley, loved it with the Meitner and hated it with the RME. My own experience, as I wrote above, is that all three DACs sound great, and perhaps the RME is a touch more transparent. All are dead quiet, have great bass, fully extended treble, transparent midrange, huge dynamics….

But I also should say that my system never sounded right prior to optimizing it with a Mitch Barnett Audiolense convolution filter running on Roon. That made a huge difference.
 
amper42 said:
I would recommend you open the manual and thoroughly review the "Loudness" controls and install the ADI-2 app. With those controls I can make the ADI-2 sound anyway I want it. It's only limited to my imagination.

When I read this post it tells me the writer has only scratched the surface of what the hardware can do. The RME ADI-2 is not like a Topping DAC or others where you turn it on and get one sound no matter what you do. It can produce hundreds of different variations of tonal variances, bass boost and excitement in your music based on EQ and Loudness settings. If treble from your speakers is thin it can be adjusted to be crystal clear and if bass in the music is lacking, it can be adjusted to provide massive bass thump yet still remain totally in control. The results of the RME ADI-2 are solely based on the taste and skill of the user.
Click to expand...

I might also try a returnable USB isolator.
Actually, the D90 ||| also has the option to equalize.

- Rich
 
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