No, but the usb can become a recording 'output' for one of the spdif inputs.
I guess this would depend on the buffer size and sample rate you choose on the ASIO settings. And the lower the buffer and higher the sample rate, the more processing power and priority the computer needs to have. Audio interfaces usually have a roundtrip around a few milliseconds.
typical usb roundtrip latency is 5-10ms. Depends on buffer size. For 44.1 kHz with Windows ASIO:
This is a review and detailed measurements of the updated version 2 of the RME ADI-2 FS DAC and headphone amplifier. It was kindly sent to me by the company. The cost us US $1,149.
The ADI-2 looks very nice in black with a bright, super responsive display (doesn't come out as well in the picture):
View attachment 63548
I usually only focus on performance of audio products and DACs don't have much to talk about anyway. Not so with RME products. There are tons and tons of features including two different headphone outputs with automatic detection and settings. There is a built-in parametric EQ which can help you optimize your room or headphones. And on and on.
The display is highly informative which I appreciate. I like to know what my settings are, sample rate, volume, etc. at a glance and they are all here and then some.
Soft white LEDs surround the power button, the main rotary controller and backlight for the switches.
A nice reassuring set of relays click on power on. A compact 12 volt, 2 amp power supply with a clever locking mechanism comes with the unit. As does a remote control (which I did not use).
The back panel is tidy:
View attachment 63550
Of course the product is made in Germany which makes availability much better for our EU members. Support is superb on our forum and RME's own and company makes frequent updates to the unit through firmware updates.
Overall, this is a beautiful DAC with extensive feature list.
DAC Audio Measurements
Let's start with our usual dashboard of 1 kHz tone and measure what comes out of the XLR balanced connectors (used for all the DAC tests):
View attachment 63551
The distortion level now is state of the art with levels at -130 dB (15 dB better that best case human hearing). Noise level is higher though and dominates, resulting in SINAD of 115 dB. This is 3 dB better than version one of this DAC so definitely improved but not the best we have seen:
View attachment 63553
Yellow is the version 2 under test, and purple is the older one.
The reason noise level is not as good as seemingly cheaper DACs is because the ADI-2 is a pro product and can produce much higher output level. When we let it loose this way, performance improves yet again:
View attachment 63554
SINAD reaches a maximum of 117 dB now with nearly 7 volts output. You can use this higher level output with amplifiers like Benchmark, Purifi, hypex ncore, etc. to get the best performance out of them.
We can see that in our dynamic range tests:
View attachment 63555
IMD test is likewise impacted by the output level although it is excellent both ways:
View attachment 63556
There is tiniest hint of jitter (hugging our main tone of 12 kHz and a pair at 6.2 and 17.8 kHz) but at -140 dB and lower, are utterly inaudible:
View attachment 63557
32-tone test resembling "music" shows very low levels of intermodulation distortion:
View attachment 63558
Linearity is essentially perfect to the maximum level I measure:
View attachment 63559
There are a set of filters. In the interest of time, I just tested the default:
View attachment 63560
THD+N versus frequency is low but perhaps not as perfect as it could be:
View attachment 63565
Headphone Amplifier Measurements
Since there is no analog input, these measurements are the combination of the performance of the DAC plus the headphone amplifier. With stand-alone analog headphone amplifiers, you would lose a few dBs of performance when you pair a DAC with them. Also, the volume control here is digital which means channel matching is excellent unlike analog solutions.
Let's start with our usual power measurement into 300 ohm:
View attachment 63561
310 milliwatts of power into 300 ohm is superb as my threshold of excellence is 100 milliwatts. This means you can drive high impedance headphones with ease. Combined DAC+amp in high power clocks at 110 dB SINAD which is just shy of best case theoretical threshold of hearing (again, 115 dB).
If you want lower noise, you can use the IEM output in low power mode (blue):
View attachment 63562
You have three nice settings for three different scenarios.
Switching to 33 ohm load we get:
View attachment 63563
We have 1.5 watts of power which should be good for most headphones. I did not bother to test the IEM output as the low power mode (red) already had excellent low noise performance.
I was surprised that with 50 millivolts output, performance was not as good as version 1:
View attachment 63564
I use different fixtures to wire up to my analyzer so perhaps that is the reason for slight regression. Still, what is there at 89 dB, beats majority of headphone amplifiers out there.
I did not bother to measure the output impedance and trust the RME spec of it being near zero.
Headphone Listening Tests
I started testing with my Sennheiser HD-650. Wow, these sounded super with incredible amount of power available on tap. I had no trouble getting my ear lobes to resonate with bass heavy music!If I did not fear for quick loss of hearing, I would listen that way for hours.
I then switched to my super inefficient and low impedance (25 ohm) Ether CX headphone. Here performance was very good but I could get the amp to distort. Granted, by then it was too loud for me to tolerate but still, I like to see some headroom there. Again, these are super difficult headphones to drive.
Conclusions
The RME ADI-2 FS V2 improves on the first generation design in lowering distortion levels. The slick look and huge feature list is a major add-on which doesn't exist in DAC-only products. Headphone amplifier is very powerful and is able to drive most headphones with authority and high fidelity. No records have been broken on the performance though.
Overall combination of features and performance pushes me to give the RME ADI-2 FS DAC V2 my strong recommendation. Indeed, I am still listening to it as I type this and will make it my everyday DAC+amp at my workstation.
-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
I have packed so many heavy and big boxes and dropped off at UPS store that I am starting to feel sorry for the guy there and want to buy him a gift. So please donate a few dollars toward that if you can. Be on notice though that I might be tempted to keep said money and just use it for myself.
This is a review and detailed measurements of the updated version 2 of the RME ADI-2 FS DAC and headphone amplifier. It was kindly sent to me by the company. The cost us US $1,149.
The ADI-2 looks very nice in black with a bright, super responsive display (doesn't come out as well in the picture):
View attachment 63548
I usually only focus on performance of audio products and DACs don't have much to talk about anyway. Not so with RME products. There are tons and tons of features including two different headphone outputs with automatic detection and settings. There is a built-in parametric EQ which can help you optimize your room or headphones. And on and on.
The display is highly informative which I appreciate. I like to know what my settings are, sample rate, volume, etc. at a glance and they are all here and then some.
Soft white LEDs surround the power button, the main rotary controller and backlight for the switches.
A nice reassuring set of relays click on power on. A compact 12 volt, 2 amp power supply with a clever locking mechanism comes with the unit. As does a remote control (which I did not use).
The back panel is tidy:
View attachment 63550
Of course the product is made in Germany which makes availability much better for our EU members. Support is superb on our forum and RME's own and company makes frequent updates to the unit through firmware updates.
Overall, this is a beautiful DAC with extensive feature list.
DAC Audio Measurements
Let's start with our usual dashboard of 1 kHz tone and measure what comes out of the XLR balanced connectors (used for all the DAC tests):
View attachment 63551
The distortion level now is state of the art with levels at -130 dB (15 dB better that best case human hearing). Noise level is higher though and dominates, resulting in SINAD of 115 dB. This is 3 dB better than version one of this DAC so definitely improved but not the best we have seen:
View attachment 63553
Yellow is the version 2 under test, and purple is the older one.
The reason noise level is not as good as seemingly cheaper DACs is because the ADI-2 is a pro product and can produce much higher output level. When we let it loose this way, performance improves yet again:
View attachment 63554
SINAD reaches a maximum of 117 dB now with nearly 7 volts output. You can use this higher level output with amplifiers like Benchmark, Purifi, hypex ncore, etc. to get the best performance out of them.
We can see that in our dynamic range tests:
View attachment 63555
IMD test is likewise impacted by the output level although it is excellent both ways:
View attachment 63556
There is tiniest hint of jitter (hugging our main tone of 12 kHz and a pair at 6.2 and 17.8 kHz) but at -140 dB and lower, are utterly inaudible:
View attachment 63557
32-tone test resembling "music" shows very low levels of intermodulation distortion:
View attachment 63558
Linearity is essentially perfect to the maximum level I measure:
View attachment 63559
There are a set of filters. In the interest of time, I just tested the default:
View attachment 63560
THD+N versus frequency is low but perhaps not as perfect as it could be:
View attachment 63565
Headphone Amplifier Measurements
Since there is no analog input, these measurements are the combination of the performance of the DAC plus the headphone amplifier. With stand-alone analog headphone amplifiers, you would lose a few dBs of performance when you pair a DAC with them. Also, the volume control here is digital which means channel matching is excellent unlike analog solutions.
Let's start with our usual power measurement into 300 ohm:
View attachment 63561
310 milliwatts of power into 300 ohm is superb as my threshold of excellence is 100 milliwatts. This means you can drive high impedance headphones with ease. Combined DAC+amp in high power clocks at 110 dB SINAD which is just shy of best case theoretical threshold of hearing (again, 115 dB).
If you want lower noise, you can use the IEM output in low power mode (blue):
View attachment 63562
You have three nice settings for three different scenarios.
Switching to 33 ohm load we get:
View attachment 63563
We have 1.5 watts of power which should be good for most headphones. I did not bother to test the IEM output as the low power mode (red) already had excellent low noise performance.
I was surprised that with 50 millivolts output, performance was not as good as version 1:
View attachment 63564
I use different fixtures to wire up to my analyzer so perhaps that is the reason for slight regression. Still, what is there at 89 dB, beats majority of headphone amplifiers out there.
I did not bother to measure the output impedance and trust the RME spec of it being near zero.
Headphone Listening Tests
I started testing with my Sennheiser HD-650. Wow, these sounded super with incredible amount of power available on tap. I had no trouble getting my ear lobes to resonate with bass heavy music!
I then switched to my super inefficient and low impedance (25 ohm) Ether CX headphone. Here performance was very good but I could get the amp to distort. Granted, by then it was too loud for me to tolerate but still, I like to see some headroom there. Again, these are super difficult headphones to drive.
Conclusions
The RME ADI-2 FS V2 improves on the first generation design in lowering distortion levels. The slick look and huge feature list is a major add-on which doesn't exist in DAC-only products. Headphone amplifier is very powerful and is able to drive most headphones with authority and high fidelity. No records have been broken on the performance though.
Overall combination of features and performance pushes me to give the RME ADI-2 FS DAC V2 my strong recommendation. Indeed, I am still listening to it as I type this and will make it my everyday DAC+amp at my workstation.
-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
I have packed so many heavy and big boxes and dropped off at UPS store that I am starting to feel sorry for the guy there and want to buy him a gift. So please donate a few dollars toward that if you can. Be on notice though that I might be tempted to keep said money and just use it for myself.
Search for REW and UMIK-1. You can use several parametric EQs in your favorite software player, or let REW optimize and use only the 5 PEQs that the ADI-2 DAC supports.
ALSA Version
Driver version: k5.8.4-200.fc32.x86_64
Library version: 1.2.3.2
Utilities version: 1.2.3
Packages installed
alsa-plugins-pulseaudio-1.2.2-1.fc32.x86_64
alsa-lib-1.2.3.2-1.fc32.x86_64
alsa-utils-1.2.3-4.fc32.x86_64
alsa-plugins-pulseaudio-1.2.2-1.fc32.i686
alsa-lib-1.2.3.2-1.fc32.i686
alsa-lib-devel-1.2.3.2-1.fc32.x86_64audio_output {
type "alsa"
name "Alsa RME"
auto_format "no"
auto_resample "no"
auto_channels "no"
dop "yes"
dsd_usb "no"
replay_gain_handler "none"
mixer_type "none"
}
audio_output {
type "pulse"
name "Pulse RME"
auto_format "no"
auto_resample "no"
auto_channels "no"
dop "yes"
dsd_usb "no"
replay_gain_handler "none"
mixer_type "none"
}ctl.hw {
@args [ CARD ]
@args.CARD {
type string
default "0"
}
type hw
card $CARD
}pcm.!default {
type plug
slave.pcm hw
}default-sample-format = s24le
default-sample-rate = 44100
alternate-sample-rate = 384000
avoid-resampling = yes
high-priority = yes
resample-method = soxr-vhq
Any special steps to flash it on Linux (Gentoo Linux here)?After I posted my last answer, I've reflashed my ADI-2 with v34 firmware and it seems that this noise is gone
Because the space in the soundstage can be as large as the mind can imagine.
