Congratulations, RME!
Great to see how the use of AK4493 improved the performance over the use of AK4490.
It would be fantastic if they would make a version with a top chip like the AK4499, not only for ultimate performance, but also because its multichannels capabilities would allow many possibilities such as multiple parallel uses of front and back outputs.
That is true, but unfortunately it is not 4-pin XLR, I would rather just use SE in that case since the whole idea was to be able to use my existing 4-pin cables as-is without an adapter. It is not really a 'necessary' thing and really doesn't provide much benefit in a properly designed amplifier, but presumably this product was made for the audiophile market (as opposed to the PRO which is the professional market?), so I don't see why they wouldn't include a commonly desired feature/termination found in high-end audiophile products when virtually all similar products over $300 do.
Hi jae, I agree with you re. a XLR-4 output, as the cables of my headphones are often terminated with this kind of connection. I have a 22xTRS --> XLR-4 adapter for my ADI 2 Pro, but I find it cumbersome to use. Also when the RME amp clips (it happened so often when I would let it directly drive my HE6se..., but sometimes even with the Arya; luckily I now have the HPA4 amp), it sets back to a single TRS output, and the sound becomes mono...
A front XLR-4 output would mean a bigger form factor, but actually I would love a bigger screen (the present one is packed with information, but that info is so tiny, sometimes a hassle to read for me, esp. when compared with that of the HPA4) which would also be a touchscreeen (the button combinations are not the simplest way of navigating, so much time spent with the online manual...), i.e. a screen like that of the HPA4. (A bigger format would also allow to integrate a power supply). The price however would be much higher.
My dream RME would upgrade the present ADI 2 [PRO] FS with:
one or two AK4499, a front balanced XLR-4 output, a front balanced 2,5 mm IEM output, a larger touchscreen like that of the HPA4, a more powerful amp... but would be much more expensive...
All the best to all,
bidn