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

[Sir Sanders Zingmore]

I'm not sure "Pro" means AD/DA conversion. The ADI-2 FS for example has AD/DA conversion but isn't labelled Pro.

Pro seems to just mean onboard DSP, but only if the unit isn't labelled DAC. So ADI-2 DAC FS has DSP and ADI-2 Pro have DSP but ADI-2 FS doesn't have DSP.

The "R" isn't always used consistently, either. For example, the "ADI-2 DAC FS" has a remote but doesn't have the R (at least officially, though I've seen it referred to as the ADI-2 DAC FS R in some places, but it doesn't say "R" on the faceplate). I think R or the lack thereof is mostly only meaningful if PRO is present.

The other thing that causes confusion is that they stopped using version numbers on newer units, so there are two versions of the ADI-2 DAC FS out there that are hard to tell apart unless you plug them in and look at the menus or open them up.

Yes, I find the nomenclature very confusing.
There is ADI-2 FS which has AD/DA
an ADI-2 DAC FS which is DA only and no version number and the photo on the RME website shows the older version (no kensington lock) but has the new remote

 

[ShiZo]

@Alan S , very confused by those pictures. I thought there was only rme adi 2 dac v1, dac v2, and pro line.

 

[Sal1950]

Thanks Amir for the report the also to RME for providing the unit for testing!
Nice to see a reasonably priced product offering SOTA performance along with some some higher end extras like the color screen, etc.
I've seen a number of folks asking for more features and I do sympathize with them but "more" will mean it will cost "more"
Personally my own 2 cents would be to add a least 1 analog input allowing the unit to be used as a "near" full featured pre-amp in a 2 ch rig.
A short, simple signal path is a clean signal path.

 

[Maxicut]

I wish RME would add mic pre's to the Pro version. Except for vinyl ripping, it's just not worth double the price of the ADI-2 FS.

 

[ShiZo]

I've always pondered a dac only version.

 

[kn0ppers]

Oh, Würth Elektronik capacitors on v3. I was always wondering if those are any good and where they get them from. I assume Würth don't make those themselves, but I might be wrong. And there is both OPA1622 and 6 OPA1688s. So the OPA1622 must be driving the IEM output and the 6 OPA1688s the Phones output. I guess this was common knowledge with people who know the RME products better than I do, but I always thought there was only a bunch of OPA1688s in there. The more you know.

 

[ShiZo]

V3? I wish someone would clarify this. Dac fs only had v1 v2, unless there is something im unaware of.

 

[Labjr]

Oh, Würth Elektronik capacitors on v3. I was always wondering if those are any good and where they get them from. I assume Würth don't make those themselves, but I might be wrong. And there is both OPA1622 and 6 OPA1688s. So the OPA1622 must be driving the IEM output and the 6 OPA1688s the Phones output. I guess this was common knowledge with people who know the RME products better than I do, but I always thought there was only a bunch of OPA1688s in there. The more you know.

V2 appears to have Matsushita relays. Made in Japan. Small details like that improve longevity and probably have less QC issues, recalls & warranty issues etc.

 

[ShiZo]

V2 appears to have Matsushita relays. Made in Japan. Small details like that improve longevity and probably have less QC issues, recalls & warranty issues etc.

Thanks for the insight. Wish i could look at a board and see the quality of components.

 

[MC_RME]

Actually，the one you measured is V3.

Actually he measured v 3.4. I would like to explain that these are just PCB version numbers, not model version numbers (then we would print them outside). The differences between these PCBs are very small, don't change the Tech Specs at all, and are mostly caused by components no longer available requiring to change soldering pads, or other small changes. Nothing to worry about. The Pro also has an upcounting number of PCB versions, and again nothing to worry about.

And as ShiZo just asked: the AK4493 equipped ADI-2 DAC started with PCB 3.3.

 

[MC_RME]

Oh, Würth Elektronik capacitors on v3. I was always wondering if those are any good and where they get them from. I assume Würth don't make those themselves, but I might be wrong. And there is both OPA1622 and 6 OPA1688s. So the OPA1622 must be driving the IEM output and the 6 OPA1688s the Phones output. I guess this was common knowledge with people who know the RME products better than I do, but I always thought there was only a bunch of OPA1688s in there. The more you know.

The OPA1622 is lower in noise and required for the IEM output to reach its super low noise floor.

 

[kn0ppers]

PCB Rev 3.1? (first picture of the 3) used TE Axicom made in Portugal, also good quality. You rarely see audio manufacturers cheap out on relays I feel like. At least I haven't seen it in a while here. I also thought using Neutrik XLRs was a standard (and luckily it is with RME!) among the mid to high-end devices, but sadly some others seem to cost cut there recently.

 

[amirm]

There was a private request for multitone test with full output (0 dB on volume control). Here it is:

 

[Habu]

I think any requested additional functionality or built-in PS will make it much larger device. It seems to me, this is the way RME looks at this type of products: "Packed into the compact half 19” format factor...". So, it's either a half-rack size or full-rack size. I don't think you can fit much more into existing size..

Hello from France
RME can keep the width of their products and just increase the height, just like Benchmark Media with the HPA4.

Sincerely yours
Habu

 

[amirm]

RME can keep the width of their products and just increase the height, just like Benchmark Media with the HPA4.

The larger case would be more expensive to build and ship. It also incurs regulatory testing due to inclusion of high-voltage. I think of this DAC cost much more, it would reduce its market appeal.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Hello from France
RME can keep the width of their products and just increase the height, just like Benchmark Media with the HPA4.

View attachment 63704

Speaking of which...

I'd really love to see a RME power amp in the future (more or less the same width as ADI-2 DAC/PRO, with heatsinks eventually). That would be great to see a similar kind of Benchmark's design language for their lineup.

 

[Music1969]

Hi @amirm

Can you kindly measure power before clipping into 12 ohms?

Like for MrSpeakers / Dan Clarke Audio AEON planar magnetic headphones.

Latest version of those headphones is approx. 86dB / 1mW and ~13ohms

@MC_RME can it drive 12 ohms load?

 

[Hidde]

The OPA1622 is lower in noise and required for the IEM output to reach its super low noise floor.

The datasheet states a THD+n of -113dB, your result is significantly lower. What part of the circuitry would you say had the most impact on reducing the distortion?
Based on my own experience the VREF is rather sensitive. Does the capacitor quality really matter there? Do we need expensive C0G's/Films or are "generic" x7r ceramics enough?
My experience also shows that super high capacitance isn't needed, but a good transient response of the voltage regulator is. High capacitance just helps with that.

 

[MC_RME]

Hi @amirm

Can you kindly measure power before clipping into 12 ohms?

Like for MrSpeakers / Dan Clarke Audio AEON planar magnetic headphones.

Latest version of those headphones is approx. 86dB / 1mW and ~13ohms

@MC_RME can it drive 12 ohms load?

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.

 

[LTig]

Can anyone attest to whether this system is recognized and performs correctly with recent Linux distributions? I'm going to bet it does given RME's attention to detail, but I'd like to hear it from someone who's done it.

The RME ADI-2 PRO fs works flawless with Ubuntu 19.10.