Rme ucx ii vs rme adi 2 pro se with camden ec1 mic pre amp what has overall better audio?

[HUNTING THIEVES]

I'm trying to get a high quality amp dac in one device while having a excellent microphone pre amp and the camden ec1 is a excellent pre amp. I own a re20 dynamic microphone which is power hungry but I'm trying to decide if I should get just the rme ucx ii audio interface or the rme adi 2 pro se headphone amp/dac device with the camden ec1 pre amp I'm not sure which will sound better. I mix music hear and there and listen to a lot of flac files for music however I would also like to record a lot of youtube videos and have excellent audio quality and microphone quality the best of both worlds in other words. I also own a 10ft mogami gold stage xlr cable to prevent interference. What do you guys think if budget isn't a option for me?

 

[DVDdoug]

It's hard to say... It's mostly about noise. There's more than one way to measure noise and different manufacturers use different standards & procedures. A-weighted EIN (Equivalent Input Noise) is a good start but a 3dB difference may not be "real" if the tests weren't done in the same lab with the same procedures.

If the RME works OK for you (without the separate preamp) I'd use it. I like keeping things simple!

It's also hard to compare yourself because you have to gain-match and with a mic attached you'll pick-up room noise.

I own a re20 dynamic microphone which is power hungry

Dynamic (and ribbon) mics have about 20-30dB lower output than condensers which makes it harder to get a good signal-to-noise ratio. And some interfaces don't have enough gain. Most interfaces are intended for condenser mics. (or you can use a dynamic mic in front of a drum of guitar amp.) A lot of people use a Cloudlifter (or similar).

Your preamp may have enough gain, and the RME may be an exception so that may not be an issue and either one may be fine.

Condenser mics have a built-in phantom powered "head amp" and that generates SOME noise too but usually it's not significant.

Most studio (recording) mics are condensers. For some reason dynamics seem to be popular in radio and the (dynamic) Shure SM7B seems to be in almost every podcast.

With your setup, acoustic noise probably dominates assuming you don't have a soundproof studio.

I also own a 10ft mogami gold stage xlr cable to prevent interference.

Most microphone cables will be fine. You might want to get a spare if it's flexed a lot.

 

[Rja4000]

Late answer...

the camden ec1 is a excellent pre amp.

Looks excellent, indeed.

I'm trying to decide if I should get just the rme ucx ii audio interface or the rme adi 2 pro se headphone amp/dac device with the camden ec1 pre amp I'm not sure which will sound better.

I don't think you'll be able to hear any difference.
Except if you use very low sensitivity headphones - The ADI-2 Pro has a much more powerful headphones amplifier.

Technically, the ADI-2 could provide some benefit by allowing a higher output level on your EC1, since it adds a 24dBu input range.
Also, it's Technically a better device.
But the audible benefit would still be marginal.

Decision is more about other functionalities:

The UCX II is more meant for mic and instruments recording, it provides Totalmix, dynamics processor (compressor,...)...
And you may, of course, make use of the 2 additional mic inputs.

The ADI-2 Pro is more suited for monitoring, with loudness compensation and so on.
It also has 2 headphones outputs - but your EC1 already has a competent one...