Have a great sunday and thanks for tuning in ! Extra notes: We kept mentioning the Canadian Pricing in this video on the RME. MSRP in USD is approx $2000. RME ADI-2 Pro FS R: amzn.to/2Y1b87n RME ADI-2 DAC FS: amzn.to/3jlOsad SMSL VMV D1SE: better warranty: apos.audio/products/smsl-vmv-d1se-mqa-dac?_pos=1&_sid=445b24cb4&_ss=r&&sca_ref=459032.WbootYrpIv&sca_source=apos.audio/products/smsl-vmv-d1se-mqa-dac?_pos=1&_sid=445b24cb4&_ss=r amazon: amzn.to/3jobY6A Holo May: www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-may-dac/ Holo Serene Pre Amp: www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-serene-preamp/
I have a question for Jay. Is it worth upgrading my RME ADI 2 DAC FS to a Holo Audio May (pre+DAC)? Using Benchmark AHB2, Hifiman Susvara, Mac Pro + Roon. IF YES, do you recommend the Holo preamp or another one? Which May DAC L1/2/KTE do you recommend for this setup?
@@tonyleungnl Nice set up ! Yea, I'd say go with RME if the list of gear reflects the sound you like (it's more similar) For Holo stuff, Holo pre-amp seems to work the best as they designed it to match perfectly
You might have reviewed the FS version because the only feature it lacks you guys didn't even mention: the analog to digital converter. The FS is better value having nearly the same features and the same sound as the pro version for less cost.
RME is the only honest DAC manufacturer in the market. The ADI-2 FS is a no bullshit product. It’s excellent, it’s highly functional, robust output stage, and neutral. I have auditioned DAC’s over $30K and believe me the RME ADI-2 pulls its weight.
In comparison, 1600 to 989 600 is not "much cheeper" rater they are both priced wayyyyy toooooo high..... if they were 900 and 300, than yes, 600 would be wayyyy cheeper....
I’ve been using an RME UFX for about a dozen years and it’s performed flawlessly which is more than I can say for my Apple mini Mac and its associated ITunes. RME works every time and any where with no hiccups
I have the AdI-2 DAC FS , absolutely amazing , its so incredible for the price , i use it for the basics , The DAC , is for me on par with the Chord Electronics Qutest , Headphone AMP. So much bang for your buck
I believe the the normal ADI-2 Dac FS non-pro version includes adaptive loudness function as well. Interesting that the RME is an older product as this point too and the later versions are using a different dac chip because of AKM chip shortage.
Great video. As a proud RME owner I can tell you it has a scalpel sound. Its totally noise and distortion free with a S/N of around 120 dBA at the outputs. Totally revealing, it can offend some parts of the audiophile crowd being used to the distorted midrange of "audiophile" products. To give it a wam/cold rating is a total misunderstanding of the product. If you want to color the sound it has an excellent 5 band graphic PEQ.
Absolutely agree, I have version 3 of the RME with the ESS chip, and sounds fantastic, clear and precise, no adding that audiophile BS 3rd harmonic what you me call it crap! . Bad recordings gets murdered and good recordings are heaven. Parametric Eq is implemented very well and beats software versions. This gives out what you put in, without adding anything.
My “desk top” near-field set up is (running fully balanced) the RME ADI2DAC -> Singer S1-A -> (sitting under the desk) Rotel RMB-1095 bi-amping -> B&W 805. I know this isn’t really a desktop setup, but…The RME is an amazing desktop DAC.
Why to spent 2000 usd on PRO if you don't need ADC? Just buy ADI-2 DAC FS for the half of the price... It has absolutely same functionality and features like PRO version except ADC part
Did you ever try an instant A/B switch to compare DACs? Try it very precisely level matched at the output and then report what huge differences you can hear. It’s illuminating.
@@asplmn This is exactly what I meant :) Most modern DACs that cost more than $100 are so accurate and transparent that when perfectly level matched you won't be able to even distinguish them unless you are "golden ears". I A/B tested Topping D90 vs D90SE vs RME ADI-2 DAC and I could not find any audible difference with headphones, IEMs or speakers. I've not tried anything "high-end" like $10k, but I bet it would be hard or impossible to distinguish too.
@@f1shb0n3d 1. Your ears are your ears 2. I have level matched many dacs partly because I’m in pro audio ,I’ve recorded dacs level matched to hear the differences and just simply AB’d as the poster and you have spoken about. In some dacs there are subtle differences in others there are night and day differences in soundstage/depth low end and high end frequencies, R2R dacs have more separation in there sound in the mid and low mids and especially sound stage and depth while off the shelf dac chips (aKM,ESS) have subtle differences in the high and low frequencies, There are clear differences! likely because the topology between dacs are not the same the tuning of each dac maker is not the same …not all dac makers want to create a transparent dac! Level match 2 dacs record there outputs and try null testing where you can see clearly what each dac is doing to the audio …Dacs are different and your ears might not be able to discern it but many can especially those who do a lot of critical listening I think the better critical listeners are pro audio engineers cause not only do we listen we MIX audio which unlocks a whole new level of sound discernment and you don’t need golden ears ..lol the average bed room best maker can already hear these differences. I mean the output stage of a 100 dollar dac lmaooo vs the output stage of let’s say the ADI DAC are you kidding me ….there’s a reason the dac COST MORE not with all dac companies but the best ones
As far as sound, performance and treatability they are the same. The PRO is mainly used as a pro tool in studios so all connections are TS/TRS XLR. The the non-pro version is more for the average home user. Even in DAC fs form, it still can be an intimidating piece of gear to operate when you want to really get into the system (menus and options) so having experience or background on pro audio tools/gears helps. The PRO also has balanced and unbalanced headphone outs while the DAC fs only has unbalanced but adds an output for IEM. I have both.
I had the RME ADI-2. It has a wide soundstage but is a bit grainy and a bit flat sounding. Not too 3D. The analog output stages matter. And matter a lot
Hi there, totally agree, I have both the May and and ADI-2 FS (what are the chances of that!). they sound a little different in terms of tonality, but Nightjar is correct in my view when he says that the RME sounds flat...left right imaging is very good, front to back imaging is not too great with the RME. still...for the price is an excellent unit! The May is in another league with regards to spatial clues...
@@ivanr5315 I have the ADI-2 FS, consider to upgrade to a Holo May. Is this step worth it? If so which L1/L2?KTE do you recommend using Susvara & Benchmark AHB2. Since I have the Susvara and AHB2. I feel and hear...maybe I need another DAC to bring this set to another level. Tho there is nothing wrong with the RME, I want to feel LOVE in my music again...hmmm again?
@@tonyleungnl :) I have the May level 2 I did not go for the level 3 just because of my personal policy on paying for premiums (call it diminishing returns....Pareto rule, etc.) I have never heard the level 3/KTE so I cannot comment on it. Is it worth the money upgrading from the RME to the May? This is a very difficult question for me to answer. If you feel that spatial clues are important (really well defined and 3D/holographic soundstage) as well as a very natural sound then yes, absolutely! Just for the different tonality....it depends as it is just a different flavour (I think the point has been made in this video). Look at the reviews from NRD and Golden Sound I think that in fairness their reviews represent the product really well. And off course if you have the opportunity audition it, do! Hope it helps
Love to watch this new review format. Lots more effort on your part but it comes across as more authentic and relevant. To be honest, I'd just turn on the system and plonk myself onto the sofa and not bother with the features other than the loudness. That said, to each his own. Keep up the excellent work, boys!
Great video - I'm not finished whole thing yet. Just like how you guys keep trying new things and evolving the format of your reviews. Nice not to always see the same framework and formal.
Im all dac out from all you audiofiles this dac that dac, etc....... I was thinking of upgrading my internal dac but after watching hunderds of dac videos from $99 to $500 over the last few mths the hell with all of them my internal one sounds great and thats it.
hey, I know it can be stressful sometimes but that's part of the fun in my books ! But if you want to just relax and hit the play button, the internal dac on most units are fine !
Good to see audiophiles endorsing some sort of control over their system sound rather than just having a volume knob. I usually use a low frequency shelf to listen louder at night.
I'm so glad you reviewed the RME ADI2 again now that you tasted the May! I was eagerly waiting for GoldenSound comparaison between them but you did it first!! I have some questions I hope you can answer : - If the source is a PC (USB cable) will it sound worse than played through a streamer? - Did you guys listened to the "old" ADI2 DAC V2 and this new ADI2 Pro side to side? - Maybe you forgot to talk about soundstage, holography and sense of 3D realness in the music. How the ADI2 compares with the May? Which tracks let you evaluate these points? - If one owns a subwoofer, would that "tactile bass superiority" from the ADI2 over the May disapear since gain can be increased? or are you talking about something different? - Besides the speakers/subwoofers, are there components that improve 3D spatial cues? Thank you very much for your work and honesty!
It would be useful to list in the description section all the equipment you talk about. Some of it may not be familiar to everyone and the way it is pronounced may not always describe how it is written.
The DAC part is pretty run of the mill and HP amp portion on it is pretty mediocre if you're using the Arya v2 (weak-ish IC based HP amp). It may be powerful enough for the Stealths but I'd still rather run my Arya Stealths with a discrete Class A amp - they shine with Class A (I have a Gustard H20 amp and an SMSL Su-9 DAC). The PEQ portion is the main positive of the RME over other DACs, not ultimate DAC sound quality. Keep in mind that I'm going off of other peoples' impressions of it when compared to less expensive pure DAC options. If you don't need the PEQ features there are better pure DAC options for much less.
I've used many brands in the studio but once I switched to RME I never looked back. That will be a very good DAC, their design is bulletproof. That being said, I do feel that a lot of those features will be overkill for most hifi consumers. At its heart you could get a another DAC with the same (measurable) performance for probably 1/8 of the price
The rme might do unbalansed phono input for phono equipement, but ynlike the adi fs, it dosent do phono out, i need to convert bect to analogue after this processes the signal, and all i can think about is using the headphone jack as a phono out,turned very low, but who knows what that would do to a cd writer that dosent have xlr inputs?..... tascam cdrw900 st or su?....
I’d like to see the terminator or the cord dave come down in price, I have the Geshelli labs j2 now , its good but there is always room for improvement.
I think these products are amazing I mean come on they're made in Germany that's already awesome I like when a company can manufacture something and design it in the same place where they thought of the whole idea. I. Love this product.
Ok now you are getting it, all your videos should be this way, be yourself, non scripted, not trying too hard, just more relaxed! Now this is enjoyable, thank you for taking the criticism and providing a good honest genuine review, well done!
Thanks for yet another great video! For reference sound (clear and clean and neutral and natural) to mix and master dialogue and acapella in a small studio. No extra bells and whistles needed, I just want the best possible reference audio. What would you recommend? 1. RME ADI-2 DAC FS 2. TOPPING A90 + D90 3. Or another option?
Love mine. I have it hooked up to a Yamaha cd-s300 as a transport, which happens to be recognizing iPod/Pad/Phon(s) as such when hooked up to its USB port (while it is actually CHARGING). So can I not only decode and listen to my 💿, but Deezer/Qobuz as well without turning on my pc hooked up to its USB port (running Audirvana or Reaper - for music production-). Finally, I also use a WXC-50 as a pure streamer for the RME, but also as a pre-amp for my MSP-5 class A/B monitors. I enjoy the RME ADI-2 DAC fs only through a Focal listen pro headphone with a bit of equalization in the RME. I could use thé RME balanced XLR outputs into my monitors, but that would add extra cables, which is not convenient in my case. Had I a pair of Genelecs though....
Why do audiophiles focus on differences between devices and systems? I have two different systems, the speakers being especially different, both using computers to deliver the music files, and I am surprised by how similar they sound.
You beat me to it, I was gonna ask the same question. I have a separate preamp so I’m keen to know. My assumption is it wouldn’t work as the RME would have no way of knowing the volume on the preamp so how would it adjust the bass/treble accordingly.
I need your advice please! I have Bluesound Node2i and am considering this dac, non pro as an external DAC. What would sound better : Node + RME or a streamer of a similar price, like some Auralic ?
I'm pretty sure you can process two signals at the same time for output (with two distinct inputs), but maybe not through head phones out. It has two DAC chips and can do ADC so that's what you're paying for over the regular RME ADI 2 FS DAC. Loudness is King.
I elieve you can, both headphone outs can play indepe dantly through internal switching, so 1 would do the aes or anologue in and be able to play any from any digital source including pc, and which ever one the fist chose, the seco d could choose from anyother source INCLUDING what the first chose..... so any of the 5 or 6? Inputs can be chosen to any of the headphones..... and the speaker outs.... Amazing unit.
The Chord Qutest is a better DAC but its just a DAC. So if you want to beat the ADI-2 soundly, you have to spent easily thrice the money for it. Because the Qutest is just a DAC, so you'll need a decent headphone AMP as well. So the best bang for buck is the regular ADI-2. No average consumer needs the Black Edition or much more... My top advice, for people who really want their sound to shine, is the Quord Cutest DAC together with the Schiit Mjolnir 3. But as I said, it costs about 3 times that of the ADI-2 but it is better in every way. Espcially for 1500+ USD/Euro headphone users.
well, i can tell you, why you never picked the adi2. since day one is rme a company which stands for clinical, neutral, "flat"... because they always build for the studio, where you dont want to hear something more smooth or more bassy, midy or what ever. you always want the sound, how it is, so you know it will translate well on other speaker. you need to understand, rme is not for audiophiles, its for producer, the adi2 doesnt look like, but it is mainly for musicians, producer and so on. but it also works well for audiophiles, but dont expect any fake sound bettermaker. you get the sound how it is, but in ultra high quality. thats why you find rme in so many studios, made in germany says it all. always top notch high quality.
Well, We all know RME is coming from the Studio/Music Production Secene..., so the DAC simply have to be more linear than the Holo Audio Dac. Actually U sould know that and also mention it. Holo Audio is never 100% linear and the Sound is definitely processed, but in a very natural and prof. Way.
How would this compare to the SU-9 Or the DO200 and the LOXJIE d40 and the LOXJIE D50 looking for a warmer less harsh Dac? I have the Ananda and the SMSL SP200
I have the Su-9 and it's very good. It's neutral and revealing but not over the top bright or harsh sounding like some DACs can be (cough*Topping*cough). The main plus for RME is for the PEQ features - the DAC, preamp, and HP amp parts are mediocre (esp the amp).
@@f1shb0n3d this is not what I’m hearing in this review… the PRO has more bass, warmer,…. How can you compare against something you listened to a while ago? For me it is hard to compare while switching between devices….
I have a Hegel H80. A cambridge audio dac magic plus($20,thrift shop) on XLR in, outpaced that by a good margin. With my ADI-2 DAC fs the Hegel does the job as power amp.
If the highs are more detailed and the bass is more noticeable it means Its a far better audio quality, if something is smoothed, that means that it is a way worse audio quality (especially when you explain mid centric) There no bass emphasis on RME, it just that the other lack.
Also if you want to test a converter, you need to record it on another device, level match to perfection or this is useless unfortunately, if one is 0.1db louder Its gonna seems better, if there a noticeable difference again that means a DAC is colored or not in the same league as the other by far.
Nice review. Seriously, if you want to make a big $$$ from views. Make a video on how to set the bloody thing up. I'm still trying to setup my RME ADI-2 fs, and I don't consider myself technically challenged. It really needs complementary software.
Dude, if that's how he hears sound that is his opinion. Why correct him. Other than that, great review. Keep on what you are doing. Enjoyable presentation.
I Just bought the adi 2 dac fs and IT Will be ariving today 🙂👍 Does IT have akm OR the new sabre dac chip?do they sound different? Thx for a the review
Go to RME website forums. You can differentiate the versions AK 4490, 4493 or ESS by a letter in the serial number. They sound the same they say, the RME dsp/fpga tech is what sets it apart from other DACS with similar converters.
Ok, gonna open a can of worms....love the review....no mention of MQA...backing away slowly now. 😀 seriously, Jay, you don't see any value in mqa or lack therof?
A much better comparison would be the Holo Audio Spring 3 level 2 with preamp functionality, almost similar priced. Loudness is mainly an issue with digital volume control (or analog potentiometer). The Spring 3 has a stepped attenuator, which means it will preserve full dynamics at lower volume levels as well. KTE also has a different voicing than the normal version, with its silver components and wiring it is likely more detailed than the standard copper version. You also don’t seem to get further than mentioning bass and mid range, what about soundstage, placement, imaging, decay, timbre, etc. Usually a dac has no voicing at all. It seems like you mostly listen to modern music, because the differences between these dacs are very apparent on all those aspects. I had the standard RME in my system, it was flat, clinical and digital sounding (digital sounding applies to all delta sigma dacs I had in my system). If you need a tube preamp to make your DAC sound more analogue/musical, your DAC sounds digital/clinical and not musical on it’s own. The RME is developed with pro audio in mind and this is exactly how it sounds. A/b comparison is also the worst way of assessing a DAC performance. Live with it for at least a week and than start to compare. Your brain has not yet been accustomed to it. Also in a/b comparison you are focussed on the tone too much, which is pretty obvious based on your over simplified assessment. Only a limited amount of reviewers really takes the time to assess something properly and with different equipment.
After careful research I was down to the RME ADI 2 or the Gustard A22 , I ended deciding on the Gustard for what my actual needs and preferences were . I just wasn't going to use all the features on the RME and aesthetically and most importantly sonically the Gustard A22 is amazing for the @1250 .
Hot tip: I spoke to the tech dept at RME and was told that the discontinued previous version sounds almost indistinguishable to the new Black model (just a 3dB difference) and they can be found with huge discount (while stocks last). The only disadvantage is it doesn’t have a remote, but as most amps have remotes, I’ve not found it a problem. The problem is on a really good analogue sounding system it does have noticeable digital glare. For this reason, it’s now the weakest link in my new system and I’ll be looking to replace it with a new DAC (but I won’t sell it as it’s a high quality ADC).
@@GodfreyMann Yea, that can be a problem. But I personaly not using remote on my rme - had fixed volume on it and changing it via streamer or tablet tidal, depending on how I’m connecting…
I know what you mean as I had my fair share of vintage receivers and you are not incorrect. However the Loudness setting on the RME is way more subtle, useful and advanced. Some receivers I had just boosted the highs and lows at "ANY" volume (making it V shaped and louder). Some did it better than others but nothing close to what I saw on the RME
The loudness on ADI2-DAC/PRO is progressive. The more attenuation the more loudness. Its quite ingenious and totally customizable. +1 to +10 db bass and treble gain, independently. Set between - 90 to -20 db. Applied over a 20 db range.
Damn, I tried to like those Tektons, but they are ugly compared to your other ones. They look like those suitcase bluetooth speakers you see out there. But great vid fr fr! I'll hafta try RME sooner than later. Looks like German over engineering at its finest.
ADI sounds good, but it has a retarded balanced headphone socket. I believe the only reason they did it so was to save some money by keeping the chassis same as the older models.
They did a unique and great implementation of balanced output, read the manual for info on that. Having two separate headphone outs allows you to A/B compare headphones with different EQ and volume which is super useful. Yes the connectors are non-standard for balanced, but you only buy one adapter cable and you are done.
When you say Pro Audio It's the same as going to a. Super Hardware Store .Then someone tells you. It's Builder's quality. It means it works but move up the ladder PS : Dog Thank the Canada Truckers.
Thats from one of the Best Audio Hardware Professional Companies... Burn in Time ? Settings impacts changing makes Hearable Steps Forwarding! And Whats about the no noise by High dB volume ? there is nothing sounding where by others the AB Amps push by nothing to do sounding noise. And which Input use is a huge impact (Digital Coax better sound as toslink .. and USB Laugh loud i let the pc music normal mp3 transfer and go on the way to the Adi-2FS sending 32bit by around 364KHz , The RME is for some to clean cause thats no burn in time, settings (misunderstood), and the SteadyClock beside impacts of no noise which by other mostly 99% other DAC could not handle like RME Engineering this Pro Tool. its have the De interlace or phase mode which with turntable input sounds like for some at oldschool times. ( How the Hardware the Live Music impacts must see video about Depeche Mode changed ). All Chord or Shenzenaudio DAC are not bad but Based Engineering’s and not going over the edge and shadow for new impact?! for those with wanna have advantages and audiophile beside emotional touch... they will after Burn in Time and changing in the settings make the more most impacts instead of hearing it Neutral like from Factory coming without Time to get it Burning in the Tolerance. If changing Dephase mode, crossfeed, DAC Mode if changing between nos , brickwall , sharp sd (favorite with less dB lose) ..
It's not just loudness button promoted here - it's loudness adjustment functionality where you can edit on what level it start to be applied, manually form loudness correction curve on visual equalizer and so on...
EH..this just convinces me more than ever that DACs are the new snake-oil of high fidelity for average enthusiasts, like myself. Definitely….. $2000, $3000 or $7000 dollars would be better spent, in my mind… in some other area of one's system for more sonic rewards. I have a decent, modern DAC in my Marantz SACD 30N…but nothing special or extravagant…yet I find much of my hi-def streaming to be quite mesmerizing…I truly doubt that any expensive DAC would WOW me as much as maybe a pair of Rel T/5x subs at a fraction of the cost of one of these DACs.
It’s a very flawed review because you are also comparing the preamp on the RME. A much more meaningful review would just use the dac on the rme into the same preamp as the May Dac was using.
cool idea. But I wonder who would be using it like that. It would be also flawed because the May Pre-amp favours being paired to the May Holo (because that's what it was made for). We just try out things the way a person would use it so I don't think it's all that flawed of a video.
@@TJ-gz1ij It is flawed because it is an incorrect assumption that everyone is using the preamp function of the RME. I know from message boards that many if not most use it strictly as a DAC and the obvious and simple thing Jay could have done would have been to connect the RME to the same preamp as the May Dac and make that comparison at least in addition to using the RME with it's preamp function. Test it both ways. Bottom line is that we don't know if the differences heard were because of adding an analogue preamp to the May Dac. The RME preamp is just a digital attenuator - a very different thing. If you watch the Darko review he used the RME strictly as a dac in the review unless using headphones.
I have the RME ADI-2 PRO FS R BE and I can attention that it sounds way better as just a dac. When used as a line stage it does it through the digital domain and takes away from the actual sound as compared to just using as a stand alone dac.
@@Jayiyagi Unique, like iconic, is one of those words routinely misused. Unique in this context would mean that the RME is the only hifi product to have a loudness function which it clearly isn't. iFi for example have their own loudness implementation. It' s like the phrases "most iconic" or " very iconic". There are no degrees of iconic, something is either iconic or not. Can't believe I just posted this. What a pedantic idiot I am. Still, for me hearing this stuff is like nails on a blackboard. Loved the review. Just ignore me. 😉
Have a great sunday and thanks for tuning in !
Extra notes:
We kept mentioning the Canadian Pricing in this video on the RME. MSRP in USD is approx $2000.
RME ADI-2 Pro FS R: amzn.to/2Y1b87n
RME ADI-2 DAC FS: amzn.to/3jlOsad
SMSL VMV D1SE:
better warranty: apos.audio/products/smsl-vmv-d1se-mqa-dac?_pos=1&_sid=445b24cb4&_ss=r&&sca_ref=459032.WbootYrpIv&sca_source=apos.audio/products/smsl-vmv-d1se-mqa-dac?_pos=1&_sid=445b24cb4&_ss=r
amazon: amzn.to/3jobY6A
Holo May: www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-may-dac/
Holo Serene Pre Amp: www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-serene-preamp/
I have a question for Jay. Is it worth upgrading my RME ADI 2 DAC FS to a Holo Audio May (pre+DAC)? Using Benchmark AHB2, Hifiman Susvara, Mac Pro + Roon. IF YES, do you recommend the Holo preamp or another one? Which May DAC L1/2/KTE do you recommend for this setup?
@@tonyleungnl Nice set up ! Yea, I'd say go with RME if the list of gear reflects the sound you like (it's more similar)
For Holo stuff, Holo pre-amp seems to work the best as they designed it to match perfectly
Jay- Any chance you'll be doing a Tekton woofer review?
You might have reviewed the FS version because the only feature it lacks you guys didn't even mention: the analog to digital converter. The FS is better value having nearly the same features and the same sound as the pro version for less cost.
I just love watching 87% of audiophiles pretend to appreciate music, art and creative expression.
RME is the only honest DAC manufacturer in the market. The ADI-2 FS is a no bullshit product. It’s excellent, it’s highly functional, robust output stage, and neutral. I have auditioned DAC’s over $30K and believe me the RME ADI-2 pulls its weight.
I wonder if the Gustard 26x pro competes?
@@ufarkingicehole I just bought an x26 pro 😊
Couldn't agree more
I'm comparing to the Gustard x26 and also smsl d300. I wish I can get a review or opinion from someone who has compared them.
Believe you? Show us the data.
The RME ADI-2 Pro FS has also an A/D for Pro Audio.
The RME ADI-2 DAC FS is almost the same device but w/o A/D and is much less expensive.
In comparison, 1600 to 989 600 is not "much cheeper" rater they are both priced wayyyyy toooooo high..... if they were 900 and 300, than yes, 600 would be wayyyy cheeper....
I’ve been using an RME UFX for about a dozen years and it’s performed flawlessly which is more than I can say for my Apple mini Mac and its associated ITunes. RME works every time and any where with no hiccups
I have the AdI-2 DAC FS , absolutely amazing , its so incredible for the price , i use it for the basics , The DAC , is for me on par with the Chord Electronics Qutest , Headphone AMP.
So much bang for your buck
I believe the the normal ADI-2 Dac FS non-pro version includes adaptive loudness function as well. Interesting that the RME is an older product as this point too and the later versions are using a different dac chip because of AKM chip shortage.
Great video. As a proud RME owner I can tell you it has a scalpel sound. Its totally noise and distortion free with a S/N of around 120 dBA at the outputs. Totally revealing, it can offend some parts of the audiophile crowd being used to the distorted midrange of "audiophile" products. To give it a wam/cold rating is a total misunderstanding of the product. If you want to color the sound it has an excellent 5 band graphic PEQ.
It truly is a marvelous dac that is a must have.
Absolutely agree, I have version 3 of the RME with the ESS chip, and sounds fantastic, clear and precise, no adding that audiophile BS 3rd harmonic what you me call it crap! . Bad recordings gets murdered and good recordings are heaven. Parametric Eq is implemented very well and beats software versions. This gives out what you put in, without adding anything.
The RME ADI 2 FS R is a mastering grade AD/DA converter. If you have music on reel to reel tape, this unit would be excellent for digitizing it.
Given the fact the Adi 2 Fs is so good, I expect only excellence from this Pro version.
My “desk top” near-field set up is (running fully balanced) the RME ADI2DAC -> Singer S1-A -> (sitting under the desk) Rotel RMB-1095 bi-amping -> B&W 805. I know this isn’t really a desktop setup, but…The RME is an amazing desktop DAC.
Why to spent 2000 usd on PRO if you don't need ADC? Just buy ADI-2 DAC FS for the half of the price... It has absolutely same functionality and features like PRO version except ADC part
whatapp me+ ... - is a SCAMMER !
@@ДмитроЖигалкін yes it is. Thank you for letting me know. I have banned the account
@@Jayiyagi Hello, Can I ask, I am confused which one is better Hugo 2 dac or Sp200 dap or Cayin N8ii? (I have UM Melody MKII and listen music)
@@Jayiyagi why did you ban Ukrainian? Do you refuse to support them?
Did you ever try an instant A/B switch to compare DACs? Try it very precisely level matched at the output and then report what huge differences you can hear. It’s illuminating.
How so? When I did that, the differences were quite subtle -- even with my $2500 headphones
@@asplmn thats headphones for you
@@asplmn This is exactly what I meant :) Most modern DACs that cost more than $100 are so accurate and transparent that when perfectly level matched you won't be able to even distinguish them unless you are "golden ears". I A/B tested Topping D90 vs D90SE vs RME ADI-2 DAC and I could not find any audible difference with headphones, IEMs or speakers.
I've not tried anything "high-end" like $10k, but I bet it would be hard or impossible to distinguish too.
@@f1shb0n3d 1. Your ears are your ears
2. I have level matched many dacs partly because I’m in pro audio ,I’ve recorded dacs level matched to hear the differences and just simply AB’d as the poster and you have spoken about.
In some dacs there are subtle differences in others there are night and day differences in soundstage/depth low end and high end frequencies, R2R dacs have more separation in there sound in the mid and low mids and especially sound stage and depth while off the shelf dac chips (aKM,ESS) have subtle differences in the high and low frequencies,
There are clear differences! likely because the topology between dacs are not the same the tuning of each dac maker is not the same …not all dac makers want to create a transparent dac!
Level match 2 dacs record there outputs and try null testing where you can see clearly what each dac is doing to the audio …Dacs are different and your ears might not be able to discern it but many can especially those who do a lot of critical listening I think the better critical listeners are pro audio engineers cause not only do we listen we MIX audio which unlocks a whole new level of sound discernment and you don’t need golden ears ..lol the average bed room best maker can already hear these differences.
I mean the output stage of a 100 dollar dac lmaooo vs the output stage of let’s say the ADI DAC are you kidding me ….there’s a reason the dac COST MORE not with all dac companies but the best ones
About 2:05, Didn't you guys forget to adress the difference between the PRO FS and DAC FS. Any sonic difference worth talking about? Thanks :)
As far as sound, performance and treatability they are the same. The PRO is mainly used as a pro tool in studios so all connections are TS/TRS XLR. The the non-pro version is more for the average home user. Even in DAC fs form, it still can be an intimidating piece of gear to operate when you want to really get into the system (menus and options) so having experience or background on pro audio tools/gears helps. The PRO also has balanced and unbalanced headphone outs while the DAC fs only has unbalanced but adds an output for IEM. I have both.
I had the RME ADI-2. It has a wide soundstage but is a bit grainy and a bit flat sounding. Not too 3D. The analog output stages matter. And matter a lot
Hi there, totally agree, I have both the May and and ADI-2 FS (what are the chances of that!). they sound a little different in terms of tonality, but
Nightjar is correct in my view when he says that the RME sounds flat...left right imaging is very good, front to back imaging is not too great with the RME. still...for the price is an excellent unit! The May is in another league with regards to spatial clues...
@@ivanr5315 I have the ADI-2 FS, consider to upgrade to a Holo May. Is this step worth it? If so which L1/L2?KTE do you recommend using Susvara & Benchmark AHB2. Since I have the Susvara and AHB2. I feel and hear...maybe I need another DAC to bring this set to another level. Tho there is nothing wrong with the RME, I want to feel LOVE in my music again...hmmm again?
@@tonyleungnl :) I have the May level 2 I did not go for the level 3 just because of my personal policy on paying for premiums (call it diminishing returns....Pareto rule, etc.) I have never heard the level 3/KTE so I cannot comment on it. Is it worth the money upgrading from the RME to the May? This is a very difficult question for me to answer. If you feel that spatial clues are important (really well defined and 3D/holographic soundstage) as well as a very natural sound then yes, absolutely! Just for the different tonality....it depends as it is just a different flavour (I think the point has been made in this video). Look at the reviews from NRD and Golden Sound I think that in fairness their reviews represent the product really well. And off course if you have the opportunity audition it, do! Hope it helps
I just love the PEQ. Great to resolve room issues with bass.
Love to watch this new review format. Lots more effort on your part but it comes across as more authentic and relevant. To be honest, I'd just turn on the system and plonk myself onto the sofa and not bother with the features other than the loudness. That said, to each his own. Keep up the excellent work, boys!
RME reminds me of Mytek. Pro dacs with lots of utility that sound so good they’re used in home setups. Not saying they sound the same.
Great video - I'm not finished whole thing yet. Just like how you guys keep trying new things and evolving the format of your reviews. Nice not to always see the same framework and formal.
Im all dac out from all you audiofiles this dac that dac, etc....... I was thinking of upgrading my internal dac but after watching hunderds of dac videos from $99 to $500 over the last few mths the hell with all of them my internal one sounds great and thats it.
hey, I know it can be stressful sometimes but that's part of the fun in my books ! But if you want to just relax and hit the play button, the internal dac on most units are fine !
I get you buddy figuring out every piece of the puzzle it’s not for everyone I definitely love listening to other dacs other sources that’s my thing.
Good to see audiophiles endorsing some sort of control over their system sound rather than just having a volume knob. I usually use a low frequency shelf to listen louder at night.
Plus you can combine the two headphone outputs for real balanced use which sold me over the non pro one.
The spring 3 is now out with a pre-amp addition, still think this will be the way to go for an all in one unit
I'm so glad you reviewed the RME ADI2 again now that you tasted the May! I was eagerly waiting for GoldenSound comparaison between them but you did it first!! I have some questions I hope you can answer :
- If the source is a PC (USB cable) will it sound worse than played through a streamer?
- Did you guys listened to the "old" ADI2 DAC V2 and this new ADI2 Pro side to side?
- Maybe you forgot to talk about soundstage, holography and sense of 3D realness in the music. How the ADI2 compares with the May? Which tracks let you evaluate these points?
- If one owns a subwoofer, would that "tactile bass superiority" from the ADI2 over the May disapear since gain can be increased? or are you talking about something different?
- Besides the speakers/subwoofers, are there components that improve 3D spatial cues?
Thank you very much for your work and honesty!
Can a power amplifier be fed directly from the pre outs of the RME ? If yes , I'm ordering it tomorrow.
Yes it can.
It has 2 xlr but no phono outputs sadly.....
It would be useful to list in the description section all the equipment you talk about. Some of it may not be familiar to everyone and the way it is pronounced may not always describe how it is written.
the loudness setting is common on amps, it's designed for low volume listening it's pretty much a V curve eq.
actually not many amps have variable loudness control
Could you guys review a BorderPatrol DAC please? Curious to hear your opinions on it
Is the Headphone Amp in this enough to run the HiFiman Arya with enough headroom?
The DAC part is pretty run of the mill and HP amp portion on it is pretty mediocre if you're using the Arya v2 (weak-ish IC based HP amp). It may be powerful enough for the Stealths but I'd still rather run my Arya Stealths with a discrete Class A amp - they shine with Class A (I have a Gustard H20 amp and an SMSL Su-9 DAC). The PEQ portion is the main positive of the RME over other DACs, not ultimate DAC sound quality. Keep in mind that I'm going off of other peoples' impressions of it when compared to less expensive pure DAC options. If you don't need the PEQ features there are better pure DAC options for much less.
I've used many brands in the studio but once I switched to RME I never looked back.
That will be a very good DAC, their design is bulletproof.
That being said, I do feel that a lot of those features will be overkill for most hifi consumers.
At its heart you could get a another DAC with the same (measurable) performance for probably 1/8 of the price
As with most DACS
Hello, Can I ask, I am confused which one is better Hugo 2 dac or Sp200 dap or Cayin N8ii? (I have UM Melody MKII and listen music)
DAC maybe, but this is AtoD and DtoA.... pity its 1600 quid tho.....
Thanks for the excellent review again.
It would be nice if you could share the music used to review the products (or at least the style).
RME is a Swiss Army Knife, the Hollo is an ice pick.
The rme might do unbalansed phono input for phono equipement, but ynlike the adi fs, it dosent do phono out, i need to convert bect to analogue after this processes the signal, and all i can think about is using the headphone jack as a phono out,turned very low, but who knows what that would do to a cd writer that dosent have xlr inputs?..... tascam cdrw900 st or su?....
I’d like to see the terminator or the cord dave come down in price, I have the Geshelli labs j2 now , its good but there is always room for improvement.
I think these products are amazing I mean come on they're made in Germany that's already awesome I like when a company can manufacture something and design it in the same place where they thought of the whole idea. I. Love this product.
Ok now you are getting it, all your videos should be this way, be yourself, non scripted, not trying too hard, just more relaxed! Now this is enjoyable, thank you for taking the criticism and providing a good honest genuine review, well done!
You guys should check out studio gear more often, always better than overpriced Hifi !
Love how weird you become with a friend
what are those XLR cables can you give me the name and models please?
Thanks for yet another great video!
For reference sound (clear and clean and neutral and natural) to mix and master dialogue and acapella in a small studio. No extra bells and whistles needed, I just want the best possible reference audio. What would you recommend?
1. RME ADI-2 DAC FS
2. TOPPING A90 + D90
3. Or another option?
Nice review, it would be nice to test this dac with professional monitors like neumann
Love mine. I have it hooked up to a Yamaha cd-s300 as a transport, which happens to be recognizing iPod/Pad/Phon(s) as such when hooked up to its USB port (while it is actually CHARGING). So can I not only decode and listen to my 💿, but Deezer/Qobuz as well without turning on my pc hooked up to its USB port (running Audirvana or Reaper - for music production-). Finally, I also use a WXC-50 as a pure streamer for the RME, but also as a pre-amp for my MSP-5 class A/B monitors. I enjoy the RME ADI-2 DAC fs only through a Focal listen pro headphone with a bit of equalization in the RME. I could use thé RME balanced XLR outputs into my monitors, but that would add extra cables, which is not convenient in my case. Had I a pair of Genelecs though....
I'm not seeing this Model in the RME Product Line "RME ADI-2-PRO-FS-R" DAC
It doesn't have an R, I bought mine on a site called Thomann for €1100, it's a physical store as well.
Why do audiophiles focus on differences between devices and systems? I have two different systems, the speakers being especially different, both using computers to deliver the music files, and I am surprised by how similar they sound.
Hi Jay, can I ask you about the chair you use when listening ?
Is it comfortable and how high is it from the floor, thanks!
Love your channel.
Jay - nice review! What is your listening chair?
Okay, so what exactly is Jays taste in music?
Hello! I want the best dac/amp for gaming.
For me the most important thing is imaging and depth. Which one would you recommend?
RME babyface pro is enough for you needs. Plus you will get good microphone preamp
Does the loudness work if not functioning as a pre amp?
You beat me to it, I was gonna ask the same question. I have a separate preamp so I’m keen to know.
My assumption is it wouldn’t work as the RME would have no way of knowing the volume on the preamp so how would it adjust the bass/treble accordingly.
I need your advice please! I have Bluesound Node2i and am considering this dac, non pro as an external DAC. What would sound better : Node + RME or a streamer of a similar price, like some Auralic ?
I'm pretty sure you can process two signals at the same time for output (with two distinct inputs), but maybe not through head phones out.
It has two DAC chips and can do ADC so that's what you're paying for over the regular RME ADI 2 FS DAC.
Loudness is King.
I elieve you can, both headphone outs can play indepe dantly through internal switching, so 1 would do the aes or anologue in and be able to play any from any digital source including pc, and which ever one the fist chose, the seco d could choose from anyother source INCLUDING what the first chose..... so any of the 5 or 6? Inputs can be chosen to any of the headphones..... and the speaker outs....
Amazing unit.
The Chord Qutest is a better DAC but its just a DAC. So if you want to beat the ADI-2 soundly, you have to spent easily thrice the money for it. Because the Qutest is just a DAC, so you'll need a decent headphone AMP as well. So the best bang for buck is the regular ADI-2. No average consumer needs the Black Edition or much more...
My top advice, for people who really want their sound to shine, is the Quord Cutest DAC together with the Schiit Mjolnir 3. But as I said, it costs about 3 times that of the ADI-2 but it is better in every way. Espcially for 1500+ USD/Euro headphone users.
What about the Wharfedale Denton 85 compared to the elacs?
well, i can tell you, why you never picked the adi2. since day one is rme a company which stands for clinical, neutral, "flat"... because they always build for the studio, where you dont want to hear something more smooth or more bassy, midy or what ever. you always want the sound, how it is, so you know it will translate well on other speaker. you need to understand, rme is not for audiophiles, its for producer, the adi2 doesnt look like, but it is mainly for musicians, producer and so on. but it also works well for audiophiles, but dont expect any fake sound bettermaker. you get the sound how it is, but in ultra high quality. thats why you find rme in so many studios, made in germany says it all. always top notch high quality.
❤ your opinion
Well, We all know RME is coming from the Studio/Music Production Secene...,
so the DAC simply have to be more linear than the Holo Audio Dac. Actually
U sould know that and also mention it. Holo Audio is never 100% linear and the Sound
is definitely processed, but in a very natural and prof. Way.
How would this compare to the SU-9 Or the DO200 and the LOXJIE d40 and the LOXJIE D50 looking for a warmer less harsh Dac? I have the Ananda and the SMSL SP200
I have the Su-9 and it's very good. It's neutral and revealing but not over the top bright or harsh sounding like some DACs can be (cough*Topping*cough). The main plus for RME is for the PEQ features - the DAC, preamp, and HP amp parts are mediocre (esp the amp).
Be nice to know how this would compare to the Denafrips Pontus ii. Both units are comparable in price...
Always thought the PRO and the normal where the same sounding, according to RME…
Yes they would sound the same, Pro just has XLR inputs with state of the art ADC, digital outputs and 2x more powerful balanced headphone amp.
@@f1shb0n3d this is not what I’m hearing in this review… the PRO has more bass, warmer,…. How can you compare against something you listened to a while ago? For me it is hard to compare while switching between devices….
How would you compare the RME to the DAC portion of the Hegel H120?
I have a Hegel H80. A cambridge audio dac magic plus($20,thrift shop) on XLR in, outpaced that by a good margin. With my ADI-2 DAC fs the Hegel does the job as power amp.
You forgot to mention it has A/D and is 2k now.
If the highs are more detailed and the bass is more noticeable it means Its a far better audio quality, if something is smoothed, that means that it is a way worse audio quality (especially when you explain mid centric)
There no bass emphasis on RME, it just that the other lack.
Also if you want to test a converter, you need to record it on another device, level match to perfection or this is useless unfortunately, if one is 0.1db louder Its gonna seems better, if there a noticeable difference again that means a DAC is colored or not in the same league as the other by far.
Nice review. Seriously, if you want to make a big $$$ from views. Make a video on how to set the bloody thing up. I'm still trying to setup my RME ADI-2 fs, and I don't consider myself technically challenged. It really needs complementary software.
Watch RME ADI-2 official videos and read the manual. They helped me overcame the menu.
I was shocked by the preamp function myself
Looking into this
Dude, if that's how he hears sound that is his opinion. Why correct him. Other than that, great review. Keep on what you are doing. Enjoyable presentation.
Its got the analog inputs I want but no spidf :(
It does have SPDIF actually. It uses a special expansion cable which is included for more inputs.
@@ThujanK Thujan, my man, thank you. That has cinched the deal for me. Everything I want in one package.
Usually USB is best with highest sampling rate and that's what I use but in case of the RME, it also has up sampling via spdif.
I Just bought the adi 2 dac fs and IT Will be ariving today 🙂👍
Does IT have akm OR the new sabre dac chip?do they sound different?
Thx for a the review
Go to RME website forums. You can differentiate the versions AK 4490, 4493 or ESS by a letter in the serial number. They sound the same they say, the RME dsp/fpga tech is what sets it apart from other DACS with similar converters.
AND...it has a great EQ.
Is this with their recent change to ESS Sabre DACs?
Yes
@@Jayiyagi the pro version never changed to ESS Sabre DACs, those are still AKM DACs.
Ok, gonna open a can of worms....love the review....no mention of MQA...backing away slowly now. 😀 seriously, Jay, you don't see any value in mqa or lack therof?
Have you not looked into the MQA scandal? It's worse than compressed music.
A much better comparison would be the Holo Audio Spring 3 level 2 with preamp functionality, almost similar priced. Loudness is mainly an issue with digital volume control (or analog potentiometer). The Spring 3 has a stepped attenuator, which means it will preserve full dynamics at lower volume levels as well. KTE also has a different voicing than the normal version, with its silver components and wiring it is likely more detailed than the standard copper version.
You also don’t seem to get further than mentioning bass and mid range, what about soundstage, placement, imaging, decay, timbre, etc. Usually a dac has no voicing at all. It seems like you mostly listen to modern music, because the differences between these dacs are very apparent on all those aspects. I had the standard RME in my system, it was flat, clinical and digital sounding (digital sounding applies to all delta sigma dacs I had in my system). If you need a tube preamp to make your DAC sound more analogue/musical, your DAC sounds digital/clinical and not musical on it’s own. The RME is developed with pro audio in mind and this is exactly how it sounds.
A/b comparison is also the worst way of assessing a DAC performance. Live with it for at least a week and than start to compare. Your brain has not yet been accustomed to it. Also in a/b comparison you are focussed on the tone too much, which is pretty obvious based on your over simplified assessment. Only a limited amount of reviewers really takes the time to assess something properly and with different equipment.
The best dac costs $13,500. My Sanskrit 2 and Hidizs S9 Pro both cost around $115.
OMG you just called Zeos a deaf fool! lol
Please try Chord Qutest!You will be amazed!
After careful research I was down to the RME ADI 2 or the Gustard A22 , I ended deciding on the Gustard for what my actual needs and preferences were . I just wasn't going to use all the features on the RME and aesthetically and most importantly sonically the Gustard A22 is amazing for the @1250 .
unless im mistaken,,the FSR has both an A>D and a D>A. if one is just using it to listen to music theres no need to pay for an extra A>D converter
Hot tip: I spoke to the tech dept at RME and was told that the discontinued previous version sounds almost indistinguishable to the new Black model (just a 3dB difference) and they can be found with huge discount (while stocks last). The only disadvantage is it doesn’t have a remote, but as most amps have remotes, I’ve not found it a problem.
The problem is on a really good analogue sounding system it does have noticeable digital glare. For this reason, it’s now the weakest link in my new system and I’ll be looking to replace it with a new DAC (but I won’t sell it as it’s a high quality ADC).
Remote can be bought separatedly…
@@ДмитроЖигалкін thx, but the model is not built to function with a remote...that’s why they didn’t include one.
@@GodfreyMann Yea, that can be a problem.
But I personaly not using remote on my rme - had fixed volume on it and changing it via streamer or tablet tidal, depending on how I’m connecting…
That 'loudness' feature used to be offered on almost every receiver. My old '70s Pioneer SX990 has one.
I know what you mean as I had my fair share of vintage receivers and you are not incorrect. However the Loudness setting on the RME is way more subtle, useful and advanced.
Some receivers I had just boosted the highs and lows at "ANY" volume (making it V shaped and louder). Some did it better than others but nothing close to what I saw on the RME
The loudness on ADI2-DAC/PRO is progressive. The more attenuation the more loudness. Its quite ingenious and totally customizable. +1 to +10 db bass and treble gain, independently. Set between - 90 to -20 db. Applied over a 20 db range.
Damn, I tried to like those Tektons, but they are ugly compared to your other ones. They look like those suitcase bluetooth speakers you see out there. But great vid fr fr! I'll hafta try RME sooner than later. Looks like German over engineering at its finest.
ADI sounds good, but it has a retarded balanced headphone socket. I believe the only reason they did it so was to save some money by keeping the chassis same as the older models.
They did a unique and great implementation of balanced output, read the manual for info on that. Having two separate headphone outs allows you to A/B compare headphones with different EQ and volume which is super useful.
Yes the connectors are non-standard for balanced, but you only buy one adapter cable and you are done.
Hi Jay - Can you/we do something with scammers thriving on your giveaways like "whatapp me+ ...." ???
ruclips.net/video/qQS89qnKdPk/видео.html
Nice
When you say Pro Audio
It's the same as going to a. Super Hardware Store .Then someone tells you. It's Builder's quality. It means it works but move up the ladder PS :
Dog Thank the Canada Truckers.
Thats from one of the Best Audio Hardware Professional Companies... Burn in Time ? Settings impacts changing makes Hearable Steps Forwarding!
And Whats about the no noise by High dB volume ? there is nothing sounding where by others the AB Amps push by nothing to do sounding noise.
And which Input use is a huge impact (Digital Coax better sound as toslink .. and USB Laugh loud i let the pc music normal mp3 transfer and go on the way to the Adi-2FS sending 32bit by around 364KHz ,
The RME is for some to clean cause thats no burn in time, settings (misunderstood), and the SteadyClock beside impacts of no noise which by other mostly 99% other DAC could not handle like RME Engineering this Pro Tool. its have the De interlace or phase mode which with turntable input sounds like for some at oldschool times.
( How the Hardware the Live Music impacts must see video about Depeche Mode changed ).
All Chord or Shenzenaudio DAC are not bad but Based Engineering’s and not going over the edge and shadow for new impact?!
for those with wanna have advantages and audiophile beside emotional touch... they will after Burn in Time and changing in the settings make the more most impacts instead of hearing it Neutral like from Factory coming without Time to get it Burning in the Tolerance.
If changing Dephase mode, crossfeed, DAC Mode if changing between nos , brickwall , sharp sd (favorite with less dB lose) ..
Jay's such an audiophile, he's never seen a loudness button before. Ha!
of course I have ! I'm just excited to see it here
It's not just loudness button promoted here - it's loudness adjustment functionality where you can edit on what level it start to be applied, manually form loudness correction curve on visual equalizer and so on...
EH..this just convinces me more than ever that DACs are the new snake-oil of high fidelity for average enthusiasts, like myself. Definitely….. $2000, $3000 or $7000 dollars would be better spent, in my mind… in some other area of one's system for more sonic rewards. I have a decent, modern DAC in my Marantz SACD 30N…but nothing special or extravagant…yet I find much of my hi-def streaming to be quite mesmerizing…I truly doubt that any expensive DAC would WOW me as much as maybe a pair of Rel T/5x subs at a fraction of the cost of one of these DACs.
Maybe a bit cheaper DAC and as well a good sub in combination? That’s my chosen pathway.
@@mr.hansen8433 so many choices!!! 👍🏼
7 to 8 grand!!!!
It’s a very flawed review because you are also comparing the preamp on the RME. A much more meaningful review would just use the dac on the rme into the same preamp as the May Dac was using.
cool idea. But I wonder who would be using it like that. It would be also flawed because the May Pre-amp favours being paired to the May Holo (because that's what it was made for).
We just try out things the way a person would use it so I don't think it's all that flawed of a video.
Nope. It's flawed that you can't see the merit of the comparison.
@@TJ-gz1ij It is flawed because it is an incorrect assumption that everyone is using the preamp function of the RME. I know from message boards that many if not most use it strictly as a DAC and the obvious and simple thing Jay could have done would have been to connect the RME to the same preamp as the May Dac and make that comparison at least in addition to using the RME with it's preamp function. Test it both ways. Bottom line is that we don't know if the differences heard were because of adding an analogue preamp to the May Dac. The RME preamp is just a digital attenuator - a very different thing. If you watch the Darko review he used the RME strictly as a dac in the review unless using headphones.
I have the RME ADI-2 PRO FS R BE and I can attention that it sounds way better as just a dac. When used as a line stage it does it through the digital domain and takes away from the actual sound as compared to just using as a stand alone dac.
You buy the ADI for the features, not for the DAC or the Amp part. There are better DACs and Amps for the price.
Digital sounding. Clean but not bright.
Bruh
headphones zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....................
"loudness" setting is unique? gtfoh. cred through the floor with a comment like that.
It is unique. You don’t see it in a lot of hifi dacs
@@Jayiyagi Unique, like iconic, is one of those words routinely misused. Unique in this context would mean that the RME is the only hifi product to have a loudness function which it clearly isn't. iFi for example have their own loudness implementation. It' s like the phrases "most iconic" or " very iconic". There are no degrees of iconic, something is either iconic or not.
Can't believe I just posted this. What a pedantic idiot I am. Still, for me hearing this stuff is like nails on a blackboard. Loved the review. Just ignore me. 😉
@@jimfarrell4635 welp. Its a free flow video. Give it a break on those things. I’m sure most with a brain can decipher what I meant
@@Jayiyagi I'm truly ashamed to even have brought it up. Now as to your use of the apostrophe....
Kidding.