1 Topic by HIFI (edited by HIFI 2021-09-04 12:31:17)

  • HIFI
  • HIFI
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Topic: RME ADI-2DA What is the difference in sound between them OPT,Coax,USB?

Hello.
Who compared the digital inputs of the RME ADI-2 DA FS.
What is the difference in sound quality between OPT,Coax, USB?The highest quality sound when using which digital input is it possible to get at the output?
Which digital input do you recommend?

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2021-09-04 12:48:58)

  • ramses
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Re: RME ADI-2DA What is the difference in sound between them OPT,Coax,USB?

If memory serves me right then we had this topic already in the forum, there is no difference.

Digital transmission is lossless and you can proof this yourself with an ADI-2 Pro/DAC by performing the Bittest.
Better than lossless / "bit perfect" transmission is not possible.

With the ADI-2 DAC/Pro the final D/A conversion will always happen with the internal FS clock.
The Steadyclock based design decouples external and internal clocks with the goal to eliminate any clock jitter from outside and to deliver an optimum D/A conversion with the internal femto second clock.

Detailed information about RME SteadyClock technology you can find here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti0aHW-zYcs

Otherwise .. the use of ADAT / optical SPDIF (via TOSLINK cabling) is recommended because of the galvanic isolation between devices to fully avoid any potention problem with hum.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13

3 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS 2021-09-04 22:11:12)

  • KaiS
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Re: RME ADI-2DA What is the difference in sound between them OPT,Coax,USB?

HIFI wrote:

Hello.
Who compared the digital inputs of the RME ADI-2 DA FS.
What is the difference in sound quality between OPT,Coax, USB?The highest quality sound when using which digital input is it possible to get at the output?
Which digital input do you recommend?

They all sound the same.

I did compare USB and the AES and SPDIF inputs and there was absolutely no difference.
In fact I compared different sources so the interface comparison was just a side effect.
Listening was with TOL STAX’s and Hifiman headphones, and 30k$ speakers.

NO DIFFERENCE, PERIOD

Depending on your configuration the wired connections can introduce a ground/hum loop, which is not in the responsibility of ADI-2 but the other connected devices.

In this case it’s best to use optical, because there is no conducting metal wire involved.

If you don’t hear any hum, you don’t have that problem.

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