I put together some information about the different models and RME technology / features that you get.
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … ses-EN-DE/

Quality wise .. you won't get a better device for the money with features that are outstanding / RME specific.

The four different reference levels will give you a higher SNR over a wider range of output level and the feature auto reflevel will choose the proper reference level and will honor your B/T and PEQ settings for the calculation which reference level to use. Also dynamic loudness is part of the calculation to use the ideal reference level to maximize for highest SNR and dynamic.

But as ning said .. no DSD512 .. but tbh .. who really cares. My personal opinion is, that DSD is overrated and only complicates things. You loose useful features because not every feature is available anymore when using DSD and then the large file sizes are also a pain to be download and stored.
As far as I know DSD content is in many cases simply based on PCM masters and DSD can not deliver any additional benefit.
I personally do not know any DAW software in studios that work with DSD files as native format.
So at the end everything is PCM based anyway from the beginning.
For me personally it's more pleasent to work with lossless wave/flac files, this content I can also easily transfer to mobile devices or laptop and carry it much easier with me.

Do not waste precious money for too expensive USB cables, digital transfer of audio data does not require it.
See my article about the bit test, which makes it possible for you to check lossless transfer of audio data end-to-end plus the CRC detection in the ASIO driver.

As an audiophile, you will be in many cases ripped off as a customer who is obviously willing to buy and you will be sold a lot of stuff with full-bodied promises, which in many cases is not necessary and only costs a lot of money.

Welcome to studio engineering, it's more about the cause than marketing. Should you think that studios with educated audio engineers are less audiophile than somebody who describes himself as audiophile (to have high quality expectations) then you are on the wrong track. The music you consume is produced there.

1st of all .. if there would be any high noise, be it through USB or the power supply ... how should the ADI-2 DAC be able to have such low values on SNR, THD ?

I do not know the Raspberry platform, as I do not need it. But aren't there also optical interfaces available ? To avoid any noise simply use optical transmission (ADAT, SPDIF), this provides galvanic isolation.

You can check whether the digital transmission through USB is ok, by checking the CRC counters in the RME driver. After installation of the ASIO driver you only need to use players that are capable to support ASIO drivers and keep the driver settings windows open during audio playback. Then watch the CRC counters. If there are no CRC errors, then the digital transport of audio data happened without any issue.

Next things for perfect / lossles audio transmission "end-to-end" is to check the audio stream itself.
If you turn the volume of your audio player down only a little, then the transmission is already not lossless anymore.
RME offers the so called Bittest. Test files (WAV format), that provide a certain bit pattern will be played by you in the audio player (best is to use the ASIO driver to exclude the Windows audio subsystem as much as possible). These test files are available for different sample rates and are free of charge. If this bit pattern arrives unmodified from the player up to the ADI-2 DAC/Pro then the DAC will show on the display, that the Bittest was successful.

By that you can fully validate the 100% lossless operation of your digital signal path.

In the blog article that I referred to you will find further information about RME features like Steadyclock, that ensure proper and very effective elimination of any potential clock jitter. The clock / timing will be fully refreshed by Steadyclock mechanism at the ADI-2 DAC/Pro and the D/A conversion will be performed with the devices own FS (Femto Second) clock.

RME is very cautious when measuring and is very open in communicating measurement values, see manual. The devices reach these excellent values. And it can be reached with the cheapest USB cable and with the power supply that will be provided / delivered with the DAC.

I don't want to start a religious war, but please get used to the idea that some things may work differently than you think, have heard or are used to.

When you play digital music via RME Adi-2 DAC FS, you smiles.

The biggest source of (electrical) noise pollution in a system like yours is the computer.

Optical would be the cleanest connection, as it completely isolates your audio chain from the computer environment.
Some USB filters try to do the same, most don’t.

BTW: it’s not about to “improve” the digital signal in any way, which is not possible and makes no sense for bits and bytes.
It’s about suppression or isolation of ground related electrical pollution that can creap down your chain up to your power amp / speakers.

BTW2: if you just listen to ‘phones plugged into ADI-2 this all is of no concern.
ADI-2 itself is completely immune to external disturbances, will deliver a perfectly clean signal whatever you feed it with.

Before considering a change in the interconnect department, execute a simple test:
• Run a VERY quiet piece of music, like some pianissimo classical recording.
• Now bring the volume up until it does sound “normal” loudness.
• Stop the music.
• Do you hear any noise?
• If not, you don’t have a noise problem!

If you hear noise, come back here and we will assist you, how to setup a noise-free system.

Besides all the technical mojo ... the ADI-2 DAC FS is a little masterpiece of electronic, it's extremely well designed and worth every penny. You can't go wrong with it. Simply try and have fun with it.

Can either of the two headphones drive my 300 Ohm Sennheisher headphones well?

Hi Lizard!

Manoman, before we succumb any further to "Analysis Paralysis"...

It simply must be understood that RME communicates with, and understands well the needs, and use-cases of it's user base.  (This Forum plays a Role in that)  To better serve it's customers, and when warranted to do so, RME tailors the various subsystems within the ADI-2 DAC / Pro to suit those needs more precisely. RME has been doing this a long time, and so you can trust that your Sennheisers will present no obstacle to the RME.

I understand pre-purchase Due Diligence, but were you to actually connect an ADI-2 DAC or Pro into your system, you would quickly hear/observe that the Hand-Wringing, Gray Hairs, and Sleepless Nights were all for naught.  Using Actual Science,  The RME lays waste to the myriad of lesser devices that can only make weak promises (insert names here)

Indeed, I had my Magic-Infused, Extra Sensory "Audiophile" days...and now I am just SO done with BS, "Imagineering" with my Gear.     I want gear that works for real.  (Something that my Wife can hear!   Without her adopting some kooky audio "belief system" ...

"Dear?  Surely you can hear the MASSIVELY enlarged Soundstage, and Nuanced Presentation Yes?"

Blank Stare..... 

(The Reviewers Lied)

Based on those horrid experiences...

The RME suits me well!

Wife Likes it!! 

Aside from all of my sordid history, please know that the vast majority of us here are plain old RME Users. (Some of us older than others) We're not Paid Reps, etc.    As many others here, I paid Hard US Currency for my ADI-2 DAC, and I don't miss a Penny of it.  This thing works good!!

I've been here a long time, and know that none of us would promote a product that didn't perform to our likings.

From my vantage point high atop a Lofty Perch amidst the User Base over some Years...I've been impressed!   Gosh!   The DAC I bought 3yrs ago is no longer the same device!   Firmware revisions have brought about numerous useful improvements, and have continually added Value, and utility to my purchase, at no added cost/inconvenience to me.

In short?

Your Satisfaction is now only limited by the absence of an RME in your playback chain. 

You know how to correct this I'm sure.

Best,

Curt

Oh!!  One last note:

*  I've never in 3yrs invested so much as a single Femtosecond troubleshooting "Noise"   

Unless the Audio System is completely Balls'd up...There is no noise.  That's a real life user fact.

Quote: “From my vantage point high atop a Lofty Perch amidst the User Base over some Years...I've been impressed!”

Frankly, I’ve been impressed by your vantage point.

It would stunningly impress anyone, as it is an extremely lofty perch, atop indeed!

Quote: “Curt, I love the word "Imagineering"”

It’s a great word to describe the creative genius of whoever came up with TotalMixFX!

But is in fact what is known in English as a contraction or portmanteau. The compressing together or blending of two words to formulate an altogether new one.

An example of a such a contraction would be the word irregardless.

A word certain people like to contend with me, that there is no such word!

Appearing for the first time in 1795 and emerging from North America, this contraction of two words gained sufficient use across the world in writings, that it was included in the dictionary.

However, it is a merely a contraction of two words that could be readily be used entirely interchangeably, irrespective and regardless. Blended together to create the word irregardless.

(I have a pal who works in the New Word Dept. of the OED, widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. Its amazing, both how many new words emerge year by year, and how radically they can change over time).

One important differential between the OED and most dictionary’s, is that both the original meaning of the word is given, as at its first recorded use; and every recorded change in that word’s meaning chronologically, as it has evolved over time. Enabling the tracing of the history of a words development over centuries. The extraordinary thing is, some words today, mean the exact opposite, that they did originally. The word "Fine" is a good example.

Thus, “Imagineering” is a contraction or portmanteau, a blend of two words "imagination" and "engineering".

Its meaning, is the implementation of creative ideas in practical form.

The word was originally created by Alcoa, Cira 1940, and used in a great many publications of various types, many scientific, which ensured its inclusion in the dictionary.

(For a word to be accepted in the OED there are very strict rules. These relate to the number of times a word is used in printed publications and the world-wide extent of their use and acceptance internationally).

“Imagineering” is in fact a registered trademark of The Walt Disney Company, “Walt Disney Imagineering”. However, as explained, neither Disney nor anyone in his company “imagined” or "engineered" the word. I have some great stories about Walt Disney, but will spare you them here.

LizardKing123, after you got the Dac, just plug and play, nothing more but enjoyment of true sound of music!

Lizard!

I decipher from that you're in NY State.  Ok!  I spent a number of years living in the Hudson Valley.  Really fine area.

So?  Get your RME ordered ASAP, and let us know!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best!

Curt

Splendid!

Thanks for sharing that, and trust that you've made a wise choice.   

Welcome to the User group!

Curt

Nice, but you won't recognize an audible difference, plain USB cable with good connectors will do.
My preferred cables come from Lindy, I take there the premium cables with good plugs and shielding.

Belkin doesnt exactly fall into the high-end cable department. My advice to you LizardKing123: take a look at Thomann website for your interconnect and speaker cable needs. They have ALOT of no-nonsence products. Readymade or DIY. With very reasonable pricing. You´ll learn something along the way too. (I did manage to find a €80 1 metre spdif coax cable though, which I bought, but thats just me ) If you read yourself up try to get cables that are into the specification of the formats like 110ohm for AES, 75 Ohm for spdif etc. Dont use longer cables than you need so they dont wind up in some snake nest of RF interference and capacitance. Keep it nice and tidy so you dont fall on them sending your new DAC flying through the room.

About the RME generic USB cable. My DAC came with a faulty one which disconnected everytime I let the air out. No biggie, I have kilometers of USB cables laying around from building PC´s. Needed a longer one anyway.

Thick cables can also be too stiff, so that the bending force exerts a lateral force on the plug on the unit. It is also not so nice for laying a cable in the room. Some cables have too small a bending radius or have a tendency to loop and not lay well.

To put one example where I know it (for coaxial cables it's similar): For TOSLINK cables the best example is Mutec vs Sommer Cable. The Sommer Cable is too stiff and it's additionally problematic to plug/unplug them if the plugs on the device are close to each other.

Very good: https://www.thomann.de/de/mutec_optisches_kabel_1m.htm
More like a pain: https://www.thomann.de/de/sommer_cable_ … l_075m.htm

The RME s so musical. triedmy 300 Ohm Sennheisher headphones, the dac did a decent job driving them, i will try and enable the higher power setting.

Hi all,  I am trying to pull the trigger on my purchase.   I am  in the U.S. (Kentucky).  Not many places here to buy from.  Is Amazon a legit place to buy the REM-ADI-2 DAC?  The images I see, are mostly of a "black" colored box.  I like it.  Are they all black or do I need to choose the color?   Lastly,  I am a little confused (a lot actually) about the FS modal verses the new version.  I don't need the "Pro" modal, I am just a guy who wants to listen to digital music on my analog amps and speakers.  Is it the RME-ADI-2 DAC I need?  That is what I though it was called, so confused with the "FS" initials.

I'm sold on the unit, just want to make sure I get the right one.

Thanks all!

Hi Marshall!

Sure.. Amazon is a Legitimate Seller.  Also in the US, we have Large, Pro-Gear Retailers like Guitar Center, and Sweetwater. 

They're all great to do business with, so take your pick, as they all have an ADI-2 DAC ready to send to you!

As I had told Lizard, the Holiday Shipping Crush peaks around Dec. 15, so get your order placed right away to avoid delays. 

You're gonna love your new RME!

Curt

*do take the time to review Ramses' "Tonstudio" overview of the RME line-up that Ning linked above.

here it is again:

https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=32506

Ramses invested a great deal of effort to consolidate all of that information into one, easy to read document.

Adorama also has stock

Internet radio, youtube, online music etc, you need streaming service, for example a piece of hardware such as iPhone or iPad plus an Apple camera kit USB3, (smart TV with toslink out too) or a computer with internet connection (*).
CD player with toslink or coaxial output will work with RME dac.
Then you need an Amp or a pair of active speakers.
If your amp has phono in, it would be fine for traditional turntable.
(*) you can use a USB turntable together with the computer.

Most likely other members here will provide you more advise

Johannes: I write to slow, sorry for the double posting.

a USB turntable would work, but they are really at the bottom of the turntable foodchain. Often cheap and plasticky

You all are terrific!  That pretty much does it for me.  I'm all in on the RME-ADI-2 FS.  We have a fiber internet connection and get some crazy fast speeds.  So connecting a great ADI-2 FS through my PC listening to online music should be very good. I also have an old Onkyo CD player with a tosslink port (it's is about 30 years old, but has been in boxes most of that time. It should be fine for now and I can always upgrade someday). I have a great SONY TA3200 amp (100w circa 1972) in mint shape that sounds nice along with a set of Klipsch Heresy's (also circa 1972) - mint as well sounding good.  I'm excited to get this all up and running.  I miss having music in my life...   Thank you all for the awesome support.  I am glad I joined this forum.  :-)

You are welcome

If you run a pc with a CD drive, you can play CD from it too, or rip the CD, store the files in the hard drive with your favourite collections. even an external CD/DVD drive can do the job, then from the hard drive you can play as many songs as you like by few clicks, no need to change discs physically.

Lizard,

Beyond the fact that DSD anything is completely unworkable in the production phases of Audio, (where it REALLY matters) and a total Resource Hog on the playback end...

You have to wonder what your really getting with these alleged "super hi-res"
downloads.

My developer Son tested some of this material. His report to me?

"Dad!  This is Bullshit!  It's only 0.25db louder, but has the exact same Spectral content as the Redbook CD!  Both capped at about 12khz...no more...whatever you think your hearing isn't actually there"

So what did I pay for?

See there Lizard?  I've seen the Hi-Res data, and no longer believe that I'm getting more, because I'm not.  Because so much care went into their creation, the finest, most involving recordings in my collection tend to be 44/16.  Here's a YouTube example:

https://youtu.be/f9Ry7PqYfd8

From a Christmas Themed Album (Cantus: "All is Calm") that should (WILL) bring you to your Knees.  This Recording is the result of Tremendous Talent, and Engineering Expertise.  Not Sample Rate.

Summary:  Caveat Emptor.  The Ear is easily fooled by digital tricks applied afterward.

Curt

Johannes,

Yep!  It's Crap, and we agree.

The SAME little Boy that I once chased away from huge, Hot Class A amplifiers has now become the Man that reveals BS to me.  Life is Good!

Best to You my Friend!

Curt