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RME User Forum → ADI-2 & 2/4 Pro series, ADI-2 DAC series → A/D conversion FS vs Pro FS R BE
hi!
I want to expand my 802 via AESEBU with one of those units, I only need ADC and DAC.
I read somewhere that the DAC is identical, how about the ADC?
also, for the FS I would have to use this cable:
https://www.musicstore.de/de_DE/EUR/MUS … 011999-000
that wouldn't affect the sound, right?
thanks 
jean
hi!
I want to expand my 802 via AESEBU with one of those units, I only need ADC and DAC.
I read somewhere that the DAC is identical, how about the ADC?
also, for the FS I would have to use this cable:
https://www.musicstore.de/de_DE/EUR/MUS … 011999-000
that wouldn't affect the sound, right?thanks
jean
Hi,
the ADI 2 DAC FS provides one chip as a DAC, it comes with the ESS chip.
If you need two chips incl. ADC you might go with the PRO FS BR model. It is equipped with two AKM chips.
Hope that helps.
thanks Aurelius, but I'm not talking about the DAC version, just the regular FS vs Pro.
both come with AD/DA
https://rme-audio.de/de_ADI-2-FS.html
vs
https://rme-audio.de/de_adi-2-pro-fs-be.html
I need to know if the ADC is identical
According to the product page:
"The ADI-2 FS also uses the conversion technology of the ADI-2 Pro: the AK557x family and the AK4490 not only offer 192 kHz sampling frequency and lowest distortion, but also a dynamic range of 120 dBA."
So, the ADI-2 FS seems to have the same AD/DA converter built-in like the older model ADI-2 Pro FS.
But not the same as the newest model ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, which uses e.g. more recent converter for D/A: AK4493
(sorry, A/D is not being mentioned here.
I propose you compare technical data from the manual, if this is of importance for you.
Regarding sound, most likely no audible difference. Transparent conversion, no mojo/house sound.
There is one important difference regarding ADI-2 FS vs. all other ADI-2 Pro products:
ADI-2 FS supports "analog loop-through" without AD/DA conversion between Analog IN and OUT, in this case only for monitoring, D/A conversion is being used.
Due to the design of the ADI-2 Pro, you always have an AD and DA conversion when routing from analog to analog.
Regarding ADI-2 FS, maybe also worth to be "highlighted", unlike ADI-2 DAC/Pro it has no USB.
Also no AD/DA filter, auto-reflevel and other ADI-2 DAC/Pro specific features.
See manual chapter 9:
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2fs_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2fs_e.pdf
Here are the manual links of the other products, if you want to compare technical data and do the Excel job:
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2dacr_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2dacr_e.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2profsr_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2profsr_e.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi24pro_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi24pro_e.pdf
awesome, thanks @ramses!
I have no need for all the other features. that they might be sounding the same is good news.
Also, amazing that you found details on the converter models. I wonder how my 802 does in comparison. is the adi2 FS already a big step up?
also, I'm often doing quiet recordings, like whispering and foley and such. The AD of the pro FS R BE has lower noise floor, in combination with a good preamp that would be an advantage over the adi2 FS, right? (3db?)
And, do I get this right, the pro FS R BE has 5db more input gain over the adi2 FS. But When I push any preamp output 5 db more, the noise would increase 5db, so it doesn't matter?
...I'm often doing quiet recordings, like whispering and foley and such. The AD of the pro FS R BE has lower noise floor, in combination with a good preamp that would be an advantage over the adi2 FS, right? (3db?)
Noise in recordings of very quiet sounds is solely determined by the self-noise of the microphone, if it contains electronics like any condenser mic does.
If you are using dynamic mics the mic-pre’s self noise is the limiting factor.
All the mentioned RME converter’s noise is so far below of what will be connected, that it doesn’t make the slightest difference, assumed you feed in a half-reasonable level.
Choose what fits best to your feature demands.
hi KaiS,
thank you. This is actually something I can't wrap my head around for a while now.
When I digitally amplify something I recorded, then I do not only amplify the mic and preamp noise, but also the converter's noise floor. all noises add up, and when one element in the chain (for example the converter) has less noise, it is overall less noisy. What am I missing here?
best,
jean
First: hearing perception is logarithmic.
Example -10 dBV = 0.245 V and -30dB = 0.0245 V
add both = 0.2695 V would be -9,17 dBV.
Only 0.83 dB more, not much, BUT
Second: noise is random, signals are completely unrelated, it does not add arithmetically, but statistically.
Square root of the sum of the squares:
0.245² + 0.0245² = 0.06 +0.0006 = 0.0606
Take the square root: 0,246 V = -9.956 dBV
Difference to - 10 dBV is 0.044 db = imperceptible.
If one unrelated sound is 6 dB less than the other, the result increases by only 1 dB!
If one unrelated sound is 16 dB less than the other, the result increases by only 0.1 dB!
See https://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/ … ities.html
Therefore, all higher quality elements of the chain can be ignored, if the difference is high enough.
When I digitally amplify something I recorded, then I do not only amplify the mic and preamp noise, but also the converter's noise floor. all noises add up, and when one element in the chain (for example the converter) has less noise, it is overall less noisy. What am I missing here?
The converter’s noise is at least 10-100, even 1000 times lower than the mic amplifier’s 1st stage’s noise.
If a drop of water falls into an almost full bottle, you won’t notice a difference.
hi KaiS,
thank you. This is actually something I can't wrap my head around for a while now.
When I digitally amplify something I recorded, then I do not only amplify the mic and preamp noise, but also the converter's noise floor. all noises add up, and when one element in the chain (for example the converter) has less noise, it is overall less noisy. What am I missing here?
best,
jean
Why don’t you test it for yourself? As Kai pointed out, the limiting factor regarding noise with condenser mics is the microphone, when you use dynamic mics then it’s the SNR of your preamp (Fireface 802). It makes no audible difference if you use the FS vs FS R BE.
I would order one of those mentioned and see if it fits to your signal chain.
The ADI 2 PRO FS R BE is used in some high end mastering studios, I would assume there won’t be any noise problem at all. But with the FS it should also be of no concern.
rawac, KaiS, Aurelius,
thank you so so much! This was very revealing, and people like you always make me want to come back to this forum
I go with the adi2 FS then.
RME User Forum → ADI-2 & 2/4 Pro series, ADI-2 DAC series → A/D conversion FS vs Pro FS R BE
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