• Registered: 2021-12-18
  • Posts: 30

Topic: Difference in Sound Quality, Babyface vs Fireface?

Hello,

I have Neumann KH120's in a small-mid room.

I have the regular Babyface(Ladyface). I am curious if there is a hearable(audible) audio quality difference between this, and the RME Fireface UCX II?

Thanks.

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 4,169

Re: Difference in Sound Quality, Babyface vs Fireface?

To my ears probably no difference audible.
Your ears are better than mine and you are trained to hear small details then.

If you don't need more In/out connections I would stay with the old babyface, it's still an excellent device.
The UCX ll is newer and has lots of connections, very good if you one day want to do more.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

3 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2023-11-26 16:12:01)

  • ramses
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  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 12,847

Re: Difference in Sound Quality, Babyface vs Fireface?

Observer200 wrote:

Hello,

I have Neumann KH120's in a small-mid room.

I have the regular Babyface(Ladyface). I am curious if there is a hearable(audible) audio quality difference between this, and the RME Fireface UCX II?

Thanks.

The Babyface is from 2011, this is 12 years ago.  It's designed for mobile use and can be operated with bus power from USB2.
By this, you have some limitations like e.g., weaker headphone outputs, no FX section, ...

Feature wise, the UCX II is with no doubts the much better and more advanced unit.
I also regard it as very likely that the more recent converter of the UCX II will offer benefits sound wise.

But you should give it a try.

Alternatively, you could think about connecting one of the reference converters to your current setup
- ADI-2 DAC FS,
- ADI-2 Pro FS R BE
- or even an ADI-2/4 Pro SE
via ADAT / optical SPDIF.

See information here
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 06#p165706

and also from my blog articles:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/Ent … our-Setup/
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/Ent … ses-EN-DE/

The new ADI-2/4 Pro SE is not yet included in my overviews, but maybe you heard already about the differences.
See product page, manual.

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