Note to Waedi: Before suggesting buying in Switzerland, are you sure you know where the buyer actually lives?

AFAIK ... Recommending a purchase there can create significant disadvantages regarding warranty and guarantee.

If the buyer does not reside in Switzerland, the statutory warranty of their home country does not automatically apply, and only the manufacturer’s warranty can be claimed, which depends on the regional service partner.

Shipping costs, longer processing times, or returns to the country of purchase may be required.

Even for someone in the EU, buying in Switzerland is not without complications, as Switzerland is not part of the EU.

Purchasing in one’s own country or within the EU is usually much simpler and legally safer.

Yes, I mentioned it as well later in the OP but nothing wrong with specifically calling it out. The shop owner mentioned it to me as well when I was asking about the 2/4.

I suppose the best thing for me to do is just wait and see what’s coming to replace these converters. Hard to imagine the line would be completely dropped.

I have to assume the same, so maybe I even got lucky? Time will tell, thanks for the replies.

An ADI-3 DAC with 2x USB input would be awesome.

I used an Toppin HS02, which is normaly an USB isolator as switch for this.

Let me give a bet - with no other root than imagination:

From the converter line only ADI-2 Pro is kind of redundant, as ADI-2/4 Pro SE can be seen as a successor.

Other than that, a major overhaul of the whole USB-line could give a reason to clear-out sale the existing ones.

Like, for e.g., with the continuous price drop of processing power the line could get TotalMix FX to open up the platform to a certain kind of application that is not yet covered at all:

Situations where the best possible AD-DA conversion is requested in a studio interface.

Just speculation from my side, but if at all I’d bet 10 bucks on that.

Now my guess based on gut feeling and remembering the original rationale behind these models.

I think RME will keep the current lineup with three devices.

The ADI-2 DAC FS was introduced at €999, positioned just below €1000, and tailored more towards HiFi use. Its reference levels are optimized for HiFi equipment, it adds a dedicated phones output for IEMs, and omits studio-oriented features like AES I/O and additional digital outputs.

What some users missed were analog inputs to digitize analog recordings, which require an AD converter. That’s why I always recommended the ADI-2 Pro FS R BE instead: adding analog I/O to the DAC FS via an ADI-2 FS becomes pricier than directly buying the Pro model, which also includes more features.

The ADI-2/4 Pro SE was launched as a “special edition” for studio and HiFi users with higher demands. It started around €2480, clearly above the Pro model at €1550–1650, and only makes sense if you really need the extra functions such as turntable support, a fifth reference level, Pentaconn output, trigger port, etc. Its last price was around €1950.

IMHO discontinuing the ADI-2 Pro FS R BE would be a mistake. Its mid-range price makes it accessible, and it remains attractive for HiFi users who want to archive analog sources in the highest quality. It combines analog I/O, digital outputs, AES I/O, balanced phones, and also an SRC—at a still reasonable price given the feature set.

Therefore, I believe RME will continue to offer three models covering price ranges of about €1000, €1500, and €2000. If one product were discontinued, then only two combinations would remain:
A. ADI-2 DAC FS       +  ADI-2/4 Pro SE
B. ADI-2 Pro FS R BE +  ADI-2/4 Pro SE

While the DAC FS succeeded largely due to its €1000–1150 price point, option B makes more sense. Features like analog I/O, SRC, and balanced phones are relevant for HiFi use.

Finally, a lineup with only the ADI-2/4 Pro SE would likely shrink sales, as not everyone wants to spend €2000–2400 right away. And if a successor model were to appear, its launch price would probably be closer to €2400 again.

If RME stays with this compact format, then there is no room for a module, or heat will pile up.
Better leave the internal space as it is...

A module also makes everything pricier, including the module itself.
If they are not being sold in really high runs, then it will happen like with the MADI module, where you had to pay €400 for it.

The both ADI-2 Pro and ADI-2/4 Pro are labeled Discontinued, not Unavailable in the e-shop. So, I guess the production has been terminated, not just temporarily stopped.

But, it may be so, that the same devices will come, but for example with a new better remote, or something like that. Simply, just updated packaging.

Like any other vendor—and as RME has done in the past—new products will only be announced once they are actually ready, not beforehand. So please don’t expect RME to reveal such things in advance.

As a result of that, there can't be any other source of information than RME. So, just wait and see.

One thing is certain: RME wants to sell products, so something will happen—either a new shipment of the existing models, or the release of new ones. I don't know, and I’m curious as well. ;-)

It was on ASR during the summer. The new ADI-2 DAC is coming "within a year". I can't find the actual article there anymore. It was in one of the numerous RME threads on that forum.

There was also a story on this very forum about the ADI case change in the summer. Apparently, ventilation holes were planned as a new feature on the case, and MC himself commented on it. That gave me the idea that something like this is really in the plans. I can't find the actual text anymore either.

Guys, let’s face it, the current ADI-2 line-up definitely needs a significant update!
Why?
Because the original pricing for the DAC (1290€), Pro FSR BE (1790€), and the Pro SE (2490€), the price/performance ratio is not good anymore.
Due to the very limited additional feature set, I never understood the premium of 700€ of the Pro SE over the Pro FSR BE.
It should have been offered for the same price as the Pro FSR BE, as it is a very common practice for updated consumer products.
I agree, that this was a missed opportunity to consolidate two similar products, which would have strengthened the Pro SE's market position.

Currently, the competition in this market segment is intense, and differentiator erosion has significantly impacted all ADI-2 products.
If you consider just the DAC section of any ADI-2, you will find that even DACs for less than 300€ outperform the RMEs.
The same goes for the headphone amp. You can find much better DACs/headphone amps for a fraction of the price (e.g., Topping DX5 II, JDS Element, Fiio K13).
Regarding the ADC, several products are available that measure almost as good as the Pro models but at 10% of their price.
Even features such as the display, spectrum analyzer, 10-band PEQ, PEQ and DAW SW are nowadays offered by many brands at a fraction of the RME price.

The ADI chassis is becoming a limiting factor because there is a lack of space for enhancements such as additional connectivity, AirPlay app support, OTA updates, a larger display, and more.
Earlier in this thread, somebody also mentioned thermal issues.
As a home audio user, there are many more things I could have listed, but I’m sure RME is fully aware of it.

Before you start mentioning the quality, support, and SW updates, other companies have improved quite a bit on this front and even outperformed some of the traditional brands.
For me, the ADI-2 Pro FSR BE is still a great product as it provides many features in a single device.
However, I hope to see a great ADI-2 Pro successor product at a competitive price!

Hey Guys, lets not mess with perfection.

I evaluate 3  basic criteria for this.

1. Specs have reached the point of diminished returns. Low SNR and THD are now ubiquitous. It's beyond my level of hearing(except dogs and bats). Even if there was another 20 dB of improvement, I would not replace my existing RME equipment.

2. Can I output at least 19dBu on XLR? This is the sweet spot for interfacing to my amp and audio equipment.

3. It drives all my headphones at proper levels. Previously mentioned DACs from the PRC may have great specs but their voltage levels are not professional grade.

As I was typing I thought of another overlooked point. The documentation and support are amazing. I don't know of another company that has this level.

When I consider the whole package, I think I'm getting a pretty good deal.

Personally I do not want a larger ADI-2 DAC chassis for desktop use, especially not wider.

Any news on why it's been discontinued?

Would be logical, as ADI-2 DAC, ADI-2/4 Pro SE and ADI-2 FS (the one without DSP and display) do cover all use-cases.

ADI-2 Pro is quasi redundant.

Let’s see, one thing is for sure, there will be something new anytime in the future.

Meanwhile, the existing ADI-2’s still sound as good as ever, and will stay like this whatever happens.

According to the US website, https://www.rme-usa.com/legacy-products.html

ADI-2
ADI-2 Pro FS
ADI-2 Pro FS BE
ADI-2 Pro AE
ADI-2 DAC
ADI-2/4 Pro SE
ADI-2 Pro R BE

All legacy now...

Might be. It is strange that current models have disappeared and nothing new is replacing it.... Mainly now at the end of the year when people and companies do buy a lot....

Either stock has been sold out sooner than expected, or something has been delayed in production chain, or some kind of software/firmware caused delay.....

The paradox is that ADI-2 DAC seemed to me to be EOP since this summer as price has droped down considerably. But it is the only model that is still available to buy.

one can only speculate, but the dps-2 power supply might just work with future models as well.

Maybe an update in pricing, but technically, the current product line may already call itself overengineered.

"Outperform" in which way? A few dB here and there of SNR according to Audio Science Review's lovely database beyond any threshold of hearing?

The topping DACs don't even get the de-emphasis right for pre-emphasised PCM sources despite the CD-standard demanding it.

Also, when comparing mostly theoretical numbers, one should also consider RME's pretty unique feature of the Auto Ref Level which keeps the SNR even higher over a wide range of output gains (technically, whether that makes any audible difference when the usable dynamic range is naturally limited at lower listening volumes, is a different matter).

It's undisputed though that one can get away a lot cheaper than using RME's lineup and still get audible transparency since quite some time.

That's another vague claim thrown in as a fact. In what way? Output power, SNR, dynamic range, output level protection for the user when replugging, clipping behavior, output impedance?

Measurement- and audibility-wise today's halfway decent sound cards including on-board would probably do it. For sure, RME is more expensive. One pays for caring for the details, the great documentation and the support (and maybe the brand in terms of profit).

Not that I question it, but a bit more concreteness would be nice here as well. Which ones specifically?

That may be, but keep in mind, that all that online and network and OTA stuff nowadays also increases the likelihood of bugs. If I see how many issues today one can have with all that HDMI, eARC, network streaming and whatnot update for the update for the update fuss and how a CD-player from 1982 just works, I'm not sure if we're actually improving here.

Too late, I am afraid as I already did. Since I always feel triggered to challenge overgeneralization and vagueness, this is the manual for the RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE. How do the ones of the "other companies" look which have improved a bit on this front and again "outperformed"?

Maybe the simple solution would be to offer the same products at a lower price. On the other hand, maybe RME doesn't need to as popular enough amongst professionals. When in doubt, I personally prefer well-developed products and long product cycles over the "update-ritis" which I consider a spreading decease these days.

+1

For some reason, I thought that with the influx of other companies into the consumer audio device market, RME decided to withdraw from this market segment and focus only on professional equipment.

Working in the equipment maintenance field, I have firsthand experience of how consumer devices can last for decades. The only obstacles might be the lack of compatible interfaces for connection or the absence of driver support in newer systems. Knowing the company's thorough approach to all its products, I hope for long-term support for the ADI-2 series devices in terms of fixing bugs through firmware updates and releasing stable device drivers for existing and future operating systems.

NAMM is not far away and 30 year anniversary around the corner. Let's see four weeks from now.

@unplugged

Not sure if that was necessary. Giving the benefit of doubt, maybe the poster is just happy with Topping products.

What I was wondering though after reading Pervasive_Silicon's post, was whether it's fair to compare a product which to a great part seems to rely on a PC resource with additional software to the RME all-in-a-box solution which includes not only a dedicated display but also a wide range of setting possibilities within the device.

I mean, that one can have similar (audible) audio performance and also a lot more powerful EQ and whatnot with any PC nowdays, is hardly the question. Of course, just get a halfway decent notebook and hook it up to some external USB sound card.

But is it what RME buyer's want or is it rather the versatility, reliability, very decent "also measurable" advantages, extremely good documentation and company support?