1 (edited by Thermaltake 2021-06-03 09:02:46)

Topic: UCX or UCX II

Hi, I am proud owner of FF400. And I think it's time to switch on USB card of course among other benefits, and I was planning to buy UCX. But now I saw that on 1st of June UCX II was introduced. And now I'm in debate should I wait July for UCX II to come on shelfs or should I buy UCX right now ? I am in no hurry. But I'm curious what's the difference between UCX and UCX II ? Is it worth spending what like 200$ or maybe more on UCX II ?

Re: UCX or UCX II

According to my research

Multi-channel level meter on the front like UFX
Four buttons have been added to the front
Compatible with SteadyClock FS
AD SNR from 111dB to 112dB, DA SNR from 111dB to 112dB
Impedance of 3,4ch IN changed from 470kΩ to 1MΩ
Maximum microphone gain from 65dB to 75dB
Headphone impedance changed from 30Ω to 1Ω
Compatible with DURec
Compatible with ARC USB (also used as DU Rec terminal)
MIDI input / output can be connected directly from the breakout cable
AES/EBU input / output has increased
AES/EBU and S/PDIF are breakout cables
DC jack became a lock mechanism
Firewire is gone
MIDI in / out changed from 2 to 1
From two word clocks to one (switching between input and output with one terminal)

I am very attracted to UCX II

3 (edited by hardyroede 2021-06-03 10:56:02)

Re: UCX or UCX II

Cool comparison. The better preamps and DURec alone should justify 200 $ and waiting until july. Plus standalone features, direct programmability via encoders... Awesome machine.

MADIface(s) Pro, UFX+, MADI Router
Mac mini Intel, iPad Air 2020
ProTools, Hindenburg

Re: UCX or UCX II

https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=33222

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

Re: UCX or UCX II

I agree awesome machine.  I am just wondering no On/Off switch on device ?

6

Re: UCX or UCX II

Zoom into the pic, read under the encoder knob wink

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

Re: UCX or UCX II

MC wrote:

Zoom into the pic, read under the encoder knob wink

Oooh my bad. Didn't see that big picture. Nice composed On/Off button into that knob.

Re: UCX or UCX II

Can you maybe show us inside of new UCX II, I would love to see how it looks inside (I am IT guy). What components you used, caps and other stuff.

Re: UCX or UCX II

Thermaltake wrote:

I agree awesome machine.  I am just wondering no On/Off switch on device ?

Does it remember its state?
E.g. can the UCX II be switched on via an external power socket switch or does it need to be switched on separately every time?
Thanks!

10 (edited by Thermaltake 2021-06-11 21:58:38)

Re: UCX or UCX II

hselters wrote:
Thermaltake wrote:

I agree awesome machine.  I am just wondering no On/Off switch on device ?

Does it remember its state?
E.g. can the UCX II be switched on via an external power socket switch or does it need to be switched on separately every time?
Thanks!

It must have some kind of memory to save last state.

As I get it, there is only one switch, knob one.

Re: UCX or UCX II

yea, so when it's hooked up to an external power socket it probably it needs to be switched on separately every time, right?

12 (edited by Thermaltake 2021-06-11 06:03:35)

Re: UCX or UCX II

hselters wrote:

yea, so when it's hooked up to an external power socket it probably it needs to be switched on separately every time, right?

You hook it on external power supply, and by default I think it's turned Off, and then you press knob for 2 seconds and it turns On.
You don't need to unplug power supply every time from box when you leave studio or go to sleep it's unnecessary you just turn it off on knob. Unless it's thundering outside and you don't have proper wiring in your house.

13

Re: UCX or UCX II

hselters wrote:

Does it remember its state?
E.g. can the UCX II be switched on via an external power socket switch or does it need to be switched on separately every time?Thanks!

It remembers the last state, so external power-up is no problem. It has the same advanced power logic as the ADI-2 DAC and Pro.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

14

Re: UCX or UCX II

So am I right in thinking that the converters in the new UCXII are not as good as the Babyface Pro FS?

Re: UCX or UCX II

Rez wrote:

So am I right in thinking that the converters in the new UCXII are not as good as the Babyface Pro FS?

Can you please explain how you come up with that? Otherwise, it is difficult to answer this question.

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

16

Re: UCX or UCX II

I thought the chips used were of a slightly inferior spec ....  I am just wondering how it compares to say the Babyface Pro FS or UFX series sound wise?

17 (edited by ramses 2021-06-12 10:22:29)

Re: UCX or UCX II

[Re-edited here and there, pls read again]

The converters that are offered today all operate at a very high level. From individual selected technical data such as SNR or THD, something like "listening quality" cannot be derived directly.

I see here certain similarities to "ADI-2 Pro vs ADI-2 Pro FS vs ADI-2 Pro FS R BE" (the latter with even newer AKM chip).
Different technical data and feature set .. but from audible sound aspects, IMHO absolutely the same quality.
I had them all to simply be up-to-date, but to be very honest, I can't recognize any audible differences / jumps. Same good quality like I am used to in front of my studio monitors and my high-end HiFi.

Decisive for the overall quality of a product is also the correct control of circuits, especially circuit design and PCB layout, as well as RME specific features like Steadyclock to eliminate jitter. Especially in these very important areas RME has the necessary know-how and delivers the needed quality.

With RME there is no unnecessary voodoo about "mojo in the sound", RME devices are characterized by a transparent sound, which in my opinion comes closest to an unadulterated listening experience.

A much higher influence on the sound image has de facto speaker selection, acoustic optimization of the room, placement of the speakers / seating position, selection of power amp and your hearing capabilities and whether you have trained ears.

If you want to hear differences between different converters, I recommend to download the original .wav files to the following Youtube video, which was created in a professional mastering studio and get your own impression of converter differences. Here the ADI-2 Pro (old model from 2016 for ~€1650) is compared with devices Lavry and Crane Song, which are in the price range between €4000-8000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doHG32aXBDY

I wouldn't focus too much on converter differences and certain technical data, from which no sound quality can be derived directly anyway (differences between 115 and 118dB, for example, no one can hear with the best will in the world).
Rather than that I would propose to better take a look at the feature set.

So when comparing e.g. the from you mentioned BBF Pro FS and UCX II:

The first thing that stands out about the UCX II are the great preamps of the UFX II, which are a real plus with 75dB amplification factor and also support higher input levels (even without PAD). With these it is much easier to get a higher level out of even quiet dynamic microphones and the whole thing as noise-free as possible. These are the same preamps that are used in the top model 12Mic.
Or e.g. low impedance headphone outputs with a higher output level, in order to be able to operate high-impedance headphones better.
And then the really great feature DURec, which wa in the past reserved for the premium models.
There might be more highlights, but sorry, I typed already a lot.. All the features and enhancements of the UCX II I put together here: https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 27#p171327

If you really want to have the best D/A conversion quality, technical data, RME spezific accumulation of genious DAC features, then you need to combine
- a RME recording interface with TM FX and the typical mix of routing capabilities, mic preamps, analog and digital ports and
- ADI-2 DAC or ADI-2 Pro like described in this blog article:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … our-Setup/

I personally think that neither BBF Pro FS nor UCX II would disappoint you, but it depends on your requirements.
If price is no hindering point, then the UCX II offers you with no doubt the better package / features.
IMHO the UCX II is a real "no-brainer" .. get it and you will be very satisfied.

As these are all aspects based on my own personal experience, may I suggest that you get both and simply try it out yourself, if you should be unsure what to buy ?

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

18

Re: UCX or UCX II

Thank you for your detailed response .... I will have a listen to those .wav files. So basically when you get to this level it all becomes subjective. Its more about the features you require and you should just get on with making music.

Re: UCX or UCX II

MC wrote:
hselters wrote:

Does it remember its state?
E.g. can the UCX II be switched on via an external power socket switch or does it need to be switched on separately every time?Thanks!

It remembers the last state, so external power-up is no problem. It has the same advanced power logic as the ADI-2 DAC and Pro.

Thanks! That is amazing.

20

Re: UCX or UCX II

Do you know when we will see these units in Australia? ..... my music shop can't tell me when.

21

Re: UCX or UCX II

Rez wrote:

Do you know when we will see these units in Australia? ..... my music shop can't tell me when.

I know that's probably an impossible question for you to answer ... but just a ballpark idea of when we can expect to see these units in this part of the world?