Hi Fritzi,
device comparison excel
perhaps my Excel spreadsheet can help you find differences that might be of particular importance to you in your decision-making process. Everybody uses his interface in the recording area a little differently, so that there can also be different focuses and needs, for example pure recording vs. playing via virtual interfaces, see: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … B-MADIfac/
Direct link to the Excel: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/index.ph … -04b-xlsx/
UCX II - summary of changes
Please read also my summary, that I posted after the introduction of the new UCX II as it highlighes changes and improvements: https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=33222
The list of additional / upgraded features is very long between UC / UCX and UCX II.
There are now several possibilities...
a) I am satisfied with what I have.
b) There are a lot of improvements and additional features, I just have to have that.
c) I wouldn't necessarily have to upgrade, but I would like to counter-finance by selling my UC while it still works and doesn't age much more to get the highest possible resale price (~€600 should still be possible), but would then have to pay around 1299-600 = €700 extra.
d) If I already invest €700, then the jump to other solutions is also not far:
UFX II: 1879-600 = €1279
UFX +: 2198-600 = €1598
e) or integrating an ADI-2 DAC FS or ADI-2 Pro FS R BE into the current solution:
Keep UC + ADI-2 DAC = €966
Keep UC + ADI-2 Pro FS R BE = €1699
More options - Integration of ADI-2 DAC or Pro FS
Regarding last option e), see also my blog articles about:
1. The integration of an ADI-2 DAC/Pro into a RME environment:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … our-Setup/
2. The different models and interesting features of ADI-2 DAC/Pro:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … ses-EN-DE/
Some advantages of the ADI-2 Pro
The ADI-2 Pro I would recomment over the less expensive ADI-2 DAC model for the following reasons:
- to have two DAC chips so that you can run both, monitors and phones at different volumes
- to be able to make headphone comparisons which need two phones outputs
- to have a SRC (sample rate converter) in the setup which can become very handy when e.g. connecting devices which can not read the clock rate from your environment or have a fix clock (like e.g. a DAT device)
- to be able to connect the ADI-2 Pro not only through ADAT/SPDIF but also through AES, this keeps your recording interfaces ADAT ports free for other expansions (Preamps, AD/DA converter, link to HiFi as Monitor B, ..)
- to also have high quality analog inputs
- to have also digital outputs when needed, then you can also use the feature dynamic loudness on digital outputs if needed.
- supports the four typical studio levels
ADI-2 DAC/Pro - DA-Filter Selection
One of the unique features of ADI-2 DAC/Pro "high-end converter" compared to the "recording interfaces": with the ADI-2 DAC/Pro you can select different D/A filters of the DAC and maybe have the same findings as KaiS, that the Slow D/A filter gives also you the best listening experience when it comes to certain details of audio playback:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 68#p177168
It gives you the best possible quality using current equipment and is a well basement if you should intend to invest into better monitors / headphones in the future. If you check such devices at home, then you have already a solid basement in the ADI-2 DAC/Pro for best D/A conversion.
If money is no objection
Combination of UCX II and ADI-2 Pro FS R BE: 1299+1699=€2998
The UCX II as recording interface gives you already a lot that also UFX II would give to you in terms of quality and features (analog section, mic and instr inputs, Autoset, DURec features, FX, Class Compliant mode, Display ...).
The ADI-2 Pro FS R BE is the ideal companion to make the good even better.
To sum up
The options reach from improving your recording interface up to getting the best payable AD/DA convertion on the market to improve your monitoring section with an ADI-2 DAC or Pro, where the ADI-2 Dac/Pro models can also act as kind of monitor controller to have ultimate control over the end-volume of your setup and finally to have the best solution for monitors and phones (kind of "payable" end-game here).
BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14