> Except the original ADI-2 from 10 years ago, I would think, but maybe even then....
No, when FS came up then MC told, that an upgrade because of FS soundwise is not required.
All devices had at the beginning the same DAC chip AK4490 up to ADI-2 DAC FS / ADI-2 Pro FS / BE.
Meanwhile I think that the DAC chips of today do not differentiate themselves by creating better sound.
They all do a proper (transparent) D/A conversion.
But ofc they also differentiate themselves in terms of certain features, like e.g. number of channels, DSD or not, SNR, etc ...
But higher SNR is only higher SNR, not better sound.
I think therefore it was easy for RME to switch the DAC chip to ESS for availability reasons ...
It needed only some adoptions as the ESS chip has over detection not automatically included in the DAC.
But for that RME - as I understood - reserved some headroom, so that at the end its again the same.
The DACs nowadays perform all a very well AD and DA conversion.
Small differences you might get from the implementation of the analog stage behind the DAC chip itself.
Some people on Audioscience review are the opineon, that a different or a "signature" sound of a DAC is not possible when all has been implemented. Sound differences and something like "signature sound" would indicate, that a transparent high quality conversion has not happened.
The ADI-2 DAC/Pro is IMHO the clear winner in terms of a clean implementation which takes care of high quality / transparent sound like it should be. Plus all the little features that make a difference as Steadyclock, 4 reflevels, auto reflevel, Bittest to really ensure end-to-end, that you have lossless sound, etc.
Differences in SNR and THD etc are nice to see in measurements, but are already on such a high level which is not audible.
If you hear "no noise" with -120 dBA, well then you will also hear no noise with -124 etc.
Well, darker than dark is .. still dark
Then you should perhaps take more care about, which music you are listening to (is it also on that high level).
And most important room and speakers.
With better speakers you get really easily audible effects.
So the ideal strategy is IMHO to get smth like ADI-2 * for clean implementation and outstanding features.
And then burn the rest of the money with speakers and room optimization.
BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13