what an amazing post !!! it solves several issues of mine by one.
Had a hiss in certain situations, always had to monitor at -30db main etc blabla.

I bought the JTS MA-123 (thomann German site https://www.thomann.de/de/jts_ma_123.htm) inserted directly between the balanced cables and the speaker input and voila !!!!!

...no hiss + monitoring up to 0 db with the speakers even cranked possible + cheap headphone out into the Fireface UFX I with a Y-cable creating a tinitus like sound....gone.

its just amazing !
best invest in my past 25 years !

Really interesting stuff. I'm having the same issues with my BFpro fs. Output is super hot, monitors turned down as low as they can go. It's workable until some random system sound blows them off their stands. So I took your sound advice and spent £40 on the JTS attenuators. All good.......
Then I had a skim through the manual and game to this little nugget tucked inside page 45

I'd never seen that before so I flipped it over and holy shit there it was.
Switched it to +19 and problem solved. Gonna have to return the attenuators, that haven't even arrived yet.

WHY did nobody mention this switch in that whole thread? Is it a recent addition to the hardware?
Herr Carstens, you need to update your thoroughly informative post
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 42#p120442

The switch is a major feature of the BF Pro 'FS' update.

I know, I know...I should have spotted it. In my defense, it is a really feckin small switch.

That link names the correct version as U, not H.

I'm having a variant of this issue, with my sennheiser hd600 connected to my BFpro headphone out. All meters close to the bottom, the output meter on the interface never goes above 1 led. Any recommendations on how to resolve this issue?

Thanks for the post.  Does working at -30 dB have an impact on sound quality and resolution than at 0 dB or does it only matter to work better with a DAW?
Thank you.

Hey all,  I am new to RME and this is my first post so apologies if i got something wrong in this post.

I just picked up a BFP FS and i love this thing. Everything is working great but i have a couple of questions maby you could help me with if thats ok.

I have the switch set to +4dbu, my DAW output in Total Mix is set to -10db and Main Out set to -10db in Total Mix. So it's down -20db in Total Mix outputting to the BFP FS for good listening levels. This gives me good level into my Focals and my Output LED meter on BFP FS is hovering around half way, lit up 50% lets say. Everything sounds great.

My question is will this effect the sound quality at all in the unit with D/A etc working in this range, or should i get some JTS Mic attenuator MA-123 and set them to -20db to get everything to 0db across the board. I have no problem picking some up i am just after the best option.

Second question is. I replaced my monitor cables and i bought Mogami 2 Meter – Quad Balanced 2534 before I noticed most people recommend the Mogami 2549. My fault i should of checked.  Will a 2m length of 2534 quad going to each monitor be ok or should i grab some of the 2549. I like the sound of my 2534, I am just looking to optimize my set up and keep the output as true the BFP FS as possible.

Thanks all..

... nor the choice of the type of cable.

Great,  thanks for the help

What is that added attenuator good for?

Ok, what about this ? Switchable between -10, -20, -30 dB: https://www.thomann.de/de/jts_ma_123.htm

The ADI can be used with attenators down to 1k, so even the 4.7k/150 would work.

Hi,

I have used the RME ADI-2 FS as DAC in my system since May 2019, with this gear and signal path:

AudioPC >> ADI-2 DAC >> Naim 202 pre-amplifier >> Naim HI-CAP PSU >> 2 x Naim NAP250 power-amplifier >> Audiovector R3 speakers. So 2 x NAP250s used to bi-wire the speakers.

With Naim's special way of connecting components the signal is routed through the HI-CAP PSU which provides power for the 202. With this set-up, Auto Ref Level ON, ADI-2 set to -10dBr volume and +7dBu reference level, the 202 volume control operates around 20% from start. The (vintage) Naim NAP250s, from what I can find out, has specification of 1.6V and 24dB gain.

While looking for tips regarding filters and PEQ I came across posts on using ADI-2 FS as pre-amplifier, and this discussion on level matching. Given the quirkiness of a Naim system I was wondering if the ADI-2 could drive the vintage NAP250s and the bi-amping configuration, and only way to find out was to give it a try!

Playing the first track was unsettling as there was a significant change in the overall sound, with first impression of 'something' missing. But then, after playing different tracks and genres came the realization that a significant amount of coloration was no longer there. With the Naim set-up, when listening at 'home concert level' (when wife is out) there is a certain compression-like feel to the sound which gets uncomfortable after a while. With the ADI-2 as preamplifier going directly to the NAP250s the sound is scaling to amazingly high volume with wider soundstage, higher resolution and better clarity and importantly, very musical overall performance. It is not often during 40+ years in hi-fi that I have had such a profound eureka moment!

So using the ADI-2 as preamp is the way to go, which brings up the balancing theme. Listening at normal level (music, TV), with Auto Ref Level ON, the ADI-2 volume setting is around -40dBr. When I listen to music at the home concert level the ADI-2 volume is in the range of -25dBr to -30dBr with reference level of -5dBu. The sound stage is rock solid and no distortion audible.

So the question is if this is ADI-2 operating within its high performance envelope, or if using attenuators will provide further optimization. The NAP 250 has 1x XLR connector which is connected to RCA out on the ADI-2. So RCA attenuators like the JTS MA-123 can only be connected to the RCA out on the ADI-2, while I understand from your initial post MC, that the MA-123 should be connected to the NAP250 input, which is not possible with current interconnect cables.

Input, advice and recommendations much appreciated!

The NAIM seems to have a very unusual unbalanced input via one XLR female socket. According to your numbers you could use the Rothwell RCA attenuators, the version for putting them on the outputs, with -20 dB attenuation. The MA-123 are fully balanced and no good match here.

Hello everybody. Mathias, kindly I would like some advice. I'm using the ADI-2 DAC FS in balanced with a pure dual mono power amp with Hypex. I find it great, I only use RME and took the preamp out. Right now without attenuators I'm having the ADI 2 do everything, auto ref mode on and loudness on. There is everything and nothing is missing even at very low volume in the evening. But in the evening the ADI 2 signals me from -50 / -60 db. I would like to ask you if in my case it is recommended to put the attenuators in the XLR inputs of the power amp, for example the JTS MA-123 and what advantages I would get. A thousand thanks! Danilo

AFAIR Hypex amps include an amplifying input module that can be removed if you have a balanced high level source as the ADI-2. Check that with the manufacturer, it would reduce the amp's gain by more than 10 dB, respectively raise your volume setting at the ADI.

I'm going to buy the ADI-2/4 PRO SE as soon as it's released, to replace an 11 year old Crookwood mastering console (conversion, monitor controller and headphone amp). I'm a mastering engineer who uses ATC powered monitors, which don't have any kind of attenuation built in, always running at full power. With the Crookwood I generally have the monitor controller set around -20 to -30dB. I work on all sorts of music, some of which is pushed to silly levels, and I monitor in the room at around 77dB SPL. The Crookwood has always made it easy to set the monitor gain with its switched analogue relays, while maintaining full resolution. So two questions really:

1) Should I bur a pair of the JTS MA-123 inline attenuators along with the ADI-2/4

or

2) Does the ADI-2/4 not really need this, and I will be fine to do everything digitally?

Thanks! I understood the topic fine. I'll grab a pair of the JTS attenuators when I order the 2/4 then.

Still considering two attenuators for the new ADI 2/4 when it arrives, before it hits the ATC monitors. I need between 20 and 25dB of attenuation.

Here are the current specs for the JTS and the Shure devices:

https://www.jts-europe.com/products/mic … es/ma-123/
Input impedance    1.6 kΩ
Output impedance    660 Ω

https://pubs.shure.com/guide/A15AS/en-US
Input impedance    1 kΩ
Output impedance    150 Ω

According to MC's notes in the OP here, it seems the Shure would be the better fit, as it's lower impedance? The higher cost is no object as I am looking for the best theoretical sound quality.

Has anyone tried any of the line level attenuator alternatives to the JTS in the OP (Shure, Audio Technica, Pro Co, etc)?

It looks like the JTS isn't available in the US, so I'd have to get it imported through Thomann. The shipping fees (at least for me) make it almost as much as the Audio Technica AT8202 and more expensive than the Hosa ATT448, so I'm curious if anyone's tried any of the others.

Also just to report back for anyone else interested. I went with a pair of the Shure A15AS attenuators in the end, been running them constantly for nearly 18 months now, at -20dB. They work great. They are plugged directly into the back of the Pro 2/4 SE, then balanced cables to the ATC monitors, set to their lowest sensitivity setting. They allow me (with Auto Ref Level on the Pro 2/4) to listen to most things with the volume set around -30 (very loud digital sources or when I want to listen quietly), to around -6 (for very quiet sources or my turntable).

Hello, I need to buy an attenuator to add between my power amp (NAD C298) and my RME. I live in Canada and the only available choices for me are (Hosa ATT448) and (Shure A15AS). But these two both have selectable gain. I originally prefer fixed gain (-25 or -30) because I think it would reduce the chance of adding additional noise. But I couldn't find any fixed attenuator for -25 or -30db. Did you by any chance measure any of these (Hosa or Shure) and do your think them being selectable adds more noise or risk of noise?

No, the DAC can handle those 'input' impedances.