1 (edited by kradzero 2022-08-02 09:26:28)

Topic: ADI-2 FS deal

Hi everyone, I have the ADI-2 DAC connected to the Focal SM-9, purchased on the advice of this forum smile Very happy with the decision I made!

I have an opportunity to purchase the ADI-2 FS (https://www.rme-audio.de/ADI-2-FS.html). My main interest for this is in a separate system as a headphone amplifier. I know this is an audio interface and basically (probably) overkill, but I like to buy gear which allows me the flexibility to re-use in future setups.

The idea is: Oppo Sonica DAC (XLR pre-out) -> ADI-2 FS (XLR in) -> headphones (front port)

My questions:
1. Is the headphone amplifier section the same as/ at least as good as the ADI-2 DAC section?
2. Any issues with using the analog XLR inputs to send a signal from a streamer/DAC? Just that - in hi-fi - used to seeing RCA out from DAC to pre-amp and so forth.

Thank you all for your time

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

You can compare technical specs in the manual of both products .. there is a chapter about technical specs...

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

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

The ADI-2 fs, im sure could be a nice complement to the DAC. Giving you AD capabilities. As a headphone amp it might not come to its best. Opposed to DAC its straight playback with a pot to set level.

ADI-2 DAC, ADI-2 PRO, DigifaceUSB, UCXII, ARC, HEGEL.h80, KEF.ls50, HD650, ie400pro _,.\''/.,_

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

Regarding an intro about main benefit & features see start / intro chapter of ADI-2 DAC / Pro FS, ADI-2 FS
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2dacr_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2dacr_e.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2fs_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2fs_e.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2profsr_d.pdf
https://www.rme-audio.de/downloads/adi2profsr_e.pdf

Maybe also this blog article that I wrote some times ago, which also includes links to interesting videos, and what not:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ent … ses-en-de/

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

5 (edited by KaiS 2022-08-05 09:17:18)

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

As analog headphones amp the ADI-2 FS is quite capable.
High quality and enough power and voltage to drive most headphones to levels way beyond healthy:

Measured in DA mode, even better as pure analog amp:
• Output impedance: 0.1 Ohm
• Output level at 0 dBFS, load 100 Ohm or up: +19 dBu (6.9 Vrms)
• Max power 32 Ohm load: 0.7 W per channel (0.01% THD, +16 dBu, 4.9 Vrms)
• THD 32 Ohm load @ +15 dBu: -110 dB, 0.0003 %

6 (edited by kradzero 2022-08-12 09:23:13)

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

Thank you all very much for your valuable input, as always! smile

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

If you just want a headphone amplifier ADI-2 FS may be a little bit overpriced though. It's a good ADDA converter. but the headphone section is less powerful than the DAC version. It also uses analog volume control. In many countries you can get good headphone amps at a fraction of the cost.

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

ning wrote:

If you just want a headphone amplifier ADI-2 FS may be a little bit overpriced though. It's a good ADDA converter. but the headphone section is less powerful than the DAC version. It also uses analog volume control. In many countries you can get good headphone amps at a fraction of the cost.

Thank you for this reply. Wondering if the ADI-2 FS could work as a phono pre-amp as well,
i.e. turntable -> analog in* -> headphone out and
Turntable -> analog in* -> digital out to DAC -> analog out to Preamp -> analog out to Power amp

*would need the turntable L/R RCAs to match the inputs of the ADI-2 FS - is this easy?

Essentially, utilising the ADI-2 FS into:
1. Headphone amp
2. Phono preAmp

I’ve read a lot of posts on these forums but could not really understand whether it can be done.

At €699 I could easily go for a Rupert Neve but I still wonder whether the ADI-2 FS is better value.

Thank you again

9 (edited by KaiS 2022-08-12 22:26:44)

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

For Vinyl Turntable you need a dedicated RIAA Phono Preamp, or a unit having such built in.
ADI-2 FS hasn‘t.
The Rupert Neve doesn‘t either.

Building a quality phono pre isn‘t an easy task.
Something like this:
https://www.schiit.com/products/mani-2


An important question:
Do you need an AD / DA converter, e.g to digitize your vinyls?
If yes, what digital connections do you need, Coax/Optical, or USB?

Or do you have a pure analog system?

10 (edited by ramses 2022-08-13 06:33:23)

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

KaiS wrote:

For Vinyl Turntable you need a dedicated RIAA Phono Preamp, or a unit having such built in.
ADI-2 FS hasn‘t.
The Rupert Neve doesn‘t either.

Wouldn't it be sufficient to use software RIAA equalization of VinylStudio? https://www.alpinesoft.co.uk/
For me, it sounds like a perfect solution to be more flexible on the hardware side.
The software has additional good features so that it would be worth to consider a purchase.

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

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

Phono cartridges put out very low signals (moving coil even lower than moving magnet). You need preamplification anyways.

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

john34 wrote:

Phono cartridges put out very low signals (moving coil even lower than moving magnet). You need preamplification anyways.

You mean on top of an ADI-2 Pro or DAC? So an ADI-2 XYZ with Vinylstudio for RIAA decoding would not be sufficient?

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

13 (edited by KaiS 2022-08-14 16:36:52)

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

ramses wrote:
KaiS wrote:

For Vinyl Turntable you need a dedicated RIAA Phono Preamp, or a unit having such built in.
ADI-2 FS hasn‘t.
The Rupert Neve doesn‘t either.

Wouldn't it be sufficient to use software RIAA equalization of VinylStudio? https://www.alpinesoft.co.uk/
For me, it sounds like a perfect solution to be more flexible on the hardware side.
The software has additional good features so that it would be worth to consider a purchase.

A MM / Moving Magnet Phono Pickup delivers 2-5 mV of Voltage at nominal track velocity (real peaks are often a bit higher), out of an highly inductive source (the coil).

MM pickups are built to be loaded by 47 kOhm and a total capacitance (cabling included) of ca. 250 pF.
Any value deviating from this will cause exorbitant frequency response errors in the treble, in the magnitude of 10 dB and more.

Typical gain needed would be around 35-45 dB @ 1 kHz.


MC / Moving coil Pickups deliver only 0.01 - 0.5 mV Voltage out of a low impedance source, between ca.3 - 100 Ohm, and a bit of inductance.
These like a load ca. 3-5 times their output impedance, higher values usually don’t change much.
https://www.ortofon.com/mc-series-p-704

MC’s need a clean gain of 60-80 dB or more, and amps specially designed and optimized to deliver extremely low noise with low impedance sources.


ADI-2 Pro’s analog input is by no means suited for direct connection of a phono pickup.

Software based RIAA EQ is an option, but a hardware Preamp with RIAA EQ makes better use of the ADCs dynamic range, e.g. avoids running into trouble from mains induced hum.

Re: ADI-2 FS deal

Thanks for explaining.

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