• Registered: 2023-12-17
  • Posts: 17

Topic: What's the difference between the Babyface Pro FS & the ADI-2 Pro FS?

Is there much difference between specs of the Babyface Pro FS and the now discontinued silver ADI-2 Pro FS?

I know the ADI-2 has a higher sample rate, but I don't need anything that high (does anyone?).

The Babyface new is about the same price as a used ADI-2 Pro FS. so I am trying to work out which one suits me better.

I will be mainly using it with headphones, as the monitors will go through my UCX II via ADAT.

  • From: Utah, USA
  • Registered: 2020-10-08
  • Posts: 104

Re: What's the difference between the Babyface Pro FS & the ADI-2 Pro FS?

If you're looking for a headphone amplifier the ADI-2 Pro FS is vastly superior to the Babyface Pro FS.

But why not just use the headphone output on the UCX II? That is also superior compared to the Babyface Pro FS.

2x MADI FX | Digiface Dante | Fireface UFX+ | ADI-192 DD
  • Registered: 2023-12-17
  • Posts: 17

Re: What's the difference between the Babyface Pro FS & the ADI-2 Pro FS?

Ninbura wrote:

If you're looking for a headphone amplifier the ADI-2 Pro FS is vastly superior to the Babyface Pro FS.

But why not just use the headphone output on the UCX II? That is also superior compared to the Babyface Pro FS.

Thanks, but the updated Babyface FS has the same headphone output op-amps as the ADI-2 Pro. You can find the specs here. https://www.rme-audio.de/babyface-pro-fs.html

I need a second headphone location, hence the need for an second adat connected device.

4 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-01-16 19:09:59)

  • ramses
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 12,846

Re: What's the difference between the Babyface Pro FS & the ADI-2 Pro FS?

Matmah wrote:
Ninbura wrote:

If you're looking for a headphone amplifier the ADI-2 Pro FS is vastly superior to the Babyface Pro FS.

But why not just use the headphone output on the UCX II? That is also superior compared to the Babyface Pro FS.

Thanks, but the updated Babyface FS has the same headphone output op-amps as the ADI-2 Pro. You can find the specs here. https://www.rme-audio.de/babyface-pro-fs.html

I need a second headphone location, hence the need for an second adat connected device.

Neither the DAC chip is the same nor the technical specs is the same.
Maybe Opamps are the same, but this is not the only component in the signal path.
Besides this the BBF Pro FS has limitations as it can be powered by USB bus.
This is definitively not the design goal of the ADI-2 Pro FS which can even drive headphones with very high impedance.

The most remarkable difference between BBF Pro and ADI-2 Pro is, that the one is a recording interface with digital mixer, TotalMix FX which allows you a great flexibility in terms of routing.

ADI-2 Pro is a reference converter which is full of features, but without TotalMix FX.
There are predefined routing modes with a static predetermined routing.

If you need something like a recording device with routing capabilities, then you are better of with a traditional recording interface and not "only" with a reference converter.

But it is possible to combine any recording interface with a digital output like ADAT or SPDIF with the ADI-2 DAC/Pro line of devices to enhance the monitoring section with a reference converter.

See my blog article about the integration of such a reference converter into your setup:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/Ent … our-Setup/

And an article to describe differences and features between ADI-2 DAC/Pro (ADI-2/4 Pro SE not included).
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/Ent … ses-EN-DE/

My comparison Excel sheet might also be of good use for you comparing some devices:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=35156

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

5 Reply by Ninbura (edited by Ninbura 2024-01-16 22:32:38)

  • From: Utah, USA
  • Registered: 2020-10-08
  • Posts: 104

Re: What's the difference between the Babyface Pro FS & the ADI-2 Pro FS?

Matmah wrote:

Thanks, but the updated Babyface FS has the same headphone output op-amps as the ADI-2 Pro. You can find the specs here. https://www.rme-audio.de/babyface-pro-fs.html

I need a second headphone location, hence the need for an second adat connected device.

As ramses mentioned, you can't equate outputs based on one specification. The ADI-2 Pro provides significantly more power per channel when compared to the Babyface Pro FS.

Unless you're looking to use other IO on the Babyface, and you're primarily looking for extra headphone outputs; the ADI-2 Pro seems like the obvious choice to me.

2x MADI FX | Digiface Dante | Fireface UFX+ | ADI-192 DD