Topic: UFX I compared to UFX II and III

I'm being offered a UFX I for a good price. Wondering how it compares to the II and III

I don't need MADI and all those channels, so is there any other noticeable difference?

2 (edited by vinark 2024-04-11 12:28:50)

Re: UFX I compared to UFX II and III

For a good price go for it it is a beautiful device! I would think good is about half of what a UFX2 or 3 would cost so anywhere between 1000 and 1400.
If you dont need many channels you can also go for a smaller RME for the same or less money of course, but your

I dont need all those channels

is not clear.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632

Re: UFX I compared to UFX II and III

Besides HW side (e,g. better and faster AD, DA, probably better preamps, better Steady Clock, ...), UFX II/III has Room correction made in DSP.

I am considering to buy UFX, but missing Room correction seems to be real downside....

4 (edited by ramses 2024-04-12 12:28:18)

Re: UFX I compared to UFX II and III

dreamspy wrote:

I'm being offered a UFX I for a good price. Wondering how it compares to the II and III

I don't need MADI and all those channels, so is there any other noticeable difference?

Kubrak wrote:

[...]I am considering to buy UFX, but missing Room correction seems to be real downside....

There are plenty of differences between UFX and UFX III and the later versions of UFX II.

Let me give you a brief overview about the flagship devices, you can also gather information from my comparison Excel:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=35156

To give you a brief history, in what order / when the different models have been introduced:
- UFX 2010
- UFX+ 2016
- UFX II 2017 (same as UFX+ but without MADI/USB3; later versions got ESS converter due to chip crisis)
- UFX III 2023 (with AKM converter from ADI-2 Pro FS)
- UFX II ~2024 (with same analog/digital board of UFX III, the only difference: no MADI/USB3)

There were already plenty of differences between UFX and UFX+/UFX II:

As you can read here in my blog: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/Entry/68-RME-UFX/
Here are the differences from that article in compact format:

  • Revised version of analog circuits and DSP

  • improved SNR and THD values

  • DURec: up to 76 channels can be recorded simultaneously — optionally with 12 analog and 64 MADI inputs

  • DURec: internal RTC (Real-Time Clock), allows timestamps in DURec recordings

  • DURec: increased reliability when using slower or multi-partitioned USB thumb devices

  • DURec: support of multiple FAT32 partitions, the last active partition is automatically reactivated after a power-cycle

  • Microphone inputs with + 18dBU max, no PAD

  • Microphone inputs with 75 dB Gain Range

  • Headphone outputs with only 2 ohm impedance, with +19 dBu max output level

  • ARC USB pluggable also directly pluggable to the UFX+/UFX II, useful for stand-alone operation

  • The two rotary encoders on the right of the display now individually adjust the volume of Phones 9/10 and 11/12.

  • Fully operable stand-alone, there are additional settings compared to the UFX.

  • New MADIface driver supports smaller ASIO buffer sizes down to 32 samples (UFX 48 samples)

  • MADIface driver supports many new devices and thus allows the application/DAW direct access to various RME devices in "multi device operation": UFX+/UFX II, MADIface XT/Pro/USB, OctaMic XTC, ADI-2 Pro/AE/FS/DAC, Digiface USB/Dante. You only need to take care to clock sync and to use the same ASIO buffer size.

MADI related feature only for completeness:

  • USB3 / USB2, Thunderbolt connection to Windows / Mac, supports "hot-plugging" under Windows

  • Additional 64 channels by MADI with the options auto, optical, coaxial and split

  • total channel count 188 channels (94 IN, 94 OUT): 24 analog, 32 ADAT, 4 AES, 128 MADI

  • Word clock BNC switchable to MADI coaxial

  • MADI split mode allows 32 channels each via MADI optical / coaxial

  • MADI I/O via TotalMix is still available on USB2, despite the limitation to 30 I / O inputs (12 analog plus 16 ADAT plus AES)

Followed by new features introduced by UFX III and also an overhaul of later UFX II models

The differences, you can read in my blog: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ent … iii-en-de/
Here are the differences from that article in compact format:

  • A new analog section with improved SNR values and 6 dB better THD+N.

  • The digital section has also been revised, and the UFX III now features 3 separate AES/SPDIF receivers and transmitters, enabling both ADAT ports to be switched to optical SPDIF.

  • Room EQ and Crossfeed (by firmware upgrade), see also info below

  • FS (femto second) clock.

  • High-quality converters from AKM (AK5574 as AD converter and AK4490 as DA converter), which are already familiar from the ADI-2 Pro FS.

  • Fast converters with only 5 samples of AD latency and 6 samples of DA converter latency.

  • All analog outputs are now "DC coupled" and suitable for controlling synthesizers.

  • Track names for DURec, where the user-defined channel names in TotalMix are adopted as track names in DURec recordings. During the subsequent conversion of the DURec multichannel files (using RME's WAV-File-Batch-Processor 1.31), individual channel files receive the track name as the file name.

  • Remap Keys enable the assignment of 33 different functions to the four direct selection buttons on the display.

  • Lock Keys allow deactivating only the four front buttons or even the three encoders (first introduced with the UCX II).

  • Only for UFX III: USB3 CC mode allows the utilization of all 94 I/O ports, regardless of whether for Linux, Mac, or iPadOS.

Information about Room EQ

https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=38691
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 43#p210543

See also this useful YouTube video about "Using RME ROOM EQ and Sonarworks to calibrate your Home Studio"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThnD4__RMB0

To sum up

UFX III and the later versions of UFX II offer you a lot of very useful features, and also the new Room EQ and Crossfeed.

If you are not limited by budget, the UFX III and UFX II are out of question the products to go for. By more features and better upgrade possibilities (due to more powerful FPGA, example Room EQ) it also gives you more value for the money and a longer investment protection.

If you think you do not require those new features, then it is your decision / choice.

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

5 (edited by GrabtharsHammer 2024-06-25 14:18:30)

Re: UFX I compared to UFX II and III

ramses wrote:

[...] See also this useful YouTube video about "Using RME ROOM EQ and Sonarworks to calibrate your Home Studio"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThnD4__RMB0 [...]

The video states that RME Room EQ support from Sonarworks will come "Spring 2024". I think that's really great! Is there any news on this?

Re: UFX I compared to UFX II and III

Did anybody see the article in SoundOnSound today "RME partner with Sonarworks"?. I upgraded totalmix to 1.95, but I could not see a way to import a file from a Sonarworks calibration, only a *.tmreq file.

Does anybody have any info on this? Is it a new feature, or do the EQ points still have to be entered manually?

Re: UFX I compared to UFX II and III

ramses wrote:

Followed by new features introduced by UFX III and also an overhaul of later UFX II models

  • [...]

  • The digital section has also been revised, and the UFX III now features 3 separate AES/SPDIF receivers and transmitters, enabling both ADAT ports to be switched to optical SPDIF.

  • Room EQ and Crossfeed (by firmware upgrade), see also info below
    [...]

  • Track names for DURec, where the user-defined channel names in TotalMix are adopted as track names in DURec recordings. During the subsequent conversion of the DURec multichannel files (using RME's WAV-File-Batch-Processor 1.31), individual channel files receive the track name as the file name.

  • Remap Keys enable the assignment of 33 different functions to the four direct selection buttons on the display.

  • Lock Keys allow deactivating only the four front buttons or even the three encoders (first introduced with the UCX II).

To be precise, afaik the quoted features above have also become available on UFX+, through software/firmware updates. Not sure if any of those made it to the UFX I.

8 (edited by ramses 2024-07-18 15:17:33)

Re: UFX I compared to UFX II and III

To be precise, please read what I wrote, followed by new features introduced by UFX III.

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

Re: UFX I compared to UFX II and III

ramses wrote:
dreamspy wrote:

I'm being offered a UFX I for a good price. Wondering how it compares to the II and III

I don't need MADI and all those channels, so is there any other noticeable difference?

Kubrak wrote:

[...]I am considering to buy UFX, but missing Room correction seems to be real downside....

There are plenty of differences between UFX and UFX III and the later versions of UFX II.

Let me give you a brief overview about the flagship devices, you can also gather information from my comparison Excel:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=35156

To give you a brief history, in what order / when the different models have been introduced:
[...]

You can find this information now in my blog:

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ent … x-and-ufx/

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