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RME User Forum → ADI-2 & 2/4 Pro series, ADI-2 DAC series → To use existing 2.1 preamp or not
I have ordered rme 2 Adi Fs. I want to use with my existing set up. I have a 2.1 preamp with digital inputs. And a pair if mono power amps. what’s the best way to use rme 2FS ADI. Directly to power amps or thru preamp. Which gives better music reproduction. Mostly streamed music. By Apple iTunes. Pl.
Sorry, your description is too vague, please deliver more details.
Did I guess correctly that you are talking about the ADI-2 FS? Sorry, but you are using different fantasy names, this is irritating.
Please list the exact names of the devices in your setup.
Provide a connection diagram including the computer and
information about the type of connection (USB, optical or coaxial SPDIF).
Where do you feel limited by the current setup, what should the ADI-2 FS solve?
I question myself two things (and I hope the list of devices and connection diagram makes things clearer)
Case A) assumed the ADI-2 FS would replace the preamp.
From the manual, it appears that the ADI-2 FS has only a fixed volume for the XLR and TRS outputs.
Which means, you can't control the volume with the ADI-2 FS.
As power amps have no volume pot you would still need your Preamp, but then look at B) below.
Then I think the ADI-2 FS makes no sense in the setup.
Case B) Assumed the Preamp stays in front of the mono power amps and that ADI-2 FS is connected via optical SPDIF to your computer and has to perform the D/A conversion.
I see the following disadvantage: where is the benefit of high quality D/A conversion of the ADI-2 FS, if you connect it to the preamp, which might have lower quality? Does this make any sense? No.
Please deliver more details as requested.
Currently I have the 1st impression, that the ADI-2 FS doesn't bring you any benefit
as it can't replace the preamp which is needed for volume control of the mono power amps:
Case A)
Computer------SPDIF (opt. or coax.)------ADI-2 FS--ANA (XLR or TRS)-------------------Mono Poweramps
D/A conversion here
But no volume control
Volume control only possible
in the computer or the application.
Mighe be dangerous for your ears and setup
Case B)
Computer------SPDIF (opt. or coax.)------ADI-2 FS---ANA--------------------2.1 Preamp------------------Mono Poweramps
D/A conversion Volume control
Volume control by 2.1 preamp, but quality degradation of the audio signal most likely.
The possibly higher D/A conversion quality of the ADI-2 FS doesn't bring a benefit here.
Alternatives
Not knowing exactly, but assuming your setup and demands...
An ADI-2 DAC FS would have given you volume control, a remote and a lot of useful features:
- 4 reference levels
- auto reflevel
- dynamic loudness
- PEQ for normalizing headphones or to perform bass correction for the room
- a very nice ADI-2 Remote Application to remote control ADI-2 DAC FS, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, ADI-2/4 Pro SE
Computer--------USB-----------ADI-2 DAC FS--------------Mono Poweramps
Volume Control
4 reference levels
Auto Ref Level to keep SNR/Dynamic high over a wider range
Remote
ADI-2 Remote SW
Alternatively these reference converters with even more features:
- ADI-2 Pro FS if you need also analog inputs or want to connect two headphones or balanced headphones
- ADI-2/4 Pro SE if you want to have more advanced features like connecting a turntable, even 5 reference levels, etc
Please check these information:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=32506
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/Ent … ses-EN-DE/
Benefits of Auto Reflevel, see this Excel:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/attachme … v003-xlsx/
I have ordered rme 2 Adi Fs. I want to use with my existing set up. I have a 2.1 preamp with digital inputs. And a pair if mono power amps. what’s the best way to use rme 2FS ADI. Directly to power amps or thru preamp. Which gives better music reproduction. Mostly streamed music. By Apple iTunes. Pl.
I assume you have the ADI-2 DAC.
In this case, less is more.
ADI-2 can do everything the preamp can, if all your sources are digital.
So, direct connection ADI-2 to power amps is the cleanest signal path.
rlrbiking wrote:I have ordered rme 2 Adi Fs. I want to use with my existing set up. I have a 2.1 preamp with digital inputs. And a pair if mono power amps. what’s the best way to use rme 2FS ADI. Directly to power amps or thru preamp. Which gives better music reproduction. Mostly streamed music. By Apple iTunes. Pl.
I assume you have the ADI-2 DAC.
In this case, less is more.
ADI-2 can do everything the preamp can, if all your sources are digital.So, direct connection ADI-2 to power amps is the cleanest signal path.
Where does he control the volume then?
Mono amplifiers usually have no volume control.
And according to the manual it seems, that the volume knob on the ADI-2 FS is only for the monitoring via headphones.
I regard it as quite dangerous for ears and equipment only having to trust the digital volume control on the computer side, be it a mixer or the application.
Have you taken this into account in your considerations, Kai?
As mentioned, I assume he has the ADI-2 DAC.
If it‘s really the ADI-2 FS (the one without LCD display), either:
• the preamp needs to stay,
• or the headphones output has to be used for driving the power amps, which is a valid option.
As mentioned, I assume he has the ADI-2 DAC.
If it‘s really the ADI-2 FS (the one without LCD display), either:
• the preamp needs to stay,
• or the headphones output has to be used for driving the power amps, which is a valid option.
Oh sorry, bad me. I read your text wrong, I still read ADI-2 FS instead of ADI-2 DAC FS. Now it makes sense.
The mode I m refering is RME ADI 2. I understand from your reply that I can connect direct to power amps. And use RMEs volume control. Am I right. ? Is there any issue if I connect it to my 2.1 preamp. ? .
rlrbiking wrote:I have ordered rme 2 Adi Fs. I want to use with my existing set up. I have a 2.1 preamp with digital inputs. And a pair if mono power amps. what’s the best way to use rme 2FS ADI. Directly to power amps or thru preamp. Which gives better music reproduction. Mostly streamed music. By Apple iTunes. Pl.
I assume you have the ADI-2 DAC.
In this case, less is more.
ADI-2 can do everything the preamp can, if all your sources are digital.So, direct connection ADI-2 to power amps is the cleanest signal path.
Using RME 2 ADI rca output to my parasound 2.1 input will I gain RMEs DAC s processing which I presume should be far better than the built in dac of my preamp. So that I can use my preamp s volume control. Your replies state that as long as my inputs are digital RME can be the preamp by connecting directly to the power amp. Is my understanding correct. Pl. ?
Hi. I read in the forum that an existing user is similar to my set up Using parasound p5 model preamp. With RME Adi 2 FS I request him to answer me on the following How he has used the RME into his system Has he used RME Adi 2 fs thru the parasound p5 preamp as a dac If so what is the method of connection. This will help me to exactly do the connection. Has he found the connection improves the sonic aspect of music better. Please reply to this query. Thx in advance.
I believe the gentleman has a ADI-2 DAC FS(black, display screen, volume knob/preamp, DA converter only) Then Alternat b scenario applies. He can connect the DAC directly to power amplifiers and control volume with knob dial .
Ramses wrote:
Not knowing exactly, but assuming your setup and demands...
An ADI-2 DAC FS would have given you volume control, a remote and a lot of useful features:
- 4 reference levels
- auto reflevel
- dynamic loudness
- PEQ for normalizing headphones or to perform bass correction for the room
- a very nice ADI-2 Remote Application to remote control ADI-2 DAC FS, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, ADI-2/4 Pro SE
Computer--------USB-----------ADI-2 DAC FS--------------Mono Poweramps
Volume Control
4 reference levels
Auto Ref Level to keep SNR/Dynamic high over a wider range
Remote
ADI-2 Remote SW
RME User Forum → ADI-2 & 2/4 Pro series, ADI-2 DAC series → To use existing 2.1 preamp or not
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