• From: Europe
  • Registered: 2023-01-10
  • Posts: 2

Topic: ADI 2/4 Pro SE as digital processor only

Hey!

I would like to know if I can use only the digital part of a ADI 2/4 Pro SE (for its equaliser).

The chain will look like this: Aurender N100C Streamer -> USB connection -> RME ADI 2/4 Pro SE -> AES connection -> R2R DAC -> AMP

The questions about the output of the RME via AES are:
* is this limited in any way compared to the original USB signal from Aurender?
* will the digital output include all the DSP/EQ tweaks, or are these applied only to the analog outputs?

I hope my questions are clear; if not I'd be happy to provide further details.

Thank you

2 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS 2024-10-02 21:08:07)

  • KaiS
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2020-02-05
  • Posts: 3,526

Re: ADI 2/4 Pro SE as digital processor only

The first answer is, yes.

From the manual pages 39 ff:
The option Digital Out Source - Main Out (SETUP – Options – Device Mode / DSD) sends the processed signal Line Out 1/2 to the digital outputs AES, SPDIF and ADAT, for example to connect active monitors having digital inputs.

This means, all digital processing is available on AES, Coax and Optical outputs.


The only limit lies in the sample rate:
AES, Coax and Optical in general (not RME related) have an upper limit of 192 kHz.

KaiS's Website

3 Reply by jmimac351 (edited by jmimac351 2024-10-03 03:29:50)

  • From: Central Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2024-01-21
  • Posts: 42

Re: ADI 2/4 Pro SE as digital processor only

I'm doing what you're trying to do and it works great. 

Bluesound Node (Optical Out) --> (Optical In) ADI-2/4 Pro SE (AES Out) --> (AES In) Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty Streaming DAC --> Ayre Acoustics KX-R Twenty preamp --> Ayre Acoustics MX-R monos

The purpose is to be able to do PEQ in the digital domain yet use the analog output of the Ayre QX-5 Twenty, and the direct streaming capability of the QX-5 Twenty. 

Along with this, I have a MacBook Pro (USB Out) to the ADI-2/4 Pro SE (USB In).  That MacBook Pro stays near the gear.  With a separate MacBook Air, I can use the Screen Sharing functionality on MacOS between MacBooks, so I have the screen of the MacBook Pro visible on my MacBook Air.  I do this so I have access to the RME Remote Application.  It's like I have the other computer sitting on my lap.  Very handy.

WiFi on these ADI units sure would be nice.  Even just bluetooth to be able to "see" the ADI 2 so you can control the RME Remote App.

  • From: Europe
  • Registered: 2023-01-10
  • Posts: 2

Re: ADI 2/4 Pro SE as digital processor only

Thank you, guys.

I owned both versions of adi-2 dac fs (ak & ess) and I was really happy with them. Indeed, being able to connect a mac via wifi or bluetooth would’ve been nice, but still, once you have your peq presets saved and assigned to the remote shortcuts, these devices are great.

Now, I’m listening through a splendid dac (with a couple of digital filters that produce hardly noticeable effects) and I am missing the loudness feature and some eq presets when my speakers are too bright for listening while working, or too “linear” for some tracks where I need the lows to be more prominent.

I am trying to get a good deal and reintroduce RME to my system.