Ahem (RME)

[PeterSt]

Edit April 8, 2021 :
Although the subject about the RME could be serious for its ADC capabilities, my posting about the suggestion it could be better than the NOS1 really is too much of an April Fool's joke. I suppose this was clear from the start, but usually my jokes backfire much later only. And in this case it might worry NOS1 owners. Please don't.
Meanwhile we can nicely continue the discussion about the RME. Mine is still new in its box, waiting for show time.

Dear people,

Yesterday my new RME ADI-2 Pro FS R "BlackEdition" arrived. It was meant to be used as ADC ...

Partly I obtained this because my ADC died on my long ago, partly this is because I promised a friend to digitise his reel to reel tapes without realising that I don't even have an ADC any more, and partly (or mainly ?) this is about the continuous attempts of people to record differences between "bit perfect" playbacks, them sounding different with different XXHighEnd settings, or them sounding different because of USB cables ... etc. etc. etc.
The RME-ADI-2 has been a candidate for me since I first saw it appearing, as it not only records at twice the speed of any normal audio analyser (which would be 192 KHz), but it also records at a bit depth of 32 (normal would be 24).
Day before yesterday I ordered it (a bit stimulated by Mani, elsewhere) and yesterday it arrived. And because Mani at the same elsewhere talked about its good sound compared to his "office" NOS1, I thought to give that a go first.

We had to make adapters so its outputs could adapt to my Blaxius^2.5 interlinks, and then ...

ahem ...

I hardly dare to say it. Maybe I must get used to the special sound. Maybe it *is* special. But it really is something else.

I figure that it could be related to XXHighEnd always plainly outputting 32 bits if the DAC can take that (the driver of the NOS1 can - the NOS1 itself is 24 bits only).

The very least I should say is that this is interesting. So far I also hear some small downsides (it (standing-wave) buzzes a little, but I obviously did not have sufficient time to exploit everything for "variables" (XXHE, configurable cables, Mach III core settings)).

If the thing can ADC-measure itself, then maybe I can learn something from it. Not that I foresee a NOS3, but at least the AKM chip in there will be normally available.
Maybe Mani has a special view on this, as he has this RME quite some longer already (I think).

Btw, Mani, nice try :
My phone sounds better than the NOS1
hahaha - you won't 04/01 fool me with that one.

Best regards,
Peter

[manisandher]

... as it not only records at twice the speed of any normal audio analyser (which would be 192 KHz), but it also records at a bit depth of 32 (normal would be 24).

Actually 4x that - it can record at 768, if your recording software can accommodate that.

I hardly dare to say it. Maybe I must get used to the special sound. Maybe it *is* special. But it really is something else.

Hmm... I can't tell - is this a belated 1st of April attempt?

Maybe Mani has a special view on this, as he has this RME quite some longer already (I think).

I've had mine since August last year, but hadn't tried it as a DAC in either of my systems until only recently. I bought it primarily for my vinyl digitization project (which never seems to get off the ground), so the RME has remained in my basement 'studio' gathering dust for the most part.

I brought the RME up to my office system when I put the F4 monos in. They have zero gain, and I wanted to hear how they sounded being pushed. My NOS1 (XLR not BNC) was fine for the sort of sound levels I usually go up to in my office, but not for pushing the F4s, so I brought the RME up for its +24dBu output capability. I have to say that I was surprised and impressed with the sound - more dynamic and alive-sounding than the NOS1 when level-matched (by quite a large margin)... in this system at least.

Btw, Mani, nice try :

  I was waiting for an announcement from you, but when one never came, I thought I'd announce something of my own.

Mani.

[PeterSt]

Mani, sometimes you are too fast for me. Today this was again the case. I knew it was going to be something with the RME (like being able to record breathing while recording from the DAC output - probably caused by interference with the loudspeakers or some other serious sh*t) but when I started typing I saw your phone(y) post and made this of it.

As usual the RME is still in the box. Your Mytec is also still in its box, unopened. At least that is not New In Box.
I have more ...

The story of why to obtain the RME is true. I have a box full with R2R tapes of which I promised to digitize them. After that promise, I thought "how then ?!?".
I really wonder what can be done with the RME, and whether it would be able to replace my analyser, partly. Maybe in combination with DeltaWave ? I don't know yet. Anyway it would be true that at this so much higher sampling rate *and* bit depth, much more should be able to dig out than I am used to. If it's only not noisy ...

Kind regards,
Peter

[christoffe]

Hi,

their power supply seems to be in need of improvement.

for German readers see:

https://www.amazona.de/test-rme-adi-2-pro-fs-r-usb-2-0-audiointerface/

Joachim

[manisandher]

... their power supply seems to be in need of improvement.

Hi Joachim, it's useful that it has a 12V DC input for power. I use a Paul Hynes linear PSU with mine. I haven't tried the stock SMPS that came with the unit, so don't know how much difference it makes. In my case, I don't have any SMPSs attached to my audio mains circuit and wanted to keep it that way.

I have to say that I continue to be very impressed with its SQ as a DAC.

Mani.

[manisandher]

for German readers see:

https://www.amazona.de/test-rme-adi-2-pro-fs-r-usb-2-0-audiointerface/

It appears that the author of the article you attached made some fundamental errors in setup when taking measurements. Corrected measurements (by another person) are shown here:

https://www.amazona.de/community/ueberpruefende-messungen-am-rme-adi-2-pro-fsr/

Mani.

[phantomax]

Hello,
About the AKM 4493 chip I can say that sounds very good to me. I got the I2S signals from my soundcard before the original AKM 4396 dac chip to feed the new one and it was a great leap in SQ.
Bear in mind that I can´t compare with anything but the DACs I owned before : Cambridge DACMagic ( Wolfson ) and  the original Audiotrak Prodigy soundcard (AKM4396). As a (frugal) audiophile I am completely isolated in my environment.

 I was planning to do the same thing with another broken soundcard I have lying around and the AKM4497 chip but currently is out of stock.

Maxi

[Robert]

I hardly dare to say it. Maybe I must get used to the special sound. Maybe it *is* special. But it really is something else.

What are your thoughts about this piece of equipment today?

Robert

[PeterSt]

Hi Robert,

Still unpacked ... sorry.

Peter

[Robert]

I'm worried you might find this better. So better to not unpack it! Time will prevail. Progress can't be beaten in the end. Jet engines over piston aircraft, diesel over steam trains, digital printing over offset.

[manisandher]

Still unpacked ... sorry.

Peter, you should unpack it. It's a seriously good-sounding DAC, IMO. To the extent that, for me, it's finally ended the R2R-SDM debate.

Mani.

[PeterSt]

:-)