RME ADI-2 DAC Thread

[gimmeheadroom]

Whenever my V280 (which has a Max Input Level of +21 dBu) arrives I was going to go:
Auto Ref OFF, then set Ref Level to +19 (I'm going to use XLR's from RME into V280) and the RME Volume set to 0.

If anyone else out there has the V280 is that how you set your's up? Any comments/advice? Thank you.

I run my V280 at -12 dB and I run my Brooklyn DAC+ into it at fixed output level (balanced) at 0 dB.

I run the RME with fixed 0 dB out, auto ref off into a Lyr 2.

How you set up the V280 needs to be based on your headphones, you want to get as much useful range of the volume control as you can. For a lot of headphones it's kinda impossible given the huge power the V280 has.

 

[Cevisi]

Does a better amp really benefit the adi 2. I heard some reviewers say it mainly increases bass and stage.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Does a better amp really benefit the adi 2. I heard some reviewers say it mainly increases bass and stage.

It depends on the headphones. The RME drives Fostex and LCD-2C beautifully, I don't feel I need a separate amp.

My Sennheisers are much happier with a tube OTL or my V280.

 

[Noobzilla]

Does a better amp really benefit the adi 2. I heard some reviewers say it mainly increases bass and stage.

I'd say it depends on your headphones's impedance. I'm testing my ADI-2 with HeadAmp GS-X Mini to run my Empyrean (32 ohm). I'm still waiting on balanced headphones cables to fully hear the Mini, but right now using single-ended stock cable (which is likely my bottleneck right now) I'd say the only benefit is when listening at really high volume where the Mini is easier/smoother to listen to. However, I would rarely find myself listening at such volumes. I'll likely benefit more with a high impedance headphones, but currently I'd be happy with ADI-2 without an external amp.

 

[koven]

I have now made a trial subscription with Roon this morning. But I will not buy the software and stay with Audirvana. I see no justification for Roon for six times the price. Audirvana offers me everything I need. I don't see anything that Roon offers me more. On the contrary. I find the software to be more complicated to use and more elaborate. Audirvana is simpler and more logical. Also more technical settings in Audirvana and can load the plug-ins e.g. Audeze. I haven't found that anywhere in Roon. I'm sure there is, but you should find it.

I have deleted the software again and remain faithful to my Audirvana, which I have been using to my complete satisfaction for 2 years now.

Audirvana has much improved in latest version(s) but it's still missing some critical functionality to me that Roon has like plush metadata, Roon Radio, etc. Also the UX is not as intuitive, for example you have to go into settings to define sort rather than straight from the playlist, just unnecessary additional clicks. Mouse back/forward button doesn't work either, at least on Windows version, somewhat annoying in navigation. UI is also barebones compared to a more modern Roon, for example how it displays Tidal / Qobuz vs Roon. Though ultimately it's still a viable alternative at a fractional cost.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

I'd say it depends on your headphones's impedance. I'm testing my ADI-2 with HeadAmp GS-X Mini to run my Empyrean (32 ohm). I'm still waiting on balanced headphones cables to fully hear the Mini, but right now using single-ended stock cable (which is likely my bottleneck right now) I'd say the only benefit is when listening at really high volume where the Mini is easier/smoother to listen to. However, I would rarely find myself listening at such volumes. I'll likely benefit more with a high impedance headphones, but currently I'd be happy with ADI-2 without an external amp.

It's not just about impedance. It's mostly about sensitivity, then whether the headphone needs voltage or current, and then about impedance.

 

[darmccombs]

It's not just about impedance. It's mostly about sensitivity, then whether the headphone needs voltage or current, and then about impedance.

Agreed... Some 300 ohm headphones sound fairly bad with the RME, but the ZMF Verite Closed I have sounds decent with the RME by itself. The Verites have a high sensitivity so the RME does an ok job with them. I did add a GS-X Mini external amp, and the control of the bass and soundstage improved, but it wasn't a night/day sort of improvement.

 

[Slim1970]

Agreed... Some 300 ohm headphones sound fairly bad with the RME, but the ZMF Verite Closed I have sounds decent with the RME by itself. The Verites have a high sensitivity so the RME does an ok job with them. I did add a GS-X Mini external amp, and the control of the bass and soundstage improved, but it wasn't a night/day sort of improvement.

I'm finding that DAC's with headphone outputs are getting really good. So good that they are competing with stand alone headphone amps. My RME, TT2, and Hugo 2 are outstanding on their own with majority of my headphones. Going back and forth with these DAC's against my Burson Conductor 3XR, that I just sold, the difference in sound was minimal. I only needed the Burson when I drove my Susvara's. Other than that, I had no problem using the RME or the Chord DAC's on their own.

 

[Dogmatrix]

Whenever my V280 (which has a Max Input Level of +21 dBu) arrives I was going to go:
Auto Ref OFF, then set Ref Level to +19 (I'm going to use XLR's from RME into V280) and the RME Volume set to 0.

If anyone else out there has the V280 is that how you set your's up? Any comments/advice? Thank you.

I am running the pro into the old V181 which has the same input rating as the V280
I lock volume at zero and set ref level to +24 dBu
Pre gain on the V181 is used to adjust volume range for different headphones

 

[betula]

I was wondering if anyone had any similar experience or just has some valuable thoughts to share on this brief encounter of mine:

I have been using my ADI2 since April with great satisfaction mostly driving Audeze headphones in the same exact setup with the same cables since then. Today I suddenly had an error message on the screen: "Overload/Short detected, Phones deactivated, Pull out phones plug to reset output state". (This was the 6.3mm-1/4inch plug.)

I followed the instruction, but even after several reinsertion of the plug the error message didn't disappear. After switching the unit off, it was working well again for about a minute: when the message reappeared.

Of course I unplugged and re-plugged everything, I even tried a different headphone cable.

The IEM output was working well all the time and none of my troubleshooting steps solved the problem of the 6.3mm-1/4inch headphone output.
I tried a simple reset by pressing the power button for a few seconds: still nothing.

Then I found this post mentioning a factory reset and apparently this has solved the problem, now everything is back to normal.
Any thoughts?

 

[Slaphead]

I was wondering if anyone had any similar experience or just has some valuable thoughts to share on this brief encounter of mine:

I have been using my ADI2 since April with great satisfaction mostly driving Audeze headphones in the same exact setup with the same cables since then. Today I suddenly had an error message on the screen: "Overload/Short detected, Phones deactivated, Pull out phones plug to reset output state". (This was the 6.3mm-1/4inch plug.)

I followed the instruction, but even after several reinsertion of the plug the error message didn't disappear. After switching the unit off, it was working well again for about a minute: when the message reappeared.

Of course I unplugged and re-plugged everything, I even tried a different headphone cable.

The IEM output was working well all the time and none of my troubleshooting steps solved the problem of the 6.3mm-1/4inch headphone output.
I tried a simple reset by pressing the power button for a few seconds: still nothing.

Then I found this post mentioning a factory reset and apparently this has solved the problem, now everything is back to normal.
Any thoughts?

Difficult to say. I've heard of this overload/short thing quite a bit on the ADI-2's (both dac and pro) and apparently the only long term solution is to have it serviced by RME.

If you google "RME ADI-2 dac overload" then there are number of results from the RME forums where the RME staff say return it for repair.

 

[betula]

Difficult to say. I've heard of this overload/short thing quite a bit on the ADI-2's (both dac and pro) and apparently the only long term solution is to have it serviced by RME.

If you google "RME ADI-2 dac overload" then there are number of results from the RME forums where the RME staff say return it for repair.

I can do that of course, but after factory reset now it is working well. Perhaps a safety circuit shuts down too early (too sensitive) and RME can easily rectify this?
It is strange though that this happened the first time after 3 months of ownership.

 

[Slaphead]

I can do that of course, but after factory reset now it is working well. Perhaps a safety circuit shuts down too early (too sensitive) and RME can easily rectify this?
It is strange though that this happened the first time after 3 months of ownership.

Well, see how it goes.

 

[Traiguen]

On a slightly different subject.... could I ask for your help using the EQ?
If I have a headphone which has a peak at 6K of 3db... can I go in the EQ exactly to the 6K and decrease it accordingly?
Also, what does the Q actually do? Please see the below pic.... you see how the blue line drops in the 10k band?. I increased the Q to 2.5 and then this happened (the sharp drop) but surprisedly the vocals sound great after I did this. It sounds as if I accentuated the highs in the vocals... but the line is going down instead of up which would actually be an increase in the highs... Sorry, I guess I am confused.
How does the Q (quality factor) affects the sound?

 

[TheRH]

What tube amps are you using with the RME?