RME ADI-2 DAC Thread

[gimmeheadroom]

Maybe I'm comparing apples to oranges here, but I started out in the headphone game a few years ago with a Schiit Bifrost, Valhalla 2, and a pair of Sennheiser HD700's. Sounded great for almost everything I listen to, but not everything. I then purchased a pair of HD650's which still worked well but clamped too tightly onto my fat head, so they're not what I use for most listening. I then took the plunge earlier this year and purchased a pair of Dan Clark Ether 2's. They sounded like crap with the V2 but sounded fine with my big 5.1 Denon receiver. That's when I purchased a Phonitor x. Amazing difference in performance in the E2's! It was money well spent. What I'm trying to say is that before I spent another large chunk of cash, I poured over amplifier specs in terms of output impedance, power into x ohm headphones, etc and by the numbers, the V2 should've been sufficient. It was woefully lacking the drive needed for the E2's. The numbers can't tell you the whole story. You need either first-hand experience with the objects in question to determine how well they work together, or the opinion of someone you trust who has that first-hand experience.

With regard to listening levels, you're right it absolutely does matter. Playing a mediocre amp at low listening levels will not push it out of its comfort zone and should sound decent. You just can't push it hard. That was my theory when I tried listening to Loreena McKennitt's The Mummer's Dance. Even at very modest listening levels, the bass was just so muddy and sloppy with the E2's connected to the V2 that I thought there was a problem with the headphones. Plugging the E2's into the Phonitor, everything was tight and punchy.

My 2¢.

Nice post and by the way the clamp has nothing to do with your head. The HD 600 has a jaws of death clamp on everybody's head! Ten or twenty years from now you won't even remember it.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

And to add... I've seen the following point made several times this year by people in this hobby, including some high-flying reviewers: "Since it takes an expensive amp for the HD 600 to reach its full potential and the HD 600 is 'only' a $300 headphone, it's not worth it, who would foolishly spend $1000 on a amp. Why not get a $300 headphone that reaches its full potential with a cheap or $500 amp?" ...the argument goes.

First of all, the HD 600 sounds good on cheaper amps too, and it certainly sounds great on the way above entry-level offering of the RME ADI-2. It's just that it sounds even better on the right amp, either solid state with the right attributes or an OTL tube amp. But secondly, just because the HD 600 sells for $300 doesn't mean that the people who enjoy it are using it because they can't afford a more expensive headphone. For me, and I am sure for others, there is no substitute for the HD 600. I had a very expensive Audeze and sold it, good as it was. I have the Aeolus and I enjoy it, but as an alternative, not a substitute. So yes, I will damn well pair the HD 600 with what I think is the best amp I can afford.

The other thing is, good amps are usually good for more than one pair of headphones. A bad amp is bad for pretty much every headphone.

So there is also the economy of scale

 

[NehPets]

That comparison is meaningless. Would you feel better spending 100 euros on an amp for a 1700 euro pair of headphones?

The point was not how much a good amp costs but rather how good the 600/650/6XX are that they scale with better and better amps.

The HD 600 may cost 360 euros but in many ways it is difficult to beat for 1500 euros. How much a headphone costs does not really correlate very well to how it sounds. These are one of the best examples.

Like I said, a good cheap amp is a Valhalla 2. Even better if you spend some money and upgrade the tubes.

Apogee Groove, anyone?

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Woefully underpowered for high impedance dynamics. Many DAPs and portable have much more power and still can't get the job done.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Maybe I'm comparing apples to oranges here, but I started out in the headphone game a few years ago with a Schiit Bifrost, Valhalla 2, and a pair of Sennheiser HD700's. Sounded great for almost everything I listen to, but not everything. I then purchased a pair of HD650's which still worked well but clamped too tightly onto my fat head, so they're not what I use for most listening. I then took the plunge earlier this year and purchased a pair of Dan Clark Ether 2's. They sounded like crap with the V2 but sounded fine with my big 5.1 Denon receiver. That's when I purchased a Phonitor x. Amazing difference in performance in the E2's! It was money well spent. What I'm trying to say is that before I spent another large chunk of cash, I poured over amplifier specs in terms of output impedance, power into x ohm headphones, etc and by the numbers, the V2 should've been sufficient. It was woefully lacking the drive needed for the E2's. The numbers can't tell you the whole story. You need either first-hand experience with the objects in question to determine how well they work together, or the opinion of someone you trust who has that first-hand experience.

With regard to listening levels, you're right it absolutely does matter. Playing a mediocre amp at low listening levels will not push it out of its comfort zone and should sound decent. You just can't push it hard. That was my theory when I tried listening to Loreena McKennitt's The Mummer's Dance. Even at very modest listening levels, the bass was just so muddy and sloppy with the E2's connected to the V2 that I thought there was a problem with the headphones. Plugging the E2's into the Phonitor, everything was tight and punchy.

My 2¢.

I went looking for the Ether 2 specs and was unable to find anything on the Dan Clark site. However on a review site I found that the impedance is listed at 16 ohms. There is no way a low impedance planar would be expected to sound good out of a Valhalla 2 so I am not surprised at all at what you said. If you had run them out of a Lyr 2 that would have been a much better match. I don't think this is a case of the numbers not telling the story, but there are certainly cases where that is true.

How do you like your 650s out of the Valhalla 2? I find it a very good combo.

 

[whistlebug23]

Might I suggest you consider the Schiit Valhalla 2 if you're looking for a different amp to feed your HD600's? I have one and my HD650's and HD700's sound great with it.

Appreciate the advice, but I was - in all fairness - being obtuse. Though I have tried Schiit before and wasn't a fan at all..

 

[GumbyDammit223]

I went looking for the Ether 2 specs and was unable to find anything on the Dan Clark site. However on a review site I found that the impedance is listed at 16 ohms. There is no way a low impedance planar would be expected to sound good out of a Valhalla 2 so I am not surprised at all at what you said. If you had run them out of a Lyr 2 that would have been a much better match. I don't think this is a case of the numbers not telling the story, but there are certainly cases where that is true.

How do you like your 650s out of the Valhalla 2? I find it a very good combo.

I really liked the combination. Now the 650's are in the office and being driven by a Hel. No complaints.

 

[nlths]

Hi, I am looking for a DAP that have at least matching output power with the IEM jack of RME adi 2 dac.
May I ask what Vrms/ mW@ohm I should be looking for?

Thanks a lot.

 

[SLMStyles]

Hi, I am looking for a DAP that have at least matching output power with the IEM jack of RME adi 2 dac.
May I ask what Vrms/ mW@ohm I should be looking for?

Thanks a lot.

Finding a DAP with at least the output power should be easy. Honestly, probably every single one. The RME is known for having a fantastic clean/quiet IEM jack, not for It’s high power.

 

[technobear]

Hi, I am looking for a DAP that have at least matching output power with the IEM jack of RME adi 2 dac.
May I ask what Vrms/ mW@ohm I should be looking for?

Thanks a lot.

According to the user manual, the IEM output goes up to -3dBu which is 0.55V.

Power will depend on the impedance of the IEM. For a 16ohm IEM, it will be 0.55 x 0.55 / 16 = 19mW

 

[Matias]

Hi, I am looking for a DAP that have at least matching output power with the IEM jack of RME adi 2 dac.
May I ask what Vrms/ mW@ohm I should be looking for?

Thanks a lot.

Maybe a Hidizs S8 + smartphone?
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...dizs-s8-usb-c-headphone-adapter-review.10823/

 

[nlths]

Maybe a Hidizs S8 + smartphone?
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...dizs-s8-usb-c-headphone-adapter-review.10823/

thanks! will try this combo out.

 

[Emmanuel Palmer]

I am new to this thread and I need help. My adi-2 pro fs only plays constantly at 48.0 sample rate for all tracks how can i resolve this so it always play at its natural sample rates? Thanks

 

[Forsaked]

I am new to this thread and I need help. My adi-2 pro fs only plays constantly at 48.0 sample rate for all tracks how can i resolve this so it always play at its natural sample rates? Thanks

What playback software do u use?
The Software needs to support ASIO or WASAPI to archive this.

 

[Emmanuel Palmer]

What playback software do u use?
The Software needs to support ASIO or WASAPI to archive this.

Hi
Am using the normal tidal app from my laptop. Thanks