RME ADI-2 DAC Thread

Oct 7, 2021 at 11:22 AM Post #4,534 of 6,226
Ok. What about Base db? Are you using Base/Treble?
I only used +2,5db low shelf (bass boost on rme or normal via eq) and -2db on 2khz i think.. but it was original focal clear, not mg
 
Oct 7, 2021 at 1:13 PM Post #4,535 of 6,226
I only used +2,5db low shelf (bass boost on rme or normal via eq) and -2db on 2khz i think.. but it was original focal clear, not mg
Got it. Do we need to change anything in Low Power mode with Focal Clear? I seen references to Low Power mode in the manual and not sure if that is for Full Size headphones like Focal Clear or for IEM’s.
 
Oct 7, 2021 at 1:26 PM Post #4,536 of 6,226
Got it. Do we need to change anything in Low Power mode with Focal Clear? I seen references to Low Power mode in the manual and not sure if that is for Full Size headphones like Focal Clear or for IEM’s.

Just use the 6,3 jack and it should swap automaticaly between low power end high power depending on volume. Break point is about - 25+- i think
 
Oct 7, 2021 at 2:52 PM Post #4,537 of 6,226
Personally I am done with it. It's just too complicated for me. Let me know if anyone in London UK is interested buying a 7 months old RME in mint condition.
It's only as complicated as you allow it to be. Sure there are a lot of functions on it, and I'll give you that some are somewhat unintuitive, but if you just ignore all those extra functions you can just power on, plug in headphones and press play.

With regards to the extra functions then I'm in the camp of it's better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it. I used the the channel polarity inverter once and once only, but I needed it to listen to something where the channels were out of phase, and I was so pleased that I could do it with the RME.

That said, just because the device gives you the ability to adjust everything to the n'th degree certainly doesn't mean you have to, or should do.

I've had mine for nearly 3 years and never really bothered with the advanced functions, apart from that one time.
 
Oct 7, 2021 at 2:59 PM Post #4,538 of 6,226
It's only as complicated as you allow it to be. Sure there are a lot of functions on it, and I'll give you that some are somewhat unintuitive, but if you just ignore all those extra functions you can just power on, plug in headphones and press play.

With regards to the extra functions then I'm in the camp of it's better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it. I used the the channel polarity inverter once and once only, but I needed it to listen to something where the channels were out of phase, and I was so pleased that I could do it with the RME.

That said, just because the device gives you the ability to adjust everything to the n'th degree certainly doesn't mean you have to, or should do.

I've had mine for nearly 3 years and never really bothered with the advanced functions, apart from that one time.
I agree with this. I do not need most of the functions on the RME, but I do use quite a few of them and it is great to have even more options in case I buy new headphones and I might need them.
Once you spend 5 minutes reading the relevant sections in the handbook, it is actually not that crazy complicated to use any of the functions.
Of course, if you do not use something for a few weeks or months (like tuning the loudness function for example) you might have to read it again but it is really not that big of a time investment if you consider what you gain.
 
Oct 7, 2021 at 5:03 PM Post #4,539 of 6,226
It's only as complicated as you allow it to be. Sure there are a lot of functions on it, and I'll give you that some are somewhat unintuitive, but if you just ignore all those extra functions you can just power on, plug in headphones and press play.

With regards to the extra functions then I'm in the camp of it's better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it. I used the the channel polarity inverter once and once only, but I needed it to listen to something where the channels were out of phase, and I was so pleased that I could do it with the RME.

That said, just because the device gives you the ability to adjust everything to the n'th degree certainly doesn't mean you have to, or should do.

I've had mine for nearly 3 years and never really bothered with the advanced functions, apart from that one time.
I see your point. If I am not gonna use the functions then I’d rather have the chord Qutest on my desk. As a headphone amplifier the RME is ok. I have the Qutest and probably will sell the RME and buy a very good headphone amplifier.
 
Oct 7, 2021 at 10:21 PM Post #4,540 of 6,226
I see your point. If I am not gonna use the functions then I’d rather have the chord Qutest on my desk. As a headphone amplifier the RME is ok. I have the Qutest and probably will sell the RME and buy a very good headphone amplifier.
I had both at one stage, the RME is overall competent and drove my HD800s reasonably well but the Qutest has more clarity, shaped the notes somewhat better. Of course the latter when you add on a reasonably good amp costs more but even something inexpensive like the Lakepeople G111 the combination will bring the sound quality up a couple of notches above that of the RME alone. Apples vs oranges you may say but there is a difference if you are pursing that performance increase
 
Oct 11, 2021 at 3:35 AM Post #4,541 of 6,226
Almost ready to pull the trigger and get the ADI-2, but have one question I'm hoping someone can answer for me:

Are EQ bands 1-3 fully adjustable all the way down to 20Hz? The manual (confusingly) states that bands 1-5 are "adjustable from 20 Hz (200 Hz bands 4/5) to 20.0 kHz", but I'm in doubt as to whether it means bands 2 through 5 go down to 200Hz or if it's only bands 4 and 5. I'm particularly picky about the high bass range and would like to EQ this properly. Thanks

Edit: Found the answer to my own question in this review - bands 1-3 all go down to 20Hz. Amazing, can't wait to play with this piece of kit.
 
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Oct 11, 2021 at 2:12 PM Post #4,542 of 6,226
Almost ready to pull the trigger and get the ADI-2, but have one question I'm hoping someone can answer for me:

Are EQ bands 1-3 fully adjustable all the way down to 20Hz? The manual (confusingly) states that bands 1-5 are "adjustable from 20 Hz (200 Hz bands 4/5) to 20.0 kHz", but I'm in doubt as to whether it means bands 2 through 5 go down to 200Hz or if it's only bands 4 and 5. I'm particularly picky about the high bass range and would like to EQ this properly. Thanks

Edit: Found the answer to my own question in this review - bands 1-3 all go down to 20Hz. Amazing, can't wait to play with this piece of kit.
https://www.armadamusic.com/university/music-production-articles/eq-explained-the-basics - Basic EQ 101

Forgive me if you already know what you're doing, but what you've written scares the hell out of me.
 
Oct 11, 2021 at 2:17 PM Post #4,543 of 6,226
Could have written this a bit clearer sorry, English isn’t my first language, but I’m very aware of how an eq works. I’m a music producer with multiple releases under my belt, I’m just also a basshead and want a DAC that can replicate an eq curve I currently do in Waves Q8 thru Audio Hijack on Mac OS.

I have a low shelf at around 80Hz all the way up at 12dB and another bell at around 50Hz for that extra “club PA” punch. I’m not an audiophile; I just want lots of bass, and was afraid I could only do the low shelf at sub-200Hz
 
Oct 11, 2021 at 2:33 PM Post #4,544 of 6,226
Could have written this a bit clearer sorry, English isn’t my first language, but I’m very aware of how an eq works. I’m a music producer with multiple releases under my belt, I’m just also a basshead and want a DAC that can replicate an eq curve I currently do in Waves Q8 thru Audio Hijack on Mac OS.

I have a low shelf at around 80Hz all the way up at 12dB and another bell at around 50Hz for that extra “club PA” punch. I’m not an audiophile; I just want lots of bass, and was afraid I could only do the low shelf at sub-200Hz
OK that's really cool, It's just that there are so many people on here who's only knowledge of EQ is at a level that makes them dangerous, and when I saw 3 PEQ bands down at 20Hz chills went down my spine.

No need to apologise about your English - you're from Denmark which means, in my experience, that you already speak English at a higher level than most mother tongue English speakers, and I am one.

By the way I am, or was, a hobby producer, also with multiple releases, on soundcloud, which most people either laugh at or cause them to provide me with entertaining death threats, well those that survive listening do ;)
 
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:56 PM Post #4,545 of 6,226
At the moment I hear music with my UM Mest IEM's/Hiby R6 pro only. Will I get improvement (sound) if I use the RME Adi-2 instead of the Hiby? So, is the RME Adi better than my DAP or does it only make sense to buy one if I use Headphones?
 

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