[Simon Patten]

You need to double check what model you have. Sounds like you have the RME ADI-2 DAC FS, not the RME ADI-2 FS. They are different products. A quick internet search of the two models in your search engine of choice should make that pretty clear.

Ah yes, of course, thank you. They're too similarly named for having such a significant difference. I think I was caught out by that when I bought it as an analogue input would have been be useful (sorted now with my Waxwing).

 

[Simon Patten]

Very true, there are sonic improvements but as the price goes up there will be diminishing returns with the investment. The RME ADI-2 is a bargain IMO with all its capabilities and customizable functions. I appreciate the recent developments they accomplished with the software/remote dashboard for the PC.

I agree. It's a remarkably competent device that does more than I'll ever need but it's good to know that whatever I throw at it, it can handle. The PEQ was the defining feature for me as I need EQ and when I discovered the 'Remote' dashboard I was sold, it made what I thought was going to be a tedious task setting it up into a simple and easy one. There may be better sounding DACs for the price (although reviewers say it's close) but none do as much or look as cool as the ADI-2. I love it, it's a keeper for me.

 

[Simon Patten]

I have purchased Violectric V-222 amp and use RME ADI-2 as DAC, honestly the difference in sound is minimal, V-222 is slightly warmer in sound, but the quality is not better, just different, I assume the same difference applies to tube amps.
My Violectric has more power, which I honestly don't need, I don't play louder now than before just because I have more power, is it worth the difference? for me it was as I like a slightly warmer sound, but the cost is not worth it unless you have the money to spare.

I'm surprised. I don't have very good hearing (I'm old) but the difference between listening on my ADI-2 and S17 amp is clear to me - aside from the extra bass 'weight' that the amp gives, it offers more detail with better sound stage and is more open. I was very happy with the ADI-2's headphone output but when I got the amp I could hear much more. This is only to be expected really as the ADI-2 is primarily a DAC with an amp bolted on, it's not bad at all but it can easily be improved. Cables maybe? They made a big difference on my system, I am very impressed with Supra cables (no connection).

 

[Satriany]

Perhaps if your headphone is difficult to drive and has a non resistive impedance the amp drives it better.
Staging is mostly a phase or time concern.

 

[besouro7]

I'm looking for a decent amp/dac to drive my HE1000SE, and interested in RME adi-2 as I use PEQ on my mac to add a bit of bass. Is PEQ on adi-2 better than software solution like AuLab? My main concern with getting rme is the soundstage which people complain to be narrow/flat.

 

[hanumanbob]

hardware eq is infinitely better especially on a Mac. I have never gotten decent results from software eq on my Mac. Did you try pad swapping ?

 

[besouro7]

hardware eq is infinitely better especially on a Mac. I have never gotten decent results from software eq on my Mac. Did you try pad swapping ?

Haven't tried different pads, I use eq just to slightly add bass and can say that I'm quite happy with the result, but I have nothing to compare to as I never used hardware eq. Don't want to miss great soundstage this headphones in advance of having a bit better bass, so thinking what options I do have. As for now it's either rme adi-2, mojo 2 or wait for newly released fiio k19. Mojo 2 can be bought 3 times cheaper than rme/fiio

 

[hanumanbob]

Haven't tried different pads, I use eq just to slightly add bass and can say that I'm quite happy with the result, but I have nothing to compare to as I never used hardware eq. Don't want to miss great soundstage this headphones in advance of having a bit better bass, so thinking what options I do have. As for now it's either rme adi-2, mojo 2 or wait for newly released fiio k19. Mojo 2 can be bought 3 times cheaper than rme/fiio

I love the RME and use just the DAC. I don’t think the Mojo had much control adjusting things. I’d try pads first. Do some research.

 

[IXOYE]

Is PEQ on adi-2 better than software solution like AuLab? My main concern with getting rme is the soundstage which people complain to be narrow/flat.

Imo yes, hardware PEQ is much better, but I can only relate to Eq Mac as I have a Mac, but the difference is audible.

 

[hanumanbob]

Imo yes, hardware PEQ is much better, but I can only relate to Eq Mac as I have a Mac, but the difference is audible.

There is a huge difference at least on a Mac. I've always found the Mac software solutions very poor and unreliable,

 

[Simon Patten]

Imo yes, hardware PEQ is much better, but I can only relate to Eq Mac as I have a Mac, but the difference is audible.

Agreed, a definite improvement over Peace/APO on Windows too, and the Remote program makes it so easy to set up and use.

 

[hanumanbob]

Agreed, a definite improvement over Peace/APO on Windows too, and the Remote program makes it so easy to set up and use.

Remote is perfect and very user friendly

 

[Simon Patten]

Have any of you tried the JCAT USB Card FEMTO with your ADI-2? Is it a worthwhile upgrade or does the ADI-2 already do a good enough job of cleaning up the signal?

 

[Yari]

Am considering getting an RME ADI-2 DAC FS for use with a HD800S I want to get. If I like the HD800S enough to keep it then this DAC seems like a nice option. I was thinking buying B-Stock or Used, seen some nice deals for B-Stock. Although Used may actually be better condition, as well as pricing. But all in due time.

Is there a lot in sound quality in what you end up using as a DAC for a high end headphone? Or are we talking small percentages and the main part of it is EQing. For example a thread on another forum said the Mjolnir 3 works incredibly well with HD800S but that is way out of my price point. I'm just curious how much the difference actually is between these things.

The convenience of a hardware EQ in the ADI-2 is appealing to me. Also if anyone uses this on a desktop setup with Windows, I was curious if you can still operate your volume on a OS leve, using volume keys on your keyboard. For example I currently have an ifi Uno, and this only allows me to turn my volume on or off, nothing from 0-100% in audio levels. I'm curious if this is specific to that DAC or if it is always like that and I will have to use the volume knob on the ADI 2 DAC for everything I will be doing.

Finally what is DSD Direct, I do not even know the feature I will miss out on(?) But I am curious what it does.

 

[hanumanbob]

Am considering getting an RME ADI-2 DAC FS for use with a HD800S I want to get. If I like the HD800S enough to keep it then this DAC seems like a nice option. I was thinking buying B-Stock or Used, seen some nice deals for B-Stock. Although Used may actually be better condition, as well as pricing. But all in due time.

Is there a lot in sound quality in what you end up using as a DAC for a high end headphone? Or are we talking small percentages and the main part of it is EQing. For example a thread on another forum said the Mjolnir 3 works incredibly well with HD800S but that is way out of my price point. I'm just curious how much the difference actually is between these things.

The convenience of a hardware EQ in the ADI-2 is appealing to me. Also if anyone uses this on a desktop setup with Windows, I was curious if you can still operate your volume on a OS leve, using volume keys on your keyboard. For example I currently have an ifi Uno, and this only allows me to turn my volume on or off, nothing from 0-100% in audio levels. I'm curious if this is specific to that DAC or if it is always like that and I will have to use the volume knob on the ADI 2 DAC for everything I will be doing.

Finally what is DSD Direct, I do not even know the feature I will miss out on(?) But I am curious what it does.

After about 15 upper tier headphones in the last year, I’ve returned to the 800s because I listen to classical music. I use the RME because of the hardware EQ BUT!
for the 800s to reach its full potential you need a powerful amp and not every amp works. I use FLUX FA-10 which works great. I imagine certain speaker amps would work well too.