RME ADI-2 DAC Thread

[Soundizer]

Also ordered one from Bax shop today with their discount code.
Wondering which version I'll get.

They sell used products as new. Was told even by RME not to buy from them. Cancel your order.

 

[Leporello]

Just as a dac the adi-2 isn't all that amazing. It's not bad. But it's not great.

Realistically the adi-2 should be bought for the features.

The qutest is a much better dac. With the caveat that it's not particularly great with macrodynamics/'slam', so may come across as too 'polite' sounding for some genres.

For similar money my pick would probably be the gustard x26 pro

Truth to be told, it is utterly unlikely that RME and qutest could be told apart in a blind test by anyone.

 

[emilsoft]

Truth to be told, it is utterly unlikely that RME and qutest could be told apart in a blind test by anyone.

It's not too difficult to hear the difference - the Qutest has it's own distinctive sound where it pushed the mids in a very detailed holographic manner, it demands the listener's full attention. The RME (ess) takes a more relaxed and neutral approach with the mids which I enjoy more, as I can enjoy it even when I want to relax or during work - the Qutest demands full attention. Even through speakers it's fairly obvious.

 

[larsv]

They sell used products as new. Was told even by RME not to buy from them. Cancel your order.

Already got it last week. Brand new (foil around the boxm sticker on the power inlet etc.) and with ESS chip.

 

[GoldenSound]

Truth to be told, it is utterly unlikely that RME and qutest could be told apart in a blind test by anyone.

They're two quite different sounding dacs

 

[Soundizer]

Already got it last week. Brand new (foil around the boxm sticker on the power inlet etc.) and with ESS chip.

Ok. That’s good. Sorry I didn’t want anyone else to have the same bad experience as i did with them. I just received my unit today from Scan in the UK. Has a 5 year Warranty with UK Distributor.

I don’t know if it is AKM or ESS.

 

[Soundizer]

Ok. That’s good. Sorry I didn’t want anyone else to have the same bad experience as i did with them. I just received my unit today from Scan in the UK. Has a 5 year Warranty with UK Distributor.

I don’t know if it is AKM or ESS.

I confirm it is ESS as Serial Number has a C after it and includes additional “Build” filter in settings.

 

[gikigill]

Does the ESS have the typical IMD hump?

 

[GoldenSound]

If anyone in the UK has a unit of the ess adi-2 that they wouldn't mind lending to get measured I'd be quite keen to do so.

Fingers crossed the IMD hump is addressed

 

[Matias]

So the TempoTec Sonata E44 gets the top ranking? Huh, interesting.

https://andyaudiovault.com/donglemadness/tempotec-sonata-e44/

 

[betula]

I have just bumped into this V.41 download. I only had V.35. Perhaps someone finds it useful.

 

[Iggnasty]

If anyone in the UK has a unit of the ess adi-2 that they wouldn't mind lending to get measured I'd be quite keen to do so.

Fingers crossed the IMD hump is addressed

It will great if you review the ADI unit you already have on your you tube channel

 

[TheEman]

Hey everyone - brand new here.

I have a pair of Audeze LCD-2's (from mid-2013) currently paired with an Asgard 2 (from 2013) and a Modi 3+ (replaced a Bifrost due to lack of optical out on my new motherboard and lack of USB on the Bifrost). And, what can I say? I'm no longer engaged with my music. Everything feels recessed, and that "toe-tapping goodness" is gone. I listened to the RME ADI-2 back in December but felt it was too dark and, hence, didn't pair well with the cooler sound signature of the LCD-2. Would it be worth another audition now that the ESS chip has been implemented? Or should I be looking at an HD-800 S with the RME ADI-2 instead? Thanks for any feedback. Super tough to audition equipment in stores these days.

 

[Soundizer]

Does RME have a stance on if running in the RME ADI-2 DAC FS is beneficial?

Just reading the manual and not found any reference on this subject.

 

[Dogmatrix]

Does RME have a stance on if running in the RME ADI-2 DAC FS is beneficial?

Just reading the manual and not found any reference on this subject.

No