[SOLVED] Why is RME ADI-2 still noisy even when its shutoff?...speakers

[OCC7N]

Im starting to get a headache. This DAC drives my insane. I know the world has been plagued with the self noise of this DAC when it is connected to poweramp with speakers etc....My poweramp has zero noise when connected to the speakers alone.


It still transfers noise from the usb port on the pc even when it is shut of! ...its in standby mode(red ring) then?

I even bought iFi iPower Elite 12/4A for it. No difference.

Only time it is silent is when usb is shut off.

Troubleshooting:
1. I am still waiting on a iPurifier3 for the RME...I hope it will fix it.
2. Headphone amp seem to have no problem
3. I did not buy it because of optical, so I leave that out
4. I tried two different computers. lower noise on j5040 motherboard, than asus tuf x570 with 2070 super.(all ports tried)
5: Tried shielded(supra) and non shielded(stock) power cables. Better result with supra.
6. Poweramp does not have any noise connected to the speakers ATC SCM19.
7. Noise comes from USB port/RME DAC FS even when its off(red ring)
8. Tried different mains same problem... maybe slightly better.

I double checked for polarity(+L -N and Earth) on all devices. It was set.

My only conclusion is that this dac is horribly grounded/balanced/shielded....whatever the term is.

[SOLUTION]
Look further down for picture, but basically a earth plug, screwed around of the feet.

 

[GoldenSound]

The issue is most likely because the RME is not grounded via the PSU. Meaning any ground plane pollution from the USB port (which there will be a lot of) will impact the outputs.
The RME is unfortunately quite susceptible to PC noise because of this, I could straight up hear GPU whine through the outputs when I had one.

Something like an iPurifier will hopefully help a bit assuming it's filtering on the ground connection not just the 5v connection. But to completely alleviate the issue you need something like an iGalvanic or intona 7055-C which are unfortunately quite pricey

 

[Nostoi]

Im starting to get a headache. This DAC drives my insane. I know the world has been plagued with the self noise of this DAC when it is connected to poweramp with speakers etc....My poweramp has zero noise when connected to the speakers alone.


It still transfers noise from the usb port on the pc even when it is shut of! ...its in standby mode(red ring) then?

I even bought iFi iPower Elite 12/4A for it. No difference.

Only time it is silent is when usb is shut off.

Troubleshooting:
1. I am still waiting on a iPurifier3 for the RME...I hope it will fix it.
2. Headphone amp seem to have no problem
3. I did not buy it because of optical, so I leave that out
4. I tried two different computers. lower noise on j5040 motherboard, than asus tuf x570 with 2070 super.(all ports tried)
5: Tried shielded(supra) and non shielded(stock) power cables. Better result with supra.
6. Poweramp does not have any noise connected to the speakers ATC SCM19.
7. Noise comes from USB port/RME DAC FS even when its off(red ring)
8. Tried different mains same problem... maybe slightly better.

I double checked for polarity(+L -N and Earth) on all devices. It was set.

My only conclusion is that this dac is horribly grounded/balanced/shielded....whatever the term is.

Replacing the RME with a TT2 or Qutest can fix this problem.

 

[OCC7N]

Replacing the RME with a TT2 or Qutest can fix this problem.

I know I know!!!

Handsdown iFi Diablo is alot better than this crappy RME. I am disspointed in that company. I lost repect for them creating a cheap thing because they know they have a name.

Diablo kills this adi-2 … easily!

 

[GoldenSound]

I know I know!!!

Handsdown iFi Diablo is alot better than this crappy RME. I am disspointed in that company. I lost repect for them creating a cheap thing because they know they have a name.

Diablo kills this adi-2 … easily!

Yeah unfortunately the ADI-2 whilst unparalleled from a feature standpoint is a bit meh when it comes to outright SQ.

But luckily there's so many fantastic DACs available now for decent prices.
At a similar price for the ADI-2 for example the Gustard X18 is brilliant

 

[OCC7N]

iPurifier3 my only hope

 

[chesebert]

iPurifier3 my only hope

What you actually need is the USB isolator that provides true galvanic isolation. Alternatively, try optical first before spending more money in case the issue is with the dac grounding and not USB.

 

[OCC7N]

I solved the issue after some troubleshooting

Earth cable(sommer cable, speaker)

Screwed it to the feet. Its actually gone now the ground noise.

 

[OCC7N]

The issue is most likely because the RME is not grounded via the PSU. Meaning any ground plane pollution from the USB port (which there will be a lot of) will impact the outputs.
The RME is unfortunately quite susceptible to PC noise because of this, I could straight up hear GPU whine through the outputs when I had one.

Something like an iPurifier will hopefully help a bit assuming it's filtering on the ground connection not just the 5v connection. But to completely alleviate the issue you need something like an iGalvanic or intona 7055-C which are unfortunately quite pricey

You are spot on. Anyway the iPurifier was ordered before I noticed this challange

I also have ordered the iGalvanic3 but its for studio recording(usb soundcard) so that my guitars have less noise

Guitarsound(JACK) -> SSL2+ -> iGalvanic3(usb) -> computer(usb)

Any advice is appreciated

 

[OCC7N]

This DAC is really lifeless. I dont enjoy good productions on this DAC as much as Diablo.

The loudness button is a curse. Makes me realize how bad it really is in stock.

Seriously who payed people to hype this so much?

To be fair. Its ok, not a fragment better.

 

[chesebert]

Go back and reread my advice in your other thread. Stop wasting money in midfi trap. If you like ifi sound signature, pick up a used AMR dac.

 

[OCC7N]

Go back and reread my advice in your other thread. Stop wasting money in midfi trap. If you like ifi sound signature, pick up a used AMR dac.

This is also the end for me in the lowend. Im gonna jump up there somewhere, but need to save up.

I got this RME for 500dollars(brand new)…Glad I didnt pay full price.

 

[OCC7N]

Ok guys I blamed the DAC a little too much I guess.

I switched back the speakers from ATC SCM19 to ATC SCM7. I now recoignize a lot better and clear sound.

I think I am to blame. These ATC SCM19 demo speakers must be broken.

 

[OCC7N]

This dac is a very very weak headphone amp for my Arya.....where is the "extreme" RME writes all in there manual and website?

Can somebody please help me with this DAC. Why does it suck that much?

Is there a setting I am missing???

It sound crap on speakers and not powerful enough to be decent on my Arya!!!

 

[OCC7N]

To update this thread:

I switched to Hi Power and now it seems to be a little better. But extreme power is overrated.

After long hours with settings it has started to sound much better.

I can not seem to understand why they would make it sound like crap in stock, with the de-emphasis switched on.