RME ADI-2 DAC

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Luckbad, Jan 12, 2018.

  1. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,837
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Home Page:
    It is indeed the Pro. I couldn't find any of the DAC.

    For those interested in the DAC, here is the breakdown I also found on the interwebs:

    [​IMG]
     
  2. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    Anyone know if the DAC can decode DSD from the Mac?
     
  3. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,162
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Singapore
    Why wouldn't it? It supports DSD.
     
  4. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    I have limited experience with DSD on the Mac. The only DAC I have that supports it is a Sony, and it requires a special driver. There is no special driver from RME for the Mac, so that’s why I ask.
     
  5. Arun Kumar

    Arun Kumar Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2017
    Likes Received:
    208
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Bangalore, India
    Not sure about RME, but my mac (Audirvana) worked totally fine with Aune X1s, Fiio X5 and Matrix m-stage with DSD with no additional software.
     
  6. GanGreinke

    GanGreinke Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2016
    Likes Received:
    512
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    New York, NY
    DSD256 works for me on my Mac over USB with no specially downloaded drivers.
     
  7. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    I contacted RME. Very fast reply. No issue with the Mac and DSD. Good to know.

    I plan on playing with @cskippy ’s on Saturday. This thing has an amazing feature set that I love.
     
  8. I_want_all_the_tacos

    I_want_all_the_tacos Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    440
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    I don't believe I have seen any comparison of this to Soekris 1541? I know 1541 is R2R, but it also gets reported as being more detailed and analytical compared to Schiit's multibit stuff, which are traits the ADI-2 DAC also shares? It seems the main advantage of 1541 is the balanced headphone output, but doesn't have the comprehensive feature set of ADI-2. Has anyone heard both units and can comment on the sound of each's DAC as well as DAC+amp?
     
  9. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    I'm just about to order one and I'm pondering if the ADI-2 DAC's amp-section would be "good enough" to replace my Lyr 2. Bass punch and overall tightness in rock, metal etc. are my main concerns.

    That Schiit just might get sold, that's why I'm asking. Cheers!
     
  10. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    The amp section is surprisingly good, but doesn't sound like a tube amp. It has virtually no distortion, which is vastly different sounding to the pleasing distortion of tubes.

    Depending on your preferences and gear, you'll prefer one or the other.
     
  11. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    I'm using the Lyr with LISST "tubes" so It's all solid-state. I'm not after any tubey-ness here. I think I'm getting the ADI-2 - I can get a new amp down the road if necessary. Still dunno about selling the Lyr, though. Thanks!
     
  12. Mithrandir41

    Mithrandir41 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,151
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Valencia, CA
    If you're running the Lyr with LISST, I think you'd be pretty impressed with the Jot
     
  13. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,495
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    42°S
    Avoid mid-fi side grades. The DAC section of ADI-2 is excellent and could easily be endgame. The amp section is very good, or even excellent depending on synergy with headphones and personal preferences (for example, very good with HD600 and Utopia, excellent with PMx2).

    I would get ADI-2 then save your pocket money for a big boy amp, only if required.
     
  14. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

    Pyrate BWC MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18,653
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    You have an excellent opportunity to explore tube vs. solid state easily if you acquire an ADI-2 DAC and keep the Lyr, at least for a short while. Restore tubes to the Lyr. Switch between ADI-2 and Lyr with your headphones, preferably level matched. What sounds good to you?
     
  15. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    Yeah, it could be smart to hold on to the Lyr for a while still. Let’s just hope there isn’t a Lyr 3 coming out in the near future to wreck the 2’s resale value :D

    E: that might be an interesting amp though..
     
  16. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    Have you tried them both? When Jotunheim came out it seemed like just the thing to work with my LCD-2.1. But that's what Lyr 2 was only a while back. This upgrade-itis just gets crazy in the world of headphones.

    I love me some slammin' bass... Actually the DAC used seems to make the biggest difference in bass-punch with my setup - somehow my Apogee Duet has punchier kick drums and downtuned bass-notes than ModiBit or Arcam irDAC.... The Modi Multibit sounded wimpy with "bouncier" music - out of standard USB, though - and the Arcam more mid-bassy.

    Btw, I was quite ready to just hate the HD800 out of the Lyr + LISST, but I find them totally enjoyable with very moderate (iTunes 10-band :eek:) EQ. I'm pretty sure I'll get as good results, if not better, with RMEs way more precise EQ.

    I've decided to keep the Lyr for a while still, just to see if it betters the amp on the ADI-2 DAC.

    Thanks for the feedback!
     
  17. Mithrandir41

    Mithrandir41 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,151
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Valencia, CA
    I have owned both. The Jot his hands down, the better amp. It's both quieter, and more detailed. The lyr has a ton of power, but is a little on the dull side comparatively
     
  18. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    "Dull" might be kinda ok for me, because I find myself EQing down the highs even with the Lyr + LCD-2..

    It's going to be very interesting to compare this Schiit to the RMEs amp. I just must resist the urge to go straight into the EQ dept. ;)
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2018
  19. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Likes Received:
    10,831
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    East Coast
    Recently I realized ADI2's digital filters can be used as a good evaluation tool for amps and headphones.

    ADI 2 DAC offers five different filters: No oversampling (aka super-slow), two IIR filters (slow and sharp), and two FIR filters (slow and sharp). Roughly speaking different filters cut noises differently, and this affects frequency response, noise levels and/or phase responses subtly (but significantly).

    In my experience with adi2, all the five filters sounded differently. The sonic difference can be largely decomposed into two dimensions: FIR vs IIR (aka Short-delay), and Sharp vs Slow. Headphones and amps resolve these two kinds of differences quite differently. In general, more resolving/scaling/transparent headphones/amps enabled me to know the difference more quickly and clearly. Also, even among similarly resolving headphones, perceptions differed a bit.

    Interestingly, I found test results of the above method quite consistent with scaling test of headphones with various dacs. For examples, it was very difficult to hear filter difference with K7xx, but much easier with HD6xx. To me the best result among my headphones was , surprisingly, calibrated NH though. Roughly in the following order: calibrated NH > modded HD6xx (from Jotenheim) > HD6xx (from ADI2 hp out) > AFO > LCD2C > many others. Of course different people and ears may have different mileages.
     
  20. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,051
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Welp, I was interested in an audition until Marv confirmed I shouldn't bother.

    [​IMG]

    I think this is a record for him with regard to time it took to realize a DAC sounded like shit.
     

Share This Page