RME ADI-2 _ (Z Reviews) _ I for one Welcome our new German Overlords.. 

*write

This reflects my experience working with some people in Germany. It's great that you can still find this engineering spirit focused on excellence nowadays.

Well it's 36 minutes short

Whattt. Update on website? I hope I remember to do this when I get home haha. Thanks for the heads up.

Where’s the firmware?

do you work for RME ? lol

!Komrad

lol, bought my first made in Germany car amp yesterday...

German engineering makes dreams come true!

Ich auch

Aber sowas von…!!!

So it converts the SPDIF signal to digital, does that mean I can use it as a live/active microphone, say for talking with friends on teamspeak/skype/discord?

Best to go full Pro model to get the input compliment.

Outlaw it is a full pc interface, input and output

SPDIF is already digital so there's no conversion here, just doing the job of an spdif to usb adapter.

Yeah, I can second this. Doesn't need to be top of the line or anything, just something with adjustable settings to get beauty shots and for specific scenarios like this. Sure, it would be a little bit of editing, but you wouldn't need it for every video. Can't help but wonder if you could find something compact to go on your mono-pod for when you go out.

LoL Zeos with beautiful B-roll footages? Never gonna happen

I feel seasick watching this video...

He refuses to edit, that’s why he uses a GoPro

I don't understand how people get seasick. Must have a real fun time with games. The GoPro makes it so that he can put out like 4-5 videos a week if he wants to. Speed and amount of content is best for a review channel. Something he could do: putting timestamps in his descriptions for when he starts talking about certain things.

What EQ setting are you using with the HD800, if you don't mind me asking? I have a ADI-2 on the way, and HD800 is one of the headphones i'll be using with it. Just to have a good starting point :)

Konrad Bdnkpf it should have been Gold!

Eh, no. I mean a good 9038 Pro DAC costs about the same as the RME. Perhaps the RME is better value with the headphone jack.

@@SoundWaveTrax the only sabre dac that performs better than the RME is the Benchmark DAC3

@@SoundWaveTrax I was speaking of the price of the DAC chips themselves, not the finished devices. The AKM AK4490 in the ADI-2 is a very cheap mainstream part, it features in the Schitt Fulla dac for example. On the other hand, the 9038Pro is about the most expensive mass-produced DAC chip that money can buy and is orders of magnitude more expensive. The incredible implementation of a basic chip beating many flagship 9038Pro DACs is incredible, especially considering that they are mostly dual-mono where the ADI-2 Pro is a single chip. It speakers to the engineering excellence of RME.

​@@simonadams6640 It is the AD/DA stages of the ADI-2 Pro Fs, but without the USB or AES I/O, DSP functions, digital volume control, and second headphone amp circuit. It's probably the best value pure ADC/DAC you can get, and it has a good headphone amp to boot. If you don't need an ADC then the DAC is probably a better pickup.

​@@Jas7520 You seem to be in the know. I'm in that situation where I want to spend $1200-$1300 max for a new DAC and narrowed it down to the PS AUDIO STELLAR GAIN CELL DAC, this one RME ADI-2 DAC, and one of the dual mono 9038Pro Chinese variants -- most likely the LKS AUDIO MH-DA-004, with a preference for the latter vs the RME. Reviews for the RME praise its versatility, but it seems that LKS got it beat soundwise, with many reviewers saying it punches way above its price-point, beyond Yggrasil and even approaching DAVE!!! Which one to get for the money?

People usually think things they buy are worth the price...

@@davidbarger3820 I think you've won the Captain Obvious award right there with that comment. It's called "perceived value".

would it be worth it to get as an "endpoint" for RME HDSPe AIO I have?

@Immortal I think the cheapest endgame is Flux lab fa-10 and schiit bifrost 2 combo. Not telling this by experience though. Telling it after months worth of video watching. Was looking for sub 200 dollar headphone. Watched almost all recent videos of 6 to 7 audiophile RU-vidrs.. 😂

I cant understand why though. U can do everything the settings can do + x999999999 more with a computer and i am sure if you compared it in a blind test to something cheaper you wouldn't be able to tell which is which.

I thought the Denafrip Terminator was end game?

Never tried it before and I'm sure it's so much more expensive compared to the performance.

In what way is it better?

I always have to hold them well when I insert my jack 😏

Andrei Simionescu 🤦🤣🤣

And dark screen mode.

So many damn options.

Yep in setup option. You can adjust the brightness from 10 to 100%

Hahahaha

Firmware update also intros an auto screen off after 10 sec option. Can’t blame these dudes for not listening.

Is there an instruction on how to use this function in the manual? It's really handy if use this Dac to feed 2 Amps and switch the output in between.

well whats the word ?

@@jsharp9735 I got it and I'm super happy with my purchase. I like my sound to be neutral and detailed and the adi2 gives me exactly that. I'm using it with the DT1990Pro and it sounds so much better than the old dac amp I used before, worth every penny if you ask me.

@Keith Dupont I went all in and bought what my money could buy, my old dac is the Creative G6, which is still in use for my Logitech Z5500 PC speakers through optical out. The differences are night and day, not sure how much by the dac itself, but definitely by the adi-2's built in amp.

@Keith Dupont Today I went to my local shop to test out my new headphones, a pair of Hifiman Arya, with a balanced setup to compare it to the single ended that the ADI-2 has. They hooked up my ADI2 with a Violectric V280 and gave me a balanced cable for my Arya and tbh, I listened to several songs for 20 minutes and swapped between single ended ADI2 and the balanced Violectric, the difference was perceivable, mainly a better soundstage, that's what I heard would improve switching to a balanced headphone configuration. But other than that the details, the signatures and imaging were practically identical to my ears, it tells me how good of a DAC/AMP the ADI2 already is and I see no immediate benefits going any higher than this, the differences are just way too minimal to warrant the cost going for products that are 1000+, I think the ADI-2 will remain my endgame for a long time until it dies or something marginally better comes along for the same cost.

@Keith Dupont Sorry for the late reply, my Arya ran into some quality issues, the membrane in the left cup ruptured and I had to replace it. Luckily my retailer sent it in really fast and I got a new unboxed replacement within 2 weeks. But back to my impression of the Hifiman Arya. It's a very very good headphone, comparing to the DT1990Pro, it clearly has much better resolution, the soundstage is much much bigger since it's like the most openback headphones out there, it's even more neutral, it's slightly towards the warm side, none fatiguing listening experience. The tonal balance is perfect for my ears, bass extension is insane, very detailed and punchy, absolutely no boominess, the mids are probably the weakness of this headphone, the vocals won't stand out as much comapred to the DT1990Pro, but it's in no way bad or undetailed, they just take slight backseat compared to most headphones I've listened to. The highs are insanely detailed, zero sibilance as far my ears could hear and detect and now I understand the comment someone wrote that I read in one of the DT1990Pro review video, he finds that it has artificially boosted highs to give listeners the impression of details, cuz they are louder. I didn't believe it before since I had no better headphones to compared it to, but now that I listened to the Arya, it's absolutely true. What makes the Arya stand out is the speed of the drivers, they are so fast, you can feel every impact of every sound that comes out clearly, so are the instrument seperations, nothing gets mixed when the songs get busy, you can hear everything clearly if your mind want to follow one particular instrument. TLDR: I gave my mom both headphones to compare to and she's no expert in headphones, but when she wore the Arya and listened to the same song again, the first few words she said were: More spacious, way more detailed, it sounds amazing! Aside from the quality issue that I ran into on my first pair, I must say this is a headphones that can keep up with some of the most expensive headphones out there (it uses a slightly modified driver from the HE 1000 V2 that costs 3000 as of writing), so half the price of the HE1000V2, sounds almost as good and less sibilant with less expensive build material and quality. The DT1990Pro is no comparison in every category, but then again Arya is 3x the price. I would completely recommend it though, at least if you can find a pair at your retailer, give it a listen and you'll be amazed I'm sure! Edit: I hope you haven't bought the Meze Empyreans cuz I've found a Arya review that compares it to the Meze Empyreans, though not his own words but his friend's, he said that the Empyreans are way overpriced for the sound quality they deliver and Arya sounds better. Link here: /watch?v=qdc7fszfWuM Also sorry for the long post, I should've made a review myself on the Arya lol.

ga12f12o Hold up, what’s the difference?

@@EliasTheHunter adi-2 is A/D - D/A interface

ga12f12o please explain like I’m new to this, because I am. Thanks!

@@EliasTheHunter the RME ADI-2 is completely different product. It's much older and cheaper, it also has no tft-screen, If you Google it, you will see silver and blue on the frontside + there are also handles to grab the unit.

@@EliasTheHunter the audiophile hobby is very addictive. Do not go to far with your spendings, second hand is a good option

Spoilers bro!

I have the T90's. They are perfectly fine. A little on the higher/brighter side yes, but they are fantastic heaphones with great dynamics, great bass response, and soundstage. Zeos is apparently just bitchy when it comes to bright headphones. His review of them was way too sensationalist and whiny. Like complaining about the plasticity of the wire, really?

Yep, really.

@@1kyleabc enjoy your mods

The Topping D50 is almost end game for a whole bunch cheaper

I am really curious if 789 is any better than rme amp. Speaking about SE only.

Yup, same here. I might just do it and be done haha

@@buster7618 purchased via amazon. only 1 left hahaha

@@christiandevela2980 only problem is I want a new paor of Ether C Flows also. You know how to remove kidneys? :D

Just ordered it. FML but also fuck yeah at the same time.

@@buster7618 YOLO!! did you get the last one on amazon?

Speednut1 did they come in? Dying to know how they sound together. I have the adi2, but I missed out on the 789

becouse he doesn't review cheap shit stuff, most 1k+ electronics is atleast worth the money

"The Menu" ... FFFFFFFF

@@ZReviews Options - display - and a few clicks below: lcd brightness. Can also change the colour of the visualisation in that option screen

9

well I recommmend an amp ;-) oh and 2 subs...

@@FreeD00M ACTIVE. And with those you don't need a sub either...

@@awdadwadwad1723 Oh I misssed that, but aren't those active with a build in DAC?

@@FreeD00M no, it's not genelec or shit like that. ATC both active or passive are one of the best speakers on the planet

I also would like to know!

3rd this.. one review panned the headphone amp, but without giving anything factual to back it up.. so perplexed whether that’s a heed to or discard review.

just get the RME

You should be a LOT more proud.

Just a note of thanks.. I think the Z Reviews POV format is great. Zeos sits you down in the comfy chair and you get to effectively twiddle the knobs and turn it over in your hands and fool around, and that's something usefully removed from a certain coffee-flavored, hipster-style review with obtuse superlatives and useless zero depth of field pictures. I feel like I've done some playing with the stuff when a Z Review is done.

Yeah. But I'm quite sure Zeos would burn the amp right away because he can't read manuals ^^

"or even ears" ? Not 'or even drivers' ?

Ted Timmis it’s a graphic eq not a VU meter.

@@junejhunkie First of all that is not graphic eq LOL. Secondly what he prob means is separate L/R VU meter just under this big spectrum analyzer...

Send me one then

That's BS! there is no different in sound between the chips, and there is no hand soldered bridge cable on my device which I bought October 2022.

@@kentbergstrom3020 there is cable patch at first batches. There are photos online…

@@tnarch Do you know from which serial number the cable disappeared?

@@kentbergstrom3020 unfortunately my friend I do not know. And there is no official answer of this issue from MC or any other RME technician… instead of an answer they try to hide it and close all threads as I see…

@@tnarch Are you Jamca? I've looked at the pictures on the ASR forum, and when I look into mine with a flashlight, I can see one of the contact points where one end of the cable is soldered, you can see a bolt in the background, but there is no cable soldered there on my RME, my version also has a yellow ESD sticker on the chip.

what did you end up buying? I just ordered mine, planning to pair it with Atoll IN200 Signature and Focal Arias.

I used USB in my living room on my Win10 laptop and had no issues with it.

RME does has some of the most robust drivers in the industry. I use RME devices on my 2 Macs and Windows comp and never had an issue with compatibility in the last 10 years. And they consistently issue USB/firewire driver upgrades every few months.