The RME ADI 2-DAC 32Bit/768kHz


RME is a German Pro Audio company that's been around for 20 years. This is their first real step into home audio. Not only is it a DAC it also serves as a extreme power Headphone output and has a low noise IEM output. RME's Steady clock FS reduces jitter down to a quadrillionth of a second. Most clocks use pico seconds which reduces jitter to a trillionth of a second. The DAC is compatible w/Windows7 and up also MAC and I/Os devices. It has a 5 Band Parametric EQ. For headphones and speakers you can do dual EQ. Being no two ears are the same you can adjust for both ears individually. It also has a detailed Loudness functionThe user can decide how much maximum gain in bass and treble should occur at the lower volume settings. The user also sets the low volume Reference where maximum gain is achieved. The book that comes w/this is 65 pages and I'm still trying to digest it all. The sound stage is big w/plety of air between singer and instruments. The bass is ruler flat. For $1099 it can compete w/many DAC's at twice the price. 
luxmancl38
My dealer had 3 and he sold out in one week. He has ordered more. He laughed and said, "well there goes the sale of the Chords". My current setup is a Bluesound Node, Bryston 2.5 sst2 amp, Aerial 5T's and a Luxman CL38U-SE. Ihave a small Paradigm Monitor 8 sealed sub and w/this DAC it's sounds like a huge sub. This is truly a great DAC.

BTW, they have gone up in price $100 in the last couple of months. Synthax told me that was not a price increase but, rather, the result of less favorable exchange rates with the Euro.

RME's other products are controlled by a computer interface called TotalMix. It is superb in its flexibility, accuracy, and stability. The ADI-2 DAC, in contrast, uses only the buttons on the front of the unit for operational changes. Germans and "friendly ergonomics" have never been known to mix...

There is, consequently, a learning curve to the DAC and I refer to p. 9 for assistance in menu control.

The DAC allows you to select/specify impulse response and I know of no other unit that does so. See the options on p. 55 of the manual. It is online so prospective buyers can see this extraordinary option.

After some experimentation with orchestral music styles I often listen to, have settled on the "Slow" response that improves the problem of ringing markedly. As a result, dense orchestral textures become clearer and more precise.

I'm trying to digest the Info. I've had it for 4 days. Paid $1099 which seems to be the price on line. I'll check out p.55 Thanks for the info.
Yes this is a fantastic bargain DAC for the quality. The FS version measures absolutely superbly (unlike Schiit products). It can compete with DACs twice the money (Benchmark, Mytek, Bryston, Auralic etc.).
Are the balanced and RCA outputs both live at the same time? I may like to run RCAs to subs and balanced to my Belcanto.