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.
Tried the slow response but I preferred the sharper sound. I have a all tube Luxman preamp and Aerial 5 T's so I lost some of that edge on the horns and guitars that I like. Have not tried headphones w/this unit. May borrow some from my dealer. What brand would you recommend?? Also read a review on the $2400 Schiit DAC and the RME blew it out of the water. Going to try and learn the loudness section next. This is one of the biggest bargains in audio. Glad my dealer decided to carry it. I would have never known.
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