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RME ADI-2 fs DAC: Not Loving It

I took the plunge about 6 months ago and replaced my Peachtree DACiTx with ADI-2.  I got the DACiTx to play files via computer and from my old but beloved JVC XL-Z1050 CDP.  

Can't say that I've noticed a marked improvement using the RME over the Peachtree. 

I picked the RME because of the glowing reviews and the fact that it had DSP.  I'm 61 yrs. old and last time I had my ears checked I haven't really lost much in the high freq's. But, I thought that it was inevitable that I would and the EQ that RME has may be a bonus.

In reality, it is not very user friendly and I'm no techie.  I thought by playing with it for a while it would get easier but really all I want to do is listen to music.

I'm no longer using a computer but a Bluesound Node 2i for my files and also use Tidal.

Not really a headphone guy but thought it would be nice to have the option seeing that neither of my preamps have a headphone jack.  I was only using my headphones with portable devices.  

I have mostly listened to vinyl over the years but really wanted to upgrade my digital front end as I'm getting lazy in my old age. 

The rest of my system :

Preamps: 
Classe CP-50
Rogue Audio Model 99 Magnum

Power Amps:
McCormack DNA-0.5 Deluxe Edition 
Black Ice Audio Fusion 3502P

Speakers:
PBN DP's
ACI Titan II LE subwoofer

Still using the JVC as a CD transport.   
I usually mix and match tubes with solid state.  Right now I'm using the Classe Pre with Black Ice Audio tubed power amp.

The RME sounds rather neutral, lean and dry to my ears.  Nothing exciting.  It doesn't make me sit up and take notice like when I first added the Peachtree to my system.  I was like wow! This is what I been missing all these years.  So, I thought the RME would be a significant upgrade over the Peachtree.  So far, not impressed.  Maybe if I was headphone guy?  Can't comment there other than both headphone outputs work.  

Any suggestions on what to try or what direction I should take next? 
nicktheknife
nicktheknife OP
194 posts
 
@douglas_schroeder 

" Generally, if I have to work that hard to make a component sound wonderful, then you probably won't adore the sound long term."

I see what you're getting at.  If I have to put that much work and money into an already fine piece of equipment to get it to sound good in my system I may as well put that money into something I will be happy with long term.  And I can add very good cabling, power supply, etc. later on to 'tweak' something I already like in my system to a possibly better sound.

I'll think I will play with the ADI for a while longer, double check my settings until I'm sure it works or doesn't work for me.  Maybe even put the Peachtree back in and compare it to that again.  I may even just use the Bluesound with it's onboard dac as well.   Just for the heck of it.


ghdprentice
7,755 posts
 
I had never thought about it that way… if you have to put a lot of work into it to make it sound good… but looking back over my history that is correct. When I got high quality components, they sounded fantastic to start with and tweaking just improved them. When I was much younger and trying to get the best sound for less money, I would get components that needed all sorts of accommodation to make them sound good. Sometimes I just had to give up.
paulcreed
567 posts
 
Nicktheknife, this may be a stupid question since you have owned it 6 months but how many hours of music running through the RME do you have. Do you leave it on 24/7. I found it didn’t sound right until it had a month of run time on it. Have you tried the NOS filter? 
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
Maybe try a R2R Dac to the RME, such as a Denefrips Ares ll. A reviewer compared it to the RME along with some other Dacs to the Ares ll, and he preferred it to RME. 
Take the reviewers opinion (and mine for that matter) with a grain of salt, as just what it is, a opinion.
nicktheknife OP
194 posts
 
@ paulcreed

I haven’t tried the NOS filter yet. I’ll give that some listening time today. I listened a good while yesterday using the Sharp filter.

And yes I leave it powered on 24/7.
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