I’ll leave it to RME’s extremely detailed (and commendably readable) manual to explain it all, but the ADI-2 DAC’s right side is crammed with an LED-ringed volume knob, four vertical buttons (VOL, I/O, EQ, and SETUP), a small display screen, and two smaller vertical knobs. Further to the right is where things get complicated. 1-ohm impedance, and a 1/8-inch IEM jack. Moving right, there’s a 1/4-inch headphone jack, spec’d at an excellent. At left is a flush, soft-push power button surrounded by an LED halo, which lets you know the unit’s power status. But it’s functional, and a remote of any kind is a welcome addition for those who plan to use their DAC beyond arm’s reach.Īt first glance, the most striking element of the ADI-2 DAC is the array of buttons and knobs packed onto its small face plate. Perhaps the only part of the ADI-2 that feels less-than-substantial is the slim plastic remote control. Despite its diminutive size, it’s solidly built, with a metal body and reassuring heft. Whereas many audiophile DACs these days are hulking, the ADI-2 is a mere 8.5 by 2 by 6 inches. Physically, the ADI-2 DAC is an unassumingly impressive device. After living with the ADI-2 DAC for several months, I discovered the device’s strengths and weaknesses and came to appreciate its versatility and build quality. MSRP $1,099), a DAC that’s been highly praised by both “ objectivist” and “ subjectivist” (or, perhaps, realist) reviewers. If someone claims that he or she can hear differences between “properly designed” DACs, two questions inevitably, and quickly, follow: Was the listening level matched? Was the listening blind? If the answers to both questions are “yes,” the results are nonetheless dismissed.įor those who insist that all “properly designed” DACs sound the same, the best advice I can give is to stop reading now and purchase one of the many sub-$100 DACs that measure near “perfection.” (The $99 Schiit Modi 3, discussed later in this review, would be my recommendation, thanks to Schiit’s excellent customer service and bulletproof warranty.)įor everyone else, this is a review of the RME ADI-2 DAC FS (U.S. There are those “objectivist” audiophiles that insist that all “properly designed” DACs sound the same. But a DAC is, quite literally, a system’s link between the digital and the analog world, and a poor DAC can squeeze the life out of an otherwise solid system.īut there’s danger in writing DAC reviews.
Amps, too, probably outrank DACs in the audiophile hierarchy. Sure, DACs fall far behind speakers, headphones, and ( of course) source material in importance.
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