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RME ADI-2 DAC and Headphone Amp $999

$999.00
+6 Deal Score
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Hi All,

This is supposedly a great DAC- very well reviewed. DAC with built in parametric DSP and EQ.

MSRP $1,299. Most places have it for $999- no tax for me via headphones.com- YMMV.

Guessing they're clearing these out?

https://www.headphones.com/produc...%3D.MFzLUb

Also available lots of other places at the $999 price:
Sweetwater:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/...lsrc=aw.ds

Amazon:
https://smile.amazon.com/RME-Conv...C80&sr=8-2

Here's a review- but plenty more out there:
https://www.headphones.com/commun...-fs-review

https://www.headphones.com/produc...4c3c&_ss=r
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RME ADI-2 DAC and Headphone Amp $999
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$999.00
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Joined Jul 2011
L3: Novice
> bubble2 111 Posts
66 Reputation
skhurana
06-24-2022 at 08:46 PM.
06-24-2022 at 08:46 PM.
Nice DAC but I can't justify spending $1k on a DAC. Other than using tone controls, no human will be able to hear a difference between this and the SMSL Su-8pro for $160. This is just audio jewelry

Edit* this has a headphone amp built in so it isn't a direct comparison. I'm leaving the comment up so I can take my downvotes like a man
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Last edited by skhurana June 25, 2022 at 06:25 AM.
Joined Sep 2005
L3: Novice
> bubble2 296 Posts
58 Reputation
ocZZZ
06-24-2022 at 09:09 PM.
06-24-2022 at 09:09 PM.
Quote from skhurana :
Nice DAC but I can't justify spending $1k on a DAC. Other than using tone controls, no human will be able to hear a difference between this and the SMSL Su-8pro for $160. This is just audio jewelry
I can hear the difference between a 200 dac/amp combo and an expensive dac. This really depends on the source and headphones. I'm using the Gustard A18 DAC and H16 Amp you can get for around 700-800 used. I've bought/sold many dac amps and this has been the best with Hifiman Anya v3/Stealth. I do have a hifiman ef400 [hifiman.com] on order. It has a new inhouse R2R DAC which looks pretty cool on paper - and on sale for 500 if you purchased hifiman headphones in the past and email them the receipt.
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Last edited by ocZZZ June 24, 2022 at 09:37 PM.
Joined Nov 2015
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 383 Posts
90 Reputation
dumask
06-24-2022 at 09:29 PM.
06-24-2022 at 09:29 PM.
Quote from skhurana :
Nice DAC but I can't justify spending $1k on a DAC. Other than using tone controls, no human will be able to hear a difference between this and the SMSL Su-8pro for $160. This is just audio jewelry

You are comparing a DAC to a DAC/amp combo, so the price comparison isn't really fair.

But, I have this RME unit as well as a couple different Schiit stacks, a JDS Labs Element II, and a Burson Conductor 3X Reference.

And I totally agree that a DAC is a DAC past a certain point. This does have EQ though, so that sets it apart slightly if EQ is important to you.
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Joined Jul 2011
L3: Novice
> bubble2 111 Posts
66 Reputation
skhurana
06-25-2022 at 06:23 AM.
06-25-2022 at 06:23 AM.
Quote from dumask :
You are comparing a DAC to a DAC/amp combo, so the price comparison isn't really fair.

But, I have this RME unit as well as a couple different Schiit stacks, a JDS Labs Element II, and a Burson Conductor 3X Reference.

And I totally agree that a DAC is a DAC past a certain point. This does have EQ though, so that sets it apart slightly if EQ is important to you.
Good call, I didn't see this had a headphone amp built in. I'm comparing apples to a fruit salad 🤣.
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Joined Apr 2005
L3: Novice
> bubble2 211 Posts
74 Reputation
onpaws
06-25-2022 at 07:07 AM.
06-25-2022 at 07:07 AM.
RME stuff is top notch. I love my babyface pro interface and the software and latency are all excellent.

If you're not into the ADI-2 and want another RME model, I would suggest buying it from Europe from Thomann. They ship directly into the US but have much more competitive prices (I assume RME requires all US dealers to honor a minimum price). Thomann is excellent and one of the largest music stores in Europe.
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Joined Apr 2018
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 33 Posts
18 Reputation
FtLaudDeal
06-25-2022 at 12:40 PM.
06-25-2022 at 12:40 PM.
I have the Black version. RME is expensive and sounds great. If your on a budget Schitt is the bedt bang for buck. Gains would be minimal honestly. I wanted a one and done unit after having fun buying lower priced gear and experimenting. Zero regrets after two years now. Got a wall of low to med level headphones and was able to stop buying after I splurged for the Clears. Amazing combo without color just clean audio. If you are serious about audio this is a great choice, but again is expensive.
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Joined Jun 2018
L1: Learner
> bubble2 46 Posts
18 Reputation
srware
06-25-2022 at 02:15 PM.
06-25-2022 at 02:15 PM.
Quote from ocZZZ :
I can hear the difference between a 200 dac/amp combo and an expensive dac. This really depends on the source and headphones. I'm using the Gustard A18 DAC and H16 Amp you can get for around 700-800 used. I've bought/sold many dac amps and this has been the best with Hifiman Anya v3/Stealth. I do have a hifiman ef400 [hifiman.com] on order. It has a new inhouse R2R DAC which looks pretty cool on paper - and on sale for 500 if you purchased hifiman headphones in the past and email them the receipt.
What did you compare to the Gustard?
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Joined Jul 2008
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 32 Posts
20 Reputation
pumin
06-25-2022 at 06:10 PM.
06-25-2022 at 06:10 PM.
new model RME ADI 2/4 PRO SE DAC announced, but that's much more $ and comes with extra pro features.
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Joined Nov 2016
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 648 Posts
46 Reputation
Trickbenda
06-26-2022 at 05:40 AM.
06-26-2022 at 05:40 AM.
Quote from skhurana :
Nice DAC but I can't justify spending $1k on a DAC. Other than using tone controls, no human will be able to hear a difference between this and the SMSL Su-8pro for $160. This is just audio jewelry

Edit* this has a headphone amp built in so it isn't a direct comparison. I'm leaving the comment up so I can take my downvotes like a man
i have both and your Dreaming. What exactly are you basing this on since you dont own or have never listened to one. I love people that stay at Holiday Inn Express and think they know everything. I also own a a Chord dac and I guarentee you it sounds even more different then the RME. It has nothing to do with the chipset, its all about how its implimented. An expensive chipset poorly implemented is no better then a cheap chipset implemented flawlessly. The learning curve on this is like taking a college course.
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Last edited by Trickbenda June 26, 2022 at 05:50 AM.
Joined Nov 2022
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 78 Posts
14 Reputation
IntelligentPerson
01-16-2023 at 03:15 PM.
01-16-2023 at 03:15 PM.
Quote from skhurana :
Nice DAC but I can't justify spending $1k on a DAC. Other than using tone controls, no human will be able to hear a difference between this and the SMSL Su-8pro for $160. This is just audio jewelry

Edit* this has a headphone amp built in so it isn't a direct comparison. I'm leaving the comment up so I can take my downvotes like a man
i agree and disagree with you. i too can't justify spending this much on a DAC, but when i compared this dac to my $100 schiit modi, there was a clear difference.

with that said, i respect you for the "i'm leaving the comment up so i can take my downvotes like a man". most people from other forums delete their downvoted posts to maintain high Like to Comment ratios. these people make me sick.
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