{"id":28477,"date":"2021-01-22T17:08:52","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T17:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/?p=28477"},"modified":"2022-01-05T16:15:31","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T16:15:31","slug":"rme-adi-2-dac-fs-review-john-darko","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/2021\/01\/22\/rme-adi-2-dac-fs-review-john-darko\/","title":{"rendered":"RME ADI-2 DAC FS review by John Darko"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<html>\n<head>\n<style>\np { font-size: 14px; } \nhr { margin: 5px 0; }\n<\/style>\n<\/head>\n<body>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/John-Darko-RME-ADI2-DAC-Review.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-28512\" width=\"342\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/John-Darko-RME-ADI2-DAC-Review.jpg 724w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/John-Darko-RME-ADI2-DAC-Review-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 342px) 100vw, 342px\" \/>\n<h3>John Darko of Darko.Audio provides an in-depth review of the RME ADI-2 DAC FS.<\/h3>\n<p>Since its arrival in 2018, the <a title=\"RME ADI-2 DAC FS at Synthax Audio UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/rme\/converters\/rme-adi-2-dac\/\">RME ADI-2 DAC FS<\/a> has become one of the RME&#8217;s most popular products, despite being a unique offering for a company that has traditionally cut its teeth in &#8216;pro&#8217; rather than &#8216;home&#8217; audio.<\/p>\n<p>The production of reference-quality converters for studio and live audio has long been a mainstay of the company &#8211; however, it&#8217;s the <a title=\"RME ADI-2 Series - Authorised UK Dealers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/rme-adi-2-dac-authorised-uk-dealers\/\">ADI-2 Pro Series<\/a>&#8216; huge potential for Hi-Fi crossover that originally caught the attention of audiophiles, and the ADI-2 DAC FS in particular has gone on to become something of a darling in the world of high-end Hi-Fi.<\/p>\n<p>This latest review comes from the highly respected John Darko of <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"RME's ADI-2 DAC FS is *the* DAC to beat at \u20ac1K\" href=\"https:\/\/darko.audio\/2021\/01\/a-long-film-about-the-rme-adi-2-dac-fs\/\">Darko.Audio<\/a>, who we&#8217;re proud to hear has designated RME&#8217;s USB-DAC and headphone amplifier as &#8220;the DAC to beat under 1000 euros&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Many thanks to John for the fab review! Make sure you visit the <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/darko.audio\" href=\"https:\/\/darko.audio\/\">Darko.Audio homepage<\/a> for all of the latest high-end Hi-Fi news.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<center>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Watch John Darko\u2019s review of the RME ADI-2 DAC FS<\/h4>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WFJQIPymJGk\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">See more videos at <a title=\"Subscribe to the SynthaxTV YouTube channel\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/subscription_center?add_user=synthaxtv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Synthax TV<\/a><\/p>\n<\/center>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>RME ADI-2 DAC FS &#8211; Reference-Class USB-DAC &amp; Headphone Amplifier<\/h4>\n<p>Built from the foundations of the ADI-2 Pro FS, the DAC FS takes the many features of of RME\u2019s mastering-grade converter and adapts them for the Hi-Fi market.<\/p>\n<p>Whilst retaining the main bones of the ADI-2 Pro series, the DAC features input and output options that better suit Hi-Fi and home listening. With connections for coaxial and optical SPDIF and ADAT, unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR, the DAC has an output option for every system.<\/p>\n<p>Focussing on exceptional digital-to-analogue conversion, the ADI-2 DAC FS offers the transparent and balanced sound that RME are known for, and impressed John Darko who notes that \u201ceverything just sounded right\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\u201ceverything just sounded right\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-Perspective-Synthax-Audio-UK.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-28488\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-Perspective-Synthax-Audio-UK.jpg\" alt=\"RME ADI-2 DAC FS - Perspective - Synthax Audio UK\" width=\"327\" height=\"184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-Perspective-Synthax-Audio-UK.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-Perspective-Synthax-Audio-UK-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-Perspective-Synthax-Audio-UK-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-Perspective-Synthax-Audio-UK-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 327px) 100vw, 327px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Direct Connections for IEMs<\/h4>\n<p>RME\u2019s \u201cExtreme Power\u201d headphone output is included for 6.3mm connections, offering the clearest and most detailed soundstage possible. This helps to reproduce pristine conversion quality regardless of the impedance of the headphones.<\/p>\n<p>Another evolution of the DAC is its secondary headphone output, which is purpose-built for 3.5mm in-ear monitors. Designed to project the full dynamic range to even the most sensitive in-ears, the IEM output features a noise-floor even lower than the \u201cExtreme Power\u201d output.<\/p>\n<p>John highlights these super-low-noise headphone outputs with their ramp-up volume feature, which \u201cauto detects volume to give you time to react if something\u2019s wrong\u201d, saving expensive listening equipment and sensitive ears in the process.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\u201cIt\u2019s many of the little things that come from its <br \/>internal DSP engine that I really, really dig\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-DSP-Synthax-Audio-UK-1024x569.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-DSP-Synthax-Audio-UK-1024x569.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-28509\" width=\"322\" height=\"179\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-DSP-Synthax-Audio-UK-1024x569.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-DSP-Synthax-Audio-UK-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-DSP-Synthax-Audio-UK-768x427.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/RME-ADI-2-DAC-FS-DSP-Synthax-Audio-UK.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 322px) 100vw, 322px\" \/><\/a>\n<h4>On-Board DSP Processiong &#038; Remote Control<\/h4>\n<p>The DAC\u2019s DSP-powered processing is also a key talking point, with John also noting the ADI-2 DAC FS\u2019s &#8216;Crossfeed&#8217; feature, which allows a small amount of the left channel to be passed to the right channel (and vice versa), adjusting the soundstage to create what John found to be a \u201cmore forward focussed\u201d sound.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\u201cIn terms of value for money, I\u2019ve never come across a DAC <br \/>beneath a grand that offers so much\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>With an abundance of additional features compared to your run-of-the-mill DAC, John concludes that he can\u2019t think of any other DAC at this price-point \u201cthat does so much on top of excellent conversion and excellent headphone amplification.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With a host of additional processing available such as Loudness, various Filter Types and an on-board parametric EQ, users can tweak the DAC\u2019s sound to their liking, saving preferred settings to perfectly match any set of headphones. \u201cAll of this comes from the power of DSP,&#8221; John continues in the review. &#8220;Purists will be like &#8216;I\u2019m not having DSP anywhere near my precious DA conversion&#8217; \u2013 your loss, as there is so much more you can do with this DAC beyond decode music.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>*The* DAC to beat at \u20ac1K<\/h4>\n<p>With reference-quality conversion, a plethora of additional features and \u201cextreme power\u201d headphone outputs built into an attractive half rack unit, the ADI-2 DAC FS is the perfect centre-piece for hi-fi enthusiasts, bringing studio-quality sound into the home.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"RME ADI-2 DAC FS - Product Page - Synthax Audio UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/rme\/converters\/rme-adi-2-dac\/\">Find out more about the RME ADI-2 DAC FS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Get a 5 Year Warranty when you purchase an RME device from one of our <a title=\"RME Audio - Authorised UK Dealers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/rme-adi-2-dac-authorised-uk-dealers\/\">authorised UK Dealers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-21880 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/5-Year-Warranty-Badge-Synthax-Audio-UK.jpg\" alt=\"5-Year-Warranty-Badge - Synthax Audio UK\" width=\"151\" height=\"146\" \/>5 Year Warranty (UK Only)<\/h4>\n<p>Over the past 20 years, the word \u2018reliability\u2019 has become synonymous with the RME Audio brand, thanks to both the exceptional build quality and the now industry-renowned, rock-solid drivers.<\/p>\n<p>For this reason, we are happy to offer all of our UK customers a complimentary 5 year warranty on all RME products, when purchased either from ourselves, or from one of our authorised UK dealers, and remain the only interface manufacturer to offer this at no extra cost.<\/p>\n<p>To activate your 5 year warranty, simply register your RME device with us within 30 days of purchase via our <a title=\"RME Audio - 5 Year Warranty Registration\" href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/rme-warranty\">warranty page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To ensure you are buying your device from a UK-based retailer, please check our list of <a title=\"RME Audio - Authorised UK Dealers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/rme-adi-2-dac-authorised-uk-dealers\/\">authorised ADI-2 Series dealers<\/a> before purchase.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-6579\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/RME-Logo.png\" alt=\"RME-Logo - Synthax Audio UK\" width=\"150\" height=\"29\" \/>If you\u2019d like to know more about any of RME\u2019s audio interfaces, soundcards, AD\/DA Converters or microphone preamps, give us a call on <a>01727 821 870<\/a> to speak to one of our team or to arrange a demo.<br \/>You can also <a title=\"Get in contact with Synthax Audio UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/contact-us\/\">contact us here<\/a>.<\/p><\/body>\n<style>\np { font-size: 110%; } \nhr { margin: 5px 0; }\n<\/style>\n<\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John Darko of Darko.Audio provides an in-depth review of the RME ADI-2 DAC FS. Since its arrival in 2018, the RME ADI-2 DAC FS has become one of the RME&#8217;s most popular products, despite being a unique offering for a company that has traditionally cut its teeth in &#8216;pro&#8217; rather than &#8216;home&#8217; audio. The production&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":28480,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[4,493],"tags":[700,1555,614,533,1806,1335,1807,476,5,299,478,291,74,496],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28477"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28477"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35949,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28477\/revisions\/35949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}