Big thanks to everyone who stopped by the RME / Synthax Audio UK stand at the UK Audio Show 2021.
The Covid-19 pandemic essentially put a halt to trade shows over the past 18 months, so it was a pleasure to once again be out meeting and mingling with so many like-minded people.
Hosted at the De Vere Staverton Estate in Northants, the UK Audio Show 2021 was the perfect opportunity for us to showcase our RME ADI-2 DAC FS, alongside its AD/DA sibling the ADI-2 Pro FS R.
Whilst the RME Audio name is synonymous with pro audio applications, both the ADI-2 DAC FS and Pro FS R have proved extremely popular with audiophiles running high-end home audio systems – due to a combination of ‘reference-class’ sonics, versatile DSP functionality, excellent on-board headphone amplifiers, and a user-definable remote control.
An audiophile dream lineup – Focal, Sennheiser, Audeze & HEDD Audio
As top of the range USB-DAC and headphone amplifier combos, it was only fitting that we featured a selection of equally premium-sounding headphones to pair with the ADI-2 Series. Massive thanks to Hi-Fi Lounge for lending us the Sennheiser, Audeze and Focal headphones, and to Chris at HEDD Audio for supplying us with a pair of HEDDphones!
Here’s a quick re-cap of what we had at the show…
• RME ADI-2 DAC FS
• RME ADI-2 Pro FS R
• Sennheiser HD 650
• Sennheiser HD 800
• Audeze LCD-X
• Focal Utopia
• HEDDphone
RME ADI-2 DAC FS
Described as “the DAC to beat for under £1000“, the RME ADI-2 DAC FS is our ‘DAC-du-jour’, instantly becoming a Hi-Fi classic since its launch a few years back.
Sonically revealing and transparent, the ADI-2 DAC excels in its communication of microdynamics, exposing the many subtleties of a great recording or musical performance (and exposing the flaws of the not so great!).
Of course, this is not just a DAC – it’s also a headphone amplifier (with dedicated connections for larger 6.3mm connectors, and IEMs with 3.5mm connectors), as well as a DSP FX-laden box of tricks, with on-board EQ, Loudness, adjustable Bass and Treble controls, and features like Crossfeed, different filter types, Mono, Phase and Polarity switching, Mid-Side and more.
The ADI-2 DAC can also be employed as a preamp when connected to larger sound systems – feeding larger amplifiers with beautiful high-end sound – and includes a user-definable remote control (volume, EQ, input selection (USB / SPDIF), L-R balance etc) and support for the popular Logitech Harmony.
Find out more about the RME ADI-2 DAC FS
RME ADI-2 Pro FS R
Whilst the ADI-2 DAC FS remains the more popular choice for home audio, RME’s 2-channel ADC/DAC – the ADI-2 Pro FS R – offers a couple of different features that make it an interesting alternative.
Primarily designed for high-end recording and mastering, the Pro model features the same exquisite DA section as the DAC whilst adding equally impressive 2-channel recording functionality.
Alongside the obvious studio applications – capturing mixing consoles, vintage gear and other studio outboard in incredible detail – the AD section can also be put to use for more general purpose applications, such as the archiving and converting of analogue source material (e.g. vinyl) to digital in extremely high-quality (up to 768kHz PCM / DSD256).
The two front-panel 6.3mm headphone outputs can also be level-matched, making it a great option for anyone with a large headphone collection to compare each set side by side. Alternatively, both outputs can be employed simultaneously for use with balanced headphones.
All of the other many features found on the DAC are also found on the Pro, including the front-panel spectral analyser and level metering (for inputs and outputs), automatic headphone detection and input switching, ‘Dark Mode’, bit testing, and access to DIGICheck (RME’s software suite of audio analysis tools).
Find out more about the RME ADI-2 Pro FS R
Big thanks to everyone who stopped by the Synthax / RME Audio UK stand, and to everyone at the UK Audio Show for putting on a great show!
External Links
To find out more about the UK Audio Show and other Hi-Fi trade shows, visit the UK Audio Show website.
For a fine selection of high-end headphones and Hi-Fi products (not to mention a beautiful showroom!), visit the Hi-Fi Lounge homepage.
To find out more about the excellent HEDDphones from HEDD Audio, visit the HEDDphone product page.
If you’d like to know more about any of RME’s audio interfaces, sound cards, AD/DA Converters or microphone preamps, give us a call on 01727 821 870 to speak to one of our team or to arrange a demo.
You can also contact us here.