RME ADI-2 Pro Discussion Thread

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by k.e., Nov 5, 2016.

  1. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,581
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Just chiming in to say I have been using my new ADI-2 Pro at work the last few days a I reconfigure my office into a proper mix/edit room. Acoustic treatments are still going up and blah blah but it was impressive right out the gate. Extremely clean. Lots of treble details without being piercing or harsh, complete lack of bloat in midrange or bass. It is not going to forgive anything that was poorly or brightly mixed. But that's exactly what I need for my work. I'm sure it can be fatiguing after some time especially with headphones where it all makes its way straight to your ear.
    Note: This has been on speakers. I will give impressions with HD600 (I have a measured pair from Sonarworks, so I will test with correction as well) and I have been auditioning crossfeed plugins. I have a feeling the extra resolution from the Pro will let me hear exactly what's going on. Great timing now that I have a properly configured speaker setup.

    Anyone know a convenient place to get a sensibly priced balanced cable for HD6xx for use with the ADI-2 Pro?
     
  2. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sweden
    First evening with the loaner ADI-2. Trying to tune in the width setting, it sure would've been easier I'd they'd chosen a scale of degrees instead of from 1.0 to -1.0 with mono being 0.

    In Waves NX you set the angle at which you have your monitors, usually about 60° (With 0° = mono) and the software will take care of the rest and present a very similar soundstage in your headphone. Sounds crazy, but it's hard to go back.
    I've found the default setting to work well with all hard panned stereo recordings I have but still with a good instrument separation intact.

    Now with the ADI-2 width setting I'm struggling to find that same spot when going from 1.0 and downwards. Maybe I should use a test tone to do fine tuning....
    What number would 60° represent on the ADI-2 width setting if mono is 0? (Think triangulation).

    I'm leaving cross feed off and I've added a low shelf filter (12hz, -16db, q=0.55) in Roons PEQ plus a right channel phase flip.
    -6db headroom doesn't cause clipping but -3 did.
     
  3. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,276
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I don't think that anyone makes ADI-2 Pro terminated cables for specific headphones. There's the cable from ebay which does XLR to 2xTRS. Then it's a matter of reterminating the HD600 to XLR.

    Think of it as a wetness knob for stereo. It goes from 0 - 100% stereo. I don't think it would be more conventional with degrees for speakers.

    These are really interesting settings. Do they work with every record you have?
     
  4. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sweden
    On a record like Nina Simones "Little Girl Blue", and the song "Mood Indigo", it's all good until about 1:19 in when Nina comes in. She's singing straight into the left ear. Brrrr! Using Waves NX in jRiver with a 60 degree setting, she's singing at about 10.00-10:30 instead of 9:00 (straight lateral from ear).
    This song is an outlier for me, and I could probably do with a 35 degree setting instead. But I'm trying to replicate this with the ADI-2 and it's not doing what I was hoping, I'm at least not there yet.

    As for the low shelf filter, it's song dependant of course. Lot's of music doesn't have s-t in these frequencies.:)
    Listen to some organ music with Felix Hell; Liszt: Prelude on B-A-C-H for example.
    Perceived chest rumbles :)

    For a lot of music it makes quite a big difference, but for a lot I can't hear the difference at all.

    As for the phase flip, it's the Phase Reversal Trick mentioned by @johnjen and @atomicbob in the System Synergy Thread - and is one part software reversal and then a pigtail reversing phase back before it reaches the headphone.

    EDIT: On the other hand, I could just map the mono function to one of the buttons (after the latest firmware upgrade) and whenever a hard panned song comes on press it and that would be it :)
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2017
  5. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sweden
    ...I just realized I may have typed it wrong. 12hz, -16db, q=0.55 should say 12hz, +16db, q=0.55
     
  6. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

    Pyrate BWC MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18,653
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    Ok, you chaps have convinced me. I'll have an ADI-2 pro by Sat for evaluation. You can probably expect some measurements within a few weeks.
     
  7. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sweden
    That's great news! Looking forward to your impressions, and especially running the IVS through ADI-2.
     
  8. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sweden
    I'm usually not too much of a believer of firmware upgrades having anything to do with SQ, but I have to say upgrading the ADI-2 to the latest one made a difference....and there's a bunch of nice feature upgrades as well.

    @atomicbob heads-up - do the upgrade before listening :)
     
  9. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2017
  10. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Have you had a chance to power it up? ;)
     
  11. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

    Pyrate BWC MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18,653
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    This is a preliminary peek using HpW-works for analysis. Haven't got to the dScope yet and probably won't for a week or two. Pesky day job and family commitments:D

    Data acquired using ADI-2 Pro DAC looped back to ADC with 0 dBFS reference set to +19dBu (6.907Vrms).
    Level accuracy verified with Keysight (HP) 34461A 6.5 digit DMM recently calibrated: +18.99044 dBu (6.89940Vrms)
    Version 76 DSP firmware (haven't installed v81 yet.)

    Two words. Exceptionally clean.

    Residual noise with 0 LSB stimulus referenced to +19 dBu.
    07 20170630 ADI-2 Pro HpW -3dBFS loopback residual noise Rectangular window - ref +19dBu.png

    1 KHz -3dBFS THD THD+N SNR
    08 20170630 ADI-2 Pro HpW -3dBFS loopback THD+N Blackman-Harris 7 term window - ref +19dBu.png

    1 KHz -93dBFS THD THD+N SNR (90 dB lower than starting point)
    09 20170630 ADI-2 Pro HpW -93dBFS loopback THD+N Blackman-Harris 7 term window - ref +19dBu.png

    1 KHz -123dBFS THD THD+N SNR (120 dB lower than starting point)
    10 20170630 ADI-2 Pro HpW -123dBFS loopback THD+N Blackman-Harris 7 term window - ref +19dBu.png

    1 KHz -93dBFS loopback recording raw waveform - no averaging (90 dB lower than starting point)
    11 20170630 ADI-2 Pro CEP -93dBFS loopback sine  - ref +19dBu.png

    1 KHz -103dBFS loopback recording raw waveform - no averaging (100 dB lower than starting point)
    12 20170630 ADI-2 Pro CEP -103dBFS loopback sine  - ref +19dBu.png

    I will refrain from making any comments on auditory experiences as my ears are not yet performing well after recent health issue other than to say I have enjoyed what I have heard so far.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2017
  12. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sweden
    I'll be moving on to test the ADI-2 with HD650.
    With HD800 I've found a pleasant combo with a very low footprint, super suitable for an office setup, which is perfect for me.
    More subjective impressions to come once I've completed listening tests with HD650.
     
  13. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Sector 8023 of the Third Quadrant
    @atomicbob You think this system would be worthy of @Torq 's dac treatment? I'm curious how this also measures out under your normal dscope methodology.
     
  14. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sweden
    Initial listening tests tells me that HD650 is not a very good match with the ADI-2 Pro.
    Cold, thin and not very engaging at all. Must check settings and give it some more time because this was not a pleasant experience at all.
    HD800 is a completely different story.
     
  15. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,495
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    42°S
    Balanced or SE? I enjoy HD600 balanced on ADI-2 Pro. It's toward the clinical side of things, but certainly engaging. That said, I haven't heard an uber-tube setup...
     
  16. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Sector 8023 of the Third Quadrant
    Is this through the dac and amp combo?
     
  17. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sweden
    SE. I need to see what's going on here, it certainly doesn't sound right. More to come.

    Yes.
     
  18. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

    Pyrate BWC MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18,653
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    @Torq has quite a few DACs in his queue at the moment. I'll ask when he and I make the grande swap (he has several of my DACs and a Soekris, he will be receiving the two Denafrips when I manage to finish measurements of the Pontus.) Currently I am firmly ensconced using the ADI-2 Pro for both dialog editing, sound design for corporate work and recreational listening. It will also be going to a local day meet in two weeks. dScope measurements pending completion of Denafrips and Soekris DAC measurements.

    Addendum: I am using the balanced output mode to modded HD800. Haven't spent any significant time with HD650 yet on balanced. On SE I found a boost at 10KHz, +3dB, Q=1.41 to benefit the HD650 auditory experience.
     
  19. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sweden
    Is this in EQuick in addition to the SSBB at 12Hz?
    If so which type of filter ?
     
  20. k.e.

    k.e. Winning combo: narcissistic and stupid

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2016
    Likes Received:
    286
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Germany
    Home Page:
    New (main) audio chain: jRiver MC23 (w/ convolution and crossfeed), ADI-2 Pro, perfectly equalized PM3. Eargasms all over again!

    [​IMG]
     

Share This Page