Apart from the different features both are well build and detailed.
The SMSL starts faster and at night, switched off there is no light showing it’s existance.
The options (Crystal, Rich, original, tube) are an easy way to change the sound and I found me using the rich 2 setting quite often.
I love beeing able to set my volume on the AMP and use the SU-8 remote for minor changes, without any loss in quality as one would fall in the trap with Windows system/software volume changes. So I always leave Windows volume at 100% and use the DAC and Amp.
With the RME you have the red ring glowing at night when it’s off. So you know it’s still there and is waiting for you. The moment you press the button the ring around it turns from red to milky white and you get a nice satisfying relais click while the display says “RME” and the short version number in smaller letters
The amount of buttons to turn and press plus the display is perfectly fine. You don’t need the remote at all. With the SMSL you better not loose it.
All feels nice to touch and turn. No lag in the menue
So no need to hurry with an upgrade
Hope that helps
Just kidding
Give me some time please
What have I done- now have to A/B DACs…
You can, of course, configure what it does when you connect headphones …
I originally had the opposite problem, in that I’d set it up not to disable the line outs when the headphones were connected, which was a bit of a shock the first time.
The real question is the new RME ADI-2 Pro fs R, the same as the prior ADI-2 Pro fs but just in black and with the remote included, or does it incorporate the same DAC-stage changes as the revised ADI-2 DAC fs.
If it does have the new DAC, and incorporates the same improvements in headroom etc., then it’d be a useful thing to pick up.
If not, then it’s just making the prior limited Black Edition available again and adding a remote, in which case I’ll pass.
(Rather than speculate, I pinged RME to find out if there are other changes beyond the color way and remote).
Very well, though it’s a bit redundant unless you have really demanding cans.
Realistically speaking, I’d either do just the RME ADI-2 DAC fs, or a Bifrost 2/Jotunheim stack (which is where I’d lean personally), since they’re about the same price (within $50).
I’ve been comparing the ADI2 DAC vs BF2 for a few hours this morning. If you already have a Jotunheim for a HPA, I’d go BF2 as well.
If you need a bit more versatility for driving nearfield monitors, like I do, then the ADI2 can be a really great solution with it’s PEQ, adjustable dBu settings on line outs, etc.
Tonality, soundstage, detail, slam, and a few more attributes are being won by the BF2 in my initial comparison so far through my ZDS / DSHA-3f. Through my monitors, it’s a bit different as the BF2 is very WYSIWYG, and the ADI2 is allowing far more functional tweaking.
I’m withholding final judgement until I get more time with them.
I already have the Jotunheim, which is connected
to an SMSL SU-8 DAC via XLR, and the SMSL is also connected to a Beyer
A20 amp through RCA.
I’m thinking of getting the RME for an
upgraded DAC to both the Jotunheim and Beyer A20. They both sound fairly good
with the SMSL. But I’m thinking the RME would sound quite a bit better. What do
you think? I’ll be using this system mostly with Ether C and XLR, Beyer
T1-S, Focal Clear, HD650 and HD6xx.
Finally, I already have a Bifrost Uber as
well as 2 Bifrost Multibits, so am leaning toward RME vs. another Bifrost.
I definitely prefer the RME ADI-2 DAC fs over the SMSL.
The Bifrost 2 is nothing like the Bifrost Uber nor the original multibit (not even the post 10/2018 versions). Bifrost 2 has two things in common with the original Bifrost MB … one, it’s the same sized chassis and two, it has “Bifrost” in the name.
Bifrost 2 is best thought of as a mini-Yggdrasil A2 (and actually out-performs it in places).
Unless you’re going to employ the additional functionality of the RME unit, I’d still go for the Bifrost 2.
Thanks Ian. I’ll probably go with the RME…I have about 30 different headphones and, as you mentioned, the EQ functionality of the RME will enable me to get good quality sound with many of those cans. Thanks again.
It appears that the RME ADI-2 Pro FS R BE does, indeed, incorporate the new 4493 DAC IC, the increased +4 dB inter-sample over and the +2.5 dB volume headroom, as well as the new filter (Short Delay, Low Dispersion).
The real question will be which, if any, of my either “Anniversary Edition” (transparent top) or “Black Edition” (same finish as the ADI-2 DAC, but in the “fs” configuration) ADI-2 Pro units I let go …
Edit: Do not abuse moderator power and make my comment seem like it came before @ValentineLuke lol dang it you beat me to it… stupid dinner with family goes and kicks rocks
dang it you beat me to it… stupid dinner with family goes and kicks rocks