Another 'stellar value' DAC-headphone amp...

John DARKO was impressed enough with the German RME ADI-2 DAC FS DAC to buy & keep one for himself.

Some of its features & special versatility:

- 2 x 'exceptional' headphone outputs (3.5mm & 6.3mm) for IEMs ('super low noise') or headphones
- AKM AK4493-based DAC
- 'Outstanding' measured values - noise levels of 123 dBA, distortion less than -120 dB, THD+N of -116 dB
- DSP-based signal processing enables EQ, Crossfeed & more
- Independent volume control settings possible for each output
- Auto-detecting source inputs with volume auto ramp-up
- Switchable 'AutoDark' display
- Balanced & Unbalanced line outputs
- Remote control

" I have never come across a DAC beneath a grand that offers so much, for that 950 Euros - this is just an absolute stellar bargain. "

" Everything just sounded 'right', top to bottom, very convincing, just so satisfying... a little bit 'cool' "


Compared with the CHORD Qutest DAC (1.5x the price):

" slightly more 'romantic' sounding... soundstage depth better." (Qutest)

" crisper, more clearly defined... cooler tonality " (RME)

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

I'm sure that it has been said before that future gains in audio (and gains over the past 20 years) have almost exclusively been with DACs. Amps and speakers not so much if at all. I still have a Theta Miles in my garage for testing etc. I use the transport only (I think it is a TEAC - shiny side up) plus an external DAC because the internal DAC is so appalling despite being the bee's knees in it's day. It's great that you researching new DACs and putting them on DL Owen. Sigh, the bee's knees until the next one comes along. I wonder about the 'next one' in terms of speakers and amps. Why for example was the original KEF LS50 so highly praised only to be relegated as 'discount' when the next model (the Meta) came along. Was the original so dreadful and the new model so wonderful that there is a clear difference in performance? Both statements are probably untrue but then I regard LS50s as remarkable for their size, but not remarkable per se. Anyway I feel a new DAC coming along. And sigh again, a streamer. I'll find out about resolution then. Until then my double live red book CD of the Cowboy Junkies is the single best recording that I have. I suggest that the directness of the recording (i.e. live with little or no processing) is the critical variable, sampling rate be damned.