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Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
ADI-2/4 Pro SE
reviews
[{"title":"RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE","link":"https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/rme-adi-24-pro-se","source":"soundonsound.com","datePublished":""}]
An excellent review of a great product
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Publisher
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3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
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3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Analog Inputs: XLR/TRS combo jacks, servo-balanced
- Input impedance @ 1 kHz: 90 kOhm balanced, 45 kOhm unbalanced
- Signal to Noise ratio: >120 dB (AES17), >123 dBA
- Frequency response @ 192 kHz: 0.15 Hz – 90.9 kHz (-1 dB)
- THD @ -0.5 dBFS: > -130 dB, 0.0000316%
- Channel separation: > 130 dB @ 1 kHz
- Maximum Output Level (XLR): +26.5 dBu @ 0 dBFS
- Headphone Power Output: 2.1W per channel unbalanced, 3.4W balanced @ 32 Ohms
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 215 x 44 x 160 mm (8.5" x 1.73" x 6.3")
- Weight: 1.2 kg (2.2 lbs)
- Power Supply: External switching PSU, 100-240V AC, 40 Watts
Description
Based on many years of continued feature development of the ADI-2 Pro, RME unveils the next addition to the countless award winning ADI-2 Series. The latest masterpiece comes with a newly developed circuit board, improved specs and faster DSP for an outstanding transparent sound signature, extreme power headphone amplifiers including IEM power setting, super low noise 4.4 mm Pentaconn balanced connection, trigger out function for powering on/off external devices and finally an RIAA mode for directly digitizing vinyl discs in highest quality.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- RME builds upon its professional audio heritage, packing studio-grade features like parametric EQ, adjustable digital filters, loudness contour, and crossfeed into its consumer DACs, providing extensive customization options.
- The brand offers multiple headphone outputs, including dedicated IEM and balanced options, delivering ample power and ultra-low noise levels to accommodate a wide range of headphones and in-ear monitors.
- RME provides unusually detailed product documentation, including comprehensive user manuals and technical specifications, empowering users to understand and optimize their devices.
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Select product comparisons
ADI-2 DAC
- Positioning: The entry-level line, designed for affordability and compactness.
- Description: Offers accurate digital-to-analog conversion with a clear, streamlined design that suits small-room setups and personal listening environments. In comparison to the FS and PRO models, it lacks some advanced processing and connectivity options, making it ideal for those with basic functionality needs and tighter budgets.
ADI-2 FS
- Positioning: High-end headphone solution tuned for refined performance.
- Description: Delivers precise sound reproduction and improved headphone amplification with unique filtering adjustments that appeal to users with refined sonic goals in intimate settings. Compared to the entry-level DAC and the more functionally expanded PRO models, it strikes a balance between advanced sound quality and cost.
ADI-2 PRO FS BE
- Positioning: Professional-grade converter aimed at balanced, studio-standard applications.
- Description: Provides enhanced conversion performance with extended balanced output options and measurement capabilities, offering a dependable solution for professionals in controlled studio environments. When compared to the simpler DAC and FS versions, it introduces greater technical sophistication and connectivity.
ADI-2 4 PRO SE
- Positioning: Multi-channel converter designed for advanced studio and integrated system use.
- Description: Delivers top-tier, four-channel conversion with comprehensive input/output options and high-resolution processing that suit larger setups and critical listening demands. In contrast to the two-channel DAC and FS and even the PRO FS BE, it stands out with the highest level of performance and connectivity.
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Avg. Product Price
$1,001-$2,500
Used For Sale
0
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
806
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
4
Founding Year
1996
Our take on the brand
RME is a hifi audio brand best known for DACs that bring professional studio tools to desktop listening, featuring 5-band parametric EQ, crossfeed, selectable digital filters, and comprehensive signal metering in their ADI-2 family. Their interfaces offer DSP-based TotalMix FX for zero-latency submixing, DC-coupled outputs for sending CV/gate signals to modular synths, and SteadyClock FS technology that reduces jitter to the femtosecond range.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
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RME
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What if you spend more?
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Oriolus
Luxury&Precision EA4
2899
2899
/
1
Reviews
Oriolus is a Tokyo-based hifi brand best known for the Traillii IEM, which achieved near-mythic status at ~$6,000 through its unconventional all-balanced-armature design. Using 8 balanced armatures for lows/mids and 4 electrostatics for treble, it delivers unusually natural bass speed and holographic staging. The brand regularly releases Japan-specific editions and focuses on sound-first engineering over flashy packaging.
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Video review
Our take on the brand
Oriolus is a Tokyo-based hifi brand best known for the Traillii IEM, which achieved near-mythic status at ~$6,000 through its unconventional all-balanced-armature design. Using 8 balanced armatures for lows/mids and 4 electrostatics for treble, it delivers unusually natural bass speed and holographic staging. The brand regularly releases Japan-specific editions and focuses on sound-first engineering over flashy packaging.
Product Page
Product Page
What competes at this price?
iFi
iDSD Diablo 2
1299
/
Released
2023
Surging with infernal power. Sporting cutting edge xMEMS and Lossless Bluetooth technology, the flagship iDSD Diablo leads the charge with future-proof features and raw power - take your most demanding headphones wherever you go, we dare you.
iFi Audio specializes in portable hifi audio players, offering compact DACs and headphone amplifiers for audiophiles seeking quality sound on the go. The brand also provides affordable audiophile gear, making quality hifi audio accessible to more people.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers a vividly detailed and balanced sound, handling complicated mixes with skill
- Able to extract a lot of information from digital audio files with apparent ease
- A volume lock prevents accidental volume adjustments when the device is in a pocket or bag
- Extensive specification including Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless compatibility and multiple inputs/outputs for versatile connectivity
Product Considerations
- Some reviewers feel the device is not very pocket-friendly due to its size and sharp edges, making it better suited as a transportable—rather than a truly portable—device
- The gain is set too high, making precise volume control difficult, especially with sensitive IEMs
- Using IEMatch adds output impedance, which can negatively affect the tonal balance and dynamics of some IEMs
- The length of the included USB-C cable is short, making it difficult to position the device on a desk
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the iDSD Diablo 1, the Diablo 2 offers slight sonic improvements and better build quality, but at a higher price
- Compared to the iDSD Signature, the iDSD Signature is considered by some to offer a better result for less money, with a more realistic instrument and vocal timbre, larger soundstage, and customizable features like crossfeed and bass boost
- Compared to the FiiO Q7, the iDSD Diablo 2 has a vivid sound, where the FiiO Q7 has a smooth and wide sound
Takeaway: The iDSD Diablo 2 is a powerful and versatile DAC/amp that enhances headphone listening with its detailed sound and extensive features. It is a good choice for users who want a high-quality audio experience on the go or at their desk.
Video review
Our take on the brand
iFi Audio specializes in portable hifi audio players, offering compact DACs and headphone amplifiers for audiophiles seeking quality sound on the go. The brand also provides affordable audiophile gear, making quality hifi audio accessible to more people.
Product Page
Product Page
MASS-kobo
Model 475
1687
/
Released
2024
Updated the external DC power supply terminal of the full balanced headphone amplifier model 428, which has been popular since its release, from USB micro B to USB Type-C. The input and output terminal of Balanced uses Pentaconn manufactured by Nippon Dicks Co., Ltd. with high reliability. No cable is used between the internal substrates, and all the connecters are gold-plated.
MASS-kobo is a hifi amplifier brand. Each unit is hand-assembled by a single craftsman, Mr. Masuda, who personally tests and selects every component through an extensive binning process that limits output and creates long lead times. The brand embraces unconventional design choices, including intentionally high output impedance (~10Ω balanced), switch-mode power supplies in summit-tier amps, and build-to-order practices with sequential serialization and optional personal delivery by the craftsman himself.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Very clean and stable sound
- It enhances the quality of the bass with extra rumble, making it sound more articulate
- Excellent natural resolution, and among the best vertical micro/macro dynamics expansions
- Very precise layering and separation of the instruments and the vocals gives every sound a multi-dimensional standalone presentation
- It can be powered directly from a USB charger without batteries
Product Considerations
- The words written on the front panel can rub off with use
- With sensitive IEMs, the Model 475 can pick up electronic noise from devices with capacitive screens
- In high gain, the Model 475 can have some background noise with IEMs, so low gain should be used instead
- The volume knob is unbalanced at the first few percent, it always starts off on the left side before the right side, and then a bit unbalanced still before it stabilizes
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs. Brise Audio Tsuranagi, the Model 475 adds more body to the sound, which gives mids extra coloring density without affecting the resolution or the retrieval of details
Takeaway: The Model 475 is a unique headphone amplifier that provides a clean and stable sound with enhanced bass. It could be worth buying if one wants a solid portable amplifier that can be used at home and that adds body to the sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
MASS-kobo is a hifi amplifier brand. Each unit is hand-assembled by a single craftsman, Mr. Masuda, who personally tests and selects every component through an extensive binning process that limits output and creates long lead times. The brand embraces unconventional design choices, including intentionally high output impedance (~10Ω balanced), switch-mode power supplies in summit-tier amps, and build-to-order practices with sequential serialization and optional personal delivery by the craftsman himself.
Product Page
Product Page
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