Itâs a shame the shipping and taxes for amp/dacs are so pricey, but considering the weight and size (especially the Cyan), I guess thatâs normal.
The versatility and size of the ADI-2 are huge positives in my book at the moment. My current desk can fit the Cyan but I would definitely need to move some stuff around and even then, it would take up quite a lot of desk space.
Read through that review because it specifically mentions the ADI-2, thanks.
Torqâs other posts on AudiophileStyle and the official Cyan thread were also quite informative!
Hi,
I have the rme dac fs here, to be honest it annoys me, and I think itâs better for the money and I expected more from him.
My 3 headphones all sound the same. I no longer recognize the individual signatures of the headphones as well as the advantages and disadvantages of individual ones. For some songs like,Acdc Thunderstuck great as if I were a great experience directly on stage but thatâs about it.
Phew really hard to describe in terms of sound. I lack the low ends that let the instruments fade away gently. More in the middle and highs would be nice instead of just bass. It is more neutral than transparent for me and does not drag me along like my Cambridge Audio Dac 100 more low end has everything ended cleanly and âreasonablyâ.
I tried to do a little with the Eq but it only confused. Iâm faster if I readjust my Schiit Loki. Of course itâs only a 4 band Eq it is enough to satisfy my needs.
And again, honestly, I donât know what to make of it. I would argue with the Questyle cma 400i, I could be more happy to plug it in, switch it on and get started.
I connected the Rme via Rca to the Beresford for fun and I liked it much better from the amping. Where I really think about the topping E30. I also looked a little bit at the walktrough on You tube, it is helpful to understand more but not more because the device somehow does not understand. Maybe Iâm too analog. Apart from all the criticism on my part, he lacks timbre. I can only guess which or which instruments it is. As soon as I have recognized it, it has already disappeared. That was new to me too.
For the money, you can also find that the menu could have been made better. Honestly, you lose the desire to add something. Everything could be much tidier. Technically, it may be up to date but just too much frills. On Windows he recognizes only 24/384 khz and not 32/789 khz. The few Khz more do not tear it towards the Cambridge Dac. I expected more for the money. I would say who is absolutely analogue would be with a Fostex Hp A8 , Questsyle cma400i and others in the price range I would say better. For digital friends I would rather say give it a try.
Thank you for the detailed comments.
Really wish I could test out the Cyan but I doubt they would ever come to any of the Tokyo audio events. Might be able to test the ADI-2 at Fujiya AVIC though.
For now, I am leaning towards the ADI-2 because of the features and flexibility (might want to use them with my other cans + IEMs as well) as you mentioned, but will wait for Kitsuneâs response on quote for my final decision (need to justify the additional $430 though).
I just noticed that I can get the ADI-2 for around $1190 at e-earphone, but also get around $120 worth of points that I can use towards a future amp!
Thanks for sharing this as well, interesting that he puts the ADI-2 Pro FS above the Cyan, but puts the Cyan above the ADI-2 FS in his Cyan reviews. I guess the balanced connection the Pro offers led him give the ADI-2 a higher grade?
Stupidly asked which amplifiers or Dac / amps could you order in Japan in the shop or on the Internet and possibly use the cancellation period if you donât like it? Maybe this will help you to avoid customs duties such as tax and your electricity history without additional costs.
Personally speaking, the Adi 2 could be too cool and too clean for you.
If I can afford it I appreciate Japanese music more so that you would like to hear the instruments fade away. With a lot of charm and love when I think of typical Japanese relaxed music. Like in the restaurant. And I guess that the Adi 2 will not do that great. That would definitely make the Fostex A8 better even if its technology is a bit outdated. And not even something to say. It is a little my fault because I sent you the Adi 2 in another post have talked up a bit and now personally disappointed me. And it could possibly disappoint you too. It can be the best Dac or the best Dac / amp from the technical side, but also does nothing if the spices are missing and the food is bland in the end If you understand? It is certainly up to you to decide how you decide in the end. But appropriate to the fact that you do what can be imported what is associated with additional costs. Would it still be wise After all, there are $ 200-300 of which we are talking about here where you can possibly invest in other things such as cables or have a nice evening with your wife or friends. I also understand that devices that are mostly made in their own country is mostly uninteresting because everyone has or knows you and has a certain opinion. And there are many other things in the big wide world and you also have something special. Here in Germany hardly anyone knows Fostex even if there is a salesperson Fostex was one of my first devices that was really very good, it would be great if you would update their product range in the amplifier area. I would probably be one of the first to buy one, I mean well with you in the end because you are from very far come here for me.
Most of the reviews do state that the ADI-2 is quite neutral and non-engaging as you mentioned. People who put it up against the Cyan specifically mention that the Cyan is warmer/tubey and warmer than the ADI-2.
I can get the A8Mk2 for around $920 and might be able to test it out as well. Have you tested the A8 before? If yes, how does it compare to the ADI-2?
Also, note that Iâm not 100% set on the HD800S yet; itâs been around 3~4 years since I last listened to it (which at the time I really liked), so depending on my tests this weekend, I might actually go for the HP-3 if I can get my hands on it (although I would prefer to test it before dropping $1k+âŚ).
I think itâs a bit more than that, there is a difference between something being neutral and uncolored, vs something not being engaging, they shouldnât go hand in hand, Iâve heard plenty of very neutral systems that were pretty enjoyable to listen to
It sound like some folks fine this dac to be not engaging. I should be able to eventually compare it directly to the BF2 (Whenever it ships) and decide which is more suited to my needs.
Part of me thinks that a âneutralâ dac will let me more accurately see the character of an amp without compounding the coloration of a dac on top of an amp. But maybe thatâs not something I should be concerned about, idk.
The hard part is that you canât really avoid coloration in a component, you mainly just want to find 2 components with coloration that have synergy together to achieve what you are looking for
This makes sense. Comparing it to other things I know. Building a car isnât about âthe bestâ parts, itâs about finding a compromise against the purpose youâre building it. Like rock crawler suspension has no place on a drag car.
I have a feeling I wonât really be able to tell a difference between the BF2 and RME DACs. In which case the RME goes back for the money penalty.
I do not think this is the case, I think you will be able to hear both dacs pretty well, but it will depend on what you like for what you keep. You for sure have the equipment to notice, and also most likely have the experience to as well, you donât have to be an expert to hear the differences
After hearing the Rme Adi 2 I find that it is not for audiophiles. If I was a DJ, singer, sound engineer, producer or anything with event technology I would say my collar size. If we talk about audiophiles then the device X has to be musical .Let the beautiful notes fade away, gentle passages can be heard right to the end. Bass beautiful and full-bodied. Wonderful vocals in the middle and high tones. Beautifully sweet and juicy.With the Rme Adi 2 you hear a car drives up the street, has driven through and is already at the end of the street. So there is nothing musical about it. So it is even when you hear him oh a violin jagged and she is gone, you can not say the violin is on the right or Left of the stage where it was placed.
If the Adi 2 had an additional function that it could also be musical, then it would be a top device if you could listen between the studio and musical side. That would also put the equipment in an all in one device. And could also classify better that is studio and the musical.
I would also say that the internal Dac of the Adi 2 is also built in terms of studio technology and not musically next to the amp section. I think these are two different factors that should be taken into the Topping e30 does, it technically congests Dac if the amp still fits quite far forward not quite âhigh endâ but musically speaking.
Ha, I just did a RME comparison to my Bifrost2⌠with the Stellia out of my Phonitor XE and I can easily pick up the difference⌠RME is more neutralâŚslightly brighter⌠Bifrost2 is smoother and slightly warmer.
RME Neutral/Neutral
Bifrost Neutral/warm
is how I would discribe in very simple terms =) but Iâm no audiophile lol
I use the RME as my neutral review DAC when I want to hear just what the Headphone does⌠if that makes sense⌠I keep it paired balance into my Phonitor XE for these reasons. When I want relax and enjoy I pair single ended from my Bifrost2 to my Phonitor⌠or into one of my tube amps =)
People with better ears than I have said the the RME-ADI 2 as indistinguishable from the D90 sound wise. And I have done a head to head comparison between the D90 and the Bifrost 2 (also through a Phonitor) and found the same as Darthpool: Slightly warmer tonally, smoother, the edges on harsh tones rounded out a little, and a slightly wider presentation. The difference was small to my ears, though.
And I guess that the Adi 2 will not do that great. That would definitely make the Fostex A8 better even if its technology is a bit outdated. And not even something to say. It is a little my fault because I sent you the Adi 2 in another post have talked up a bit and now personally disappointed me. And it could possibly disappoint you too. It can be the best Dac or the best Dac / amp from the technical side, but also does nothing if the spices are missing and the food is bland in the end If you understand? It is certainly up to you to decide how you decide in the end. But appropriate to the fact that you do what can be imported what is associated with additional costs. Would it still be wise After all, there are $ 200-300 of which we are talking about here where you can possibly invest in other things such as cables or have a nice evening with your wife or friends. I also understand that devices that are mostly made in their own country is mostly uninteresting because everyone has or knows you and has a certain opinion. And there are many other things in the big wide world and you also have something special. Here in Germany hardly anyone knows Fostex even if there is a salesperson Fostex was one of my first devices that was really very good, it would be great if you would update their product range in the amplifier area. I would probably be one of the first to buy one, I mean well with you in the end because you are from very far come here for me.
lol