Should I buy this 2,000$ A/D D/A Converter? Will I notice an improvement in sound?

[HREQ]

I'm thinking of buying an RME ADI-2 PRO FS, my current interface is Audient EVO4.

Would I notice a different in sound? Is it snake oil? Would I be able to make better mixing decisions?

I don't understand how it would improve the sound. It's 2,000$, 1,000$ ea. for the A/D and D/A converters inside, compared to my 100$ interface which has preamps, jfet DI, phantom power, A/D D/A Converters.

The A/D D/A Converters in my 100$ interface only cost like 20$ I guess since it has so much included, upgrading to 2,000$ converters, surely I would notice a difference in sound right? It must be able to let me hear EQ/Compression alot easier, and imaging and detail in songs right? Does anybody upgrade from cheap to expensive notice big difference?

[BertKoor]

In the GettingStarted section the answer is no. You won't notice any difference. The audio interface is very seldom the weakest link.

But have you compared the specs? How does it hold up to specs of your monitors?
That RME interface is out of production. Do you know why?
Google says the price is €600, not $2000.

[excuse me please]

According to "Streaky" on YouTube it gives you that "analog airness.."
But when I wrote "analog airness... c'mon" my comment was quickly removed.

Bllcks.

[chk071]

According to "Streaky" on YouTube it gives you that "analog airness.."
But when I wrote "analog airness... c'mon" my comment was quickly removed.

I think they will be hidden when they have too many dislikes.

On the topic, if you need to ask the question whether or not you should buy an audio interface, or if it will improve your sound, I think the answer is already pretty clear.

Apart from that, I highly doubt that a $2.000 audio interface is anything but snake oil. It also creates a whole string of consequences. How are you supposed to hear the 1% difference if you don't buy a $10.000 monitor set, to accompany your super high quality audio interface? How are you supposed to be able to fully judge it on your $10.000 monitor set, if you don't treat your room for thousands of dollars.

I don't think I'd have much fun with that. Not to mention that I don't have the money for that either, of course.

[excuse me please]

Well, first it was "fatness" now it's "3D audio."
I repeat my statement: c'mon

[ramseysounds]

According to "Streaky" on YouTube it gives you that "analog airness.."
But when I wrote "analog airness... c'mon" my comment was quickly removed.

Bllcks.

He is one of the most pretentious people on youtube. Hes a wannabe tv presenter. I dont even think his opinions are very useful, certainly doesn’t teach me anything new

To the OP. If you’re a bedroom producer, to spend $2k on converters is a complete waste of money. I use a Steinberg UR44. Sound is crystal clear. Used to use a $150 focusrite. Same crystal clearness. IMO

[shawshawraw]

Stepping up your room treatment (quality bass traps, wall panels, ceiling panels) is likely to give you the most bang for the buck, if you listen on monitors. If not, get a pair of good monitors.

[digitalboytn]

You may not hear a real improvement in sound,but you will see a real depreciation in your bank balance

[Ah_Dziz]

I'd grab a Babyface or AIO pro and a ada8200 if you want a nice little rig. For a grand. The rest depends on your connectivity. I've never noticed much special about the rme converters to make them worth the cost. The actual soundcards from RME are great though.

[3ee]

If one has good speakers well placed in a well treated room these differences can be more easily spotted.

What I noticed for example when I switched from the Babyface Pro to the RME Adi-2 Pro FS R was:

- increased depth and stereo image precision
- solidity in the low end
- seemingly better extension in the highs and less of ‘digital’ edge
- overall resolution simply seemed to have gone up

There are more but these are the ones I remember at the moment, even though the differences are fairly subtle they are surely noticeable! Especially if one uses a particular interface/converter for quite some time and then makes the switch

[HREQ]

If one has good speakers well placed in a well treated room these differences can be more easily spotted.

What I noticed for example when I switched from the Babyface Pro to the RME Adi-2 Pro FS R was:

- increased depth and stereo image precision
- solidity in the low end
- seemingly better extension in the highs and less of ‘digital’ edge
- overall resolution simply seemed to have gone up

There are more but these are the ones I remember at the moment, even though the differences are fairly subtle they are surely noticeable! Especially if one uses a particular interface/converter for quite some time and then makes the switch

Interesting, I know it's hard to compare with converters since there's no easy way to a/b them, but have you noticed yourself making better mixing / mastering decisions, or being able to notice super slight eq/compression changes better?

I'm on adam a7x's and AKG K702's. My room is half treated though, I was planning on getting the cheaper DAC only version for the headphone amp and d/a converters and hook it up to my audient id22 through optical input.

[3ee]

I’ve also considered the DAC only version, go with that if you don’t need the extra stuff, also wait for a sale or something..

Not sure what to say how much it helps me work better... the changes are fairly subtle but enough to be clearly perceivable, I’d say that every bit counts when it comes to monitoring especially if you want to do mastering work. The headphone amps are great too btw!

[perpetual3]

No. In order to leverage the DAC quality, every link in chain must also be improved, especially room treatment.

[Jorgeelalto]

No

[roman.i]

Does anybody upgrade from cheap to expensive notice big difference?

I've. From $200 to $2000 interface that considered a mastering audio interface.
Noticed a difference of course, but it's not huge. Not snake oil.
Mostly more balanced sound, deep, high clarity on transients in all frequency ranges.
If you're planning to get mastering monitors, then it worth it.
Otherwise get a mixing audio interface, but not the cheapest like scarlet.
I'm talking about D/A. In A/D there should be much more difference, but I haven't checked this.
By the way, interesting comments above. I bet most of these guys have never worked on a $2000 interface.