Quote:
Originally Posted by Don S  I asked the rep here in the US that same question about the converter quality in the 2 boxes. He said the 800 has better converters. The 400's converter design is based on the multiface. Were the 800 is designed close to the ADI series.
FWIW. |
I own the original Multiface and a FF800. The convertors (D/A anyway) are clearly better on the FF800, in a kind of next generational way. A step change similar - but not as pronounced - as going from my Meridian 203 (high quality 10yr old CD player) to the Benchmark DAC1 (no intro needed). The Meridian and Multiface both have very acceptable D/A that is smooth and sweet and reasonably detailed. But the FF800 and (especially) the Benchmark have another level of clarity and definition beyond that.
So I'm wondering whether RME's comments aren't based on the Multiface 2 rather than the original Multiface? Either that or the FF400's DAC is significantly inferior to that of the FF800, which I kind of doubt from the comments others have made on various threads.
EDIT: I've just found a listing of the specs of the Multiface II vs the Mutiface original. It seems that the only DAC differences are in the power supply and the analog output stages (inc the headphone socket that I use for either monitors or headphones) so THAT must be what I'm hearing. I guess it goes to show that the analog stages might be as important as the chip(s) themselves.
http://noisetheatre.blogspot.com/200...announced.html
Andrew