Apogee Rosetta 800 vs. RME ADI-8 DS Test results

[Lagerfeldt]

All of Saturday I've compared these two converters. The RME has a very usable gain switch on the front (-10dBv, +4dBu or Hi Gain), both for input & output, which is sadly missing on the Apogee.

Apogee Rosetta 800 is approx. US$4.900 in Denmark.
RME ADI-8 DS is approx. US$3.000 in Denmark.
(Yes, it's an expensive country. Prices are probably around half in the US.)

So far 1 - 0 to RME on the price.

Please don't bitch about the way the comparison was done, it's a freaking studio, not a lab. ;-)

11 stereo tracks in Logic Pro (piano from SampleTank Piano Collection, strings from Peter Siedlachez Library, bass from ES2, drums and percussion from Hit Kit V2, + reverb from SpaceDesigner) have been sent individually using a sync'ed ADAT output from a RME Hammerfall 96/52 PCI card to the converters. Then in the converter going D/A and back again A/D using HQ D-Sub cables. So D/A and A/D on 11 stereo tracks on the same machine are being accumulated instead of just comparing a single stereo mix. The 11 tracks are summed in Logic Pro, and I have two virtually identical mixes which can be compared. I have used the RME for listening to the two mixes, monitoring on ADAM S2.5A's.

The original internal mix bounce peaks @ 0.0dBFS in Logic Pro.
Both Apogee and RME mix peaks @ -0.5 dBFS (which would be expected when simply going D/A - D/A without any gain or trim).

First impressions of the Apogee mix is very clear and nice top frequencies. The low end is apparently ever so slightly less than the RME mix (which isn't so actually, explained later). Great stereo perception. A top converter, no doubt.

The RME mix seems to have a bit less top freqs, with more bottom. But no, actually the RME mix just seems to be slightly louder. Hm, both peak at -0.5dBFS. Okay, I need to do some RMS measurements.

Aha!

Original mix RMS -7.6
RME mix RMS -7.7
Apogee mix RMS -8.1

So the the 0.4dB may have caused more bass perception (Fletcher-Munson), volume down 0.4dB on the RME mix and the low freqs seem to be equal in both mixes now. Problem solved. However, that's points to RME for being closer to the original mix.

2 - 0 to RME.

While doing measurements, I might as well do a DC Offset check.

Apogee mix: 0.008% DC Offset
RME mix: 0.000% DC Offset

0.008% isn't much, but that's still 0.008% too much. Points for RME again.

3 -0 to RME.

However, just listening, no bias, both converters are excellent. I admit that I most likely wouldn't get it right everytime in a blind test. But with a price difference of almost US$2.000, and the nice gain select switches, I would go for RME any day, so I think I'll buy it. Only negative thing about the ADI-8 DS is that the overload LED peaks at -2dBFS, which makes the LEDs pretty useless in my opinion.

While this comparison was done in 44.1kHz, both are capable of 96kHz. I will do a 96kHz test later, and also I will test the clipping sound of both (not the soft limit function in Apogee, which I dislike for anything else than live use). So far the clipping in the RME sounds amazing.

[sdelsolray]

Thanks for the comparison. I've been using the RME ADI-8 Pro for a couple of years (that's the 48k version). I've always enjoyed the unit.

[Don S]

Good to hear! I've been using the fireface800 for a couple months and found the pres to be almost useless, but the converters (with good sounding pres) were very natural sounding next to a mytek.
Just MHO.
Don

[chap]

I don't think you should call it a test.
Call it "your comparison". Someone else may find the exact opposite under equally unscientific
circumstances. I'm not disputing what you heard
but it's not a test. Just another opinion and that may help some folks.
best,
chap

[GYang]

Good intention, although critical listening tests in my case revealed quite opposite. The main purpose for test was an impact of Big Ben as external clocking master and when both RME and Apogee coupled to Big Ben and carefully listened (with critically matched levels) Apogee was clear winner in all respects. Difference was very apparent in 48 kHz sample rate and subtle, but existing in 96 kHz.
Aforesaid does not mean that RME ADI 8DS is not very good and recommendable 96 kHz converter (in 48 kHz operation it is much less so) for the price.

GYang

[Lagerfeldt]

Thank you, and you are right.

After some more listening (with another producer), he felt the opposite. He preferred the Apogee due to a better low end and slightly less stressed signal.

On the whole I think the RME delivers some excellent value/money, but having someone point out these issues I would tend to agree that the Apogee is at least as good or maybe a bit better in some respects even though the numbers are to RME's advantage.

The funny thing is, that I feel the RME is closer to the original signal, and while the Apogee seemed ever so slightly to color the sound it was in a very pleasant and natural way that sounds slightly better than the RME.

[fabriciom]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Thank you, and you are right.

After some more listening (with another producer), he felt the opposite. He preferred the Apogee due to a better low end and slightly less stressed signal.

On the whole I think the RME delivers some excellent value/money, but having someone point out these issues I would tend to agree that the Apogee is at least as good or maybe a bit better in some respects even though the numbers are to RME's advantage.

The funny thing is, that I feel the RME is closer to the original signal, and while the Apogee seemed ever so slightly to color the sound it was in a very pleasant and natural way that sounds slightly better than the RME.

Hello, sorry to bring back this old thread. But I was wondering if you ever compared them in 96k? I currently have the DS and have to option of getting a Rossetta 800 and not sure if its worth it.

-Thaks