Simon Patten
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks for the comprehensive reply. I read something that suggested the Pro and FS power supplies were different, in what way?Matthias at RME says the NT-RME-11 is the 40 watt power supply included with the ADI-2/4 Pro SE. It has an IEC connector / 3 prong mains plug. I have both the ADI-2 DAC FS and the ADI-2/4 Pro SE. The power supplies are indeed different.
With the DAC FS, I did have some hum related to the RCA when the RME unit was OFF, connected to the amp via XLR, and the amp ON (to keep amp warm). I haven't tried the NT-RME-11 power supply to see whether it resolved that scenario. I was able to immediately make the hum go away plugging shorting plugs in, but didn't like that either.
If I had an ADI-2 DAC FS and wanted a better, regular power supply, I would just buy the NT-RME-11. I guess I should play with the ADI-2 DAC FS with the NT-RME-11 power supply to see whether it makes that RCA hum issue go away. Even with that 1-off issue... it didn't make me like the DAC FS any less. In fact, I liked it so much that I bought the ADI-2/4. I wanted analog in and every bell and whistle. I love it.
https://www.rme-usa.com/power-supplies.html
If I wanted to do something special with power supply, I might not even buy the NT-RME-11. Matthias has posted ideas for how to run the unit off of a battery pack - and I may or may not play with that. I listen so much that I'd have to figure out run time / charging, etc. I'd rather spend money on something very different like a battery power supply than a bigger, linear power supply, transformer, etc.
Someone earlier in the thread suggested the TalentCell Power Bank, LiFePO4 rechargeable battery which would be a useful thing to have anyway so it might be worth trying that, and it's much cheaper too.