On the bench today; a RME Fireface 800 with a faulty power supply.
Many will know that I'm a mega-big RME fan. Stylish, reliable, oozing sonic excellence in abundance and very easy to use, RME interfaces like the Fireface 800 are sonically very transparent.
When it comes to drivers and firmware, RME is constantly on the ball and software issues with their products simply don't exist. A bold statement I know but in my experience, it's true!
Anyway, every six or seven years the power supplies on these systems pack up. Delivering a reliable but significant output, they do get hot and despite the use of high-temperature tolerant components, time takes its toll. Symptoms range from flashing lights on the front panel, to the unit not powering up at all.
IMPORTANT!!! If you do get the flashing lights but the unit appears to work okay, please, please, please don't wait until it totally dies, to get it fixed. If you do, you'll probably need a completely new power supply... if you're lucky. If you're unlucky, you're Fireface 800 might need major surgery. 🙁
So, if you're in need of a RME Fireface 800 repair, then I'll be more than happy to help you out. It's well worth it. These interfaces are just great. I charge a standard £85.00 for a power supply repair. Just contact me if you want to chat.
Click here for more information on RME interfaces. In the meantime, here's the spec':
| Input AD: | 8 x 1/4" TRS, 4 x XLR Mic, 4 x 1/4" TRS Line, all servo-balanced. 1 x 1/4" TS unbalanced |
| Output DA: | 8 x 1/4" TRS, servo-balanced, DC-coupled signal path. 1 x 1/4" TRS unbalanced |
| Input Digital: | 2 x ADAT optical or SPDIF optical, SPDIF coaxial (AES/EBU compatible) |
| Output Digital: | 2 x ADAT optical or SPDIF optical, SPDIF coaxial (AES/EBU compatible) |
| MIDI: | 1 x MIDI I/O via 5-pin DIN jacks, for 16 channels low jitter hi-speed MIDI |
| Dynamic range AD: | 109 dB RMS unweighted, 112 dBA |
| THD AD: | < -110 dB (< 0.00032 %) |
| THD+N AD: | < -104 dB (< 0.00063 %) |
| Crosstalk AD: | > 110 dB |
| Dynamic range DA: | 116 dB RMS unweighted, 119 dBA (unmuted) |
| THD DA: | < -103 dB (< 0.0007 %) |
| THD+N DA: | < -100 dB (< 0.001 %) |
| Crosstalk DA: | > 110 dB |
| Input/Output level for 0 dBFS @ Hi Gain: | +19 dBu |
| Input/Output level for 0 dBFS @ +4 dBu: | +13 dBu |
| Input/Output level for 0 dBFS @ -10 dBV: | +2 dBV |
| Sample rate internally: | 32, 44.1, 48, 64, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 128, 176.4, 192 kHz |
| Sample rate externally: | 28 kHz - 200 kHz |
| Frequency response AD/DA: | -0.1 dB: 5 Hz - 21.5 kHz (sf 48 kHz) |
| Frequency response AD/DA: | -0.5 dB: < 5 Hz - 43.5 kHz (sf 96 kHz) |
| Frequency response AD/DA: | -1 dB: < 5 Hz - 70 kHz (sf 192 kHz) |
UPDATE - 11th March 2021
I regularly receive inquiries about the RME Fireface 800 and have been toiling with the idea to make an external power supply.
I've tested a couple of my designs which power the Fireface really well. My designs don't get hot and will last much longer than the original. The problem is that they're all external!
So, there are a few problems to overcome...
You need to get a 6-pole connection reliably into the chassis of the unit. The obvious place to do this, is in the position of the IEC power inlet. The problem is that the power inlet is a snap-in type so there are no screw holes. Synthax UK have kindly offered me an old demo unit to play with but I need to be confident that what I do, can be also done by end-users.
As I said, my replacement power supply works just great so that's a good start. I'll keep you posted on how this project progresses.