Short answer
Both are audio interfaces, $2790 against $2199.
The RME ADI-2 Pro FS R reaches 100 dB on 567 of the 567 models here, the Merging Anubis on 566.
| Specification | Merging Anubis | RME ADI-2 Pro FS R |
|---|---|---|
| Power into 32Ω | 961 mW | 3.0 W |
| Power into 150Ω | 205 mW | 634 mW |
| Power into 300Ω | 103 mW | 317 mW |
| Power into 600Ω | 51 mW | 158 mW |
| Output impedance | 0.035 Ω | 0.1 Ω |
| Output noise | not published | 2.18 µV |
| Price | $2790 | $2199 |
| Headphones it reaches 100 dB on out of 567 | 566 | 567 |
Not published means the maker leaves it out, so that axis cannot be compared.
| Balanced | Merging Anubis | RME ADI-2 Pro FS R |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | no separate rating | balanced |
| Power into 32Ω | — | 11.8 W derived |
| Power into 300Ω | — | 1.3 W derived |
| Output impedance | — | 0.2 Ω |
| Output noise | — | not published |
| Headphones it reaches 100 dB on out of 567 | — | 567 |
Only the RME ADI-2 Pro FS R has a separate balanced rating from its maker; through it, it reaches 100 dB on 567 of the 567 models here. The Merging Anubis may still have a balanced socket — its spec sheet simply gives no figure for one, so there is nothing to put beside it. Derived figures are worked out from the loads the maker did publish.
| Load | Merging Anubis | RME ADI-2 Pro FS R |
|---|---|---|
| 32 Ω | Upper bound | Upper bound |
| 150 Ω | Upper bound | Upper bound |
| 300 Ω | Upper bound | Upper bound |
| 600 Ω | Upper bound | Upper bound |
Neither maker publishes a power rating at any load. Both columns above are ceilings, worked out from a maximum output voltage on the assumption that the amplifier holds it into the load — the most flattering reading available for either. 24 of the 280 sources here are in that position. Whichever of the two looks the stronger on power, the difference is unproven; the output-impedance and noise rows are the ones to go on.
1 headphone reaches 100 dB on the RME ADI-2 Pro FS R but not on the Merging Anubis — Symphonium Titan.
566 of the 567 models here reach 100 dB on both.
Headroom is at a 100 dB SPL peak.
The widest gap on the list is the Audeze LCD-2 Classic: RME ADI-2 Pro FS R has +32 dB of headroom there against +27 dB. 5 dB is about 3.1 times the power, which matters for peaks rather than for how loud the music sits.
The hiss columns are empty for Merging Anubis because that maker publishes no output noise figure.
| Headphone | Impedance | Needs | Merging Anubis headroom | RME ADI-2 Pro FS R headroom | Merging Anubis hiss | RME ADI-2 Pro FS R hiss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shure SE846 | 9 Ω | 0.04 mW | +38 dB | +43 dB | not published | 21 dB |
| Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 | 9 Ω | 4.0 mW | +18 dB | +23 dB | not published | 1 dB |
| Audeze LCD-2 Classic | 70 Ω | 0.79 mW | +27 dB | +32 dB | not published | -1 dB |
| Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) | 250 Ω | 0.63 mW | +23 dB | +28 dB | not published | -5 dB |
| HiFiMAN HE400se | 25 Ω | 7.9 mW | +20 dB | +25 dB | not published | -6 dB |
| Audio-Technica ATH-R70X | 470 Ω | 1.6 mW | +16 dB | +21 dB | not published | -12 dB |
| Sennheiser HD 600 | 300 Ω | 6.6 mW | +12 dB | +17 dB | not published | -16 dB |
| HiFiMAN Susvara | 60 Ω | 50 mW | +10 dB | +15 dB | not published | -18 dB |
The Merging Anubis costs $591 more than the RME ADI-2 Pro FS R, and on these three axes the money buys nothing: among the 567 models here there is not one that the Merging Anubis handles and the RME ADI-2 Pro FS R does not — not on power, not on the one-eighth rule, not on hiss. The traffic runs the other way: the cheaper RME ADI-2 Pro FS R drives one model to 100 dB that the Merging Anubis does not.
Only published figures count here; blank axes are counted separately.
Each in full: Merging Anubis and RME ADI-2 Pro FS R.