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Post by Topend on Jun 19, 2010 21:24:23 GMT -5
Mmmm, something to think about. I will try the XDA-1 when I get it connected directly to my amp and if I like what I hear as opposed to connecting thru my UMC-1 I will consider the SA4.
Thanks for the info. Dave.
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Post by matt on Jun 20, 2010 0:39:59 GMT -5
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Post by khonfused on Jun 20, 2010 14:20:16 GMT -5
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jlafrenz
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Post by jlafrenz on Jun 20, 2010 14:51:14 GMT -5
It would likely work, but it isn't going to be a very high quality piece. Also, passive preamps have a volume control where this unit does not. I realize that the DAC has a volume control, but the ERC-1 does not and many other pieces do not have volume control.
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Post by broncsrule21 on Jun 25, 2010 3:18:32 GMT -5
Help me understand... If I connect my cd player to the XDA, then directly to my RPA-1 there is no way to integrate the sub for 2.1?
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Post by CrazyBlue on Jun 25, 2010 5:28:03 GMT -5
High level, as suggested earlier. (If your sub has high level connectors--basically speaker binding posts)
Amp to sub to speakers, using the high and low pass filters on the sub.
I'm researching this myself. Specifically, how to connect multiple subs this way.
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jlafrenz
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Post by jlafrenz on Jun 25, 2010 9:14:53 GMT -5
For multiple subs you could use high level inputs and use one on the right main and one on the left main posts. Use bananas for one and spades for the other.
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Post by rockguitar on Jun 25, 2010 9:44:18 GMT -5
For multiple subs you could use high level inputs and use one on the right main and one on the left main posts. Use bananas for one and spades for the other. Or you could use multiple sets of bannana plugs stacked on each other, e.g. each one plugged into the back of the previous one. Keep in mind, many banana plugs do not allow for stacking, e.g. the Emotiva ones do not as the speaker wire comes out of the back end. this way, each set of banana plugs/speaker wire can be connected to whatever speaker or sub you need. Here's an example of stackable bananna plugs, www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=091-330Or if the opening in the banana plug or spades or your binding posts is big enough, you can twist two sets of speaker wire and connect them directly into the opening. There are many ways to go about connecting multiple sets of speaker cables to the amp.
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Post by CrazyBlue on Jun 25, 2010 12:58:17 GMT -5
Ah. That makes sense.
I'm assuming that this is a short, direct path through the sub's crossovers and isn't going to defeat the purpose of using the XDA-1 as the pre in the first place; just another crossover that happens to be in a seperate box, making the speaker channel a 4-way (if I start with 3-way towers).
I'd be running the speakers full range and crossing the sub(s) over low, say 50-60hz, whatever blends best. My main focus is music, but I'm curious to know whether stereo movie soundtracks (like Dolby Stereo, which all Dolby Digital Surround movies seem to also include) contains the same low frequency information as the surround tracks do. Or will I be losing that in the occasional boom-boom-bang flick I watch?
This will be a living room system, so the DirecTV and a DVD player will also run through it.
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Post by rockguitar on Jun 25, 2010 15:57:00 GMT -5
"My main focus is music, but I'm curious to know whether stereo movie soundtracks (like Dolby Stereo, which all Dolby Digital Surround movies as the surround tracks do. Or will I be losing that in the occasional boom-boom-bang flick I watch?" A stereo DAC cannot accept DD or DTS, I know, I've done it . All I got was white noise. So you would have to go to each source (e.g. DVD) and select the digital output to be PCM instead of bitstream. Then you should be all set. You would have to check for your specific DVD player to see if it can output DTS as PCM -- not all can. Once the output is set to PCM, then you are going to get a downmix of all the multichannel stuff to stereo on the digital output. This should also give you a full range signal as the .1 channel is also mixed in.
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Post by rockguitar on Jun 25, 2010 16:02:05 GMT -5
Help me understand... If I connect my cd player to the XDA, then directly to my RPA-1 there is no way to integrate the sub for 2.1? For another option,if your amp takes balanced ins, you can have the XDA connect directly to the amp via the balanced outputs and should be able to take the RCA outs of the XDA to the sub. I'm presuming both outputs of the XDA are active at the same time. I do recall some people having some issues with the ERC-1 and having multiple outputs connected to it at the same time - but I dont remember the details.
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jlafrenz
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Post by jlafrenz on Jun 25, 2010 16:07:28 GMT -5
"My main focus is music, but I'm curious to know whether stereo movie soundtracks (like Dolby Stereo, which all Dolby Digital Surround movies as the surround tracks do. Or will I be losing that in the occasional boom-boom-bang flick I watch?" A stereo DAC cannot accept DD or DTS, I know, I've done it . All I got was white noise. So you would have to go to each source (e.g. DVD) and select the digital output to be PCM instead of bitstream. Then you should be all set. You would have to check for your specific DVD player to see if it can output DTS as PCM -- not all can. Once the output is set to PCM, then you are going to get a downmix of all the multichannel stuff to stereo on the digital output. This should also give you a full range signal as the .1 channel is also mixed in. I think what he is talking about here is if the the surrounds are mixed into the mains for 2 channel and the subs would still receive this information because of the way it is hooked up, not because he would be running a DVD player of sorts through the DAC. I also think the question here is how would the re-directed bass from the surrounds work? Since there is no LFE channel at this point for them to be re-directed to, would they still be present. I am assuming that once the mains are set to large and the subwooer is set to "NO" that this would take care of the issue. I can't say for certain because it may be player or processor dependent.
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Post by rockguitar on Jun 25, 2010 17:21:19 GMT -5
"I also think the question here is how would the re-directed bass from the surrounds work? Since there is no LFE channel at this point for them to be re-directed to, would they still be present. I am assuming that once the mains are set to large and the subwooer is set to "NO" that this would take care of the issue. I can't say for certain because it may be player or processor dependent. "
Sure, I **think** I know how he wants to setup his system with a source-- to XDA -- amp -- sub & speakers where the XDA is set up as the pre.
As a clarification, when the digital output of the source is set to PCM, then the digital output of the source will have all the 5.1 channels mixed to a full range stereo channel. Hence, the bass and everthing else will there including from the surrounds and the .1 sub output. As for setting up the mains to large and sub to on, I don't believe e.g a DVD player can do so for the digital output. That would instead apply for the analog multichannel outputs of the DVD player. The digital output when set to PCM provides only a strict stereo digital downmix. Keep in mind the XDA would not have any processor capabilities -- it can only convert a PCM digital stream to analog.
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jlafrenz
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Post by jlafrenz on Jun 25, 2010 19:27:46 GMT -5
Crazy... can you clarify for us as to weather you are planning to hook a DVD/Blu-ray player to the DAC. I think that is where the confusion may be at. I was under the impression that you were going to be connecting a PC to it.
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Post by CrazyBlue on Jun 26, 2010 1:35:18 GMT -5
PC, DVD, and DirecTV DVR.
My DVR does the PCM conversion, I guess. I know I get a full stereo signal from it, even for pay-per-view movies in Dolby Digital 5.1 (they're also in Dolby Stereo) and it's sending lower bass than my current speakers can play.
When I switch everything out, I'll snag a used Oppo DV-980HD or 981HD off of e-bay.
Most movies we watch are on DirecTV, but I'll spin the occasional DVD in the Oppo, as well as use it for a temporary CD transport until I get an external hard drive to store WAV or FLAC files set up.
I was mainly asking whether the LFE got downmixed into a stereo signal.
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Post by haugesund on Jul 2, 2010 1:46:14 GMT -5
Does anyone know the depth of this unit ?
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Erwin.BE
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Post by Erwin.BE on Jul 2, 2010 4:00:16 GMT -5
Does anyone know the depth of this unit ? Only Lonnie could give you the exact size, but from the pics without the lid he posted before, I would guess something close to 22-23 cm (9"). Surely one of the smallest depths in any rack. Unless you are Dolly Parton ;D
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Post by stoneoftone on Jul 16, 2010 8:55:12 GMT -5
I look forward to the release of this product!
I have run a DAC, my Audio Alchemy 3.0 directly in to my Amp(s), solid state as well as my Zen Select reference amp for the last 9 years. I have owned the AA's for 15 years. Yes, 15 years, purchased new with the DTI Pro via i2s. Yes, avoiding a preamp is a good thing! (I do use my 1062 pre in my other system though-for turntable source hooked up too-besides of course digital front end).
Some key features of my 3.0 are: HDCD PM100 Filter (Prof Johnson creation of Reference Recordings whom I had the pleasure of meeting), dual Dac chips, remote wand for volume, ADJUSTABLE INTERNAL JUMPERS FOR VOLTAGE OUTPUT-left at 2.0 volt output/but nice to have if more voltage output is needed - driving my pedal to the metal in Class A, no negative feedback, pentodes run in triode amp=liquid liquid liquid. Tone of a hollow body Gibson will make you cry...... . Peter Madnick of AA designed these products and I have used almost every day for 15 years. Zen Select, designed by Steve Deckert of Decware for the liquid liquid liquid sound with expansive soundstage that tubes do best.
However, if my DAC 3.0 or DTI Pro died tomorrow and I could not fix? XDA-1, Mr. Lonnie's variation of the new mouse trap is now on the radar! Wadia is making one, but for 11 or 1200 bucks. YBA makes one too.
Emotiva, value value value! I am a proud owner of a pair of UPA-1's now. I enjoy the best of both worlds: Tubes DRIVEN DIRECTLY VIA 3.0 and my Solid State butt muscle system with the UPA'1s which are detailed, laid back with great midrange and articulate bass. I am pleased to say the least..... . Furthermore, the UPA-1's are great listening at low volume too.
Cheers, listen often - listen deep - Stone of Tone
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Post by kellys on Jul 16, 2010 19:53:31 GMT -5
This would be interesting, but it would have been much, much better if they had put a stepped attenuator or HQ potentiometer on it. Digital attenuation sucks IMO. I would if they will use the same output stage in the XMC-1?
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Post by mmeysarosh on Jul 22, 2010 15:17:39 GMT -5
I had received a message from Vincent regarding the USB implementation on the XDA-1. The unit will have a USB 2 interface that would support 24/192 input data. It still doesn't indicate if it will be on par/better/or worse then any other connection, but it won't force a the audio to truncate to 16/44 signal of other USB compatible DAC's.
As for the using the XDA-1 as a preamp, I think setups will dictate quite a bit here. If all your sources are PCM or LPCM digital, it could be a possible option if XDA-1 outperforms everything you already have. My system won't permit me to do such as I intend to keep my vinyl going.
I hope this product turns out to be quite the winner. The other DAC's I was considering were considerably more money from well established players. Should be quite interesting to see how it goes in my rig as my CD/SACD, PreAmp, and Amp are all true balanced designs. If it performs on Redbook as well as my existing player, I will be quite impressed. I might try it as a preamp for fun. See if my current unit acts like the proverbial wire with gain.
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