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Topic: sound quality using preouts (Read 516 times)

nat72sherman
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sound quality using preouts
« Thread Started on Jul 3, 2012, 12:30am »

Hi all,

I just bought a XDA-1. I also have a Marantz 4200 AVR and Mission speakers. I am was planning to hook the XDA-1 to a new power amp and new speakers.

But I need a headphone jack. If I hook the xda-1 to the AVR and hook up the amp in the preout, are there any sound degradation? Are there power amps with headphone jacks?

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garbulky
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Re: sound quality using preouts
« Reply #1 on Jul 3, 2012, 5:35am »

No emo amps have headphone jacks. However there are headphone jacks that can recieve the balanced output from the xda-1. The XDA-1 pushes a signal to both the balanced and unbalanced outputs so you could just use one of those outputs for your headphone amp.
The XDA-1 has a very good analog stage. Somebody had a marantz pre-amp and hooked up to the xda-1 found that the marantz pre-amp was limiting the audio quality. The XDA-1 connected directly to a powe amp sounds very good. It's really upto you to experiment. It's always possible that an AVR may affect the quality of the signal depending on the design.
An AVR has to do so many things that sometimes audio quality can take a backseat. There are a good amount of people that do use the pre-outs on the avr for their power amp though. So, I think you should experiment.
A few things to note:
The xda-1 has a digital volume control that looses information when it is turned down from maximum volume (80). Whether this is audible or not at quiet volumes is upto you.
The XDA-2 will not lose information as it is turned down and will have an analog volume control. It will also have a headphone jack and a "badass headphone amp" according to the head of emotiva.

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Laptop/PS3/Toshiba HD-DVD Player HD-A2/AsusXonar Essence ST ASIO SPDIF Coax->XDA- (12db RCA attenuator)->UPA-2->Axiom M80 V2 with v3 parts
Headphone:
XDA-1 (12 db RCA attenuator)->Xenos 3HA Headphone amp->Sennheiser HD600
Asus Xonar Essence ST ASIO->RCA outputs->Xenos 3HA headphone amp -> Sennheisser HD600

jlafrenz
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Re: sound quality using preouts
« Reply #2 on Jul 3, 2012, 6:03pm »

If you connect it like you stated, you would want to use a "Direct" mode of sorts so that there is no processing done to the signal and it is passed to the amps.

What amp are you using? As, garbulky said, you can use one set of outputs to go to the amp and the other to a headphone amp.

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nat72sherman
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Re: sound quality using preouts
« Reply #3 on Jul 3, 2012, 10:47pm »

Thanks for the suggestions.

I need a headphone out for just xbox gaming, not really for serious listening. My concern for sound quality only pertain to what comes out of speakers. An HP amp is probably not what im looking for. Plus it's usually pretty pricey. Then again, further down the line I probably decide I do need one.

As far as amp, I don't have one right now. I'm looking to buy. So far the UPA-200 looks good. Any choices I should consider?

« Last Edit: Jul 3, 2012, 10:58pm by nat72sherman »

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greenkiwi
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sound quality using preouts
« Reply #4 on Jul 3, 2012, 11:16pm via the ProBoards Mobile App »

You might be able to get a cheap fiio e5/6/11 $20-60 and just Y it off the RCA jacks. Youd get your good output and headphone output. You'd need some RCA splitters.

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nat72sherman
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Re: sound quality using preouts
« Reply #5 on Jul 3, 2012, 11:37pm »

yes i have one of those fiio portable headphone amps. i was wondering if i could use it. But the amp im looking at right now (UPA-200) only have unbalanced ins.

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greenkiwi
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Re: sound quality using preouts
« Reply #6 on Jul 4, 2012, 12:52am »

Yeah, I'd plug something like this:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produc....&seq=1&format=2

into the unbalanced out from the XDA and then use a standard 1/8" --> RCA into the Fiio
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produc....&seq=1&format=2
a

________Fiio -->headphones
_______/
______/
XDA--< (unbalanced)
______\
_______\
________UPA-200 --> Speakers

I have some from these guys and really really like them:

http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=KRY-1M2F

Emo also has one: http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/accessories/products/xrca-1x2

If you already have a Fiio, then that is definitely what I'd do.

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greenkiwi
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Re: sound quality using preouts
« Reply #7 on Jul 4, 2012, 12:54am »

I don't think that you should have any significant issue putting inputs on the XDA output, but you could always ask.

The other option, if you ONLY use the headphones iwth the Xbox, might be to have the 1/8" --> RCA from the XBox's analog outputs (if it has them.)

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nat72sherman
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Re: sound quality using preouts
« Reply #8 on Jul 4, 2012, 1:51am »

thanks for the suggestion, much appreciate it.

I'm using xbox proprietary hdmi to my tv for video and optical out to the reciever for sound. if i use the proprietary hdmi cable there's no analog out available.

So I guess i could this as well -
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produc....&seq=1&format=2

« Last Edit: Jul 4, 2012, 1:52am by nat72sherman »

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garbulky
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Re: sound quality using preouts
« Reply #9 on Jul 6, 2012, 1:25pm »

Are you replacing your processor with that?

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