|
Post by matt on Jul 26, 2010 4:30:13 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. 24/192 is nice, but unfortunately the USB spec does not have a standard for USB 2.0 sound interfaces like USB 1.x does. So this means that there will probably be a special driver to install, unless it can fall back to USB 1.x operation for 16-bit audio. Hopefully, the USB sound interface is common, because I was planning on using this with Linux and Mac OSs. It is not a huge deal; if the driver does not work on my OS, I plan on using optical instead.
|
|
|
Post by mmeysarosh on Jul 28, 2010 8:18:18 GMT -5
Hi Matt,
A very good point as my plans are to connect the XDA-1 to an OS X box running either the optical or USB, mostly based on performance I receive. I had been reading issues users had experienced on Wyred 4 Sound's new DAC-2, so USB based interfaces are seemingly still immature at this point.
Do you plan on using the XDA-1 as a digital preamp? I'm willing to dabble with it but I think I may need to keep mine in the loop for LP's. Besides, I don't feel it will degrade the sound much at all as compared to the low quality of recording I more often listen to.
Mike
|
|
|
Post by matt on Jul 30, 2010 18:35:38 GMT -5
Do you plan on using the XDA-1 as a digital preamp? I'm willing to dabble with it but I think I may need to keep mine in the loop for LP's. Besides, I don't feel it will degrade the sound much at all as compared to the low quality of recording I more often listen to. Yes. I actually have plans to buy 3 XDA-1's, although I will buy only 1 at first. One for an office sound system, one for my personal computer, and another for my home theater. After I get a XMC-1 for my home theater, I will probably use the XMC-1's pure analog signal path instead of connecting the XDA-1 to my pair of XPA-1's. My source material will be lossless audio (FLAC) ripped from my CD collection.
|
|
|
Post by solidstate on Aug 1, 2010 19:45:23 GMT -5
The problem will be the volume control/attenuator used... if it sucks then we might be forced to use a preamp. If it's decent enough and your entire transport is a PC etc then really there is no need for a preamp when using the XDA-1. This section of the DAC prob has been cheaped out more than any other part of the design due to the fact most will be using it with a preamp. I believe the unit has the ability to turn the preamp/volume attenuation on and off. Hopefully this by pass the volume circuit entirely if it's shitty...
|
|
|
Post by mmeysarosh on Aug 1, 2010 22:37:53 GMT -5
I believe that the volume attenuation used is based on the digital implementation in the DAC. What had been mentioned earlier about the implementation is Emotiva providing access to this function instead of setting it on full value, which is how the DAC would have been set if no preamp was planned.
The folks from Emotiva have mentioned in the past that best results would be attained by using the XDA-1 as a preamp. I would assume that this is in comparison to their own preamp and not necessarily all preamps out there (there are likely to be a few that do little harm). Bel Canto uses the digital volume control in their products with high degree of success. On their FAQ, they clearly point out the DAC3 using its digital volume control as a preamp outperforms the Pre3 as a preamp.
|
|
lancity
Emo VIPs
Go Green
Posts: 169
|
Post by lancity on Aug 10, 2010 8:27:49 GMT -5
I'm seriously contemplating backing down from a 5.1 system to a 2.0 with the XDA. I can hook my Blu Ray, ERC, and Directv digitally into the XDA and run my XDA directly into my XPA-2... with the TV and Blu player running HDMI directly into my TV. There is, however, one component left out in the rain... my Ipod.
Is this something I can hook into the XDA via USB? I know you have to buy that stupid wadia thing to get a digital signal from the Ipod over to anything... so do I just have to put it on the shelf for the time being?
|
|
|
Post by ripcordaff on Aug 10, 2010 10:09:09 GMT -5
the XDA has USB implementation and any ipod dock connector --> USB will give you a full digital connection.
|
|
|
Post by Mr. Ben on Aug 10, 2010 10:15:40 GMT -5
I'm seriously contemplating backing down from a 5.1 system to a 2.0 with the XDA. I can hook my Blu Ray, ERC, and Directv digitally into the XDA and run my XDA directly into my XPA-2... with the TV and Blu player running HDMI directly into my TV. There is, however, one component left out in the rain... my Ipod. Is this something I can hook into the XDA via USB? I know you have to buy that stupid wadia thing to get a digital signal from the Ipod over to anything... so do I just have to put it on the shelf for the time being? You could connect the ipod's headphone output directly to your amp, and use the iPod's volume control. This would require you switching cables between the iPod and the XDA. Unless Emotiva has something up their sleeve, you'll need a dock with digital output to attach the iPod to the XDA. The Onkyo ND-S1 dock is half the cost of the Wadia.
|
|