klinemj
Emo VIPs
Honorary Emofest Scribe
Posts: 14,772
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DC-1
Dec 7, 2013 11:54:41 GMT -5
Post by klinemj on Dec 7, 2013 11:54:41 GMT -5
I'm with Rickie on this one...and also audiobill's comment that the DC-1 is non-fatiguing. For me, that's worth it. Per my review, the differences I heard vs. the ERC-2 were noticable and important, but not night and day. Still...worth it for me. But, I understand if it's not the same for others.
Mark
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DC-1
Dec 7, 2013 12:19:19 GMT -5
Post by audiobill on Dec 7, 2013 12:19:19 GMT -5
If you enjoy the sound of the DC-1, and you clearly do, then the question is whether those 500 clams will get you better sound from some other unit. If not, then you have the answer to your question. Enjoy the DC-1 until something else comes along in the future that maybe tickles your fancy. I am enjoying the DC-1 quite bit and in all honesty, I doubt that the same money would net me a "better" sounding DAC. A different sounding DAC, sure...but I am not sure about better. LOL! At this level of performance, I imagine (but don't absolutely know for sure) that you would probably have to start getting into $1k+ DACs to see any type of significant (ie actual observed) performance increases. Just guessing on this point though, as I don't really know. Alternately, if another similarly priced DAC has a sound signature that is preferred by someone (over the DC-1), then I can see that person saying it's "better" but I have to wonder "how much better (meaning measurably more detailed and accurate) can it really get?" Maybe my thought process is naive... As an aside (and I feel like I should address this as it gets mentioned quite a bit on this forum), I have not noticed any effects of burn in/warm up, or anything of that nature. The DC-1 sounds the same (to me) right now as it did when I first plugged it in. If it does sound different, I cannot hear it in my room, with my system, or my ears. IMO, YMMV, etc. Keeping an open mind, I am actually going to go ahead and leave my system up and running non-stop over this weekend, even while I sleep. I figure, that if there is a difference then a couple of days (give or take some hours) will allow me to notice it. If there is a change, I will report it here. Klown, I know you agonized over ordering the DC-1, and you do have 30 days to relax into it and get over any buyer's remorse that may enter into your decision. Use the time wisely, as always!
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DC-1
Dec 7, 2013 13:32:51 GMT -5
Post by dga on Dec 7, 2013 13:32:51 GMT -5
Can you help me spend some money? After a couple moves and focusing on HT, I've cobbled together closet fodder for a two channel system in my home office.
Circa 2000 Maggi MMG Parasound HCA2200 Outlaw 950 Creek Phono amp and old Marantz turntable from 1975 Mac digital source
My question is, would the DC-1 be a good replacement for the old outlaw? That analog input makes the DC1 an intriguing choice for having no preamp and I like the footprint. Is the DAC in that old Outlaw any good? I've read a lot but can't get a sense for the difference a new device like the DC1 would make.
Thanks for your thoughts.
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DC-1
Dec 7, 2013 13:43:19 GMT -5
Post by brubacca on Dec 7, 2013 13:43:19 GMT -5
In regards to the outlaw, basically no the dac and circuitry is no good compared to any decently built stereo piece. I have the 970 and my Emotiva 2 channel gear blows it away. Hard to explain, but I would be shocked if the difference was not very noticeable, it was to me.
DC-1 is a good choice for you.
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DC-1
Dec 7, 2013 13:53:53 GMT -5
Post by audiobill on Dec 7, 2013 13:53:53 GMT -5
For this system, I think the XDA-2, on sale for $249 is a great choice.
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DC-1
Dec 7, 2013 14:53:24 GMT -5
Post by GreenKiwi on Dec 7, 2013 14:53:24 GMT -5
^^^ Except that I think he has a Mac as his source and Emotiva hasn't confirmed whether or not they have implemented a fix for USB issues between the XDA-2 and Macs. The USB chips in models earlier this year had a problem that would cause the CMedia chip to lock up and stop responding. It required unplugging the USB and a full power cycle for the DAC. The DC-1 has a later CMedia chip and doesn't have that problem. Emo may have updated the XDA-2 so that it doesn't have this problem either, but they haven't said so yet.
@klown I find the easiest way to figure out whether it's worth it or not is to actually NOT listen to whatever device you're evaluating. Give it a good week of listening... then pull it out and see how much you miss it.
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DC-1
Dec 7, 2013 14:57:16 GMT -5
Post by brubacca on Dec 7, 2013 14:57:16 GMT -5
The XDA-2 is not suitable because he wants to remove the Outlaw and needs the analog input on the DC-1 for his Phono Pre-Amp, unless I am reading the situation wrong.
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DC-1
Dec 7, 2013 21:29:04 GMT -5
Post by dga on Dec 7, 2013 21:29:04 GMT -5
Thanks guys. Yes, I want to remove the Outlaw, so I need the analog in.
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DC-1
Dec 7, 2013 21:40:57 GMT -5
Post by garbulky on Dec 7, 2013 21:40:57 GMT -5
Thanks guys. Yes, I want to remove the Outlaw, so I need the analog in. At the curent price of $500. The DC-1 is a pretty good deal imo. Do you already have the MMG's? Because my question would be what are you doing for the bass? A pre-amp would be needed for bass routing unless you are planning to split the signals on the DC-1 (XLR to amp, RCA to sub) and integrate that way.
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,235
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DC-1
Dec 7, 2013 22:00:27 GMT -5
Post by novisnick on Dec 7, 2013 22:00:27 GMT -5
Thanks guys. Yes, I want to remove the Outlaw, so I need the analog in. At the curent price of $500. The DC-1 is a pretty good deal imo. Do you already have the MMG's? Because my question would be what are you doing for the bass? A pre-amp would be needed for bass routing unless you are planning to split the signals on the DC-1 (XLR to amp, RCA to sub) and integrate that way. I have a sub that you can run the speaker signal threw and then to the speaker. It's not a high quality sub but works for theater in a pinch. Nick
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Post by doc1963 on Dec 7, 2013 23:20:13 GMT -5
^^^ Except that I think he has a Mac as his source and Emotiva hasn't confirmed whether or not they have implemented a fix for USB issues between the XDA-2 and Macs. The USB chips in models earlier this year had a problem that would cause the CMedia chip to lock up and stop responding. It required unplugging the USB and a full power cycle for the DAC. The DC-1 has a later CMedia chip and doesn't have that problem. Emo may have updated the XDA-2 so that it doesn't have this problem either, but they haven't said so yet. @klown I find the easiest way to figure out whether it's worth it or not is to actually NOT listen to whatever device you're evaluating. Give it a good week of listening... then pull it out and see how much you miss it. I have a Mac Mini feeding my XDA-2 (which is a first production run unit with updated firmware) and don't have that issue as long as I make sure that the XDA-2 is powered up before the Mac. If you change USB ports, then the MIDI configuration must also be reset. Santa "may" (wink wink) be putting a new DC-1 under the tree for me this year and I'm looking forward to comparing it to my XDA-2. For me, I'll be looking at more than just the differences (or lack thereof) in sound quality, but also what it will bring to my system as a whole. If my DC-1 works out well, I'll effectively "upgrade" both my XDA-2 and my ERC-2 with just one purchase.....
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DC-1
Dec 8, 2013 5:39:52 GMT -5
Post by audiobill on Dec 8, 2013 5:39:52 GMT -5
Thanks guys. Yes, I want to remove the Outlaw, so I need the analog in. At the curent price of $500. The DC-1 is a pretty good deal imo. Do you already have the MMG's? Because my question would be what are you doing for the bass? A pre-amp would be needed for bass routing unless you are planning to split the signals on the DC-1 (XLR to amp, RCA to sub) and integrate that way. This is what I do - XLR's to amps, RCA outs to sub.
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Post by GreenKiwi on Dec 8, 2013 12:24:25 GMT -5
And if your amp is RCA you can always get a splitter.
Unless your main speakers need to have a high pass filter I'd go direct to the mains and only use the low pass for the sub.
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DC-1
Dec 8, 2013 14:41:57 GMT -5
Post by milsap195 on Dec 8, 2013 14:41:57 GMT -5
What am I doing wrong?
I'm playing the doors live at the Hollywood bowl using the dts master audio at 96/24. I have both the coax and toslink going to the DC-1 and the display is only showing 48k for both inputs. It should read 96k. Since I am only doing stereo do I loose the hi Rez when the oppo down samples to two channel?
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DC-1
Dec 8, 2013 14:55:53 GMT -5
Post by paintedklown on Dec 8, 2013 14:55:53 GMT -5
I am raging right now!!! I had a HUGE final review of the DC-1 typed up and hit the wrong key on my keyboard...now all is lost. I will probably work on re-typing something else, as I really want to share my full gamut of emotions and my experience with all of you (if anyone cares to read it LOL!) regarding the DC-1. As you can see from my posts prior to ordering the DC-1, and first day and a half of listening, I was in full on "bi-polar mode" with my thoughts. I seriously had some emotions involved in the purchase, testing, and forming my final thoughts of this piece. More so than ANY other single piece of gear I have ever purchased. I thought it would be the easiest to evaluate, nothing could have been further from the truth... If you guys WANT to me to re-type my very lengthy final thoughts then I will, if you would rather I cut through the clutter and simply say "Yay or Nay", then let me know. I will comply with the wishes of the forum. I don't want to take the time to try to type all that up again (it took me over an hour of thinking, typing, editing for clarity, etc) if it's not much benefit to anyone else here. I hope that makes sense.
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Post by audiobill on Dec 8, 2013 15:12:48 GMT -5
Executive Summary, please!
Two paragraphs max.....
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,235
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Post by novisnick on Dec 8, 2013 15:13:38 GMT -5
paintedklown, please give us your subnopsus. I'm not the good with words but do have serious thoughts about the DC-1 on so many levels and would like to see yours. FWIW, last night I lost half of what I had typed, yes I re typed it, but at first ,,,,OH,,,,THE FRUSTRATION!!!!
Await your reply if you deside to do so.
Nick
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Post by brubacca on Dec 8, 2013 15:16:10 GMT -5
PK,
Waiting with baited breath on your final review. I like the executive summary idea.
One of your observations was CA sloppy muddy, versus DC-1 lean articulate. This was my exact experience between upa-200 and PA2-50. Curious where the DC-1 landed.
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DC-1
Dec 8, 2013 15:19:57 GMT -5
Post by paintedklown on Dec 8, 2013 15:19:57 GMT -5
Thanks guys, but I doubt an "executive summary" would cut it. Since there is interest, I will get to work on a new final review. I will type it up on my PC to avoid more mishaps. I will add a paragraph or two at the bottom to sum it all up if you want to skip the bloody and sordid details. LOL!
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DC-1
Dec 8, 2013 15:24:33 GMT -5
Post by doc1963 on Dec 8, 2013 15:24:33 GMT -5
What am I doing wrong? I'm playing the doors live at the Hollywood bowl using the dts master audio at 96/24. I have both the coax and toslink going to the DC-1 and the display is only showing 48k for both inputs. It should read 96k. Since I am only doing stereo do I loose the hi Rez when the oppo down samples to two channel? Make sure you have the "Coaxial/Optical Output" setting correct in the Oppo's "Audio Format Setup" menu. It should be set on "96k LPCM", not bitstream. Hope this helps.....
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