The Longest Review You Will (N)ever read. DC-1 by PK.
Dec 8, 2013 21:01:11 GMT -5
monkumonku, Darksky, and 1 more like this
Post by paintedklown on Dec 8, 2013 21:01:11 GMT -5
EDIT: If you have read all my comments in the DC-1 thread, and want to skip the long story, skip to the blue text.
Hello everyone,
Here is my final (and formal) review of the Emotiva DC-1 DAC and headphone amplifier. If you have followed my posts prior to purchasing the DC-1, you will note that I have been lusting after this piece of gear since it was released. Initially, it came in at a price point I could not have afforded, even if it was 100% justified. It wasn’t a matter of whether or not it was worth it to me, it was a simple financial matter.
This was changed recently with Emotiva announcing their final regularly scheduled sale, and offering a deep discount on the DC-1 through Christmas. My time frame was limited, but I just HAD to start scrimping and saving until that glorious day I could call Emotiva and place my order.
That day finally came on Monday, December 2, 3013. During my lunch break, I called to Emo headquarters and placed my order with Nick. However, I am not sure which Nick it was, as I didn’t ask. Either way, he was fast, efficient, and swiftly had my order into the system. A couple quick questions later and I was off the phone. The next day, I received my shipping notice e-mail with a delivery date of 12/05/13, via UPS. All of my other orders have come via Fed Ex, so this was a bit of a surprise, but no matter, it was on the way. The usual Emo policy of signature being required was still in place, of course. Now all I had to do was wait for the DC-1 to hit my doorstep. The week passed slowly as I anxiously awaited the arrival of the DC-1, but Thursday finally came, and when I got home from work, my DC-1 was waiting for me. (I had my aunt sign for me)
Upon opening the DC-1, I was immediately impressed by the packaging. Coming double boxed (as per usual for Emo) and in flawless condition as expected. The unit was gently wrapped in cloth, with nice molded foam holding it (and the sturdy remote) gently in place. One thing I found to be a nice touch was the manual. It's a nicely printed manual that explained the functions and menus of the DC-1 in easy to understand English. Also included was a nice E-Connect USB cable for no fuss connection to a PC. My initial impression was that Emo really went the extra mile on the DC-1. IMO, those extra touches add pride of ownership, and sets the expectation for its level of performance.
The DC-1 is a nicely built and constructed unit. It features tiffany style RCA jacks everywhere, save the digital coax input. An odd omission in my mind, but ultimately, it makes little difference. Another thing I noticed was that it was missing a 12 volt trigger. Another rather odd omission in my opinion, as Emo advertises and sells this, not as a source component, but instead lists it under the banner of “Pres & Pros” on their website. The inclusion of a 12v trigger on the DC-1 would have added more in terms of flexibility and value to the unit. The DC-1 also weighed more than I expected. I am the kind of guy who loves heavy gear. In the case of the DC-1, I would guess that most of this weight is due to the power supply.
Although, probably not considered of high importance for a DAC, a high quality power supply is necessary as this unit does need the ability to draw current when the volume level goes up, or the material playing demands the extra juice for dynamics or bass heavy sections. When these moments come along, you don’t want your DAC to “wimp out” and leave you with a flat and lifeless signal. Also, the DC-1 features, not one, but two independent headphone amplifiers built in. These of course, require current as well, and a robust power supply helps insure that nothing inside is starved for power. The power cable is also thick (much thicker than I had expected it to be) nicely constructed, with decent pliability, and a generous length, allowing for flexible placement in either a rack, studio setup, or your personal computer. Another nice touch IMO.
During the course of listening, I tried a few different configurations. Initially, I ran a Sony PS3 via toslink (optical cable) to the DC-1. With Emotiva X-Series XLR cables to my Emotiva XSP-1, and Emotiva X-Series XLR cables to a pair of Emotiva XPA-1 amplifiers. The amplifiers were hooked to my Bower & Wilkins 684 towers via Monoprice 12g speaker wire.
For all of these tests, I had the jumpers in place on the speakers with the wire attached to the subwoofer terminals. I have tried bi-wiring with the XPA-1’s in the past, and could never hear any differences. Eventually, I simply gave up on the idea to cut down on wire clutter.
Once plugged in, one thing I took note of was the lack of standby lighting. At first, I wasn’t sure what was going on. I double checked the main power switch on the back of the unit, and it was on. I then grabbed the (very nice) remote and hit power on. It started glowing with the Emotiva logo, and I knew we were in business. I would liked to have seen a standby LED or something on the DC-1, if only to feed my OCD.
Now let’s move on to some listening impressions.
If you have followed my continual thoughts in the DC-1 thread, you already have a good idea of what I think. Some of this review will simply reflect my thoughts from my “mini reviews” in that thread.
I tested the DC-1 through the XSP-1 (with the PS3 as my source) for about an hour or so, just trying to get a feel for how it sounded, and playing with the settings a bit. As I had no “point of reference” with my system configured this way, I decided to go direct to the amps. Of note, I could not detect an audible difference in the sound in either synchronous or asynchronous mode. So I left it in asynchronous mode for all of my listening tests. I did, however try both modes each time I switched things around.
For these listening tests, I ran my Cambridge Audio Azur 340C CD player into both the analog in on the DC-1 and to the digital coax as well. The signal chain was my Cambridge Audio Azur 340C CD player with an Emotiva X-Series digital coax cable from its coax output and Monoprice premium RCA cables from the analog output, both into their respective inputs on the DC-1. The DC-1 was hooked up with Emotiva X-Series XLR cables directly to a pair of Emotiva XPA-1 amplifiers. The amplifiers were hooked to my B&W 684s via Monoprice 12g speaker wire.
I did this so I could a/b the CA against the DC-1 using the same player, disc, etc. Also the sound of the Cambridge from its analog outputs is what I am used to. Through the DC-1’s analog input, it sounded exactly how I thought it would. No immediate audible changes there, so the testing was set to the best of my abilities for a fair comparison. NOTE: I did not do any level matching for any of my listening tests, but feel the analog output of the CA was a bit louder than the analog output of the DC-1, for what it’s worth.
Using the DC-1 as the DAC for the CA did change the sound. I found that with some guitar (especially acoustic guitar) and bass sounds, the timbre of the instrument seemed to change a bit. I backed this up with several tracks and sections of different songs. Vocals too, took on a different timbre, but differences were more difficult to discern unless it was an intimate vocal line in an acoustic song. These differences weren’t night and day (of course), but were audible with quick A/B listening. Never-the-less, IMO, it did sound different.
The Cambridge Audio sounds like what I am used to. IMO, it sounds "fine" and if I had never compared it to the DC-1, I would think that most all CD players would sound similar. Especially given that it is largely believed that most DACs sound very similar, with only subtleties in their differences.
IMO, in my room, with my gear, I do not believe that these two DACs sound the same. YMMV
The CA DAC sounds like a good representation of the music, and initially I thought it sounded a bit "thicker" or "fuller" than the DC-1. Upon continued listening and A/B testing, I began to think that I was mistaken. The CA sounds fuller, yes, but not for the reason I had initially thought. IMO, it sounds fuller only because it sounds a bit "smeared" or "sloppy" when compared directly to the DC-1. By comparison, the DC-1 sounds a bit "thinner" upon initial impression, but you soon realize that this "thinness" isn't a thin sound, but merely a more detailed sound, that seems to start and stop the sound waves with no overhang, hesitation, or added decay. This is VERY difficult for me to describe in words, so I hope that makes sense.
To elaborate a bit for clarification. I feel the DC-1 is more resolving of fine detail, and it seems to be allowing me to better hear things that were "lost in the mix" before. I am not talking about additional instruments. I am talking about the way the strings are being raked, the way the guitarist is fretting the strings, breathing in vocal lines, and an extra sense of air separating different textures and subtle undertones that ring out when a chord is struck. It was as if a veil had been lifted …(I had to throw SOME humor in here). Even though that last statement is a common audiophile joke these days, if pressed hard enough, I would have to confess that, in this particular case, there is a modicum of truth laced within it. Take that how you will.
I find that the DC-1 sounds "tighter" than the CAs analog outputs on everything. I can best describe it as if there is a reverb knob that has been set to "dry". However, I would not consider the sound to be cold or analytical in the least. I would describe it as HIGHLY articulate with an equally high level of detail retrieval. In fact, the most articulate and detailed sound I have heard to this point.
The only "downside" to this articulation, is that the bass seems less present to my ears. I am sure it’s because the DC-1 removes "overhang" or "bloat". I would also describe the sound of the DC-1 as "polite". It seems intent on delivering what it gets, without adding any color. Being used to the color of my CD player, it's definitely different.
Without the added "reverb and overhang (bloat maybe?)" of everything, it makes me want to push the volume up more. It's difficult for me to describe what I am hearing to be honest. The words "reverb, bloat, and overhang" are probably not the correct audiophile terms for what I am hearing, but I can't think of another way to verbalize it. Either way, I do feel my CA does color the sound. I must note here, that these aren’t drastic differences in sound, but I do feel they definitely exist.
I have to admit that I LOVE the DC-1 as a preamp. Coming off the XSP-1, I never thought anything I could afford would best it as a preamp. It's no secret that my unabashed love of the XSP-1 knows no bounds, but the articulation and detail afforded by the DC-1 is unparalleled by anything else I have ever heard.One sound quality attribute I feel I need to mention is the dynamics of the DC-1. To be 100% honest, I feel the sound is a bit less dynamic than what I am used to. IMO, it doesn't "jump" out at you (in an exciting way) like the sound of my CA through the XSP-1.
The sound of the DC-1 is less "aggressive" than what I am used to. However, the review of my CD player on What-Fi described my particular model as having "forceful" sound. They also sum it up with the following statement "Thrillingly engaged and engaging player that will frighten the wallflowers, but stir everyone else. When comparing it to the DC-1, I find these statements to be true.
Over the course of the next day, I hooked the DC-1 into the XSP-1 for some additional testing. Using the DC-1 as a source component, as opposed to a preamp. It was connected via Emotiva X-Series XLR cables, and the XSP-1 connected to the amps in the same manner. Speaker wire and speakers never changed, moved, or otherwise altered during any of this listening. I essentially listened with this configuration for most of the day, with one final configuration later on, and for all of the day. More on that setup later.
With the DC-1 now into the XSP-1, I felt back at “home” with the controls and feature set. I listened intently all day. Playing several test tracks, song snippets, and old favorites. This test, however, proved to be a bit more difficult when trying to quickly A/B the signal, as the XSP-1 switching was a LOT slower than that of the DC-1. I also learned that my audio memory is MUCH shorter than I thought it was. I had to go back and forth a lot more than what I thought I would when comparing the sound. After much deliberation, testing, listening, fretting, laughing, crying, sweating, and hair pulling, I decided that the differences between the DC-1 and CA just weren’t that pronounced. Sure, they were there, and the DC-1 trumped the CA, but was these subtle differences worth the asking price?
I am well aware that when you get into well designed gear, you get to a point where you must pay more (sometimes MUCH more) to get even incremental improvements. This is commonly referred to as “diminishing returns”. I think I have hit that wall with my front end gear. I am not saying that my system is the “be all, end all” and I also know that what I have can be bested, but at what cost? Furthermore, am I willing to pay this cost?
I wasn’t sure. I needed help with this one. I called my cousin (who is also an audio guy) to see if he would come over and help me out. He loves my system, and every time he hears me complain about anything, he sarcastically responds that he thinks I am just spoiled by what I have. I always laugh, and agree with him. LOL! Anyway, I never did reach him (and the jerk never returned my calls!). Alas, I was on my own in deciding the fate of the DC-1.
After not coming to a definitive decision about the DC-1 in my full sized system, I decided to pull it out any try it as a little head-fi (as it’s commonly referred to these days) setup. This really means that I moved it to my computer desk, and hooked it to my laptop to use as a DAC and headphone amp.
Having read many horror stories about finicky USB ports, audio dropouts, static, and otherwise unreliable performance of various DACs, I was a bit worried to go through the whole ordeal myself. Did I really want to subject myself to the torturous process of hooking this up, futzing with drivers, and trying to suss out problems with my computer settings? No, I didn’t want to, not at all. However, I felt that I owed it to the DC-1 to give it an additional day in court.
Hooking the DC-1 to my PC was a breeze. I simply moved it to my computer desk, plugged in the power cable, and used the supplied USB cable to hook it to an available USB port on my laptop. That was easy enough…but how well would it actually work? I am using a Windows 7 based PC , so I immediately went to the Emotiva website and downloaded the provided drivers on the product page. Once the download was complete, I opened the folder and was delighted to see an install file. A couple of mouse clicks later and the DC-1 was installed and recognized. I went to the control panel, set the DC-1 as the default audio device and I was done. The entire setup and driver install process was easy and painless, even for a guy who has never set up a USB DAC in his life. A BIG thumbs up to the engineers at Emotiva for putting the work into getting this right.
For a quick test, I went to youtube and played a random video, I had sound. I also had my usual PC sounds, beeps, etc. All was good. I then tested the DC-1 with a few media players. I tried Foobar, Media Monkey, J River (free Jukebox version), VLC, and XMBC. I did not test with itunes, or Quicktime as I do not currently have them installed. I also did not test with Windows Media Player, or Windows Media Center, as I never use either of them.
Everything worked fine, except for XMBC, as I couldn’t figure out how to select the DC-1 as the output device for that software. Not the fault of the DC-1. Also, when trying to enable wasapi in Media Monkey, I would get no sound. However, I experienced this exact same issue when running my PC to my Yamaha via HDMI, so I believe it is an issue with Media Monkey or the way I have it set up. Once again, I don’t fault the DC-1 for this issue. Wasapi enabled on Foobar worked without issue, so I don’t think enabling wasapi was the problem.
A couple more comments on build quality here. The supplied USB cable is well built, looks well shielded, and even has an Emotiva logo on it to add to the “wow factor. I know that is “really nothing” but I thought it was a nice touch, that (IMO) adds a bit more to the “pride of ownership” checklist, if that is important to you. My only two quibbles with the cable are length and pliability. For some, it could be an issue if they have a longer run to make. For me the length is not an issue, as I can set the DC-1 next to my laptop on the top of my desk, so can’t really complain about that. After all it was free…The other thing worth noting, is that the cable is a bit stiff. Because of this, you have to coil it around a bit to make sure there isn’t any stress on either of the connectors; however, I am merely “picking nits” with this. It really is a nice cable, and one can’t really complain too much about it. I am just mentioning it to be thorough.
The other build quality issues I must mention are the headphone jacks. One is that I wish they were full size inputs as opposed to 1/8th inch jacks. Also, when you plug into them, they do have a little bit of wiggle to them. This definitely makes me want to be ultra-careful when plugging/unplugging my ‘phones so as not to damage the DC-1. Additionally, some headphones have a full size output jack, meaning you must use an adapter to make it compatible with the DC-1. Doing so adds stress to the jacks, so a more solid connection would have been nice to see. With my clumsiness, I worry about the longevity of the headphone jacks.
I currently own three sets of headphones, and one set of ear buds. I tested all four of them on the DC-1. None of the ‘phones I own are hard to drive, and none of them are said to require a dedicated headamp to get good sound out of them. My current stable of headphones includes the Skullcandy Aviator, Skullcandy Ink’d (ear buds), Grado SR80i, and Sennheiser HD-598.
Prior to the DC-1, I have used all of these on a 5th generation ipod video, second generation ipod touch (that I no longer have), XSP-1 headphone out, and my laptops Realtek HD Audio sound card. Before I get into the sound of each of these, I will say up front that I cannot hear the +2 db boost the DC-1 has @ 20hz. I am sure the Emotiva engineers aren’t lying to us, but I did not notice an overall difference in low end frequency response in any of these headphones. It’s really a moot point IMO.
I want to say that I 100% have no doubt that the headphone amplifiers in the DC-1 are superior to the HP amp in the XSP-1. IMO, the XSP-1s HP amplifier sounds thinner, and lacks the midrange presence of the DC-1. With the added midrange presence and smooth treble the DC-1 has, it also sounds more relaxed, and less harsh, to my ears. YMMV.
I do think the sound qualities of the DC-1 really shine with the added intimacy of headphone listening. The articulation and detail retrieval of the DC-1 are well served in this arena IMO. Allowing you to revel in every note, sound, drum strike, electronic whirling, sounds of tape hiss, amplifier hum, or whatever other little details your source material may contain. This is the level of listening I associate with true high end gear, and the DC-1 can deliver this is spades. What’s even better is that t the DC-1s HP amps never seem to lose their composure, or begin to sound strident, even when I cranked them to ear bleed levels. Eventually, the sound does give way to distortion, but that is what ALL headphone amplifiers do when you try to play them too loud. Having said that, with all of my headphones, my ears gave out long before the amps did!
I will go through my DC-1 headamp review in the order I purchased my small collection of ‘phones.
Starting with the Skullcandy Aviator, I found the sound qualities I like about the DC-1 to still be present, but the added articulation and detail retrieval of the DC-1 made listening to them a better experience than I had before. IMO the Aviators’ strong suit is its midrange sound. It has a nice presence that makes it pleasant to listen to. Additionally, these ‘phones never really cross the line into ear piercing sibilance, and the DC-1 didn’t do anything to change these positive attributes IMO.
Next up is the Grado SR80i. WOW! Of all my small collection, I felt the Grado’s benefitted the most from the addition of the DC-1. Grados “house sound” is widely regarded as being aggressive in the upper mids and highs. These attributes, have sometimes left me scratching my head as to shy these are so popular among audiophiles. I thought to myself that there has to be something I am not hearing right, or I simply do not agree with the bulk of Grados fans in thinking these are such great cans. Hooking them to the DC-1 was almost a revelatory experience for me. Gone were the harsh highs, now being replaced by extended and articulate top end detail. Yes, they still remain a little on the bright side, but nothing worth writing home to mom about. I even tried cranking them up WAY louder than I would ever listen normally, and never found them to be offensive in the least. VERY impressive Emo. I am now really and genuinely enjoying my Grado headphones, instead of just listening to them because I own then and don’t want to neglect them. HAHAHAHA! Seriously though, they sound great and have now commanded the most head time of all my cans, since feeding them with the DC-1. In fact, I have been using them for most of the day, and currently have them on my head as I type this review.
Next are the Skullcandy Ink’d ear buds. I bought these on sale for $8 to use on the go with my ipod. I didn’t want to spend much money, and didn’t want to stick with stock Apple ear buds, so I landed on these based on my experience with the Aviators, and the sale price I caught them at. These ‘buds are all sibilant highs and exaggerated bass with no midrange at all. It’s weird, I mean it’s completely sucked out!!!. Deep down inside, my inner teenager loves the bass heavy sound of these, but the highs keep me from really cranking them up. The DC-1 didn’t change these basic sound qualities, as it shouldn’t, but did help to keep the sound under control, and did allow me to add some volume before I cried out in pain! Never-the-less, I didn’t spend too much time with these as I simply do not like them, No amp on the planet will change that.
Lastly, is my Sennheiser HD-598. These headphones have the best comfort, sound stage, detail resolution, and midrange clarity of all in my collection. This is my favorite pair of headphones in my collection, due to all of these positive qualities. The biggest Achilles heel of these is the rather anemic bass performance. While I enjoy the bass that is there, these do not reach very deep, nor do they get there with a lot of authority. The DC-1 was a very nice compliment to these ‘phones IMO. Since both of these pieces of gear excel in detail retrieval, the 598s were right at home with the DC-1 powering it. The added 2db bass boost at 20hz didn’t really seem to have any audible impact on the bass performance of the 598, at least not that I could hear anyway. As stated earlier, I think the bass boost is really a moot point. YMMV, of course.
One last note regarding the DC-1s headamps. They are a little noisy. If you turn the amps up while the music is paused or when a quiet passage is playing, you will hear (white) noise coming through the headphones. It is more noticeable with ear buds in, so I imagine that this will not be a good amplifier for in ear monitors, highly efficient headphones, or people with sensitivity to this sort of thing. Personally, I found it to be a slight annoyance myself, but for me, it didn’t become truly bothersome…just an annoyance. Your mileage may vary greatly on this issue, and I thought it was definitely something worth noting.
WHEW! Now that I have made it through the good, the bad, and a roller-coaster of emotions, what is the final verdict?
At this time, the DC-1 will not become a permanent fixture in my full size 2 channel setup. I just could not detect a great enough difference between it and the CA. The differences are there, and the DC-1 is superior, but it takes critical listening for me to really hear it. If I am just sitting down to enjoy some music, or have it on when company is over, I wouldn’t know the difference either way. For this reason, the DC-1 will not have a home there.
On the other hand, I found its ease of setup, use, and ROCK SOLID reliability when used as a DAC and headamp for my laptop to be phenomenal. Furthermore, I find the headamp, while not perfect, is a VERY good performer with all of the ‘phones in my collection. The DC-1 really shines for this use IMO. It breathed new life into all of my ‘phones and the Grados especially have impressed me.
I have dabbled with the idea of moving to a PC based system for a little while now, and I feel the DC-1 is a GREAT place to get started along that path. Just like full size components, DACs and headphone amplifiers can be bought as separates. I think that having the DC-1 as the DAC in such a setup is almost what it was designed for. In that setting, it represents the most value, and can later become nearly invaluable for evaluating different headphone amplifiers down the line.
My final verdict? The XSP-1 is staying firmly planted where it is, and the DC-1 has a new (unexpected) home. I am keeping BOTH of them.
EDIT: If you have read all my comments in the DC-1 thread, and want to skip the long story, skip to the blue text.
Hello everyone,
Here is my final (and formal) review of the Emotiva DC-1 DAC and headphone amplifier. If you have followed my posts prior to purchasing the DC-1, you will note that I have been lusting after this piece of gear since it was released. Initially, it came in at a price point I could not have afforded, even if it was 100% justified. It wasn’t a matter of whether or not it was worth it to me, it was a simple financial matter.
This was changed recently with Emotiva announcing their final regularly scheduled sale, and offering a deep discount on the DC-1 through Christmas. My time frame was limited, but I just HAD to start scrimping and saving until that glorious day I could call Emotiva and place my order.
That day finally came on Monday, December 2, 3013. During my lunch break, I called to Emo headquarters and placed my order with Nick. However, I am not sure which Nick it was, as I didn’t ask. Either way, he was fast, efficient, and swiftly had my order into the system. A couple quick questions later and I was off the phone. The next day, I received my shipping notice e-mail with a delivery date of 12/05/13, via UPS. All of my other orders have come via Fed Ex, so this was a bit of a surprise, but no matter, it was on the way. The usual Emo policy of signature being required was still in place, of course. Now all I had to do was wait for the DC-1 to hit my doorstep. The week passed slowly as I anxiously awaited the arrival of the DC-1, but Thursday finally came, and when I got home from work, my DC-1 was waiting for me. (I had my aunt sign for me)
Upon opening the DC-1, I was immediately impressed by the packaging. Coming double boxed (as per usual for Emo) and in flawless condition as expected. The unit was gently wrapped in cloth, with nice molded foam holding it (and the sturdy remote) gently in place. One thing I found to be a nice touch was the manual. It's a nicely printed manual that explained the functions and menus of the DC-1 in easy to understand English. Also included was a nice E-Connect USB cable for no fuss connection to a PC. My initial impression was that Emo really went the extra mile on the DC-1. IMO, those extra touches add pride of ownership, and sets the expectation for its level of performance.
The DC-1 is a nicely built and constructed unit. It features tiffany style RCA jacks everywhere, save the digital coax input. An odd omission in my mind, but ultimately, it makes little difference. Another thing I noticed was that it was missing a 12 volt trigger. Another rather odd omission in my opinion, as Emo advertises and sells this, not as a source component, but instead lists it under the banner of “Pres & Pros” on their website. The inclusion of a 12v trigger on the DC-1 would have added more in terms of flexibility and value to the unit. The DC-1 also weighed more than I expected. I am the kind of guy who loves heavy gear. In the case of the DC-1, I would guess that most of this weight is due to the power supply.
Although, probably not considered of high importance for a DAC, a high quality power supply is necessary as this unit does need the ability to draw current when the volume level goes up, or the material playing demands the extra juice for dynamics or bass heavy sections. When these moments come along, you don’t want your DAC to “wimp out” and leave you with a flat and lifeless signal. Also, the DC-1 features, not one, but two independent headphone amplifiers built in. These of course, require current as well, and a robust power supply helps insure that nothing inside is starved for power. The power cable is also thick (much thicker than I had expected it to be) nicely constructed, with decent pliability, and a generous length, allowing for flexible placement in either a rack, studio setup, or your personal computer. Another nice touch IMO.
During the course of listening, I tried a few different configurations. Initially, I ran a Sony PS3 via toslink (optical cable) to the DC-1. With Emotiva X-Series XLR cables to my Emotiva XSP-1, and Emotiva X-Series XLR cables to a pair of Emotiva XPA-1 amplifiers. The amplifiers were hooked to my Bower & Wilkins 684 towers via Monoprice 12g speaker wire.
For all of these tests, I had the jumpers in place on the speakers with the wire attached to the subwoofer terminals. I have tried bi-wiring with the XPA-1’s in the past, and could never hear any differences. Eventually, I simply gave up on the idea to cut down on wire clutter.
Once plugged in, one thing I took note of was the lack of standby lighting. At first, I wasn’t sure what was going on. I double checked the main power switch on the back of the unit, and it was on. I then grabbed the (very nice) remote and hit power on. It started glowing with the Emotiva logo, and I knew we were in business. I would liked to have seen a standby LED or something on the DC-1, if only to feed my OCD.
Now let’s move on to some listening impressions.
If you have followed my continual thoughts in the DC-1 thread, you already have a good idea of what I think. Some of this review will simply reflect my thoughts from my “mini reviews” in that thread.
I tested the DC-1 through the XSP-1 (with the PS3 as my source) for about an hour or so, just trying to get a feel for how it sounded, and playing with the settings a bit. As I had no “point of reference” with my system configured this way, I decided to go direct to the amps. Of note, I could not detect an audible difference in the sound in either synchronous or asynchronous mode. So I left it in asynchronous mode for all of my listening tests. I did, however try both modes each time I switched things around.
For these listening tests, I ran my Cambridge Audio Azur 340C CD player into both the analog in on the DC-1 and to the digital coax as well. The signal chain was my Cambridge Audio Azur 340C CD player with an Emotiva X-Series digital coax cable from its coax output and Monoprice premium RCA cables from the analog output, both into their respective inputs on the DC-1. The DC-1 was hooked up with Emotiva X-Series XLR cables directly to a pair of Emotiva XPA-1 amplifiers. The amplifiers were hooked to my B&W 684s via Monoprice 12g speaker wire.
I did this so I could a/b the CA against the DC-1 using the same player, disc, etc. Also the sound of the Cambridge from its analog outputs is what I am used to. Through the DC-1’s analog input, it sounded exactly how I thought it would. No immediate audible changes there, so the testing was set to the best of my abilities for a fair comparison. NOTE: I did not do any level matching for any of my listening tests, but feel the analog output of the CA was a bit louder than the analog output of the DC-1, for what it’s worth.
Using the DC-1 as the DAC for the CA did change the sound. I found that with some guitar (especially acoustic guitar) and bass sounds, the timbre of the instrument seemed to change a bit. I backed this up with several tracks and sections of different songs. Vocals too, took on a different timbre, but differences were more difficult to discern unless it was an intimate vocal line in an acoustic song. These differences weren’t night and day (of course), but were audible with quick A/B listening. Never-the-less, IMO, it did sound different.
The Cambridge Audio sounds like what I am used to. IMO, it sounds "fine" and if I had never compared it to the DC-1, I would think that most all CD players would sound similar. Especially given that it is largely believed that most DACs sound very similar, with only subtleties in their differences.
IMO, in my room, with my gear, I do not believe that these two DACs sound the same. YMMV
The CA DAC sounds like a good representation of the music, and initially I thought it sounded a bit "thicker" or "fuller" than the DC-1. Upon continued listening and A/B testing, I began to think that I was mistaken. The CA sounds fuller, yes, but not for the reason I had initially thought. IMO, it sounds fuller only because it sounds a bit "smeared" or "sloppy" when compared directly to the DC-1. By comparison, the DC-1 sounds a bit "thinner" upon initial impression, but you soon realize that this "thinness" isn't a thin sound, but merely a more detailed sound, that seems to start and stop the sound waves with no overhang, hesitation, or added decay. This is VERY difficult for me to describe in words, so I hope that makes sense.
To elaborate a bit for clarification. I feel the DC-1 is more resolving of fine detail, and it seems to be allowing me to better hear things that were "lost in the mix" before. I am not talking about additional instruments. I am talking about the way the strings are being raked, the way the guitarist is fretting the strings, breathing in vocal lines, and an extra sense of air separating different textures and subtle undertones that ring out when a chord is struck. It was as if a veil had been lifted …(I had to throw SOME humor in here). Even though that last statement is a common audiophile joke these days, if pressed hard enough, I would have to confess that, in this particular case, there is a modicum of truth laced within it. Take that how you will.
I find that the DC-1 sounds "tighter" than the CAs analog outputs on everything. I can best describe it as if there is a reverb knob that has been set to "dry". However, I would not consider the sound to be cold or analytical in the least. I would describe it as HIGHLY articulate with an equally high level of detail retrieval. In fact, the most articulate and detailed sound I have heard to this point.
The only "downside" to this articulation, is that the bass seems less present to my ears. I am sure it’s because the DC-1 removes "overhang" or "bloat". I would also describe the sound of the DC-1 as "polite". It seems intent on delivering what it gets, without adding any color. Being used to the color of my CD player, it's definitely different.
Without the added "reverb and overhang (bloat maybe?)" of everything, it makes me want to push the volume up more. It's difficult for me to describe what I am hearing to be honest. The words "reverb, bloat, and overhang" are probably not the correct audiophile terms for what I am hearing, but I can't think of another way to verbalize it. Either way, I do feel my CA does color the sound. I must note here, that these aren’t drastic differences in sound, but I do feel they definitely exist.
I have to admit that I LOVE the DC-1 as a preamp. Coming off the XSP-1, I never thought anything I could afford would best it as a preamp. It's no secret that my unabashed love of the XSP-1 knows no bounds, but the articulation and detail afforded by the DC-1 is unparalleled by anything else I have ever heard.One sound quality attribute I feel I need to mention is the dynamics of the DC-1. To be 100% honest, I feel the sound is a bit less dynamic than what I am used to. IMO, it doesn't "jump" out at you (in an exciting way) like the sound of my CA through the XSP-1.
The sound of the DC-1 is less "aggressive" than what I am used to. However, the review of my CD player on What-Fi described my particular model as having "forceful" sound. They also sum it up with the following statement "Thrillingly engaged and engaging player that will frighten the wallflowers, but stir everyone else. When comparing it to the DC-1, I find these statements to be true.
Over the course of the next day, I hooked the DC-1 into the XSP-1 for some additional testing. Using the DC-1 as a source component, as opposed to a preamp. It was connected via Emotiva X-Series XLR cables, and the XSP-1 connected to the amps in the same manner. Speaker wire and speakers never changed, moved, or otherwise altered during any of this listening. I essentially listened with this configuration for most of the day, with one final configuration later on, and for all of the day. More on that setup later.
With the DC-1 now into the XSP-1, I felt back at “home” with the controls and feature set. I listened intently all day. Playing several test tracks, song snippets, and old favorites. This test, however, proved to be a bit more difficult when trying to quickly A/B the signal, as the XSP-1 switching was a LOT slower than that of the DC-1. I also learned that my audio memory is MUCH shorter than I thought it was. I had to go back and forth a lot more than what I thought I would when comparing the sound. After much deliberation, testing, listening, fretting, laughing, crying, sweating, and hair pulling, I decided that the differences between the DC-1 and CA just weren’t that pronounced. Sure, they were there, and the DC-1 trumped the CA, but was these subtle differences worth the asking price?
I am well aware that when you get into well designed gear, you get to a point where you must pay more (sometimes MUCH more) to get even incremental improvements. This is commonly referred to as “diminishing returns”. I think I have hit that wall with my front end gear. I am not saying that my system is the “be all, end all” and I also know that what I have can be bested, but at what cost? Furthermore, am I willing to pay this cost?
I wasn’t sure. I needed help with this one. I called my cousin (who is also an audio guy) to see if he would come over and help me out. He loves my system, and every time he hears me complain about anything, he sarcastically responds that he thinks I am just spoiled by what I have. I always laugh, and agree with him. LOL! Anyway, I never did reach him (and the jerk never returned my calls!). Alas, I was on my own in deciding the fate of the DC-1.
After not coming to a definitive decision about the DC-1 in my full sized system, I decided to pull it out any try it as a little head-fi (as it’s commonly referred to these days) setup. This really means that I moved it to my computer desk, and hooked it to my laptop to use as a DAC and headphone amp.
Having read many horror stories about finicky USB ports, audio dropouts, static, and otherwise unreliable performance of various DACs, I was a bit worried to go through the whole ordeal myself. Did I really want to subject myself to the torturous process of hooking this up, futzing with drivers, and trying to suss out problems with my computer settings? No, I didn’t want to, not at all. However, I felt that I owed it to the DC-1 to give it an additional day in court.
Hooking the DC-1 to my PC was a breeze. I simply moved it to my computer desk, plugged in the power cable, and used the supplied USB cable to hook it to an available USB port on my laptop. That was easy enough…but how well would it actually work? I am using a Windows 7 based PC , so I immediately went to the Emotiva website and downloaded the provided drivers on the product page. Once the download was complete, I opened the folder and was delighted to see an install file. A couple of mouse clicks later and the DC-1 was installed and recognized. I went to the control panel, set the DC-1 as the default audio device and I was done. The entire setup and driver install process was easy and painless, even for a guy who has never set up a USB DAC in his life. A BIG thumbs up to the engineers at Emotiva for putting the work into getting this right.
For a quick test, I went to youtube and played a random video, I had sound. I also had my usual PC sounds, beeps, etc. All was good. I then tested the DC-1 with a few media players. I tried Foobar, Media Monkey, J River (free Jukebox version), VLC, and XMBC. I did not test with itunes, or Quicktime as I do not currently have them installed. I also did not test with Windows Media Player, or Windows Media Center, as I never use either of them.
Everything worked fine, except for XMBC, as I couldn’t figure out how to select the DC-1 as the output device for that software. Not the fault of the DC-1. Also, when trying to enable wasapi in Media Monkey, I would get no sound. However, I experienced this exact same issue when running my PC to my Yamaha via HDMI, so I believe it is an issue with Media Monkey or the way I have it set up. Once again, I don’t fault the DC-1 for this issue. Wasapi enabled on Foobar worked without issue, so I don’t think enabling wasapi was the problem.
A couple more comments on build quality here. The supplied USB cable is well built, looks well shielded, and even has an Emotiva logo on it to add to the “wow factor. I know that is “really nothing” but I thought it was a nice touch, that (IMO) adds a bit more to the “pride of ownership” checklist, if that is important to you. My only two quibbles with the cable are length and pliability. For some, it could be an issue if they have a longer run to make. For me the length is not an issue, as I can set the DC-1 next to my laptop on the top of my desk, so can’t really complain about that. After all it was free…The other thing worth noting, is that the cable is a bit stiff. Because of this, you have to coil it around a bit to make sure there isn’t any stress on either of the connectors; however, I am merely “picking nits” with this. It really is a nice cable, and one can’t really complain too much about it. I am just mentioning it to be thorough.
The other build quality issues I must mention are the headphone jacks. One is that I wish they were full size inputs as opposed to 1/8th inch jacks. Also, when you plug into them, they do have a little bit of wiggle to them. This definitely makes me want to be ultra-careful when plugging/unplugging my ‘phones so as not to damage the DC-1. Additionally, some headphones have a full size output jack, meaning you must use an adapter to make it compatible with the DC-1. Doing so adds stress to the jacks, so a more solid connection would have been nice to see. With my clumsiness, I worry about the longevity of the headphone jacks.
I currently own three sets of headphones, and one set of ear buds. I tested all four of them on the DC-1. None of the ‘phones I own are hard to drive, and none of them are said to require a dedicated headamp to get good sound out of them. My current stable of headphones includes the Skullcandy Aviator, Skullcandy Ink’d (ear buds), Grado SR80i, and Sennheiser HD-598.
Prior to the DC-1, I have used all of these on a 5th generation ipod video, second generation ipod touch (that I no longer have), XSP-1 headphone out, and my laptops Realtek HD Audio sound card. Before I get into the sound of each of these, I will say up front that I cannot hear the +2 db boost the DC-1 has @ 20hz. I am sure the Emotiva engineers aren’t lying to us, but I did not notice an overall difference in low end frequency response in any of these headphones. It’s really a moot point IMO.
I want to say that I 100% have no doubt that the headphone amplifiers in the DC-1 are superior to the HP amp in the XSP-1. IMO, the XSP-1s HP amplifier sounds thinner, and lacks the midrange presence of the DC-1. With the added midrange presence and smooth treble the DC-1 has, it also sounds more relaxed, and less harsh, to my ears. YMMV.
I do think the sound qualities of the DC-1 really shine with the added intimacy of headphone listening. The articulation and detail retrieval of the DC-1 are well served in this arena IMO. Allowing you to revel in every note, sound, drum strike, electronic whirling, sounds of tape hiss, amplifier hum, or whatever other little details your source material may contain. This is the level of listening I associate with true high end gear, and the DC-1 can deliver this is spades. What’s even better is that t the DC-1s HP amps never seem to lose their composure, or begin to sound strident, even when I cranked them to ear bleed levels. Eventually, the sound does give way to distortion, but that is what ALL headphone amplifiers do when you try to play them too loud. Having said that, with all of my headphones, my ears gave out long before the amps did!
I will go through my DC-1 headamp review in the order I purchased my small collection of ‘phones.
Starting with the Skullcandy Aviator, I found the sound qualities I like about the DC-1 to still be present, but the added articulation and detail retrieval of the DC-1 made listening to them a better experience than I had before. IMO the Aviators’ strong suit is its midrange sound. It has a nice presence that makes it pleasant to listen to. Additionally, these ‘phones never really cross the line into ear piercing sibilance, and the DC-1 didn’t do anything to change these positive attributes IMO.
Next up is the Grado SR80i. WOW! Of all my small collection, I felt the Grado’s benefitted the most from the addition of the DC-1. Grados “house sound” is widely regarded as being aggressive in the upper mids and highs. These attributes, have sometimes left me scratching my head as to shy these are so popular among audiophiles. I thought to myself that there has to be something I am not hearing right, or I simply do not agree with the bulk of Grados fans in thinking these are such great cans. Hooking them to the DC-1 was almost a revelatory experience for me. Gone were the harsh highs, now being replaced by extended and articulate top end detail. Yes, they still remain a little on the bright side, but nothing worth writing home to mom about. I even tried cranking them up WAY louder than I would ever listen normally, and never found them to be offensive in the least. VERY impressive Emo. I am now really and genuinely enjoying my Grado headphones, instead of just listening to them because I own then and don’t want to neglect them. HAHAHAHA! Seriously though, they sound great and have now commanded the most head time of all my cans, since feeding them with the DC-1. In fact, I have been using them for most of the day, and currently have them on my head as I type this review.
Next are the Skullcandy Ink’d ear buds. I bought these on sale for $8 to use on the go with my ipod. I didn’t want to spend much money, and didn’t want to stick with stock Apple ear buds, so I landed on these based on my experience with the Aviators, and the sale price I caught them at. These ‘buds are all sibilant highs and exaggerated bass with no midrange at all. It’s weird, I mean it’s completely sucked out!!!. Deep down inside, my inner teenager loves the bass heavy sound of these, but the highs keep me from really cranking them up. The DC-1 didn’t change these basic sound qualities, as it shouldn’t, but did help to keep the sound under control, and did allow me to add some volume before I cried out in pain! Never-the-less, I didn’t spend too much time with these as I simply do not like them, No amp on the planet will change that.
Lastly, is my Sennheiser HD-598. These headphones have the best comfort, sound stage, detail resolution, and midrange clarity of all in my collection. This is my favorite pair of headphones in my collection, due to all of these positive qualities. The biggest Achilles heel of these is the rather anemic bass performance. While I enjoy the bass that is there, these do not reach very deep, nor do they get there with a lot of authority. The DC-1 was a very nice compliment to these ‘phones IMO. Since both of these pieces of gear excel in detail retrieval, the 598s were right at home with the DC-1 powering it. The added 2db bass boost at 20hz didn’t really seem to have any audible impact on the bass performance of the 598, at least not that I could hear anyway. As stated earlier, I think the bass boost is really a moot point. YMMV, of course.
One last note regarding the DC-1s headamps. They are a little noisy. If you turn the amps up while the music is paused or when a quiet passage is playing, you will hear (white) noise coming through the headphones. It is more noticeable with ear buds in, so I imagine that this will not be a good amplifier for in ear monitors, highly efficient headphones, or people with sensitivity to this sort of thing. Personally, I found it to be a slight annoyance myself, but for me, it didn’t become truly bothersome…just an annoyance. Your mileage may vary greatly on this issue, and I thought it was definitely something worth noting.
WHEW! Now that I have made it through the good, the bad, and a roller-coaster of emotions, what is the final verdict?
At this time, the DC-1 will not become a permanent fixture in my full size 2 channel setup. I just could not detect a great enough difference between it and the CA. The differences are there, and the DC-1 is superior, but it takes critical listening for me to really hear it. If I am just sitting down to enjoy some music, or have it on when company is over, I wouldn’t know the difference either way. For this reason, the DC-1 will not have a home there.
On the other hand, I found its ease of setup, use, and ROCK SOLID reliability when used as a DAC and headamp for my laptop to be phenomenal. Furthermore, I find the headamp, while not perfect, is a VERY good performer with all of the ‘phones in my collection. The DC-1 really shines for this use IMO. It breathed new life into all of my ‘phones and the Grados especially have impressed me.
I have dabbled with the idea of moving to a PC based system for a little while now, and I feel the DC-1 is a GREAT place to get started along that path. Just like full size components, DACs and headphone amplifiers can be bought as separates. I think that having the DC-1 as the DAC in such a setup is almost what it was designed for. In that setting, it represents the most value, and can later become nearly invaluable for evaluating different headphone amplifiers down the line.
My final verdict? The XSP-1 is staying firmly planted where it is, and the DC-1 has a new (unexpected) home. I am keeping BOTH of them.
EDIT: If you have read all my comments in the DC-1 thread, and want to skip the long story, skip to the blue text.
