DC-1/SP-1 or XSP-1 G2 for 2-channel system?

[wpm]

Dear Members'

I am putting together a second 2-channel system based around a pair of XPA-1L mono's and I will need a preamp and DAC. Would I be better served going with a DC-1/SP-1 or simply springing for an XSP-1 G2 with a seperate DAC? Cost is not too much a factor as is ultimate SQ. I will be using a music server so will really only need a Toslink input. I may, eventually, hook in a turntable, hence adding the SP-1 into the equation.

Your thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated, and if more info is needed on my part, please ask. Cheers!

William

[thorcorps]

I would simply use the DC-1 by itself as your DAC/preamp. If you later add a turntable, just add something like the XPS-1 as a phono pre into the analog input of the DC-1.

[garbulky]

Cost is not a factor?
Use this groundbreaking DAC.
schiit.com/products/yggdrasil
With an XSP-1
Pairing should be FANTASTIC. From user reviews, the yggdrassil will dig out tons of detail.

Cost is really not a factor and you don't have a subwoofer?
Use the same DAC
schiit.com/products/yggdrasil
with this preamp. (It utilizes tech found in Krell products alongside a regenerative power supply. Complete class A output, dual mono etc. ).
www.audio-gd.com/HE/HE-1/HE-1EN.htm

[wpm]

Two opposing recommendations; I like that! This is just what I need, comments from the experts who have been there. Garbulky, I have read many of your posts and threads and value your opinion. I don't do a lot of posting on the Lounge, as you can tell, but I read a lot and try to heed what others are saying. I tend to value a members' comments far greater that those of a professional reviewer. So, keep the recommendations flowing!

As for the Schitt, I have heard of them but have never owned one of their products. I will have to investigate them a little closer. Thanks for the links.

William

[vcautokid]

I would go with the XSP-1 with the built in Phono if vinyl is a biggy. Also DAC of your choice, the DC-1 is a great companion too for your digital playback too. I had an opportunity to hear Yggdrasil, and I really liked it. It is a bit pricey though. You can also run the SP-1, and the DC-1 together and do very well too. It is about priorities. Do you need the tone controls? Etc.

[wpm]

Vcautokid,

I don't need the tone controls, but I am not opposed to them being there, if that makes sense. A music server (digital) is my main source of music, although I do use Pandora quite a lot, too. I do own a turntable, but have very few albums, so it is not a big priority. Thanks.

Regards,

William

[garbulky]

Thanks for the kind words wpm. I wouldn't consider myself an expert by any means. But I am passionate about listening. The suggestions I gave you are the exact units that are on my upgrade list (along with an XPA-1 L or XPA-1). I currently have the DC-1 and I think it is a very nice DAC. However, I can't lie. This is isn't the best DAC that is out there. There is better. But that doesn't diminish that the DC-1 is a pretty nice DAC. For instance it is better than the other 2 channel DACS in the Emotiva line up.

What draws me to the Schiit Ygdrassil is....
It is not a delta sigma approximating 1 bit dac ....which is essentially nearly EVERY DAC in the market!

It is a multi bit resistor ladder DAC. It uses a chip that has very high resolving capabilities. I believe it is 21 equivalent bits (whatever that means). But the essentail thing is that even 32 bit DACs out there are not actually 32 bit dacs or have 21 equivalent bits. The 32 bit DACs are also ....1 bit approximating DAC's.
This is a true multi bit dac. So that's pretty neat. There's very few multibit dacs out there. And none of them built out of this type of chip. The ones that are out there range from $10,000 all the way to the stratosphere with DCS's ring DAC.

The other thing I like about it is the mathematical filter they've got is closed form unlike...no other filter out there.

The other features that stick out is that it is a true dual mono design with separate transformers etc. All very nice features. The DAC chips also were not cheap. I think there's $400 worth of just DAC chips! (Compare that to say $20 worth of DAC chips in competing units). The filter unit cost as much as the entire cost of their mid range Bifrost DAC. Etc. etc. Good parts to price ratio.

So those two things are quite nice. Not to mention it was designed by the grandfather of the modern DAC himself. There is somebody here that owns this DAC DYohn. He isn't prone to flower prose or praise. He appears to really like it.

I haven't heard the audio GD HE series but what draws me to that is that it has regenerative power and the way it controls its volume. It has as much power transformer and capacitance in it as a true power amp. For instance the XPA-200 (!) Except...it's a pre-amp! So definitely an overbuilt statement product. It also has very low distortion figures and good specs on it.

I've heard the XSP-1 and personally I think it's a really good sounding pre-amp. In terms of music, one can't argue....it produces it and does it well! The XSP-1's biggest advantage over the HE series is that it has bass management and also a very nice sounding phono stage (from user reviews - I haven't heard the phono).
Hope these things help you. Good luck!

[mshump]

I have the XSP-1 Gen1 and IMO it is one great pre-amp. I have the XDA-2 for DAC duties fed from my office computer using J river, with no complaints. I really like the tone trims on the XSP-1 too many recordings are greatly varied and it is nice to be able to adjust a little. The headphone stage is very good also.

I replaced a USP-1 with the XSP-1, I have Focal 714's and they tend to be bright, with the USP-1 I would get listeners fatigue after awhile. After putting the XSP-1 in my system. My 714's sound terrific. They now have bass and the upper end no longer fatigues me.

I haven't tried the phono stage yet. I do have a turntable connected but am using an outboard stage with usb output so I could archive my vinyl to Jriver.

I haven't heard the DC-1, but with the great reviews I have read, I am sure eventually one will be in my system.

[DYohn]

The Yggdrasil is the nicest sounding piece of audio equipment I have purchased in MANY years. Highly recommended.

[DavidR]

I just purchased an XSP-1 Gen2 along with an SA-250. I've gone thru several pre-amps recently and the XSP-1 has the quietest noise floor of any. It also has lots of inputs and outputs in both balanced and unbalanced. So, lots of options/possibilities. The Phono section is superb.

I'm not to keen on the volume control but it is a nice feature. It seems I have to keep turning it many times to raise the volume. This is because I'm used to a knob that only needed to be turned very little to raise the volume. It is a completely different set-up. The sound is so distortion free at any volume. Clean, clean, clean.

[sal1950]

As the desire for ultimate sq increases the more cost becomes an issue. Every month there will be new "golden child" and the desire and cost of upgrading become overwellming.
I own and love the sound of my DC-1 and it will probably remain the DAC in my system server till it or I die of old age. IMHO vinyl isn't worth spending large amounts of cash on and since you don't have a large collection anyway I believe the SP-1/DC-1 would be the perfect combo.