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Post by fbczar on Mar 26, 2017 10:53:44 GMT -5
I own an XMC-1 and have been very pleased with it, but I would like to know how the XMC-1 compares to standalone DAC's for stereo music. I am interested in DAC's that have both PCM and DSD capability, but might consider PCM only if a given DAC was a particularly good deal. Anyway, I am sure many of you can offer valuable advice relative to DAC's that might offer significant improvement over the XMC-1.
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Post by millst on Mar 27, 2017 17:03:12 GMT -5
The DACs in the XMC-1 are already very good. You'd probably be better off spending the money elsewhere. OTOH, if your room treatment, speakers, source material, etc. are aligned at a high enough level, then there might be something (.001%) to be gained.
-tm
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Post by garbulky on Mar 27, 2017 17:09:44 GMT -5
What he said...the XMC-1 DACs aren't bad. But....depending on how resolving your setup....you may find a small improvement. Just so you know....if you plan to use the room correction or bass management on the XMC-1 with your new DAC - just don't buy one as it'll be going through the XMC-1 DAC.
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Post by fbczar on Mar 27, 2017 18:59:16 GMT -5
What he said...the XMC-1 DACs aren't bad. But....depending on how resolving your setup....you may find a small improvement. Just so you know....if you plan to use the room correction or bass management on the XMC-1 with your new DAC - just don't buy one as it'll be going through the XMC-1 DAC. I appreciate the replies. After a lot of work on my room I am at the point where Dirac does not sound as good for stereo as a standard preset using my two subs in direct mode. Dirac is still a winner with home theater, but not stereo. This is a big change for my system. I spent many, many hours with Dirac and felt I had mastered it, but after adding bass traps to the ceiling things changed dramatically. The fact that Dirac downsampled my hi-res files was also a bother. I was not aware that bass management was a function of the DAC in the XMC-1. That would be a big deal since direct mode with my subs is slightly better than my main speakers in a reference mode. I thought the XMC-1 with its fantastic volume control might be a good match with an outstanding DAC. |
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Post by brutiarti on Mar 27, 2017 19:14:38 GMT -5
but after adding bass traps to the ceiling things changed dramatically. Really nice to hear. The traps in the ceiling are the ones that i still need to do, but i got lazy and i'm happy with the sound. Can you elaborate what improvements you got adding those traps? |
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Post by garbulky on Mar 27, 2017 19:45:04 GMT -5
In direct/reference mode where you are not doing bass management (cross over stuff) the XMC-1 DAC's won't be used if you are using an external DAC. It will be a pure analog path. If you are using bass management or DIRAC the XMC-1 will convert the analog signal from the external DAC in to digital. Then it will use the XMC-1 DAC to convert it in to analog.
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klinemj
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Honorary Emofest Scribe
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Post by klinemj on Mar 27, 2017 21:24:09 GMT -5
I use an external DAC and find I prefer an external DAC to the xmc...when I use my Geek dac. And, I figured out a wiring that allows me to run reference stereo with subs. Works great.
Mark
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Post by fbczar on Mar 28, 2017 0:13:25 GMT -5
but after adding bass traps to the ceiling things changed dramatically. Really nice to hear. The traps in the ceiling are the ones that i still need to do, but i got lazy and i'm happy with the sound. Can you elaborate what improvements you got adding those traps? The ceiling traps significantly reduced a deep null I had around 160Hz. They also smoothed out the response of my subs in an overall sense. Eliminating echos, reverb etc. was another positive. Center channel dialogue is clearer. Vocals on music are cleaner and more realistic. |
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Post by musicguy on May 2, 2018 1:21:38 GMT -5
Ceiling traps vs back wall? I have vaulted ceilings. Did you try the back wall at all. I have a massive dip at 200hz. MY dirac corrects it, but i perfer analog methods first before i run software.
musicguy
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Post by fbczar on May 2, 2018 5:42:48 GMT -5
Ceiling traps vs back wall? I have vaulted ceilings. Did you try the back wall at all. I have a massive dip at 200hz. MY dirac corrects it, but i perfer analog methods first before i run software. musicguy My problem was SBIR causing a dip at about 160Hz, so eliminating first reflections was the key. Have you addressed the first reflection points on the side walls? I also have traps at the first reflection points on the ceiling. I also have traps on my back wall because my listening position is only 5' from the back wall. It is hard to judge what the effect of traps on a vaulted ceiling would be. I would contact GIK and ask for advice on a long term plan to treat your room. |
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