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Post by gentlejax on Nov 20, 2018 10:01:46 GMT -5
I owned another Emotiva piece couple years ago. I believe it was a 7.1 type preamp. at least I never used it for anything other than 2 channel. I was about to buy a used USP-1 I think from a member of another forum and I ran across the PT-100.
how does this preamp(PT-100) compare to other emo offerings in the past for 2 channel music ? how does this compare to the future 2 channel preamps on the way?
I use my pre for music . I don't need more than 2.1 . I have used just about every avr and home audio pre including some that are highly regarded. Proceed was probably my favorite, followed by a NuForce that was near perfect.
I am hoping I can use this PT-100 for music off my opad and simplify some things in my system since I seem to not listen to cd's much anymore.
I do like analog sound and I am going from a Yamaha cx-830 to this so I am hoping I enjoy this new pre
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Post by boomzilla on Nov 20, 2018 15:55:49 GMT -5
Whoooo boy, gentlejax - What a loaded question! In fact, even Emotiva offers a plethora of devices that could possibly serve as preamps. But let's sort the field out... If the device offers more than two channels, then it's usually called a "processor." Processors usually offer "extras" such as bass management, room correction, and the ability to decode various surround-sound audio. Some devices (such as Emotiva's previous Stealth DC-1 and the upcoming Stealth DC-2) are primarily digital to analog converters with variable volume outputs. These may or may not have additional inputs for analog sources. And finally, there are stereo preamplifiers, both with (PT-100) and without (XSP-1) internal DACs. In Emotiva's case the XSP-1 offers balanced circuitry & bass management. As to how the PT-100 compares to other Emotiva processors, DACs, and preamplifiers, it depends on who you ask. I happen to like the sound of the PT-100, and think that it easily beats the sound of the XSP-1. But my audio buddy, garbulky, thinks just the opposite. Post your impressions once you've heard the PT-100 - I'd be interested in them. Boomzilla |
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Post by pknaz on Nov 20, 2018 17:17:28 GMT -5
I have a TA-100 - (pretty much the same thing as the PT-100 with additional two channel amplifier) and I'm very pleased with it. I run a set of DIY speakers (Paul Carmody's Speedsters) with it and its more than one could ask for for a near field setup.
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Post by garbulky on Nov 20, 2018 18:12:47 GMT -5
I owned another Emotiva piece couple years ago. I believe it was a 7.1 type preamp. at least I never used it for anything other than 2 channel. I was about to buy a used USP-1 I think from a member of another forum and I ran across the PT-100. how does this preamp(PT-100) compare to other emo offerings in the past for 2 channel music ? how does this compare to the future 2 channel preamps on the way? I use my pre for music . I don't need more than 2.1 . I have used just about every avr and home audio pre including some that are highly regarded. Proceed was probably my favorite, followed by a NuForce that was near perfect. I am hoping I can use this PT-100 for music off my opad and simplify some things in my system since I seem to not listen to cd's much anymore. I do like analog sound and I am going from a Yamaha cx-830 to this so I am hoping I enjoy this new pre I hope you are asking how the PT-100 is as an analog preamp right? Not as a DAC? Imo it is superior to the USP-1 as an analog preamp. It's close to the level of a DC-1 as an analog preamp. |
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Post by gentlejax on Nov 21, 2018 7:49:50 GMT -5
okay yes more than 2 channels turns into a processor so to speak but I have used some that were called preamps but in the end its about the 2 channel experience for me. I was just curios how this basic piece compared to the previous ones that were used or could be used in 2 channel.
mine arrives today so I hope I can slide it in and hear it. if it doesnt appeal to me then I have a line on a Carver that will be recapped and /or modded if I want.
the purpose for this purchase was to run my tunes off my ipad and do away with cd player and cell phone.
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Post by creimes on Nov 21, 2018 9:07:50 GMT -5
okay yes more than 2 channels turns into a processor so to speak but I have used some that were called preamps but in the end its about the 2 channel experience for me. I was just curios how this basic piece compared to the previous ones that were used or could be used in 2 channel. mine arrives today so I hope I can slide it in and hear it. if it doesnt appeal to me then I have a line on a Carver that will be recapped and /or modded if I want. the purpose for this purchase was to run my tunes off my ipad and do away with cd player and cell phone. Bluetooth will still be inferior compared to CD or a direct connection, are you using the iPad to say an Apple TV for Airplay or just straight bluetooth from the iPad to the PT-100 ? I use Tidal for music streaming on all my devices but everything is connected via a cable other than if I'm casting from my LG G6 to a Chromecast Audio which in the end is still a Toslink connection, otherwise it's my Mac Mini HDMI to my processor, or Tidal over my NVIDIA Shield TV via HDMI to my Receiver and at my PC I use the desktop version of Tidal to my Emotiva Little EGO DAC to my headphones. Chad |
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Post by garbulky on Nov 21, 2018 10:15:33 GMT -5
gentlejax It seems to me like you are using the analog output of the ipad and using the PT-100 to control the volume right? Though you can do this, this is probably missing the point of the PT-100. The ipad in this case converts the digital music signal to analog. But the Pt-100 also has a digital music converter (DAC) which is quite a bit better. This is sort of the point of spending the money to buy the PT-100 is to use its dac. I believe you can connect the ipad to the pt-100 using a digital connection (through your charging port). To do so you will need to buy the apple camera connection kit to get a usb output. www.amazon.com/Apple-Lightning-USB3-Camera-Adapter/dp/B01F7KJDIM And then buy a USB cable.  www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-USB-2-0-Cable-Male/dp/B00BCWALHM/You will connect the USB to the PT-100. That's ipad - camera connection kit - usb cable - to PT-100
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Post by boomzilla on Nov 21, 2018 10:20:19 GMT -5
^^^ What he said!
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Post by gentlejax on Nov 21, 2018 11:14:25 GMT -5
I dont yet have the pt-100. it arrives today. I didnt know how I was going to connect it but now I do. thanks
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Post by creimes on Nov 21, 2018 12:43:05 GMT -5
Or just pick up a used ATV Gen3 and use the optical out to the PT-100 and Airplay your music from the ipad to the ATV, I'm not sure why one would want to wire down a portable device such as an ipad.
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Post by garbulky on Nov 21, 2018 12:46:06 GMT -5
Or just pick up a used ATV Gen3 and use the optical out to the PT-100 and Airplay your music from the ipad to the ATV, I'm not sure why one would want to wire down a portable device such as an ipad. Yes this is a lot more convenient. I would advice this instead. However Apple tv's are a modest cost and you have to make sure the generation you pick has an optical output. The latest generation does not have an optical output so would not work. |
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Post by gentlejax on Nov 30, 2018 14:41:23 GMT -5
Or just pick up a used ATV Gen3 and use the optical out to the PT-100 and Airplay your music from the ipad to the ATV, I'm not sure why one would want to wire down a portable device such as an ipad. Yes this is a lot more convenient. I would advice this instead. However Apple tv's are a modest cost and you have to make sure the generation you pick has an optical output. The latest generation does not have an optical output so would not work.
I ordered the plug and cord but apparently I Had the wrong version ipad so it did not work. So I ordered a Apple TV 3 and when I get that will run it to the pre for my music. right now I am running the bluetooth on my ipad to a rocketfish wifi blue tooth receiver and from there into the analog input on the preamp.
not as clean as the optical out on my dvd player to the optical input/DAC of the pt-100
hopefully this gives me what I want. also considering returning the pt-100 and getting a TA-100
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Post by garbulky on Nov 30, 2018 15:56:41 GMT -5
Yes this is a lot more convenient. I would advice this instead. However Apple tv's are a modest cost and you have to make sure the generation you pick has an optical output. The latest generation does not have an optical output so would not work. I ordered the plug and cord but apparently I Had the wrong version ipad so it did not work. So I ordered a Apple TV 3 and when I get that will run it to the pre for my music. right now I am running the bluetooth on my ipad to a rocketfish wifi blue tooth receiver and from there into the analog input on the preamp.
not as clean as the optical out on my dvd player to the optical input/DAC of the pt-100 hopefully this gives me what I want. also considering returning the pt-100 and getting a TA-100
Ah gotcha - so you never had an apple tv. Yeah what you are doing is not the cleanest way to do things. |
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Post by gentlejax on Dec 3, 2018 11:52:13 GMT -5
so i hooked up the ATV3 and it basically became my music player. lol bypassed the ipad all together. was this the correct use of the ATV3 as you guys advised ? im fine with that . I just wanted the best sound and use of the DAC on the PT-100 so I can stop using cd's
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Post by drtrey3 on Dec 3, 2018 11:56:37 GMT -5
Bluetooth is not an audiophile choice. It hurts the music. Avoid Bluetooth.
Trey
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Post by garbulky on Dec 3, 2018 12:23:09 GMT -5
so i hooked up the ATV3 and it basically became my music player. lol bypassed the ipad all together. was this the correct use of the ATV3 as you guys advised ? im fine with that . I just wanted the best sound and use of the DAC on the PT-100 so I can stop using cd's I assume you are using the Pt-100 with the ATV3 using an OPTICAL connection? If so, I think you got it 95% of the way  I don't know how you are playing the audio through the apple tv? How are you getting the music to your apple tv? Is it like Pandora radio or something? Most streaming audio that you'll get from the apple tv3 is not lossless like a CD. So it is not as good as a CD, it's closer to mp3 quality which is ab it lower. CD quality is 1400 kbps. Mp3 quality is closer to 128 kbps. And by streaming, I meaning things like Pandora or youtube etc. Having said that, it sounds close. Though I'm not 100% sure, I think that lossless audio streamed from a server or something stays lossless. The important bit was making sure you use an optical connection. |
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Post by creimes on Dec 3, 2018 13:07:11 GMT -5
so i hooked up the ATV3 and it basically became my music player. lol bypassed the ipad all together. was this the correct use of the ATV3 as you guys advised ? im fine with that . I just wanted the best sound and use of the DAC on the PT-100 so I can stop using cd's I assume you are using the Pt-100 with the ATV3 using an OPTICAL connection? If so, I think you got it 95% of the way I don't know how you are playing the audio through the apple tv? How are you getting the music to your apple tv? Is it like Pandora radio or something? Most streaming audio that you'll get from the apple tv3 is not lossless like a CD. So it is not as good as a CD, it's closer to mp3 quality which is ab it lower. CD quality is 1400 kbps. Mp3 quality is closer to 128 kbps. And by streaming, I meaning things like Pandora or youtube etc. Having said that, it sounds close. Though I'm not 100% sure, I think that lossless audio streamed from a server or something stays lossless. The important bit was making sure you use an optical connection. I would recommend Tidal HIFI and run the Tidal app on his iPad and use airplay to play it from the iPad to the ATV to the PT-100. |
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Post by gentlejax on Dec 4, 2018 15:30:44 GMT -5
so i hooked up the ATV3 and it basically became my music player. lol bypassed the ipad all together. was this the correct use of the ATV3 as you guys advised ? im fine with that . I just wanted the best sound and use of the DAC on the PT-100 so I can stop using cd's yes you are right , I am going from ATV3 optical out to PT-100 optical in. I am not bluetoothing since I got the ATV3. the music is at the moment coming from my apple itunes account. I have thought about the Tidal thing. Does Tidal not install on ATV3 ? seems like a waste to put it on ipad and then to ATV3. |
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Post by creimes on Dec 5, 2018 0:26:49 GMT -5
yes you are right , I am going from ATV3 optical out to PT-100 optical in. I am not bluetoothing since I got the ATV3. the music is at the moment coming from my apple itunes account. I have thought about the Tidal thing. Does Tidal not install on ATV3 ? seems like a waste to put it on ipad and then to ATV3. The latest Gen ATV has Tidal built into it, but not the older models, Apples way of making you upgrade haha, nothing wrong with using your ipad to airplay to the ATV, I do exactly this much of the time but from an Android phone or tablet to my chromecast devices. Chad |
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Post by dsonyay on Dec 5, 2018 9:37:38 GMT -5
I've got the PT100- XPA-2 amp.. 2 channel music ... I love the combo.
Primarily , I stream Tidal via USB from my laptop to PT100. The sound is fantastic. Klipsch speakers. Simple setup.
Later I'm planning to add a turntable, which should also work well with my little stack
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