XDA-1 and future music server

[basicsystem]

I am looking for answers to the following questions:

1. There has been much discussion about the XDA-1 being best if directly connected to the main amp. Like most people, that doesn't work for me. Will there be a noticeable improvement in an ERC-1 ... XDA-1 ... UMC-1 setup (most of the discussion has focused on the USP-1)?

2. Will the future (potential) music player require a separate DAC (like the XDA-1)? I am asking this question to see if it makes sense to buy the XDA-1 and use it with my ERC-1 until the music player is available.

3. Why does the UMC-1 not have balanced outputs for XPA amps? Is that something that is being saved for the XMC-1? Or wasn't there enough space? I am asking this question because the XDA-1 will have balanced outputs.

Any help with these questions would be appreciated.

[Topend]

Jul 3, 2010 17:53:52 GMT -5 @basicsystem said:

3. Why does the UMC-1 not have balanced outputs for XPA amps? Is that something that is being saved for the XMC-1? Or wasn't there enough space? I am asking this question because the XDA-1 will have balanced outputs.

The XMC-1 will have balanced outputs for 7.1 and balanced inputs for 2 channel.

Dave.

[Erwin.BE]

Jul 3, 2010 17:53:52 GMT -5 @basicsystem said:

I am looking for answers to the following questions:

1. There has been much discussion about the XDA-1 being best if directly connected to the main amp. Like most people, that doesn't work for me. Will there be a noticeable improvement in an ERC-1 ... XDA-1 ... UMC-1 setup (most of the discussion has focused on the USP-1)?

2. Will the future (potential) music player require a separate DAC (like the XDA-1)? I am asking this question to see if it makes sense to buy the XDA-1 and use it with my ERC-1 until the music player is available.

3. Why does the UMC-1 not have balanced outputs for XPA amps? Is that something that is being saved for the XMC-1? Or wasn't there enough space? I am asking this question because the XDA-1 will have balanced outputs.

Any help with these questions would be appreciated.

I hope my nonspecialist answers are of some help:

1. To my knowledge, all A/V pro's & receivers (and unlike preamps such as USP-1), including the UMC-1, convert all analogue inputs to digital for processing purposes. The advantage of the XDA-1 added to the the ERC-1 is the superior (analogue) output stage of the former. I suppose this advantage is lost again when you do another AD/DA conversion in the UMC-1. So IMO, there's no advantage in adding the XDA-1 in between the ERC-1/UMC-1.

Before you ask whether it would be better to use the digital connection from the ERC-1 into the UMC: probably not. And don't forget that a digital input can't be distributed to zone 2/3, for technical reasons I have not yet understood (anyone enlightening me on this one would be appreciated). I first connected the optical digital output from an Apple Airport Express to my Yamaha receiver. It sounded fine, but discovered that zone 2 (my office) got no sound. This is info that no sales-brochure mentions, you have to discover it in the fist-thick manual! So I bought a CA DacMagic. Problem solved, but I honestly could not hear any SQ improvements. Makes sense, when you know the Yamaha is AD/DA converting anyway.

2. Potential music player: if or when this happens, it will have a DAC inside.

3. In general, the Emotiva "X" products have balanced connections, the others don't.
Exceptions are
a/ The ERC-1 because I presume Emotive sees no reason to have both a "U" and a "X" CD-player in the range, so one "R" (for reference) size fits all.
b/ The UPA-1 for it's audiophile / monoblock aspirations
It's been said that the balanced connections are only beneficial in long cable lengths. But you still want them, don't ya? I do

[Topend]

^ I am not so sure you have got it completely right on the A/D conversion of an analog signal on the UMC-1. I am under the impression if direct is selected then the analog signal will remain analog at all times.

I am sure someone who knows more than me will chime in.

Dave.

[roadrunner]

What ErwinBel said is true of most, if not all, receivers and many processors. However, it is not the way the UMC-1 works. Analog inputs on the UMC-1, when used in the "direct mode", totally bypasses the ADC/DAC circuits and gives a true analog path through the processor. As Lonnie said, it is the same as using the 7.1 analog inputs. Also, the UMC-1 allows you to use digital inputs to feed Zone-2... as long as Zone-1 is also set to output that digital signal. Most pre/pros do NOT allow digital inputs as an output source in Zone-2 so keep that in mind if you use something other than the UMC-1.

[Nooff]

Jul 4, 2010 7:44:17 GMT -5 Erwin.BE said:

Jul 3, 2010 17:53:52 GMT -5 @basicsystem said:

In general, the Emotiva "X" products have balanced connections, the others don't.
Exceptions are
a/ The ERC-1 because I presume Emotive sees no reason to have both a "U" and a "X" CD-player in the range, so one "R" (for reference) size fits all.
b/ The UPA-1 for it's audiophile / monoblock aspirations
It's been said that the balanced connections are only beneficial in long cable lengths. But you still want them, don't ya? I do

The XPA-1 is the only true balanced Amp, other Emotiva Amps are not balanced although they do have balanced connections. There should be no benefit using the balanced connections on all other Emotiva Amps except the XPA-1 whatsoever.

[Erwin.BE]

Jul 4, 2010 14:35:57 GMT -5 roadrunner said:

What ErwinBel said is true of most, if not all, receivers and many processors. However, it is not the way the UMC-1 works. Analog inputs on the UMC-1, when used in the "direct mode", totally bypasses the ADC/DAC circuits and gives a true analog path through the processor. As Lonnie said, it is the same as using the 7.1 analog inputs. Also, the UMC-1 allows you to use digital inputs to feed Zone-2... as long as Zone-1 is also set to output that digital signal. Most pre/pros do NOT allow digital inputs as an output source in Zone-2 so keep that in mind if you use something other than the UMC-1.

This is nice info.
I should have kept silent, I guess. In general I try not to mingle myself in discussions regarding the UMC-1 since I don't have one and try not to disturb anyones feelings... but I do hope to see a killer A/V processor one day.

[basicsystem]

Thanks for all the great info.

Now, I ...

1. Feel better about my UMC-1 (without balanced outputs).

2. Know that I should pass on the XDA-1 (for now).

For those of you that get the XDA-1, be sure to note how you are using it and how you like it (maybe I will develop a need).

[Topend]

When I get the XDA-1 I will connect it to an analog in on my UMC-1. I currently have my Wadia iPod dock connected to a digital in on the UMC-1. It will of course be connected to the XDA-1.

Having the XDA-1 connected to analog will allow me to listen to music on zone 2 while someone is watching a movie. Currently I can't do this with a digital connection.

One thing I will try is connecting the XDA-1 directly to my amp to see how good it sounds.

Dave.

[GreenKiwi]

Jul 4, 2010 17:32:03 GMT -5 Nooff said:

The XPA-1 is the only true balanced Amp, other Emotiva Amps are not balanced although they do have balanced connections. There should be no benefit using the balanced connections on all other Emotiva Amps except the XPA-1 whatsoever.

That's not quite true... balanced cables have more noise reduction, so you might have a situation if you have to make long cable runs where using balanced connections has a benefit.