What is the XDA used for?

[Erwin.BE]

Oct 12, 2010 13:20:17 GMT -5 broncsrule21 said:

Oct 11, 2010 21:51:37 GMT -5 Dan Laufman said:

Don't forget the upcoming XMC-1... it has balanced "pure audio" inputs...

Dan, or someone else...Can you explain what that exactly is?

Well, the "normal" path that an incoming analogue signal would follow in any AVR (Audio-Video-Receiver) or AV-pre-pro (same without amp section) is that that analogue signal would be converted into digital (ADC) for processing purposes and later back into analogue (DAC).

A pure direct, AKA "straight" path would do without the needless ADC-DAC path. Shorter = better!

[phyzar]

vital:
If you need bass management go for the XSP1.
I think ERC1 digital out --> XDA1 balanced out --> XSP1 --> XPA2 will sound best for your application.

Cheers Wieland

[jamrock]

The lure of hi-rez audio is extremely strong for me. But, the XDA-1 disappoints me. I use my h/t right and left speakers for 2 channel audio. They are no good without my 2 ultra 12s. I can't take advantage of the XDA-1 as I would need H/T bypass.

By far, I prefer to listen to surround, multi-channel audio than old school stereo. To increase sales, the XDA-1 should have had options for multi-channel audio over hdmi & bass management.

Shucks! Hopefully, the XMC-1 has high quality surround audio with full bass management.

jamrock

[vital]

Oct 12, 2010 16:27:40 GMT -5 phyzar said:

vital:
If you need bass management go for the XSP1.
I think ERC1 digital out --> XDA1 balanced out --> XSP1 --> XPA2 will sound best for your application.

Cheers Wieland

Thanks! I'm on the pre order list so we'll see how it does at first just going from the ERC to the XDA to the XPA.

[klinemj]

Here's my take on the XDA-1...if I only had a 2 channel system and only listened to CD's, I would have a great CD player, the XDA-1, a great 2 channel amp, and great R/L speakers. I'd not have a pre-amp as one traditionally would...the XDA-1 makes a pre-amp not needed if all one is doing is listening to CD's.

And, that's how the 2- channel room at Emofest was set up - and it sounded awesome!

Mark

[pdaddy]

I a huge 2 channel fan and so I will the XDA-1 hooked to a UPA-2 hooked to ERM 6.2's along with my sub. In the short run I will use the optical digital out from my MacBook Pro to the XDA-1 optical input to listen to all my digital content ripped from CD's or purchased from high def music sites via iTunes. This is until I can find the right streaming scheme where I can stream from my computer through my wireless router to the XDA-1 (e.g. via Apple TV like, Roku or other media streaming device), but I am looking for an affordable streaming player that will retain the full fidelity and does not scale it down (like I understand the Apple TV will). Any help here is welcome.

[ralfale]

Oct 12, 2010 17:18:26 GMT -5 jamrock said:

The lure of hi-rez audio is extremely strong for me. But, the XDA-1 disappoints me. I use my h/t right and left speakers for 2 channel audio. They are no good without my 2 ultra 12s. I can't take advantage of the XDA-1 as I would need H/T bypass.

By far, I prefer to listen to surround, multi-channel audio than old school stereo. To increase sales, the XDA-1 should have had options for multi-channel audio over hdmi & bass management.

Shucks! Hopefully, the XMC-1 has high quality surround audio with full bass management.

jamrock

Same scenario for me. Guess we can only wait for XSP and pray hard that proper bass management and HT bypass is achieved.

Emotiva, please release XSP asap! ;D

[DC]

Oct 12, 2010 19:33:07 GMT -5 klinemj said:

Here's my take on the XDA-1...if I only had a 2 channel system and only listened to CD's, I would have a great CD player, the XDA-1, a great 2 channel amp, and great R/L speakers. I'd not have a pre-amp as one traditionally would...the XDA-1 makes a pre-amp not needed if all one is doing is listening to CD's.

And, that's how the 2- channel room at Emofest was set up - and it sounded awesome!

Mark

[DC]

Hi Klinemj, So what u are saying is if I'm using the ERC-1 to XDA-1 to UPA-1 to speakers? (examples) then the XDA-1 act both as a DAC and Pre Amp? But what about bass management as I mostly listen together with my subs for LFE. Also based on your setup, u are only referring to a 2 channel setup but if I already hooking my ERC-1 to UMC-1 for HT then instead I would not connect the ERC-1 to UMC-1 but then I'll have to use the 'balanced' input' as there is only 1 'unbalanced input' which is connected to UMC-1 for HT? Please advise
David

[Crystara]

Hi Everyone
First time post so be gentle. I have a UMC-1 and a USP-1, would it be a good investment for myself to buy a XDA-1, and where is this placed in my set up, does it go between my ERC-1 and the Oppo BDP-83 and my USP-1 or do I have this wrong, I have my 5.1 speakers running through my UMC-1, but I use a pair of Electrostatics running off my USP-1, I don't use the HT bypass because I have two setts of front speakers, is this set up correct or do I have it all wrong, I have a lot of SACD's and DVD-Audio disc's as well as LP's I listen to through the Oppo,
Which connections do I use from the Oppo to the DAC and Also which one from the ERC-1 to the DAC.
I hope this makes sense thanks for anyone who can help me. ;D

[tmac7676]

The lack of bass management with the XDA-1 is also disappointing to me as well. I never listen to music without using my sub ever. I guess I will just have to wait around on the XSP.

[burki]

Hi,

Oct 12, 2010 14:36:24 GMT -5 esquire said:

From what I am reading, the XDA is primarily for 2 channel to be used with ERC-1, pc, ipod, etc. How do you connect the DAC to the UMC-1? (analogue?) Does it make reasonable sense to have this setup for improving SQ?

it doesn't make so much sense to use the path XDA-1 --> UMC-1, but in my case. I'm using UMC-1 --> XDA-1...

Greetings,
Burkhardt

[dotvibe]

Bass management? in a DAC? good gosh people, that's what pre-amps are for! Who ever heard of a dedicated DAC with bass management?

[ronjr]

Question: I currently have an ERC-1 and have preordered the XDA-1. Would my bluray player be equally effective as a playback source since I could plug it into the XDA-1 via optical just like the ERC-1? In other words would the quality be the same?

Reason why I ask is using the bluray as the source would free me up to move the ERC-1 downstairs for another setup, or I could possibly sell it.

Thanks

[dotvibe]

Oct 13, 2010 12:59:28 GMT -5 ronjr said:

Question: I currently have an ERC-1 and have preordered the XDA-1. Would my bluray player be equally effective as a playback source since I could plug it into the XDA-1 via optical just like the ERC-1? In other words would the quality be the same?

Reason why I ask is using the bluray as the source would free me up to move the ERC-1 downstairs for another setup, or I could possibly sell it.

Thanks

Depends on how good a transport your blu-ray player is, but essentially yes, it should be at least as good the ERC-1 audio quality.

[klinemj]

DC - if you want/need bass MGMT, then you would not hook up the XDA as I mentioned. But, with a full range set of fronts, if would sound quite sweet. Maybe the pending XSP-1 would be the hot ticket for those wanting bass MGMT, balanced inputs/outputs, and HT bypass...then you would have to decide if the XDA-1's DAC was better than whatever DAC you are currently using.

Mark

[eirik84]

Oct 12, 2010 16:19:26 GMT -5 vital said:

So basicly in my 2 channel setup I will want to run the ERC-1 to the XSP-1 preamp to the XDA-1 dac to my XPA-2? Without the XSP in the chain then you will have no bass management or anything correct? I think I want a preamp in there.

I would do it this way:
ERC -> XDA -> XSP -> XPA-2

Edit: Sorry, read only on the first page...

[rclark]

i think you will want your XDA-1 into your XSP-1 and from there into your amp.

[jamrock]

Oct 13, 2010 5:40:13 GMT -5 dotvibe said:

Bass management? in a DAC? good gosh people, that's what pre-amps are for! Who ever heard of a dedicated DAC with bass management?

Why not have bass management? It has a volume control stage that allows it to act as a pre-amp.

I'm old enough to be familiar with the audio misconception that says: A pair of full range speakers is the superior way to listen to audio. Therefore, anything designed for superior audio listening, must serve this purpose only.

More modern thinking says: A pair of limited range (not satelites) speakers coupled with a subwoofer or two, is best. Even a pair of full range speakers can benefit from the addition of a subwoofer.

And, if we are talking about audio listening, why left out those of us who want to listen to pristine, multi-channel audio?

We have the technology today to make both groups very happy without affecting the quality of the sound. I don't use every input or output on my AVR. Therefore, if the XDA-1 has a feature that 2 channel folks don't care about, just ignore it and use what you like. And, don't tell me that folks don't want to pay for what they don't use, we all do!

Did I mention more sales for Emo?

jamrock

[blessingx]

If that's the difference between old and modern thinking, I guess I'm old-school. Limited range better? And yes, I have an Ultra 10 coming tomorrow.

This is a DAC with digital variable output (in that sense exactly as a Lavry DA10/11 for instance). While there are sound shaping adjustments in some DACs (including the DA11) tossing in bass management and outputs to make it more pre-amp/amp/receiver-like would be a whole other product (with added costs, dependent functionality, by-passes, etc.), no?

I guess I'm much more concerned with all the normal DAC questions like bitrate support (88.2/176.4 locks?), input conversions, USB possible restrictions (conflicting info on the forums) and that big one - SQ. I hope they get most of those right for $299.