Will the XDA display the input bit rate

[pdaddy]

Was wondering if the input bit rate would display as an option on the XDA display so I could confirm my streaming solution does not downsample.

[Lonnie]

Oct 12, 2010 20:06:20 GMT -5 pdaddy said:

Was wondering if the input bit rate would display as an option on the XDA display so I could confirm my streaming solution does not downsample.

The display does not show the bit rate, just volume.

[iceman66]

Oct 12, 2010 21:25:40 GMT -5 Lonnie said:

Oct 12, 2010 20:06:20 GMT -5 pdaddy said:

Was wondering if the input bit rate would display as an option on the XDA display so I could confirm my streaming solution does not downsample.

The display does not show the bit rate, just volume.

How do we know we are getting the best possible sound if the display doesn't tell us?

[Lonnie]

Oct 12, 2010 21:56:34 GMT -5 iceman66 said:

Oct 12, 2010 21:25:40 GMT -5 Lonnie said:

The display does not show the bit rate, just volume.

How do we know we are getting the best possible sound if the display doesn't tell us?

Simple, the XDA will always give you the best possible sound. ;D

What your source does, well that's a whole other ball game. ;D

[two89w]

I am assuming that your cd player does no show the bit rate when its playing , as I am a novice , why would you want to see it?

[blessingx]

If you're outputting 48/88.2/96/176.4/196 from say a computer (or first few from Squeezebox, etc.), it would be nice to know you've got a lock at that bitrate and not downsampling to 44.1 or one of the others. Many DACs display it. A good chunk of those with a real display does. Came here to ask the same does it show question. Kinda disappointed this is missing myself.

[Lonnie]

Oct 13, 2010 0:53:55 GMT -5 blessingx said:

If you're outputting 48/88.2/96/176.4/196 from say a computer (or first few from Squeezebox, etc.), it would be nice to know you've got a lock at that bitrate and not downsampling to 44.1 or one of the others. Many DACs display it. A good chunk of those with a real display does. Came here to ask the same does it show question. Kinda disappointed this is missing myself.

The XDA won't down convert the incoming signal, so whatever your source puts out, that's what it will convert.

[ngmitter]

I think what he is asking for is confirmation that the source is outputting the proper format. Often various PC applications will downsample the audio, which could be due to a glitch in the software or an improper setting. Somethings there is no definitive way to determine what the PC is sending out, with the exception of the external receiver or DAC.

[ratmice]

Oct 12, 2010 22:52:54 GMT -5 two89w said:

I am assuming that your cd player does no show the bit rate when its playing , as I am a novice , why would you want to see it?

There are no options with CD players - always output 16/44 (well, I guess, there may be some upsampling CD players?). No need to see it. For other digital sources there are variable bit rates/sampling rates that need to be accounted for.

It would be nice if there were some way to examine the input signal's characteristics, even if you have to dig into a menu to get status info.

[katjith]

Will XDA-1 upsample 16/44 CDs to 24/192 from it's output?

[redcarpet]

upsampling will not make it any better than the original

[malibujeff]

Oct 13, 2010 5:23:12 GMT -5 Lonnie said:

The XDA won't down convert the incoming signal, so whatever your source puts out, that's what it will convert.

What about the USB input? Since it only supports 16/44.1 & 16/48, what happens if you send it 24/96? Will the USB downsample to 16/44 or will it just not play the file?

[sharkman]

Some DACs are more designed to be used with computers and they are shaped like some kind of mini hard drive. I'm glad the XDA is not like that, and things like displaying incoming bitrate I could care less about. That it can be connected directly to an amp (with volume control) for a shorter signal path is really neat.

The other thing some want, LP output for subwoofers, is simply the function of a pre-amp which this is not. $299 don't get you all these extra options but what you do get is a pretty good package.

[blessingx]

Has the USB bitrate limitation been confirmed? See nothing of it on the product page and of course ways for Emotiva to get around the old 1.1 native limitations. Not to whine, but USB would be the default method for most for upper rates no? If TOSLISK usually maxs at 24/96 (as does a couple Squeezeboxes out of any output), I guess a possibly expensive USB-coax adapter is going to a required accessory for those wanting go above (HRx recordings, etc.)? Could someone verify the XDA-1 USB limitation? Realize you can't get everything at this price point, but that would be a bummer for some of us. And should probably be on the product page if so.

Also curious of members use cases above 24/96 without USB (if this is true).

[morgain]

Oct 13, 2010 7:17:57 GMT -5 ngmitter said:

I think what he is asking for is confirmation that the source is outputting the proper format. Often various PC applications will downsample the audio, which could be due to a glitch in the software or an improper setting. Somethings there is no definitive way to determine what the PC is sending out, with the exception of the external receiver or DAC.

I think this would be a great addition for a next firmware upgrade ;D I also would like to be definately sure about the input bit and sample rate!

[malibujeff]

Oct 13, 2010 11:11:25 GMT -5 blessingx said:

Has the USB bitrate limitation been confirmed?

I spoke to Lonnie about this when I was at Emofest. Lonnie sent me to Eric in engineering. Eric told me the USB only supported max. 16/48.

I was hoping that it would support at least 24/96 on the USB because I am moving away from CD transport to computer based audio. I believe that computer based audio is one of the big reasons for the renewed interest in DAC's.

Still, I plan to buy an XDA-1 because it does support 24/192 on the SP/DIF and at $300 it is a great value.

[blessingx]

Thanks malibujeff for confirming. Wish the answer was different, but I understand. Curious about peoples use cases for bitrates above 24/96. As this isn't upsampling, I assume it's either not being used (after all there's not a ton of audio content above) or as mentioned above they plan on investing in a USB-spdif adapter (which could approach/surpass the DAC cost itself)? I'm sure most 24/192 (or higher - Lavry for instance) DACs never get used above 96, but also curious what the expected possible use would be? DRM keeps most Blu-ray audio from hitting this target right?

[iceman66]

Oct 13, 2010 11:54:06 GMT -5 morgain said:

Oct 13, 2010 7:17:57 GMT -5 ngmitter said:

I think what he is asking for is confirmation that the source is outputting the proper format. Often various PC applications will downsample the audio, which could be due to a glitch in the software or an improper setting. Somethings there is no definitive way to determine what the PC is sending out, with the exception of the external receiver or DAC.

I think this would be a great addition for a next firmware upgrade ;D I also would like to be definately sure about the input bit and sample rate!

So you have your XDA-1 for a month without the incoming samplerate display and it sounds great, better then anything you have ever heard, you get the firmware update that adds the incoming sample rate display and lo and behold it IS being downsampled before it hits the XDA, does it now sound not as great as before? Maybe I should post this to the mystery thread...

[monkumonku]

Oct 13, 2010 14:12:10 GMT -5 iceman66 said:

Oct 13, 2010 11:54:06 GMT -5 morgain said:

I think this would be a great addition for a next firmware upgrade ;D I also would like to be definately sure about the input bit and sample rate!

So you have your XDA-1 for a month without the incoming samplerate display and it sounds great, better then anything you have ever heard, you get the firmware update that adds the incoming sample rate display and lo and behold it IS being downsampled before it hits the XDA, does it now sound not as great as before? Maybe I should post this to the mystery thread...

You mean like when you buy a new amp and you sit down and listen and proclaim how much better this one sounds (like that veil has been lifted) and then the person installing it tells you just a moment, it is almost ready and then they will switch the cables from the old amp to the new one so you can listen to it? ;D

[malibujeff]

Oct 13, 2010 14:12:10 GMT -5 iceman66 said:

So you have your XDA-1 for a month without the incoming samplerate display and it sounds great, better then anything you have ever heard, you get the firmware update that adds the incoming sample rate display and lo and behold it IS being downsampled before it hits the XDA, does it now sound not as great as before? Maybe I should post this to the mystery thread...

You missed the point of the original post. To answer your question... "does it now sound not as great as before?" Obviously, it would still sound the same. But the point is, that seeing the rate displayed would be a very helpful tool to those of us who are moving to computer based audio. Seeing the rate displayed would help as one tries to configure their playback software/computer to output bit perfect audio stream.