ddhd
Minor Hero
Posts: 21
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Post by ddhd on Oct 19, 2010 16:08:42 GMT -5
Anyone know the answer
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Post by Samuel on Oct 19, 2010 20:13:35 GMT -5
Read reply #1 in this very thread. |
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Post by Nemesis.ie on Oct 20, 2010 5:17:17 GMT -5
Read reply #1 in this very thread. Reply #1 does not answer his question, he was asking if it (XDA-1) decodes the HDCD codec. |
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Post by Samuel on Oct 20, 2010 6:40:32 GMT -5
Read reply #1 in this very thread. Reply #1 does not answer his question, he was asking if it (XDA-1) decodes the HDCD codec. Thanks for correcting my mistake! |
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Post by Nemesis.ie on Oct 20, 2010 6:45:01 GMT -5
Reply #1 does not answer his question, he was asking if it (XDA-1) decodes the HDCD codec. Thanks for correcting my mistake! Any time!  |
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Post by soulrider4ever on Oct 20, 2010 7:30:34 GMT -5
From what I can tell this will only decode PCM, so if you have a transport that will decode and output PCM via coax/optical you'll be good.
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ddhd
Minor Hero
Posts: 21
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Post by ddhd on Oct 20, 2010 7:31:42 GMT -5
I called emotiva and spoke to someone (forgot to get a name) and all they said was the xda converts a digital signal to analog. Really like I didn't kow that!
I thought this was a simple question. I'm begining to believe that this unit does not decode the hdcd singal since emotiva's erc-1 clearly states it does whereas the xda-1 clearly does NOT state it would.
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Post by roadrunner on Oct 20, 2010 12:34:18 GMT -5
It has been a long time since the ERC-1 was first introduced, but I think that Emotiva said the DAC in the ERC-1 decoded the HDCD encoded CDs. My memory is a little foggy, but I seem to remember one of the Lounge Members doing a search on the DAC to see what its features were and the member posting on it did a cut and paste of some of the features. This DAC is very flexible and has extraordinary performance specs.
You can either google the DAC being used in the XDA-1 (same as the one used in ERC-1) or you can contact Lonnie or you can try to find some of the earliest threads on the ERC-1 to find the discussion about the DAC's capabilities. If you already own the ERC-1, it is a mute point because we know that it decodes the HDCD encoded material.
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mrla
Minor Hero
Posts: 73
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Post by mrla on Oct 20, 2010 14:07:18 GMT -5
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.  in another word, XDA-1 is neither an upsampling DAC, correct? |
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Post by blessingx on Oct 20, 2010 22:28:12 GMT -5
All signs point to it not being.
And another response (in email to question) to any bitrate restrictions over USB...
Hello yes, as long as your USB connection and associated software are not the bottleneck you may enjoy files that are natively 24 bit 192khz. Our XDA will D-Lock to any proper format PCM signal.
Thank you for your support and interest.
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ddhd
Minor Hero
Posts: 21
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Post by ddhd on Oct 21, 2010 8:03:31 GMT -5
Well the need for a dac that can decode an HDCD signal is important to some, when for example a dac is used on a server based audio archive system or used inconjuntion with an optical dirve that can pass a digital signal. When a flac file is create from a ripped HDCD cd source, then the newly created flac file HAS an encoded yet compressed wav file which has a complete HDCD codex (unlike a lossless Apple file ALAC since Apple chooses NOT to support a complete bit to bit conversion SINCE it does not retain the HDCD codex).
What does this all mean. IF a dac does not support the decoding of the HDCD signal then the benefit of the additional 4 bit of information is a mute point.
The logic behind thinking that the XDA-1 would support the HDCD decoding is because another product in the Emotiva family does - the ERC-1.
The problem is IF you have the ERC-1 connected to the XDA-1 via a digital connection then the conversion is done by the XDA-1 and NOT the ERC-1 since the digital signal is passed along in it's native resolution. IF however, one would connect the ERC-1 via the analog outputs to the anolog in puts to the XDA-1 then the source signal would be decoded FIRST by the dac's within the ERC-1!
Can someone verify this?
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mrla
Minor Hero
Posts: 73
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Post by mrla on Oct 21, 2010 10:09:54 GMT -5
Well the need for a dac that can decode an HDCD signal is important to some, when for example a dac is used on a server based audio archive system or used inconjuntion with an optical dirve that can pass a digital signal. When a flac file is create from a ripped HDCD cd source, then the newly created flac file HAS an encoded yet compressed wav file which has a complete HDCD codex (unlike a lossless Apple file ALAC since Apple chooses NOT to support a complete bit to bit conversion SINCE it does not retain the HDCD codex). What does this all mean. IF a dac does not support the decoding of the HDCD signal then the benefit of the additional 4 bit of information is a mute point. The logic behind thinking that the XDA-1 would support the HDCD decoding is because another product in the Emotiva family does - the ERC-1. The problem is IF you have the ERC-1 connected to the XDA-1 via a digital connection then the conversion is done by the XDA-1 and NOT the ERC-1 since the digital signal is passed along in it's native resolution. IF however, one would connect the ERC-1 via the analog outputs to the anolog in puts to the XDA-1 then the source signal would be decoded FIRST by the dac's within the ERC-1! Can someone verify this? i don't think XDA-1 has analog input. i could be wrong though. |
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Post by CrazyBlue on Oct 21, 2010 10:34:32 GMT -5
You're not.
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Post by blessingx on Oct 21, 2010 10:39:21 GMT -5
Well the need for a dac that can decode an HDCD signal is important to some, when for example a dac is used on a server based audio archive system or used inconjuntion with an optical dirve that can pass a digital signal. When a flac file is create from a ripped HDCD cd source, then the newly created flac file HAS an encoded yet compressed wav file which has a complete HDCD codex (unlike a lossless Apple file ALAC since Apple chooses NOT to support a complete bit to bit conversion SINCE it does not retain the HDCD codex). What does this all mean. IF a dac does not support the decoding of the HDCD signal then the benefit of the additional 4 bit of information is a mute point. The logic behind thinking that the XDA-1 would support the HDCD decoding is because another product in the Emotiva family does - the ERC-1. The problem is IF you have the ERC-1 connected to the XDA-1 via a digital connection then the conversion is done by the XDA-1 and NOT the ERC-1 since the digital signal is passed along in it's native resolution. IF however, one would connect the ERC-1 via the analog outputs to the anolog in puts to the XDA-1 then the source signal would be decoded FIRST by the dac's within the ERC-1! Can someone verify this? I have three Parasound DACs that decode and have an indicator light for HDCD discs and they all register ALAC tracks from HDCD discs (provided there is no bitstream manipulation such as iTunes volume, etc. adjustments). I've never heard of lack of HDCD support and in fact every test I've seen of ALAC decompression to WAV/AIFF shows bit perfection. Are you sure about this? |
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Post by roadrunner on Oct 21, 2010 11:21:28 GMT -5
ddhd
There is no need to go to the connection gymnastics you were thinking about because the ERC-1 and the XDA-1 use the same exact DAC. The only reason for using the XDA-1 is because of its enhanced dual output stage.
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ddhd
Minor Hero
Posts: 21
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Post by ddhd on Oct 21, 2010 13:42:39 GMT -5
blessingx
I'm not sure about anything, except HDCD is a Microsoft product.
I've read on other sites that Apple's lossless codex does not support HDCD. I'll rip a cd with HDCD to FLAC file run it through WMP and an ALAC file then convert back and listen through WMP.
WMP lights up when an HDCD signal is present.
I'm interest in your Parasound does this though!
Can we get confirmation that the XDA-1 does this too?
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Post by rockguitar on Oct 21, 2010 16:25:02 GMT -5
ddhd There is no need to go to the connection gymnastics you were thinking about because the ERC-1 and the XDA-1 use the same exact DAC. The only reason for using the XDA-1 is because of its enhanced dual output stage. I sure hope the XDA-1 can handle HDCD, but it's not a given without more info from Emotiva. HDCD is implemented using the HDCD digital filter in combination with the DAC chip. While the DAC chip (AD1955) is the same in both the ERC-1 and the XDA-1, HDCD is only decoded when also using the HDCD digital filter. Since the XDA-1 has to be handle CD quality and above up to 24/192, there are many digital filters that could be used for the hi-rez portion. Just as an example, google the Cambridge DacMagic which allows users to pick from 3 different digital filters but AFAK does not include HDCD. Basically, the XDA since it would have to handle a wider variety of resolutions than the ERC-1 might have dropped the HDCD decoding in the process. For instance the Esoteric D-03 which uses the same DAC chip (AD1955) does not handle HDCD but can handle hi-rez. Without positive information from Emotiva as to HDCD support, I wouldn't presume the XDA can handle it. |
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Post by blessingx on Oct 21, 2010 17:01:00 GMT -5
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ddhd
Minor Hero
Posts: 21
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Post by ddhd on Oct 21, 2010 18:13:48 GMT -5
Well done blessingx, now I wont have to try it myself:)
The question still stands. Can anyone confirm that the XDA-1 can decode an HDCD signal?
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Post by rixtergonzo on Oct 26, 2010 9:56:31 GMT -5
We will need Lonnie to tell us what the USB is able to do. I also asked Eric, at Emofest, if he knew what the bit rate for the USB port on the XDA will be. He told me, that he was NOT sure but he thought it was 16/48. Later that day, Lonnie said it would support up to 24/192 on all ports. Where Eric was not certain, and Lonnie seems to have confirmed it will handle 24/192 so I am leaning toward the latter. It would be nice tho if Lonnie would chime in and give us the "official" capabilitiy. The last I saw because I haven't done it myself was 24/192 but Eric had to do something on the computer to port it out. I think he loaded a 3rd party software, but I am not 100% certain on that. Since I am leaving town early tomorrow morning, I sent him an email to jump in here and let everyone know what he did. Still waiting on answer as to what third party software was used. |
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