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Post by redcarpet on Oct 24, 2010 8:37:18 GMT -5
I am planning to buy the XDA-1, what is better from a sound quality standpoint:
XDA-1(analog out) to UMC-1(analog in) to XPA-2 via coax
or
UMC-1(coax out) to XDA-1(coax in) to XPA-2 via XLR
Thanks
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mrla
Minor Hero
Posts: 73
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Post by mrla on Oct 24, 2010 8:44:08 GMT -5
you probably hear little differences. but the latter one should be better because it is a shorter path to your speakers.
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Post by redcarpet on Oct 24, 2010 9:43:52 GMT -5
will the balanced circuitry (XDA-1 and XPA-2) offer significant improvement in sound compared to unbalanced, that is my real question.
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Post by roadrunner on Oct 24, 2010 12:37:12 GMT -5
will the balanced circuitry (XDA-1 and XPA-2) offer significant improvement in sound compared to unbalanced, that is my real question. When looking at this questions you need to be aware that the XPA-2 amp may have XLR connectors but it is not a balanced amp. To get the maximum benefit from the XDA-1 you will need to use a fully balanced amp, like the XPA-1. The only amp in the Emotiva arsenal that is a balanced design is the XPA-1. I am not sure you would hear any difference in sound quality from the XPA-2 by using the XLR connector instead of the RCA connectors. Adding balanced (XLR) connectors to an amp does NOT make it a balanced amplifier. The only advantage to using XLR, instead of RCA, is if your cable is longer than 10 meters or if you have a very noisy electrical environment... and, of course, if you are using a balanced amp. |
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Post by SteveB on Oct 24, 2010 12:53:06 GMT -5
How does a true "balanced" amp differ from one that just has XLR connectors?
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Lonnie
Emo Staff 
admin
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain
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Post by Lonnie on Oct 24, 2010 14:48:12 GMT -5
How does a true "balanced" amp differ from one that just has XLR connectors? It is easier to explain with some graphics, but I don't have anything already prepared so I will just go for it and see if it makes any since. Most amps are what is called a single ended design. This would mean that all the audio signal is carried down the speakers positive wire. The speakers negative wire is just a ground return to the start ground (or isolated ground). In a balanced amp (or a better discription would be a differential amp) the speakers positive wire carries the audio signal like above. The speakers negative wire carries the same signal, just 180 degrees out of phase. The advantage to a fully differential design is greater damping factor (within the coil), increased current, higher slew rate, etc. The drawback is cost. Basically you have to build two amp stages vs. one with a single ended design. I hope this makes some since.  |
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Post by roadrunner on Oct 24, 2010 15:13:55 GMT -5
How does a true "balanced" amp differ from one that just has XLR connectors? It is easier to explain with some graphics, but I don't have anything already prepared so I will just go for it and see if it makes any since. Most amps are what is called a single ended design. This would mean that all the audio signal is carried down the speakers positive wire. The speakers negative wire is just a ground return to the start ground (or isolated ground). In a balanced amp (or a better discription would be a differential amp) the speakers positive wire carries the audio signal like above. The speakers negative wire carries the same signal, just 180 degrees out of phase. The advantage to a fully differential design is greater damping factor (within the coil), increased current, higher slew rate, etc. The drawback is cost. Basically you have to build two amp stages vs. one with a single ended design. I hope this makes some since. Yep, it even makes SENSE (versus since). ;D ;D ;D To put it another way... a fully balanced, differential circuit, sounds better!   |
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Post by SteveB on Oct 24, 2010 15:23:29 GMT -5
Yes it does. Thank you for the explaination and straight from the "Wizard" himself! I feel honored.
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Post by Poodleluvr on Oct 24, 2010 16:07:50 GMT -5
How does a true "balanced" amp differ from one that just has XLR connectors? It is easier to explain with some graphics, but I don't have anything already prepared so I will just go for it and see if it makes any since. Most amps are what is called a single ended design. This would mean that all the audio signal is carried down the speakers positive wire. The speakers negative wire is just a ground return to the start ground (or isolated ground). In a balanced amp (or a better discription would be a differential amp) the speakers positive wire carries the audio signal like above. The speakers negative wire carries the same signal, just 180 degrees out of phase. The advantage to a fully differential design is greater damping factor (within the coil), increased current, higher slew rate, etc. The drawback is cost. Basically you have to build two amp stages vs. one with a single ended design. I hope this makes some since. Thank you! I fully understand that w/o graphics. As an owner of a pair of XPA-1s, in order to obtain this benefit from the amp/preamp combo does one have to specifically use the XLR balanced connections, the RCAs, or does it not matter? Thanks |
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Post by redcarpet on Oct 24, 2010 17:04:07 GMT -5
Thanks, I guess I won't be needing XLR connections then
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Lonnie
Emo Staff
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Post by Lonnie on Oct 24, 2010 17:17:02 GMT -5
It is easier to explain with some graphics, but I don't have anything already prepared so I will just go for it and see if it makes any since. Most amps are what is called a single ended design. This would mean that all the audio signal is carried down the speakers positive wire. The speakers negative wire is just a ground return to the start ground (or isolated ground). In a balanced amp (or a better discription would be a differential amp) the speakers positive wire carries the audio signal like above. The speakers negative wire carries the same signal, just 180 degrees out of phase. The advantage to a fully differential design is greater damping factor (within the coil), increased current, higher slew rate, etc. The drawback is cost. Basically you have to build two amp stages vs. one with a single ended design. I hope this makes some since. Thank you! I fully understand that w/o graphics. As an owner of a pair of XPA-1s, in order to obtain this benefit from the amp/preamp combo does one have to specifically use the XLR balanced connections, the RCAs, or does it not matter? Thanks Idealy I would use XLR balanced lines to the amp. Since the amp is fully differential from in to out, this would allow you to take full advantage of what it can offer. The RCA inputs are good, but the single ended audio gets turned into a balanced signal inside the amp. |
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Post by Poodleluvr on Oct 24, 2010 17:34:34 GMT -5
Thank you! I fully understand that w/o graphics. As an owner of a pair of XPA-1s, in order to obtain this benefit from the amp/preamp combo does one have to specifically use the XLR balanced connections, the RCAs, or does it not matter? Thanks Idealy I would use XLR balanced lines to the amp. Since the amp is fully differential from in to out, this would allow you to take full advantage of what it can offer. The RCA inputs are good, but the single ended audio gets turned into a balanced signal inside the amp. Thank you! O'tay, to go along with my pair of XPA-1s, and already purchased pair of Emo XLR cables, all I need now is the pre-orderd XDA-1, and then find another stereo application use for USP-1 on-hand...Thanks again.. |
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RadTech
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X Rayed It!
Posts: 4,462
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Post by RadTech on Oct 24, 2010 18:27:19 GMT -5
How does a true "balanced" amp differ from one that just has XLR connectors? It is easier to explain with some graphics, but I don't have anything already prepared so I will just go for it and see if it makes any since. Most amps are what is called a single ended design. This would mean that all the audio signal is carried down the speakers positive wire. The speakers negative wire is just a ground return to the start ground (or isolated ground). In a balanced amp (or a better discription would be a differential amp) the speakers positive wire carries the audio signal like above. The speakers negative wire carries the same signal, just 180 degrees out of phase. The advantage to a fully differential design is greater damping factor (within the coil), increased current, higher slew rate, etc. The drawback is cost. Basically you have to build two amp stages vs. one with a single ended design. I hope this makes some since. What about the RPA 2 ? |
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Lonnie
Emo Staff
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Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain
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Post by Lonnie on Oct 24, 2010 19:06:02 GMT -5
It is easier to explain with some graphics, but I don't have anything already prepared so I will just go for it and see if it makes any since. Most amps are what is called a single ended design. This would mean that all the audio signal is carried down the speakers positive wire. The speakers negative wire is just a ground return to the start ground (or isolated ground). In a balanced amp (or a better discription would be a differential amp) the speakers positive wire carries the audio signal like above. The speakers negative wire carries the same signal, just 180 degrees out of phase. The advantage to a fully differential design is greater damping factor (within the coil), increased current, higher slew rate, etc. The drawback is cost. Basically you have to build two amp stages vs. one with a single ended design. I hope this makes some since. What about the RPA 2 ? The RPA-2 is a dual tracking class H amp that is single ended. |
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Post by Topend on Oct 24, 2010 20:02:53 GMT -5
My next system for another room:
XDA-1
XPA-1 x2
Adelaide Speakers
Lossless music
Should sound great.
Dave.
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