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Post by corgidog59 on Dec 9, 2010 8:10:00 GMT -5
As a new owner of the XDA-1, I have a few questions.
What makes the XDA-1 such a good / great DAC a compared to other DACs or even DC players? What about the design or build makes it so? If we were to rate it like a bottle of wine on a scale from 1 to 100, where would the XDA-1 fall (focused on the DAC and not pre-amp capabilities). What is the best DAC on the market today and giving that 100 points - where would the XDA-1 fall in the ratings? What about things like filters and jitter and etc. What about the chip used for DAC conversion, how does that rate compared to others? I am not a technical person, my head spins when reading some of the comments on the AVS forum. But having read most of the comments so far I thought it is time to really dig deeper under the "hood" of the XDA-1.
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Post by bdripper on Dec 9, 2010 11:12:05 GMT -5
I would say it would be a top 10 DAC in the under $300.
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Post by corgidog59 on Dec 9, 2010 13:26:28 GMT -5
Most DACs that I have looked at are between $500 and $1,500 (the Brystons and Wadias and etc. are considerably more expensive). There are few audio quality DACs below $300. Another way to look at it, if I was going to give $1,000 with the instructions that you must put it towards a DAC, would you keep the XDA-1 or would you go for another make/brand?
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Post by regulator on Dec 9, 2010 14:05:34 GMT -5
I would say it would be a top 10 DAC in the under $300. Is this based on actual comparisons you've done with DACs in this price range? |
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mrla
Minor Hero
Posts: 73
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Post by mrla on Dec 9, 2010 15:39:38 GMT -5
Most DACs that I have looked at are between $500 and $1,500 (the Brystons and Wadias and etc. are considerably more expensive). There are few audio quality DACs below $300. Another way to look at it, if I was going to give $ 1,000 with the instructions that you must put it towards a DAC, would you keep the XDA-1 or would you go for another make/brand? mhdt, lavry, benchmark... |
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Post by bdripper on Dec 9, 2010 16:38:08 GMT -5
I would not rate it any higher than the $139 firestone Fubar II in the DAC department. What makes it nice is that you can use it as a preamp and most under $300 don't let you do that. But I say most won't notice a difference vs a newer $800 AVR if blind tested.
If I had a good budget, I would look at Benchmark if I was wanting to get wowed.
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Post by bdripper on Dec 9, 2010 16:57:32 GMT -5
And before undies get in a wad, let me clear something up. Emotiva makes excellent products at excellent prices. But I think too many people want to always think that they are getting a $2000 product for pinnies on the dollar.
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Post by ajani on Dec 9, 2010 17:07:07 GMT -5
I have no idea where the XDA-1 would fit in on a scale of 1 to 100... However it will say that IMO it is a fantastic value for money... While I find that the sound of my Benchmark DAC1 outclasses it, the features (remote volume control!) and aesthetics alone of the XDA-1 would be worth more than the asking price... The fact that it also sounds good makes it an easy recommendation...
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Post by oscartheclimber on Dec 9, 2010 17:24:53 GMT -5
Another way to look at it, if I was going to give $1,000 with the instructions that you must put it towards a DAC, would you keep the XDA-1 or would you go for another make/brand? Do I get to pocket the change............... ;D |
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Post by bdripper on Dec 9, 2010 17:25:51 GMT -5
I would love for someone to do a blind test of the XDA vs the DAC Magic. Is there anyone on here that have both?
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Post by sanjaygolf on Dec 9, 2010 17:34:11 GMT -5
For $300 I cant see how anyone could be disappointed with the XDA-1.
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Post by roadrunner on Dec 9, 2010 17:41:57 GMT -5
I understand your desire to dig down under the skin to help you rank the DACs on the Market, but you can't just look at the chip (DAC) used. That would be almost meaningless. The implementation is far more important that the chip that is used; and here is where the value of the XDA-1 shines. The XDA-1 is graced with a very sophisticated, discrete dual differential pre-amp circuit that allows it to compete with the sound quality and flexibility of much more expensive offerings.
You need to assess what you need a DAC for in the first place. Then you evaluate which products will have the features you need to accomplish your goals. You would probably want to choose different DACs depending on what your needs are. Unfortunately, like most everything else in this hobby, you will need to audition products capable of meeting your defined requirements and then select the one that best meets your needs.
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Post by corgidog59 on Dec 9, 2010 19:06:42 GMT -5
Roadrunner - Excellent response. Thank you. I did not want to go down the path of evaluating the XDA-1 purely based upon price rather I was looking for more of a technical perspective.
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