XDA-1

[cawgijoe]

stuofsci02

We get that a good preamp will most likely sound better than an AVR due to it's dedicated function in conjunction with an outboard dac, but your post here makes it sound like an AVR cannot sound good or is a waste with an outboard dac.

That is simply false.

[moodyman]

Dec 23, 2010 10:04:38 GMT -5 stuofsci02 said:

You say "just wrong" and then you follow that up with "I'm sure"..

Point taken...but I just don't believe that there are no AVR's or pre/pro's out there with superb pre-amps in them.

[Chuck Elliot]

Dec 23, 2010 10:35:16 GMT -5 cawgijoe said:

stuofsci02

We get that a good preamp will most likely sound better than an AVR due to it's dedicated function in conjunction with an outboard dac, but your post here makes it sound like an AVR cannot sound good or is a waste with an outboard dac.

That is simply false.

I couldn't agree more!

For the time being I am running the XDA-1 into my Onkyo 808 and using the DSP in the Onkyo for bass management. Yes, another ADC/DAC step.


It still sounds much better than letting the Onkyo do the initial digital conversion. And, I don't mean a little better, it's way better!

[stuofsci02]

Guys, I am not getting on anyones equipment or looking to downplay anyones setup. I completely understand that people are at different levels in this hobby. This is especially true on the Emotiva forum where the equipment tends to be for those with a focus on budget.

Using and AVR (even an expensive one) as a preamp will obviously work, but I will never agree that it will perform at a high level.

[cawgijoe]

Dec 23, 2010 11:03:33 GMT -5 stuofsci02 said:

Guys, I am not getting on anyones equipment or looking to downplay anyones setup. I completely understand that people are at different levels in this hobby. This is especially true on the Emotiva forum where the equipment tends to be for those with a focus on budget.

Using and AVR (even an expensive one) as a preamp will obviously work, but I will never agree that it will perform at a high level.

Check out this Audioholics review on the Denon 5805....preamp section:

www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/denon-avr-5805/denon-avr-5805-measurements-continued

[stuofsci02]

I read the review. What specifically did you want to point out?

[ratmice]

I'm guessing the part where this unit, a processor, beats other units, both processors AND preamps.

[stuofsci02]

Dec 23, 2010 18:52:44 GMT -5 ratmice said:

I'm guessing the part where this unit, a processor, beats other units, both processors AND preamps.

Where does it say this?

[cawgijoe]

Dec 23, 2010 22:51:00 GMT -5 stuofsci02 said:

Dec 23, 2010 18:52:44 GMT -5 ratmice said:

I'm guessing the part where this unit, a processor, beats other units, both processors AND preamps.

Where does it say this?

"Note: The preamp section of the AVR-5805 is benchmark regardless of receivers or processors."

"Thus the SNR was 96dBrA which is phenomenal performance and rarely achieved by high end preamps let alone receivers!"

[stuofsci02]

It says a benchmark for recievers and processors.

I really hope we are not simply going to take a SNR number to prove out audible quality. How did it compare to your AVR when you listened to it?

Have look at the USP-1 SNR numbers (noting that they were done at 2V). And the USP-1 is a cheap preamp.

One other thing to note is that this reviewer preferred stereo listening using Audessey. This leaves me wondering..

[franksonic]

Let's keep it simple and put some facts on the table.

Can i use an AVR and improve sound quality with an outbord DAC? Yes

What is the best way with an AVR to connect the DAC? Using the analog 5.1 or 7.1 inputs

Does a pure analog preamp is better than an AVR most of the time to improve musical quality? Yes.

Simple as that. Playing with words and exception is just a lost of time.

Some things are designed to accomplish precise task, just like a specialized tool. You can do the job without the specialized tool and it's gonna work for sure but using the specialized tool gonna be better most of the time.

[cawgijoe]

Thanks franksonic.

Not wasting any more bandwidth on this one.

Merry Christmas All!

[stuofsci02]

Merry Christmas

[musicmatters1]

Thanks for all the info.

I have a Marantz AV7005. Are the opinions on if the processor in this is better or as good as the XDA-1. Would it make a difference?

[kk]

Dec 23, 2010 10:44:33 GMT -5 Chuck Elliot said:

Dec 23, 2010 10:35:16 GMT -5 cawgijoe said:

stuofsci02

We get that a good preamp will most likely sound better than an AVR due to it's dedicated function in conjunction with an outboard dac, but your post here makes it sound like an AVR cannot sound good or is a waste with an outboard dac.

That is simply false.

I couldn't agree more!

For the time being I am running the XDA-1 into my Onkyo 808 and using the DSP in the Onkyo for bass management. Yes, another ADC/DAC step.


It still sounds much better than letting the Onkyo do the initial digital conversion. And, I don't mean a little better, it's way better!

cfelliot,

I'm surprised to hear that adding XDA-1 in such a way has improved sound quality. How do you connect XDA-1 to Onkyo 808?

[musicmatters1]

Jan 4, 2011 10:24:50 GMT -5 musicmatters1 said:

Thanks for all the info.

I have a Marantz AV7005. Are the opinions on if the processor in this is better or as good as the XDA-1. Would it make a difference?

Anyone???

[Erwin.BE]

Jan 9, 2011 20:34:21 GMT -5 musicmatters1 said:

Jan 4, 2011 10:24:50 GMT -5 musicmatters1 said:

Thanks for all the info.

I have a Marantz AV7005. Are the opinions on if the processor in this is better or as good as the XDA-1. Would it make a difference?

Anyone???

It's not the processor as such you need to compare. I am sure both XDA and AV7005 do well here. But where the XDA-1 would bring you benefit is the better analogue section. So if you use the XDA-1 as a source for the AV7005 and use the pure direct or straight setting or whatever performs no further equalisation, you will have better sound. I can tell you my Oppo 83-SE NE sounds magical if I use it like that with my AVR, be it CD or SACD.

[moovtune]

But doesn't that NuForce Oppo sell for $1500?

[jonsmith]

Hi to all,

I think it is a preamp AND a D/A converter...

A big advantage to this device may be for some that it provides approximately 12 volts gain, which is very substantial and would allow for a _very_ loud signal to be presented to the next device in the signal chain.

Therefore, you can use it to directly drive an amplifier, if all your sources are digital and you don't need a feature like bass management. If you had really efficient speakers, it would probably provide enough voltage that you could dispense with the amplifier entirely.

I agree that the main advantage of this device over others in the same price range could be the discrete analog gain section. But you also have to consider that it also has several features that are not available for anything in the same price range: it also has balanced inputs AND outputs. And a billet aluminum volume control. And a full-size case. And a big power supply. So it's kind of like a preamp in addition to being a d/a converter, since it has an amplifier section in its chassis, and a digital attenuator.

IMHO, if you can forgive it for not playing SACD, it is a great device, and certainly an excellent bargain by any standard.

[Trey]

It can play SACD when using an HDMI to COAX de-embeding device like this.