XDA-1

[DC]

Jan 16, 2011 19:02:10 GMT -5 jonsmith said:

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.

[DC]

Hi Jonsmith,

I'm wondering about the same thing too, currently using a 'Bel Canto' dac with the pre section therefore no need to use another preamp. But did I miss anything? Debating with myself whether to get the XSP-1 when it's available & what improvement can XSP-1 offers in terms of SQ (Basically only plays CDs, so no need for the xtra inputs & outputs)
My understanding of preamp are that they are more like volume control/attenuator so if by using the pre of my dac, i have a shorter path & at the same time save on the preamp + cable .
Any experts out there that can advise & comment?

[stahldar]

I currently connect my CDP via digital cable to a Music Hall DAC 25.3 then via standard RCA interconnects to the CD/Analog inputs on my UMC-1. UMC-1 displays DIRECT in this configuration. Is this method going to yield the best sound or is there a better way?

[bobbyt]

Jan 16, 2011 19:02:10 GMT -5 jonsmith said:

I think it is a preamp AND a D/A converter
...
Therefore, you can use it to directly drive an amplifier
...
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.

Jan 16, 2011 21:05:52 GMT -5 DC said:

currently using a 'Bel Canto' dac with the pre section therefore no need to use another preamp
...
My understanding of preamp are that they are more like volume control/attenuator so if by using the pre of my dac, i have a shorter path & at the same time save on the preamp + cable

I keep seeing stuff like this posted. A lot of you guys seem to think this is a DAC that happens to have a volume control, and it's doing some trick by running without a preamp.

It's a DAC/preamp combo. They put both into one box, the same way a CD player is a transport and DAC in one box, or an integrated amp is a preamp and power amp in one box.

It's meant to take a source signal, convert to analog, preamplify, and send it to the power amp. It has the added feature of being able to send a signal to a preamp instead, but "volume control" and "preamp" are synonymous. It's meant to be both and connect straight to your power amp(s).

[mobileusa]

Looks like AudutopiA (www.horen.lifeme.net) is giving away a free Onix DAC25...FYI

[Deleted]

I see in the manual it states that you shouldn't use a USB cord longer then 2 meters. I need to use one that is 30 feet long. Since i use my laptop on the couch.
Will this be a problem?

Anybody out there using long cords?

[roadrunner]

Feb 7, 2011 19:56:04 GMT -5 @kraemerkid2119 said:

I see in the manual it states that you shouldn't use a USB cord longer then 2 meters. I need to use one that is 30 feet long. Since i use my laptop on the couch.
Will this be a problem?

Anybody out there using long cords?

Don't even think about it. USB cords that long is a guarantee of problems if it works at all. You should think about how you can use digital inputs to the XDA-1 if you must use cables that long. USB is not designed to function with cables that long.

[Lonnie]

Feb 7, 2011 19:56:04 GMT -5 @kraemerkid2119 said:

I see in the manual it states that you shouldn't use a USB cord longer then 2 meters. I need to use one that is 30 feet long. Since i use my laptop on the couch.
Will this be a problem?

Anybody out there using long cords?

If you can get a cable that long to work, it will just work. The problem you will run into is that as the cable gets longer the capacitance of the cable will cause issues with lock and communication between the computer and the DAC. You could also run into issues with the long cables picking up electrical noise which could cause issues with the threshold.

But give it a try, you can't hurt it and it may just work.

[Lonnie]

Feb 7, 2011 21:07:38 GMT -5 roadrunner said:

Feb 7, 2011 19:56:04 GMT -5 @kraemerkid2119 said:

I see in the manual it states that you shouldn't use a USB cord longer then 2 meters. I need to use one that is 30 feet long. Since i use my laptop on the couch.
Will this be a problem?

Anybody out there using long cords?

Don't even think about it. USB cords that long is a guarantee of problems if it works at all. You should think about how you can use digital inputs to the XDA-1 if you must use cables that long. USB is not designed to function with cables that long.

Excellent point. If you have to run that far an optical cable would be a far better option.

[Deleted]

I have a MacBook. I wonder how I could get audio to the XDA-1 without using the USB??

[jlafrenz]

Feb 7, 2011 21:21:29 GMT -5 @kraemerkid2119 said:

I have a MacBook. I wonder how I could get audio to the XDA-1 without using the USB??

Doesn't your MacBook have optical out? It is probably a propriety optical connection, but typically MacBooks have it.

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2011 21:33:08 GMT -5 jlafrenz said:

Feb 7, 2011 21:21:29 GMT -5 @kraemerkid2119 said:

I have a MacBook. I wonder how I could get audio to the XDA-1 without using the USB??

Doesn't your MacBook have optical out? It is probably a propriety optical connection, but typically MacBooks have it.

I can use a toslink optical to mini plug. The macbook will accept this. But will i be getting poor sound this way?

I found this in the USB website:

Q1: How long of a cable can I use to connect my device?
A1: In practice, the USB specification limits the length of a cable between full speed devices to 5 meters (a little under 16 feet 5 inches). For a low speed device the limit is 3 meters (9 feet 10 inches).

I could run the cord straight at the couch going under the area rug. Which would be less then 12 feet.

[rygher3]

Mini Optical is the same as Optical with a different connector. That is currently what I use to go to my receiver (and will use that to go to the XDA-1)

[Deleted]

Do i need to use the USB to have my Macbook recognize that the XDA-1 is an external sound card or will it do this with the mini optical? which i don't think it will since it's the headphone jack

[roadrunner]

Feb 7, 2011 21:37:56 GMT -5 @kraemerkid2119 said:

Feb 7, 2011 21:33:08 GMT -5 jlafrenz said:

Doesn't your MacBook have optical out? It is probably a propriety optical connection, but typically MacBooks have it.

I can use a toslink optical to mini plug. The macbook will accept this. But will i be getting poor sound this way?

I found this in the USB website:

Q1: How long of a cable can I use to connect my device?
A1: In practice, the USB specification limits the length of a cable between full speed devices to 5 meters (a little under 16 feet 5 inches). For a low speed device the limit is 3 meters (9 feet 10 inches).

I could run the cord straight at the couch going under the area rug. Which would be less then 12 feet.

Yes, the toslink optical connection would work fine... much better than the USB connection. There will be no deterioration in SQ using digital optical connection.

[Deleted]

I found the cable on Monoprice for less then 10 bucks. Thanks for everyones input. Now i just have to wait till Emo gets more in XDA-1's that is ;D

[rygher3]

Feb 7, 2011 21:57:09 GMT -5 @kraemerkid2119 said:

Do i need to use the USB to have my Macbook recognize that the XDA-1 is an external sound card or will it do this with the mini optical? which i don't think it will since it's the headphone jack

Using mini optical it won't see it as an external sound card, but that does not change anything. It is output as digital and the settings can be changed in the Audio Midi Setup. It will be listed as 'Digital Out'.

[Deleted]

So would getting XDA-1 be pointless? The DAC in the XDA-1 is very nice i hear but is it close to the one in my DHC 9.9?

[bobbyt]

Going from USB to S/PDIF shouldn't change whether the XDA is a better choice than your receiver.

I haven't heard your particular model, but assume the XDA's dedicated DAC + pre will do a better job than the components in your receiver. Which connection you use shouldn't have much effect, except that the Toslink is good for 30+ feet.

[srb]

Now that the User Manual is officially posted on the website, I see that like the unofficial PDF that was circulating, it still states that the panel dim button cycles through an all lights off setting. Mine didn't have a lights off setting. Does anyone somehow have that feature?

Steve