XDA-1 or ERC-1 QUESTION

[browe1967]

Call me dumb but I am curious.

The ERC-1 is a reference quality cd player.
The XDA-1 is a reference quality DAC.

I have an older Sony 5-disc DVD/CD player. If I wanted to be wow'd, how would I go about using either one?

Can I use my Sony DVD player to the XDA-1? If so, how do I shut off the internal DAC or can I not do that?

Or would I need ERC, would I still need a XDA-1 with an ERC?

[UT-Driven]

Jan 5, 2011 14:08:45 GMT -5 browe1967 said:

Call me dumb but I am curious.

The ERC-1 is a reference quality cd player.
The XDA-1 is a reference quality DAC.

I have an older Sony 5-disc DVD/CD player. If I wanted to be wow'd, how would I go about using either one?

Can I use my Sony DVD player to the XDA-1? If so, how do I shut off the internal DAC or can I not do that?

Or would I need ERC, would I still need a XDA-1 with an ERC?

Yes, you can use your Sony DVD player with the XDA-1. When you use the digital out from the player, you are bypassing the DAC. You hook up the player to the XDA-1 using either an optical or Coax digital cable, depending on which one the player uses. If it has both, you can make the choice.

You don't need the XDA-1 with an ERC-1, since you can use the analog outputs from the ERC-1. The XDA-1 is supposed to be an improvement over the ERC-1 analog output though.

Doug

[paintedklown]

If your Sony has either a coaxial or optical digital output, then you can use it with the XDA-1. When you use the digital outputs (instead of the analog RCA stereo outs) you are the bypassing the Sonys internal DAC. This essentially turns your CDplayer into a transport, and the XDA-1 handles everything from there. The XDA-1 has balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA analog outputs.
The great thing about the XDA-1 is that it can be used as a line level peice of gear, or as a pre-amp.

Hope that helps.

[browe1967]

My Sony does have an optical out. So my cd sound would definately be better with the XDA?

paintedklown: That would expalin why if I use the rca vs. optical with my reciever, I have 2 different types of sound. I will have to do some A/B listening to determine if my Yamaha reciever has a better quality sound, DAC, than the Sony.

Thanks to both of you.

Optical out from cd player, in to the XDA, out to my reciever's cd analog in, reciever out to amps?and it would bypass my recievers DAC?

[browe1967]

I posted this sort of wuestion on AVS forum and I have to say, the people over there pretty much suck.

I am happy this place exists.

Thank you emofreaks!

[browe1967]

And by the way. My receiver DAC seems to sound cleaner with the optical input than the cd DAC does. The cd player seems to play with more gusto but not as clean. The receiver has better vocals but not the balls of the cd player. I am torn between the two sounds. I like the fullness of the cd player but also the clarity of my receiver decoder....

Sometimes I hate this hobby

[RPA-1 man]

I know what you mean about this hobby. Some days one particular piece of gear may sound better than another. Than it will be the opposite on another day. I think it depends on ones mood on that particular day.