XDA-1 vs Onkyo 5507

[vishal]

dragonhd95,
CD Player? What's that? :-)
Seriously though, about 6 yrs ago I went fully digital. As in I ripped all my media and moved to using a PC as my source. I could stick the CD in the DVD drive but since I am already using lossless that should make no difference. Heck I cant even tell 320kbps apart from lossless .

As for coax vs usb - I could put in a sound card that has SPDIF but I dont feel that is necessary since my media source is all 16/44.1. So using the USB input of XDa is not robbing it of fidelity.

I dont have a standalone CD player so I cant run that test. Hmmm wait a minute, I do have an XBox that puts out optical. Maybe I will try that. Thanks for the idea.
PS1: We seem to have components in common. How are you using your XDA? Do you see an improvement with it compared to using the dacs in UMC/ERC/OPPO?
PS2: How do you like that Sub 12? I am planning to get the Sub10 to complement the Maggie 1.7. Thoughts?

[dragonhd95]

Vishal,

Yes, I did compared. OPP93 > XDA-1 > XPA-1> 1.7 is sounded better than ERC-1 > USP-1 > XPA-1 > 1.7 setup. The only different XDA-1 setup is used balance cables and other using unbalance.

And DAC in ERC-1 is better than UMC-1. I know my system is sounded very good compare to Mac system (MA6600 integrated amp and CD player, over 10K) that I did audition of 1.7 speakers at the dealer.

I think it has to be with your media source. Good luck with your testing.

Update: link about USB
victrolax.blogspot.com/2011/02/still-evangelizing-now-as-ubiquitous-as.html

[12elfthfloor]

Hi,

Update

I have now done the comparison in addition to the ones i did above.

1.CD to XDA balanced to Onkyo (pure audio) balanced to XPA 1

2.CD to XDA balanced to XPA 1

No difference. And dammit i have tried.

Thoughts

Onkyo 5507 pre/pro

I guess, the Onkyo works better than i perhaps gave it credit for. In both pure Audio mode and the internal DAC. It cost $2800 local.

+1 for Onkyo, well done.

Emotiva XDA 1

Whilst it gave me no noticeable change, it does what it says it should do. It cost $530 local.

+1 for Emotiva

Conclusion
Thanks Emotiva, I am really enjoying the experience and affordability of trying different audio options. The XDA 1 is staying in my rack, why? why not.


Note to Emotiva,

Points to note on opening the box; (Think resale)
1.No trigger cable included (should be? AMPs did)
2.No instruction book included
3.Front aluminium trim right side misaligned
4.Broken hatch on one of the optical inputs

You've got me hooked, but please ensure your quality assurance is top notch, I have now purchased 6 pieces of Emotiva products. This would be the 3rd which would require repair out of the box. Your website states that all products are tested prior to shipment to overseas clients. My experience to date does not confirm this. Whilst Emotiva after sales is good, the cost to return is prohibitive and the turnaround time and posting of spare parts lengthy for the client and expensive for Emotiva.

Cheers