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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2011 3:44:07 GMT -5
Got my USP-1 and XDA-1 today. I was so excited to get them hooked up but now that they are i want to return them. I run an toslink from my Macbook Pro to the XDA-1. Then balanced to my XPA-5. With my bluray and directv i run analog L/R to my USP-1. Then unbalanced to my XPA-5. The XDA-1 at .5 is to loud for being .5 lol. The USP-1 is way worse. From quiet to clicking the volume up button on the remote 4 times gets to around 70db  Am i doing something wrong? I have my directv to output PCM. |
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Post by CrazyBlue on Feb 23, 2011 4:45:00 GMT -5
So you're using the XDA-1 as pre for your Macbook and the USP-1 as pre for your other sources?
I run the XDA-1 at 80.0 and use the USP-1 for volume control. I can get to 1:00 before my ears start to bleed too bad. ;D
The remote jumps the volume around 3dB / "push" and those are quick-draw pushes. This is one minor issue some have with the USP-1. It's not an issue for me. If I want the last bit of fine control, I get up and turn the knob. It's on the way to the beer.
The XDA-1 volume control works fine, but that's through the USP-1, so settings are relative to it.
I'd suggest running your DirecTV and bluray through the XDA-1 as well. My DirecTV sounds way better than running analog out. I'll post my analog-out vs. XDA-1 findings on whatever BRP I get when I get it. But I seriously doubt if the Sony's DAC and output stage are in the same league as the XDA-1. So I'd either use all three through the XDA-1 as preamp or all three through it into the USP-1 and then to your amp. You're sort of robbing two of your sources of possible SQ the way you're set up. The USP-1 can only reproduce what it's fed.
I did try using the XDA-1 straight to my UPA-1's and it sounds really good. But I didn't think it sounded all that much better than running it through the USP-1. Of course that's with only about 1/2 hour of listening and through my old speakers (the new ones won't arrive for a few more days). To my ears though, I like the presentation through the preamp better so far. Smoother and a bit less in-your-face, but with all the detail intact.
We'll see what better speakers have to say about it by next week.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2011 5:00:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply. I redid my configuration. Everything going into the XDA-1 sounds wonderful. Listening to it most of the day, .5 is actually a very nice volume for night time. That's usually when i sit on the couch and watch tv. It just makes me mad that it jumps from perfectly quiet to what .5 is lol I'm going to return the USP-1. Figure it is a waste to have it in my setup because the XDA-1 will do a better job  |
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Post by roadrunner on Feb 23, 2011 13:08:46 GMT -5
kraemerkid Before you return the USP-1, you might want to check using your sub woofer by taking advantage of the USP-1's analog bass management. Even full range speakers sound better with a good tight musical sub to supplement the lower frequencies. It sounds like your speakers are very efficient to produce normal listening volume at 0.5. Since Emotiva changed the volume stepping to logarithmic, most users have a much larger useful range for controlling volume. The 0.5 was fairly common when the stepping was linear. The remote control for the USP-1 requires very quick stabs to make small adjustment to volume, especially with high efficient speakers. It takes some practice to learn to make small adjustments. If the USP/XDA are part of a stand-alone 2-channel system, you may not need the USP for its HT ByPass switching which allows you to share speakers, subs and amplification with your HT system. There are other ways to use a sub with the XDA-1, but none of them are as elegant or as easy to use as the USP-1's analog bass management. The USP-1 is one of the quietest pre-amps on the market with top quality phono stage and a great headphone amp. The USP-1's specs are superb: Signal to Noise Ratio 120dB at 2V THD <0.002% from 0Hz to 80KHz Frequency Response 5Hz to 80KHz with less than 0.014% deviation If you have or plan on obtaining additional analog components, the USP-1 would be invaluable to you. Evaluate how the USP-1 fits your needs now and in the foreseeable future. Depending on your needs, you may have no need for it, but it could also be very valuable in adding to your listening pleasure. When I installed my USP-1, its audible performance improved over the first 30 to 40 hours of use. What ever you decide to do, enjoy listening to your new toys.  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2011 13:17:30 GMT -5
kraemerkid Before you return the USP-1, you might want to check using your sub woofer by taking advantage of the USP-1's analog bass management. Even full range speakers sound better with a good tight musical sub to supplement the lower frequencies. It sounds like your speakers are very efficient to produce normal listening volume at 0.5. Since Emotiva changed the volume stepping to logarithmic, most users have a much larger useful range for controlling volume. The 0.5 was fairly common when the stepping was linear. The remote control for the USP-1 requires very quick stabs to make small adjustment to volume, especially with high efficient speakers. It takes some practice to learn to make small adjustments. If the USP/XDA are part of a stand-alone 2-channel system, you may not need the USP for its HT ByPass switching which allows you to share speakers, subs and amplification with your HT system. There are other ways to use a sub with the XDA-1, but none of them are as elegant or as easy to use as the USP-1's analog bass management. The USP-1 is one of the quietest pre-amps on the market with top quality phono stage and a great headphone amp. The USP-1's specs are superb: Signal to Noise Ratio 120dB at 2V THD <0.002% from 0Hz to 80KHz Frequency Response 5Hz to 80KHz with less than 0.014% deviation If you have or plan on obtaining additional analog components, the USP-1 would be invaluable to you. Evaluate how the USP-1 fits your needs now and in the foreseeable future. Depending on your needs, you may have no need for it, but it could also be very valuable in adding to your listening pleasure. When I installed my USP-1, its audible performance improved over the first 30 to 40 hours of use. What ever you decide to do, enjoy listening to your new toys. I wonder if my XDA-1 is linear? |
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Post by UT-Driven on Feb 23, 2011 17:00:22 GMT -5
kraemerkid Before you return the USP-1, you might want to check using your sub woofer by taking advantage of the USP-1's analog bass management. Even full range speakers sound better with a good tight musical sub to supplement the lower frequencies. It sounds like your speakers are very efficient to produce normal listening volume at 0.5. Since Emotiva changed the volume stepping to logarithmic, most users have a much larger useful range for controlling volume. The 0.5 was fairly common when the stepping was linear. The remote control for the USP-1 requires very quick stabs to make small adjustment to volume, especially with high efficient speakers. It takes some practice to learn to make small adjustments. If the USP/XDA are part of a stand-alone 2-channel system, you may not need the USP for its HT ByPass switching which allows you to share speakers, subs and amplification with your HT system. There are other ways to use a sub with the XDA-1, but none of them are as elegant or as easy to use as the USP-1's analog bass management. The USP-1 is one of the quietest pre-amps on the market with top quality phono stage and a great headphone amp. The USP-1's specs are superb: Signal to Noise Ratio 120dB at 2V THD <0.002% from 0Hz to 80KHz Frequency Response 5Hz to 80KHz with less than 0.014% deviation If you have or plan on obtaining additional analog components, the USP-1 would be invaluable to you. Evaluate how the USP-1 fits your needs now and in the foreseeable future. Depending on your needs, you may have no need for it, but it could also be very valuable in adding to your listening pleasure. When I installed my USP-1, its audible performance improved over the first 30 to 40 hours of use. What ever you decide to do, enjoy listening to your new toys. I wonder if my XDA-1 is linear? It isn't supposed to be linear. I asked to get mine with the update and was told that all of the new units will be shipping with it. Doug |
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Post by medoras on Feb 28, 2011 9:25:30 GMT -5
I'd suggest running your DirecTV and bluray through the XDA-1 as well. My DirecTV sounds way better than running analog out. I'll post my analog-out vs. XDA-1 findings on whatever BRP I get when I get it. I have a somewhat related question. I just bought an XPA-2 and XDA-1 to connect to my MacBook Pro and am happy with the results using it via the Toslink port. I am not interested in surround sound or home theater but I am looking to connect my Samsung HDTV to the XPA-2/XDA-1 combo so I can listen to my TV/satellite through my Maggies. I noticed that there is a 2nd. Toslink port on the XDA-1 and there is also an Optical Digital Audio output on the Samsung. Can I use a Toslink cable to connect the two or is there another way I can use the XDA-1 to listen to my TV through my speakers? |
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Post by jmilton on Feb 28, 2011 9:34:49 GMT -5
I'd suggest running your DirecTV and bluray through the XDA-1 as well. My DirecTV sounds way better than running analog out. I'll post my analog-out vs. XDA-1 findings on whatever BRP I get when I get it. I have a somewhat related question. I just bought an XPA-2 and XDA-1 to connect to my MacBook Pro and am happy with the results using it via the Toslink port. I am not interested in surround sound or home theater but I am looking to connect my Samsung HDTV to the XPA-2/XDA-1 combo so I can listen to my TV/satellite through my Maggies. I noticed that there is a 2nd. Toslink port on the XDA-1 and there is also an Optical Digital Audio output on the Samsung. Can I use a Toslink cable to connect the two or is there another way I can use the XDA-1 to listen to my TV through my speakers? Yes, you can connect the Sammy via optical to the XDA, then to a processor or directly to an amp... if the Sammy has stereo PCM outputs. |
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Post by medoras on Feb 28, 2011 13:08:38 GMT -5
Excuse my newbie question however, when you say "connect the Sammy via optical to the XDA, then to a processor" I thought the XDA-1 IS the processor so the connection should be Sammy>>XDA-1>>XDA-2>>speakers.
Is that correct?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2011 13:11:13 GMT -5
Excuse my newbie question however, when you say "connect the Sammy via optical to the XDA, then to a processor" I thought the XDA-1 IS the processor so the connection should be Sammy>>XDA-1>>XDA-2>>speakers. Is that correct? This is correct I run 3 sources into mine and love it. |
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Post by jmilton on Feb 28, 2011 14:05:44 GMT -5
Excuse my newbie question however, when you say "connect the Sammy via optical to the XDA, then to a processor" I thought the XDA-1 IS the processor so the connection should be Sammy>>XDA-1>>XDA-2>>speakers. Is that correct? This is correct I run 3 sources into mine and love it. As long as the XDA-2 is really an XPA-2...yes, yes you can. |
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Post by medoras on Feb 28, 2011 15:50:24 GMT -5
This is correct I run 3 sources into mine and love it. As long as the XDA-2 is really an XPA-2...yes, yes you can. Yes it is an XPA-2 - a typo on my part. Thanks for all your help. |
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