XSP-1

[briank]

Assignable inputs would be nice. :-)

[Lonnie]

May 12, 2011 10:20:50 GMT -5 mikyss said:

Can anyone tell if XSP-1 will have a loudness switch ?

Nope, but it does have tone controls that can be bypassed on the fly via the remote.

L

[Lonnie]

May 12, 2011 12:53:48 GMT -5 briank said:

Assignable inputs would be nice. :-)

I'm a little confused. Since it doesn't do video and is strictly an analog pre-amp, then how would assignable inputs be useful?

A little more info woudl be fab.

Thanks,

L

[mikyss]

As far as I understand the "loudness" feature is used to compensate for ear´s non-linearity at low volume, increasing bass and treble. Isn´t actually quite mandatory to have this feature ? I use it in my current setup and it does a hell of a difference.

[monkumonku]

May 12, 2011 14:04:33 GMT -5 mikyss said:

As far as I understand the "loudness" feature is used to compensate for ear´s non-linearity at low volume, increasing bass and treble. Isn´t actually quite mandatory to have this feature ? I use it in my current setup and it does a hell of a difference.

The way I see it, the goal of a product such as the XSP-1 is to as faithfully reproduce the source signal as much as possible, without alteration - that means without adding any noise or distortion to it, but instead it would be like what is often called a "straight wire with gain." It simply amplifies the source.

When you introduce things that alter the sound (such as tone controls, or loudness contours), each of these will add a bit of distortion and noise to the original source.

It isn't mandatory to compensate for a perceived lack of bass at lower volumes - if you were listening to a performance live at those same volumes your ears would hear the same thing. While having a loudness feature might be helpful, I think the goal of the XSP-1 is to alter the signal as little as possible.

[mikyss]

Thanks monkumonku...

As "loudness" is normally selected (or not) through a switch, I personally would welcome it...

[Kidchewie]

May 12, 2011 13:01:03 GMT -5 Lonnie said:

May 12, 2011 12:53:48 GMT -5 briank said:

Assignable inputs would be nice. :-)

I'm a little confused. Since it doesn't do video and is strictly an analog pre-amp, then how would assignable inputs be useful?

A little more info woudl be fab.

Thanks,

L

I think what he may be referring to and if so I agree, would be instead of the display reading "BAL 1" or "INPUT 2" you could assign/program "INPUT 1" to read "CD" or "ERC-2" or "PHONO" on the display.

[briank]

May 12, 2011 17:41:06 GMT -5 Kidchewie said:

May 12, 2011 13:01:03 GMT -5 Lonnie said:

I'm a little confused. Since it doesn't do video and is strictly an analog pre-amp, then how would assignable inputs be useful?

A little more info woudl be fab.

Thanks,

L

I think what he may be referring to and if so I agree, would be instead of the display reading "BAL 1" or "INPUT 2" you could assign/program "INPUT 1" to read "CD" or "ERC-2" or "PHONO" on the display.

Exactly what I meant! Thanks kidchewie. Us old folks forget which input goes with which source component so an option to assign or "label" an input on the screen would be sweet.

[geebo]

May 12, 2011 15:04:54 GMT -5 monkumonku said:

May 12, 2011 14:04:33 GMT -5 mikyss said:

As far as I understand the "loudness" feature is used to compensate for ear´s non-linearity at low volume, increasing bass and treble. Isn´t actually quite mandatory to have this feature ? I use it in my current setup and it does a hell of a difference.

The way I see it, the goal of a product such as the XSP-1 is to as faithfully reproduce the source signal as much as possible, without alteration - that means without adding any noise or distortion to it, but instead it would be like what is often called a "straight wire with gain." It simply amplifies the source.

When you introduce things that alter the sound (such as tone controls, or loudness contours), each of these will add a bit of distortion and noise to the original source.

It isn't mandatory to compensate for a perceived lack of bass at lower volumes - if you were listening to a performance live at those same volumes your ears would hear the same thing. While having a loudness feature might be helpful, I think the goal of the XSP-1 is to alter the signal as little as possible.

Agreed. While in theory, the loudness compensation may be a good idea, there are WAY to many variables to think one could have one setting to match every room, and every speaker, and every individual. Simple tone controls with perhaps selectable crossover points would be my preference.

[wc]

Does the XSP have a rec out/tape out dual RCAs with a fixed output? I didn't see any in the photos of the prototype.

[jamrock]

2011, and we are talking about the usefulness of loudness compensation switch and tone controls? These 2 very, for lack of a better word, "perfunctory equalizing" features of the analog age, were designed to compensate for the lack of human sensitivity of bass frequencies at low volumes. Ever heard of THE SUBWOOFER? Even true full range speakers can benefit from the use of a good subwoofer. Try it. You might like it. And move into the 21st century!

[Deleted]

The Fletcher-Munson curves affect much more than just the subwoofer range. It not only affects both low and high frequencies but varies with loudness (volume). A quality loudness control's effect varies in degree with the volume of the signal versus the frequencies corrected. A high quality loudness compensation would be very nice for lower volume listening but would probably mortify the "audiophiles." What good is that pure unadulterated sound if you can't hear it?


www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=loudnesscontrol_ts

[mikyss]

Thanks chukienut on your explanation and article on why "loudness" just makes the system sound good...

I want "loudness" on my XSP-1...hehehehe...

Otherwise I think I will keep my current preamp who has it, and makes me happy...hehehehe

XSP-1 is way better than my old vintage preamp, however, the lack of loudness will make it just sound worse at the volumes level I use to hear.

[jamrock]

My argument is not that using loudness compensation and tone controls might not sound good to some. And hearing is subjective enough to allow for that. However, I thought that audiophiles were trying to hear what was recorded onto the source without any alteration. Therefore, audio should be played back at levels where you don't have to change the frequency response in order to hear properly all of what were recorded.

I do understand those times when one might not be able to do playback at those levels (late night, not wanting to wake a sleeping baby, miserable neighbors, etc). However, you will have to admit that anything that changes the frequency of the original signal, no matter for whatever 'good' purpose, cannot be accurate or ideal.

That saying, I fully respect the right of every 'audiophile' to muck up the sound their systems produce to their hearts content. I sometimes try to change the playback of recordings I 'subjectively' believe are not ideally mastered. It all comes down to preferences, and that has no right answer I guess

[RPA-1 man]

I realize we're talking about "Loudness" compensation but along those lines I have been using a DBX 231 eq for the past couple of months. If this makes me less of a audiophile I can live with that. I thought my system sounded fine before the eq, but imo the eq brought it to the next level as far as my ears as concerned. I use it judiciously though.

[mikyss]

So Emotiva, having a Loudness switch would make everbody happy. For the purist, just keep it turned OFF.

I keep it ON all times..

[kse]

Well, I patiently looked and waited for an RSP-1 to hit the used market in large part because it has tone controls. And lack thereof the reason a USP-1 never found a home in my rack.

The fact that the audiophile press/industry has us brainwashed that tone controls are no good is absolute rubbish. Take a piece of music that you love that may not have the best production quality. If by adjusting the tone you can make it sound better to YOUR EARS, then so be it.

[ausman]

things that need eq's tape, cd players and phono, problem is not all music is the same when comparing eq vs non eq..

toning controls are a must for eqing treble and bass responses

[Poodleluvr]

Adcom appears to have came out with a new 2-channel pre-amp, the GFP-815.

See link:

www.adcom-usa.com/gfp-815

C'mon Emotiva! -- At LEAST, where is the promised specification sheet for the XSP-1 ??

Please deliver soon. Let us see the specs! Thanks!

[savjac]

As long as everyone is asking for things to be included in a product that has been designed by folks that seem to know what they are doing I would like to add one request.
Can the XSP -1 get me breakfast and coffee ? That would be really nice Mr. and Ms. designers.
Thank You