cranks
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Post by cranks on May 12, 2012 0:25:44 GMT -5
Hi gang! This is my second post here so please be gentle! I am seriously considering buying and XDA-1 and plugging it into my system to listen to my CD collection. My current setup is:- UMC-1 Airmotiv 6's as mains & centre channel Oppo BDP-93 for movies and cd's - connected to UMC-1 via HDMI cable for both DVD/Blurays and CD's Foxtel IQ HD satellite box I currently enjoy the sound of DVD and bluray's but feel something is missing with CD's. By something missing I meaning a little more depth and character if you know what I mean?? Something that I miss after parting with my Marantz CD/DVD player. It's not that I dislike the sound, it's like I feel there is more I can get from this setup. I know this type of topic is very subjective and not being totally au fait with all things technical, I thought the Lounge could help me with some pearls of wisdom?? Thanks for taking the time to read my post  |
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Post by GreenKiwi on May 12, 2012 2:21:17 GMT -5
How were you thinking of connecting it up? Passing it through the UMC-1? Or as a separate system?
If a separate system, then I say go for it. If it's for your HT system, I might be tempted to simply save that money and put it into getting a XMC-1. While it's sound quality is probably in between the XDA-1 and UMC-1, it will be an improvement and have balanced outs to the Airmotiv 6s.
The flip side is that you can always try it with the 30 day trial... and/or just put it into a second system.
I love my XDA-1.
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Post by Topend on May 12, 2012 7:42:56 GMT -5
I got the XDA-1 to integrate into my UMC-1 so I could pass analog to my second 2nd zone and direct to my main zone. It was an improvement in SQ.
In your case if the second zone is not a priority like it was for me, I would suggest you will get an even better sound by getting a USP-1 and connecting the analog out on your Oppo 93. The Oppo has a great sounding DAC and nothing will be lost as it passes through the USP-1. You would also get quality analog bass management in the USP-1.
I have the Oppo 93 and the USP -1 so can vouch for this setup.
Dave.
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stiehl11
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Post by stiehl11 on May 12, 2012 8:12:46 GMT -5
I know that this may sound like heresy but I think you'd get your biggest improvement with changing your speakers. The UMC is a fine pre/pro and there's not much more that can be said about the Oppo that hasn't been said many times before on this forum and others. While the Airmotiv 6 is by no means a shabby speaker it is no match for, say, a pair of ERT 8.3 and a XPA-2 (or UPA-2 for that matter) when listening to music. Generally speaking; movies are less exacting on speakers than music (yes, there are exceptions; hence the word generally).
There should be no difference between your old Marantz and the Oppo pending that they were connected the same way. The reason that I say this is that if you're using HDMI as the interconnect from "shinny disc player" to UMC-1 then all you're doing is transferring 1's and 0's to the UMC-1. The Marantz doesn't do anything special to the 1's and 0's before sending them to the UMC and the Oppo doesn't do anything detrimental to them. Unless you've changed up the settings in the UMC when you changed "shinny disc players" the UMC is converting the same 1's and 0's the same way regardless of what player you've got hooked up. The UMC has a equal opportunity DAC.
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Post by geebo on May 12, 2012 8:15:29 GMT -5
The XDA is on clearance so no 30 day trial. All sales are final.
Having said that, I have and use one regularly when listening to flacs stored on a hard drive connected to the BDP-93 or with CDs. There is just something different when playing it thru the analog input of the UMC and "direct" mode that I like better when compared to a digital connection to the UMC. Some say a wider soundstage but I don't get that. I think better seperation/isolation of the individual instruments and vocals is what I hear. Maybe its an illusion but to me its real and I like it. I would buy it again especially at the current pricing.
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stiehl11
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Post by stiehl11 on May 12, 2012 8:21:29 GMT -5
I do agree that the Oppo has a better DAC. I think that if the OP wants to better his sound he should go analog out of the Oppo to the UMC and see if that improves his sound. But, there should be no difference in sound if he had both his Marantz and the Oppo hooked up with HDMI.
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Post by G-Man on May 12, 2012 8:28:59 GMT -5
+1 for running analog out from your Oppo to the UMC-1.
You might also consider adding a subwoofer to manage the bottom end.
When looking for better sound, you'll get the biggest improvement from upgrading the weakest link in the system. In your case, the DAC is probably not the weakest link as the other posters have pointed out.
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stiehl11
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Post by stiehl11 on May 12, 2012 13:04:32 GMT -5
^^^HUH???
The DACs in the Oppo and UMC-1 are fine. They're not XMC-1 or BDP-95 fine; but better than most. There should be no difference in the sound of his system if the UMC-1 was doing all the decoding whether for the Marantz or the Oppo. While the Airmotiv 6s are good speakers for what they are they are no match for some of the other offerings from Emotiva or for a lot of other brands for that matter. To put it another way; The Airmotiv 6 is, roughly, $350 each ($700 a pair) and that's with not one but two amplifiers in it! The other speaker that Emo sells that comes closest to it is the XRM 6.1 at (normal price) $499... each! With no amplifier! So, we know that those amplifiers in the Airmotiv 6s aren't free and they're pretty nice which means that the cabinet, crossover(s), and drivers have to be even less than $350. Emotiva is not a company that takes advantage of its customers and if the XRM 6.1 cost the same as the cabinet, crossover(s), and drivers of the Airmotiv 6 then they would sell it for less than the Airmotiv 6. So, we have to assume that the XRM 6.1 has better components in it.
Where I'm getting at with all this is that, though very nice, the Airmotiv 6 speakers the OP is using are a bargain solution when compared to the rest of his gear and are not the best for reproducing music; just the best at a price point. They are the weakest link in his setup.
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Post by texasnav on May 12, 2012 14:40:18 GMT -5
I had a old Pioneer Elite SACD/DVD-A player and when I ran it through the XDA-1 there was a noticeable difference, even to my parents who dont listen to music. Once I got the Oppo 93 I was curious so I went and did a little test between the Oppo 93 straight to the Receiver and then through the XDA-1. I really couldn’t tell a difference when I hooked it up that way. Now, I was using Klipsch lower end speakers at the time so that was definitely my weakest link. I dont know anything about the Aitmotiv 6 speakers so I cant say if that is the weakest link or not. I do agree that cranks needs to use analog out on the Oppo to get the best sound from it.
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cranks
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Post by cranks on May 13, 2012 1:51:14 GMT -5
Many thanks to everyone who has replied...
I greatly appreciate all the comments and advise and will explore running analogue outs from the Oppo and hold off the purchase of an XDA-1 for a little longer!
Cheers!!
Update...
My Oppo BDP-93 does not have analogue outs. I have made a minor adjustment on the UMC-1 and set input to Direct from Stereo which has improved the sound.... it is fuller and detailed.
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Post by Topend on May 13, 2012 3:16:45 GMT -5
Many thanks to everyone who has replied... My Oppo BDP-93 does not have analogue outs. Yes it does. I have my Oppo 93 connected to my USP-1. Dave. |
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cranks
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Post by cranks on May 13, 2012 5:21:27 GMT -5
Many thanks to everyone who has replied... My Oppo BDP-93 does not have analogue outs. Yes it does. I have my Oppo 93 connected to my USP-1. Dave. Yeah thanks Dave... After your comments I re-read the manual to find I can connect as you said and I must say WOW what a difference!! Every CD I played sounded full, had greater depth and was everything I could have hope for! Even wifey commented on how much clearer and defined the sound was....and she was in another room! Now back to exploring the joys of my system!! ;D Thanks again to everyone who responded.... I feel like a ripe royal Wally!!  |
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Post by G-Man on May 13, 2012 6:40:53 GMT -5
Cranks - what you just experienced is the difference between the DAC in the Oppo vs. the DAC in the UMC-1. Just think about it, all that improvement without adding another box.
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Post by Topend on May 13, 2012 13:00:57 GMT -5
Yes, the 93 does have a good DAC that it often underrated.
As I said in my earlier post, connect it to a USP-1 for even better SQ.
Dave.
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Post by Topend on May 13, 2012 17:02:48 GMT -5
Yes, the 93 does have a good DAC that it often underrated. As I said in my earlier post, connect it to a USP-1 for even better SQ. Dave. I should point out that to do this with the UMC-1 use direct mode otherwise the UMC-1 will do a A to D conversion and then a D to A conversion using the DAC in the UMC-1. This would defeat the purpose of using the DAC in the 93. Using direct mode will result in no sub so full range speakers are preferred. Dave. |
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Post by audiohead on May 13, 2012 17:56:23 GMT -5
Can the XDA-1 be used for 2.1 set-up?How would it be hook up?
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stiehl11
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Post by stiehl11 on May 13, 2012 18:19:17 GMT -5
From the XDA-1 RCA outputs in the rear, put a splitter on both the L and R outputs. Run a set of RCA cables from one side of each splitter to your amp. Run the other set of RCA cables from the other side of each splitter to your sub.
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hemster
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Post by hemster on May 13, 2012 19:02:50 GMT -5
^That would work, as would using XLR->RCA adapter and connecting that to the sub, since both RCA and XLR outputs are active simultaneously.
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Post by katjith on May 13, 2012 20:00:09 GMT -5
I say go for it!! I own four CD players(Cambridge audio,Marantz,Pioneer elite,Marantz SACD player) I also own three DACs. MSB Tech Nelson link 111,Parasound DAC 1100,and finally XDA-1.They all have distinct but different sound.XDA-1 offers a little bit more bass and bigger overall soundstage. I have done A/B testing from all the players to find out the differences and have asked my fiancee to listen.XDA-1 is a steal for the sale price and your CDs are going to sound much better.One member Stiehl11 mentioned about having better speakers and I think he is right on this.Speakers do make a big leap for the bettere sound.Good luck.
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cranks
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Post by cranks on May 14, 2012 5:16:01 GMT -5
Yes, the 93 does have a good DAC that it often underrated. As I said in my earlier post, connect it to a USP-1 for even better SQ. Dave. I should point out that to do this with the UMC-1 use direct mode otherwise the UMC-1 will do a A to D conversion and then a D to A conversion using the DAC in the UMC-1. This would defeat the purpose of using the DAC in the 93. Using direct mode will result in no sub so full range speakers are preferred. Dave. I am using Direct mode and am quite impressed with the sound stage, definition and bass the 6's produce (my room is 6mtrs L x 3.5mtrs W). Overall I am a lot happier with the sound quality, and I am still debating to get an XDA-1 - but as someone suggested I should possibly wait for the XMC-1! Descisions...Descisions...Descisions |
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