Post by brubacca on Jan 2, 2013 13:36:57 GMT -5
Wow, I'm finally here. Now that they XDA-1 is long obsolete and the XDA-2 is released I have finally come to that place of musical enjoyment that I was looking for when I pre-ordered the XDA-1. I say Arduous because quite frankly it has been.
The final verdict:
This DAC makes really nice music. It has by far provided the musical enjoyment that it promises. This DAC has detail to spare, but also makes music. I find it hard to belive that the XDA-2 can be better other than from a feature standpoint.
My Journey:
It must look like an episode of Keystone Cops because I have had so many ups and downs with this DAC that it really isn't funny. People must think that I am bi-polar. I'm not, but my DAC has been. I have primarily tried the XDA-1 in two places in my home. The basement and my Den. In my basement it I found a measure of enjoyment, in my den not so much until now. My problem has been both of setup and JITTER... Yes, sometimes my system would sound great, other times Lifeless and Dull..... I mean DULL, Boring and horrible. I finally tracked it down to a network issue serving the data to my Squeezebox to the DAC. I finally realized that I was getting poor sound when my kids were using their computer to stream videos! or our HT PC to stream a TV show... I also figured out that I was underpowering my speakers. Get everything as it should be and this DAC makes music!
My System:
Squeezebox Touch w/ SSD Drive Attached (powered dock)
XDA-1
NAD C340 (as Pre Amp)
B&K AV5000 (2 Channels used 105W per)
Era Desgin 4
Note: The D4 speakers like power. The NAD just wasn't up tp the task. With the B&K amp their is air around the notes and a fullness to the sound.
Happy New Year
The final verdict:
This DAC makes really nice music. It has by far provided the musical enjoyment that it promises. This DAC has detail to spare, but also makes music. I find it hard to belive that the XDA-2 can be better other than from a feature standpoint.
My Journey:
It must look like an episode of Keystone Cops because I have had so many ups and downs with this DAC that it really isn't funny. People must think that I am bi-polar. I'm not, but my DAC has been. I have primarily tried the XDA-1 in two places in my home. The basement and my Den. In my basement it I found a measure of enjoyment, in my den not so much until now. My problem has been both of setup and JITTER... Yes, sometimes my system would sound great, other times Lifeless and Dull..... I mean DULL, Boring and horrible. I finally tracked it down to a network issue serving the data to my Squeezebox to the DAC. I finally realized that I was getting poor sound when my kids were using their computer to stream videos! or our HT PC to stream a TV show... I also figured out that I was underpowering my speakers. Get everything as it should be and this DAC makes music!
My System:
Squeezebox Touch w/ SSD Drive Attached (powered dock)
XDA-1
NAD C340 (as Pre Amp)
B&K AV5000 (2 Channels used 105W per)
Era Desgin 4
Note: The D4 speakers like power. The NAD just wasn't up tp the task. With the B&K amp their is air around the notes and a fullness to the sound.
Happy New Year
