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Post by darylrsv4 on Feb 19, 2013 9:40:53 GMT -5
Hey guys, newb to this PC audio thing with a few questions.. Just got my XDA-2 delivered yesterday and waiting for cables to arrive. For best results, run rca's from DAC to cd inputs on my 3312, toslink from bdp 790 to DAC for cd playback and usb out from my HP dv7 laptop to usb in on DAC, correct? Using jriver, I would just import my itunes collection to jriver and go to settings and select WASAPI? I've searched several posts and seen that a driver needs to be installed? I'm using Win7 btw. Anything else needed to enjoy HQ audio from my PC to DAC? Thank you for any help...  |
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KeithL
Administrator 
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Post by KeithL on Feb 19, 2013 10:56:58 GMT -5
That's pretty much it. You can download the driver from the XDA-2 product page  Hey guys, newb to this PC audio thing with a few questions.. Just got my XDA-2 delivered yesterday and waiting for cables to arrive. For best results, run rca's from DAC to cd inputs on my 3312, toslink from bdp 790 to DAC for cd playback and usb out from my HP dv7 laptop to usb in on DAC, correct? Using jriver, I would just import my itunes collection to jriver and go to settings and select WASAPI? I've searched several posts and seen that a driver needs to be installed? I'm using Win7 btw. Anything else needed to enjoy HQ audio from my PC to DAC? Thank you for any help... |
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Post by darylrsv4 on Feb 19, 2013 11:15:22 GMT -5
Thank you for the confirmation Keith. ;D
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Post by darylrsv4 on Feb 20, 2013 8:25:30 GMT -5
Ok, I'm stumped  . Got my cables in last night, hooked laptop to DAC via USB, BD to DAC via Toslink, rcas from DAC to CD inputs on my AVR. Listened to a cd and sounded very good, DAC displayed 44.1.Installed Jriver,installed Cmedia drivers, imported my iTunes library selected WASAPI in options and music plays ( EQ moves up and down) and DAC displays 192 kHz but I'm not getting any sound from my speakers? When listening to PC audio, USB or CD should be selected on AVR? XPA-2 volume should be at 0 in order to use AVR's volume control, correct? Went under devices in control panel on PC and displays USB 2.0 High Speed True HD Audio and right click and SPDIF out is selected, is that correct? What am I missing? Thanks for any help... |
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Post by gregd on Feb 20, 2013 9:50:20 GMT -5
Ok, I'm stumped . Got my cables in last night, ... rcas from DAC to CD inputs on my AVR. Listened to a cd and sounded very good, DAC displayed 44.1. ... When listening to PC audio, USB or CD should be selected on AVR? XPA-2 volume should be at 0 in order to use AVR's volume control, correct? If the XDA-2's analog outputs are connected to the AVR's CD analog inputs then the AVR should be on "CD" to select the signal that the XDA-2 is sending. You might want to plug headphones into the XDA-2 (and adjust the volume; the headphone volume setting is separate from the analog output volume setting) and check that the XDA-2 is producing sound when you are expecting that. Just remember that the XDA-2 does not drive the analog outputs when the headphone jack has a plug in it. |
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Post by darylrsv4 on Feb 20, 2013 11:01:45 GMT -5
Ok, headphones get sound plugged into DAC but still no sound from my mains when I unplug the headphones.
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Feb 20, 2013 11:13:47 GMT -5
In order.... 1) Since the XDA-2 is connected to the analog "CD" input on the AVR, "CD" should be selected on the AVR WHENEVER you are using the XDA-2 to listen to something. 2) Correct; the XDA-2 volume control should be set to 0 dB when you are using the AVR receiver's volume control. 3) Correct; the XDA-2 driver will usually initially be identified as "SPDIF Device" in Control Panel. (You can change the label in Windows if you like.) 4) When WASAPI is working correctly, the PC should be passing audio to the DAC at whatever sample rate the file itself is recorded at (this would, for example, be 44.1k for a CD RIP). jRiver, however, has a whole slew of settings that can affect how (and if) things work as you expect. These include the option to override the file sample rate and convert all, or just some, sample rates to specific (you get to choose) sample rates. (Also, the newer drivers for the XDA-2 on our site support WASAPI:Push mode but NOT WASAPI:Event mode. If you want to use WASAPI:Event you'll have to use the older drivers; they work fine - the only real difference I am aware of is that they do NOT support Windows 8. I personally don't hear any difference between the two WASAPI modes, but some people seem to prefer one or the other. Also, some programs just specify WASAPI, and don't tell you which mode they are using; it's probably best to use the older drivers, which support both modes, with those programs.) I don't, at the moment, have a copy of jRiver in front of me. When I get a chance we will be publishing short "App Notes" about how to configure the XDA-2 with various programs (and jRiver will be at the top of the list). Until then, you should check the jRiver support forums for details and ideas about how to configure it. Ok, I'm stumped . Got my cables in last night, hooked laptop to DAC via USB, BD to DAC via Toslink, rcas from DAC to CD inputs on my AVR. Listened to a cd and sounded very good, DAC displayed 44.1.Installed Jriver,installed Cmedia drivers, imported my iTunes library selected WASAPI in options and music plays ( EQ moves up and down) and DAC displays 192 kHz but I'm not getting any sound from my speakers? When listening to PC audio, USB or CD should be selected on AVR? XPA-2 volume should be at 0 in order to use AVR's volume control, correct? Went under devices in control panel on PC and displays USB 2.0 High Speed True HD Audio and right click and SPDIF out is selected, is that correct? What am I missing? Thanks for any help... |
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Post by gregd on Feb 20, 2013 11:13:53 GMT -5
Ok, headphones get sound plugged into DAC but still no sound from my mains when I unplug the headphones. Odd. Is it easy enough to temporarily hook the XDA-2 analog outputs to the line inputs of one of your power amps - _AFTER_ you turn the XDA-2 volume down to -50 or lower! ? That would verify that everything is good down to and coming out of the XDA-2. |
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Post by darylrsv4 on Feb 20, 2013 11:21:05 GMT -5
Keith- I have WASAPI selected, NOT WASAPI: Event Mode. So I can eliminate that possibility.
Greg- I'll try hooking straight from DAC to my XPR-2 and see if that works but I have to head out to work.
Thanks for your input guys, much appreciated.
Anyone else feel free to chime in.
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on Feb 20, 2013 11:24:23 GMT -5
Excellent suggestion. DO start with the power amp OFF. Since the headphone volume is separate from the main volume on the XDA-2, unplug the headphones from the XDA-2, THEN turn the volume on the XDA-2 way down, to make sure that the MAIN OUTPUT VOLUME on the XDA-2 is down (and not the headphone volume). You'll need the XDA-2 to be ON to do this. NOW connect the output of the XDA-2 directly to the input of your power amp and turn the power amp on. Turn the XDA-2 up (start a file playing) and see what you get. [Be warned; you might not like how your AVR sound after you hear how the XDA-2 sounds by itself. ;D] Assuming things work this way, then you may have something set wrong on your AVR. If not, and the headphones work, but not the speakers, then either there's something up with your power amp and/or speaker connections or with the XDA-2. Ok, headphones get sound plugged into DAC but still no sound from my mains when I unplug the headphones. Odd. Is it easy enough to temporarily hook the XDA-2 analog outputs to the line inputs of one of your power amps - _AFTER_ you turn the XDA-2 volume down to -50 or lower! ? That would verify that everything is good down to and coming out of the XDA-2. |
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Post by gregd on Feb 20, 2013 11:47:38 GMT -5
Excellent suggestion. NOW connect the output of the XDA-2 directly to the input of your power amp and turn the power amp on. Turn the XDA-2 up (start a file playing) and see what you get. [Be warned; you might not like how your AVR sound after you hear how the XDA-2 sounds by itself. ;D] Ha! Never a missed opportunity for an XDA-2 plug, eh Keith? I plug my XDA-2 directly into my power amp and I certainly like how it sounds. Also keeps things nice and simple. |
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Post by darylrsv4 on Feb 20, 2013 12:36:43 GMT -5
Will try, walking out the door. Greg, I'm assuming yours is strictly a 2 ch. setup? Mine is a HT/ 2 ch.,unplugging of rcas from AVR to amp and visa versa for music to movies will be a PITA. Thanks again guys. |
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Post by gregd on Feb 20, 2013 13:08:22 GMT -5
Will try, walking out the door. Greg, I'm assuming yours is strictly a 2 ch. setup? Mine is a HT/ 2 ch.,unplugging of rcas from AVR to amp and visa versa for music to movies will be a PITA. Thanks again guys. I wasn't suggesting my setup for you, except for this test. But just for giggles remember that your XPR-2 has TWO INDEPENDENT INPUTS, balanced and unbalanced, so you COULD connect both the XDA-2 and the AVR to the XPR-2 and switch between them by reaching over the XPR-2 and flipping the toggle switch on the back panel of that. If you leave plenty of space above your power amps for airflow this isn't so much of a PITA. For even more giggles remember also that the XDA-2 has two outputs so you could connect the output to BOTH the AVR and the XPR-2. Probably a pretty pointless arrangement except maybe if you wanted to do A/B testing. Most likely you've got something simple goofed up and once you find it a quick fix will have you sorted out. |
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Post by darylrsv4 on Feb 20, 2013 23:22:50 GMT -5
Ok, bypassing the AVR worked. Question now is leave XPR-2 to DAC and go back and forth switching rca's when wanting to watch movies or figure out why it's not working when connected to AVR ( which more than likely is a setting in the AVR like Keith said). I feel better that I made some progress.
Anyways, I appreciate the help fellas. ;D
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Post by ausman on Feb 22, 2013 13:42:31 GMT -5
why waste the time if the laptop supports hdmi then run av through the avr it devoid's the point using the xda-2 anyway
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Post by yves on Feb 22, 2013 16:59:06 GMT -5
why waste the time if the laptop supports hdmi then run av through the avr it devoid's the point using the xda-2 anyway For stereo music listening, many who have bought the XDA-2 seem to like the sound of the XDA-2 much better than that of their AVR (even, if the AVR is a fairly expensive one). It IMO is yet another fine example of why going separates generally pays off rather nicely... |
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Post by audiofile on Feb 22, 2013 20:00:28 GMT -5
Was it your plan to have the signal run through the AVR from the DAC, then along to the amps?
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Post by darylrsv4 on Feb 23, 2013 0:07:31 GMT -5
Was it your plan to have the signal run through the AVR from the DAC, then along to the amps? I'm assuming this was directed towards me? That's what I thought was the norm but Gregd suggested the amp directly to the Dac (remember im a newb at this) and glad I did that. As most of us,I'm looking for the best SQ possible (with my gear)and this seems to be it. ;D |
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Post by ausman on Feb 23, 2013 5:32:01 GMT -5
from a pc point of view sp/dif or hdmi is the better source of audio unless you have rca based audio card or a dac that can function in the capacity of a rca/digital terminal...
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Post by yves on Feb 23, 2013 7:19:56 GMT -5
from a pc point of view sp/dif or hdmi is the better source of audio unless you have rca based audio card or a dac that can function in the capacity of a rca/digital terminal... There is no standard answer to the question which digital connection type is better for audio playback on a PC (S/PDIF coax, S/PDIF optical, USB, Firewire, AES/EBU,...). It can depend on alot of factors, like for example with S/PDIF it can depend on the quality of the S/PDIF output in the computer, which helps to explain why many people report to hear differences between the onboard S/PDIF output of a computer motherboard and the S/PDIF output of a fairly decent quality soundcard such as the Audigy 2 (or the S/PDIF output of an asynchronous USB-to-S/PDIF adapter such as the M2Tech hiFace 2, for example). |
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. Got my cables in last night, hooked laptop to DAC via USB, BD to DAC via Toslink, rcas from DAC to CD inputs on my AVR. Listened to a cd and sounded very good, DAC displayed 44.1.Installed Jriver,installed Cmedia drivers, imported my iTunes library selected WASAPI in options and music plays ( EQ moves up and down) and DAC displays 192 kHz but I'm not getting any sound from my speakers?
