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Post by ossif on May 16, 2013 14:20:44 GMT -5
Looking at my stereo system I come to realize that what is left of "Stereo" is my Sonos system with all my music saved in uncompressed Flac. Hence, an XDA-2 would make sense since the connection is digital anyway. However the biggest back-draw of the XDA-2 is the missing HT Bypass. The XDA-2 is just not integrateable in an Homecinema Environment where high quality stereo listening is also a requirement.
I would really look forward a XDA-3 that does take this issue in account and includes a HT Bypass. Including 2 channel room correction System on top would be the ice on the cake.
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Post by GreenKiwi on May 16, 2013 14:28:06 GMT -5
I'm thinking that would be very cool. Though just make it a full preamp with room correction.
A cross between the xsp and XMC.
That being said, I think the I'm just going to end up with the XMC as my preamp for both stereo and multichannel.
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Post by garbulky on May 16, 2013 14:39:40 GMT -5
The XDA-3 IMO needs a (dual?) subwoofer output that can be turned off and a beefier headphone amplifier. And of course sound amazing.
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Post by yves on May 16, 2013 18:10:31 GMT -5
Lucky for me, my UMC-200 has Direct Mode so that the problem of my separate DAC not having HT bypass is completely solved, and I don't want to use a subwoofer when listening to stereo music. As for room correction, I don't want to use that for stereo music either, but I find that what the EmoQ Gen 2 of the UMC-200 does to multichannel sound is phenomenal.
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Post by GreenKiwi on May 16, 2013 19:10:58 GMT -5
Since I haven't really used rc much, I'm curious why you would want it with multichannel and not stereo?
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Post by Gary Cook on May 16, 2013 19:43:12 GMT -5
Personally I'd just buy a USP-1 or XSP-1. It might be just me but I don't see the reason for avoiding what is in my (and many others) opinion the best outright sound in the Emotiva range, their analogue stereo preamps.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by AudioHTIT on May 17, 2013 11:41:34 GMT -5
When I see these XDA-x threads with thoughts on future features I always think RDA-1 instead. While most of the ideas are good they will certainly add noticeably to the cost, and one of the draws of the XDA-2 is it's price point. An RDA-1 on the other hand could take everything up a step and add things like bass management, HT bypass, or what have you, plus give the matching styling for the R series.
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Post by yves on May 17, 2013 14:53:31 GMT -5
Since I haven't really used rc much, I'm curious why you would want it with multichannel and not stereo? For stereo music, my separate DAC via the UMC-200 in Direct Mode to my XPA-2 sounds exactly the same to me as when I had my separate DAC hooked up straight to my XPA-2. It sounds a bit better (enough for me to justify not selling my separate DAC) than the built-in DAC of the UMC-200 with EmoQ Gen 2 enabled on it. However, my separate DAC can't do multichannel, so that's why I only use the EmoQ Gen 2 for multichannel content. That being said, my UMC-200 (using my pair of Canton Vento 890.2 DCs as front mains and my pair of Airmotiv 5s as surrounds, with a phantom center and no sub) sounds MUCH better than I could have ever hoped for or dreamed about. The UMC-200 with flat EQ may not sound as detailed as the Oppo BDP-105 because the latter has the advantage of using a SABRE chip, but frankly, with the EmoQ Gen 2 enabled, the UMC-200 trounces, yes, *trounces* the Oppo 105 (in my room, to my ears, anyway). It goes to show IMO how much multichannel audio in a typical home environment can be improved by proper EQ. |
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Post by danny01 on May 18, 2013 7:33:50 GMT -5
When I see these XDA-x threads with thoughts on future features I always think RDA-1 instead. While most of the ideas are good they will certainly add noticeably to the cost, and one of the draws of the XDA-2 is it's price point. An RDA-1 on the other hand could take everything up a step and add things like bass management, HT bypass, or what have you, plus give the matching styling for the R series. Agreed. If the XDA-x has bass management and ht bypass, that is basically a digital version of the XSP-1. And Emotiva has claimed the analog section, including volume control, of the XDA-2 is on par with the XSP-1. So it would only make sense to price it the same as or even more than its analog counterpart, the XSP-1. Otherwise they would just be cannibalizing their XSP-1 sales without any benefit by only limiting the XSP-1's market to those who spin vinyl and at the same time selling a cheaper($ wise, not quality wise) product to to would be XSP-1 buyers. Sent from my Nexus 7 using proboards |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 18, 2013 9:45:49 GMT -5
You guys are describing the UMC-200.  |
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Post by ossif on May 18, 2013 11:29:45 GMT -5
You guys are describing the UMC-200. The UMC-200 is a surround processor not a Stereo dac with volume control. I do also disagree that adding a HT bypass would make the XDA-2 a digital version of the XSP-1. There is more to a real strereo pre than just a volume control so adding a HT bypasss does by no means make it a XSP-1 digital version. |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 18, 2013 11:53:24 GMT -5
Of course. But my point is if you want a DAC with volume control, input switching and HT-bypass then you really don't want a DAC you want a digital preamp. A surround processor that also can function as a digital stereo preamp is the UMC-200, so why not just use one? |
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Post by ossif on May 18, 2013 16:59:34 GMT -5
Of course. But my point is if you want a DAC with volume control, input switching and HT-bypass then you really don't want a DAC you want a digital preamp. A surround processor that also can function as a digital stereo preamp is the UMC-200, so why not just use one? Because the UMC-200 ist not on the same SQ level as the XDA-2 is. I am just not interested in the UMC-200. |
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Post by danny01 on May 18, 2013 18:29:45 GMT -5
You guys are describing the UMC-200. The UMC-200 is a surround processor not a Stereo dac with volume control. I do also disagree that adding a HT bypass would make the XDA-2 a digital version of the XSP-1. There is more to a real strereo pre than just a volume control so adding a HT bypasss does by no means make it a XSP-1 digital version. What more is there to a stereo preamp than volume control, input switching, and optionally ht bypass/bass management? |
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Post by danny01 on May 18, 2013 18:31:06 GMT -5
Of course. But my point is if you want a DAC with volume control, input switching and HT-bypass then you really don't want a DAC you want a digital preamp. A surround processor that also can function as a digital stereo preamp is the UMC-200, so why not just use one? Because the UMC-200 ist not on the same SQ level as the XDA-2 is. I am just not interested in the UMC-200. Agree with you on that one. The XDA dac are far ahead of the UMC pre/pros as far as 2ch sound quality. |
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Post by Chuck Elliot on May 18, 2013 19:28:50 GMT -5
The UMC-200 is a surround processor not a Stereo dac with volume control. I do also disagree that adding a HT bypass would make the XDA-2 a digital version of the XSP-1. There is more to a real strereo pre than just a volume control so adding a HT bypasss does by no means make it a XSP-1 digital version. What more is there to a stereo preamp than volume control, input switching, and optionally ht bypass/bass management? Gain! |
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Post by ossif on May 19, 2013 2:56:41 GMT -5
What more is there to a stereo preamp than volume control, input switching, and optionally ht bypass/bass management? Gain! That is for sure of major point. Preamps have the ability to deliver up to 9 Volt of output and more. But another important feature is that preamp always provide recording ability of the different sources attached and provide a higher amount of inputs and sometimes even phono inputs. But in essence it is the gain that makes the difference. In the case of the XDA-2 the Close relation to the design of the XSP-1 is a plus in terms of gain. Really, the XDA-2/3 which a HT bypass with XLR connectors that can be use a preamp with digital Inputs only would be a strong product to place in the marked as it would offer some USP's I have found no where else today. |
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Post by danny01 on May 19, 2013 4:53:48 GMT -5
What more is there to a stereo preamp than volume control, input switching, and optionally ht bypass/bass management? Gain! Good point. IIRC the XDA-2 can output 2V RMS, which can drive the XPA-1L to max power, but isn't enough to drive an XPR-2 to max power whereas the XSP-1 can. |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 19, 2013 9:51:01 GMT -5
Of course. But my point is if you want a DAC with volume control, input switching and HT-bypass then you really don't want a DAC you want a digital preamp. A surround processor that also can function as a digital stereo preamp is the UMC-200, so why not just use one? Because the UMC-200 ist not on the same SQ level as the XDA-2 is. Allegedly. I suggest simply buying a digital preamp and enjoying the music. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on May 20, 2013 5:13:21 GMT -5
I find the quality of the XDA-2 as a digital preamp to be exceptional and agree with the premise of the thread to start here. I do not think the UMC is a satisfying compromise.
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