How to bypass the dac in onkyo 809

[Deleted]

I am on the verge of adding an xda-1. I want it to go through my 809 but want to bypass the dac in the avr. Is that possible? I will be running both my MacBook directly to the dac via USB as ell as my appletv.

What input into the 809 should I use?

[knucklehead]

I'm not 100% positive but I think if you use the multi-channel inputs it should bypass the internal DAC in the 809. Any other connection will route the sound through the internal DAC. You'll want to use the L/R connections and you won't have subwoofer output since the XDA-1 doesn't have subwoofer output.

[Deleted]

thanks for the reply...any one confirm this?

I just bought an XDA1 from a member here and want to set it up correctly

thanks!

[DYohn]

Don't Onkyo's have a "Direct" or "Pure Audio" mode you can select for any of the analog inputs?

[Deleted]

direct yes, but since I am using the 809 as a preamp and need to use zone 2 ...pure audio is not available...will this matter?

[DYohn]

No idea. What does your owner's manual say?

[Deleted]

it doesnt really.

it says "most" circuitry is turned off in direct mode....whatever that means

[Deleted]

i guess worst case I can compare it connected to the 809...then try it connected directly to the xpa5

[creimes]

If you connect the XDA-1 using the RCA output to an analog Input on your Onkyo then you will not be using the DAC at all, the Onkyo's DAC is only used when using a digital input on the AVR, you can use the direct button anytime to get the shortest path from input to output.

Chad

[Deleted]

awesome thanks!!

[KeithL]

I'm not so sure about that. If you read the manual, they are somewhat cagey about what's actually going on.... the DAC is being used whenever you are able to use digital processing (which includes things like the delay used to adjust "speaker distance" and, almost certainly, the tone controls as well).

There is a "pure" mode (which, as far as I can tell, just shuts off the video circuitry and the display when you're listening to audio), and there is a "direct" mode, which seems to "shut off most of the processing", but which, as far as I can tell, still allows for setting and adjusting speaker distance (I may be reading this wrong, but I don't think so). If it allows you to set speaker distances with an analog input, then it IS still going through the processor (but with certain functions disabled), and if so then the signal IS still being converted to digital and back again (and so using the DAC).

I would suggest asking Onkyo directly whether the combination of these modes WITH AN ANALOG SIGNAL actually allows you to bypass ALL conversion to digital.

The Direct mode on something like the UMC-200 is really a direct, no-conversion-to-digital mode, which we can do because we use a digitally controlled analog ladder attenuator volume control. I don't see any specific mention of anything like this in the Onkyo manual (although, I'll admit, I skimmed it). However, I don't see anything in there that EXPLICITLY states that ALL DIGITAL PROCESSING in bypassed in Pure + Direct modes... it might indeed be that way, but I don't see where it says so.

Jun 14, 2013 10:29:43 GMT -5 creimes said:

If you connect the XDA-1 using the RCA output to an analog Input on your Onkyo then you will not be using the DAC at all, the Onkyo's DAC is only used when using a digital input on the AVR, you can use the direct button anytime to get the shortest path from input to output.

Chad

[creimes]

I remember my Yamaha in direct mode did not allow any distance or trims if I remember correctly it used the cleanest path through the AVR but Onkyo could and might be different...?

[mathwizard]

If you connect the XDA-1 to the L/R connectors of the Onkyo's multi-channel inputs you will indeed by-pass the Onkyo's DAC. You will then run the Onkyo in
multi-channel mode. The other methods mentioned above, especially using the Pure Audio mode will also by-pass the Onkyo's DAC.

[snafujg]

I had a similar question regarding my Onkyo 707. I can say from experience, running my XDA2 directly to XPR5 was night and day difference than running the XDA2 thru the Onkyo to my XPR5. Direct to XPR5 blew away my Onkyo. I can only assume that the Onkyo was doing it's own conversion. I heard a noticeable difference whether I had it set to Pure or Direct. I used RCA's from my XDA2 to CD Analog input on my Onkyo.

I suggest you hook up both ways and see which way sounds better to your ears. But I can almost guarantee that the Onkyo is doing some sort of processing and isn't passing the signal cleanly.

[briank]

I would suggest selling the Onkyo.

[roadrunner]

Jun 14, 2013 12:52:06 GMT -5 snafujg said:

I had a similar question regarding my Onkyo 707. I can say from experience, running my XDA2 directly to XPR5 was night and day difference than running the XDA2 thru the Onkyo to my XPR5. Direct to XPR5 blew away my Onkyo. I can only assume that the Onkyo was doing it's own conversion. I heard a noticeable difference whether I had it set to Pure or Direct. I used RCA's from my XDA2 to CD Analog input on my Onkyo.

I suggest you hook up both ways and see which way sounds better to your ears. But I can almost guarantee that the Onkyo is doing some sort of processing and isn't passing the signal cleanly.

Unfortunately, this really doesn't tell you much about what is going on within the Onkyo. Onkyo's analog stages are only mediocre at best. The Emotiva XDA-2 has an exceptional analog stage and will sound far superior to any of the Onkyo receivers. If you decide you want to keep the Onkyo receiver for its other attributes, you may want to add an USP-1 or XSP-1 pre-amp to the signal path via the HT ByPass function. Your sound quality will improve dramatically. Or you can explore replacing the Onkyo receiver with the UMC-200 and piping the XDA-2's output thru the UMC-200. Your ears will thank you with either proposed upgrade because you will experience a significant improvement to your sound quality -- analog and digital.

[creimes]

I agree go with a USP-1 and you will thank yourself, take the Onkyo out of the path of the XDA-2

[Deleted]

Can I use RCA female splitters into the unbalanced inputs on the xpa5 L and R channel so I can hook the xda AND the onkyo to the amp?

[Deleted]

I'm pissed I bought it now. Anyone want to buy an xda1. Same price I paid?

[creimes]

I'd say sell the onkyo before the XDA-1 if you are trying to improve on sound quality, get a UMC-200 or even a used UMC-1, what did you pay for the XDA-1...?