DC1 vs XDA-2

[garbulky]

Dec 10, 2013 6:35:14 GMT -5 d1sturb3d said:

Hi guys!

I am not sure what thread to post my question..I want to buy a PS3 to have a gaming console and bluray player because I have none right now..

Can you connect PS3 to XDA-2 or DC-1 via optical out when watching movies? I do not plan to setup multichannel at the apt..I will stick with my stereo setup for now..so can the PS3 output stereo PCM that the XDA-2 or DC-1 can accept?

Yes you absolutely can.

[d1sturb3d]

thanks for the reply garbulky..this make things easier for me to decide to buy a ps3..

[garbulky]

Dec 11, 2013 2:36:16 GMT -5 d1sturb3d said:

thanks for the reply garbulky..this make things easier for me to decide to buy a ps3..

You're welcome. I use it exactly like this on my ps3 and don't have any complaints.

[jinjuku]

Is there any suite of measurements for the DC-1? Considering this for my next DAC purchase and taking my EMU 1212M and putting in the mixing booth I have planned for voice over work.

[KeithL]

There are sets of AP measurements for both (they seem to have gotten "lost" from the website - I'll look into getting them put back up)....

HOWEVER, the numbers really don't tell the story (most of the numbers for the DC-1 are a tiny bit better than those for the XDA-2, but not in places where you'd expect to hear the difference).

Here are the real SIGNIFICANT differences:

1) The DC-1 has an analog line input; the XDA-2 does not. If you need it, then this is a deal-decider.

2) The DC-1 has dual independent headphone amps, and they're each a little bit better than the one in the XDA-2.
(The one in the XDA-2 is quite good, so, unless you have major headphone needs, this may not matter to you. The headphone amp in the DC-1 uses the BUF634 output driver, and has a super-low output impedance.)

3) The DC-1 is half-rack-sized; the XDA-2 is full sized (that depends on which you like).

4) The ASRC in the DC-1 works a bit differently, and so is slightly more accurate in terms of letting you hear what your digital audio "really" sounds like. This may be important to people who are doing mastering, and so need to hear exactly what the files they're making sound like.

5) LAST, BUT MOST IMPORTANT TO ME, the DC-1 simply sounds a bit better. With well recorded files, especially if they're high-definition, and especially if they include high frequency stuff like wire-brush cymbals, the DC-1 sounds a bit more realistic than the XDA-2. Wire brushes simply sound a little bit more like actual metal on the DC-1 than they do on the XDA-2. The XDA-2 sounds very good, but the DC-1 sounds BETTER. (Since they use the same DAC chip, and the same digital filter, I credit this to the better power supply and analog section in the DC-1.) Whether you hear this or not will depend on what you listen to, how good the rest of your system is - especially your speakers, and your hearing... but, if you do hear the difference, you will almost certainly like the DC-1 better. (Forget about hearing the difference if you listen to MP3 or AAC files, or if you use cheap headphones.)

Oct 6, 2014 10:08:02 GMT -5 jinjuku said:

Is there any suite of measurements for the DC-1? Considering this for my next DAC purchase and taking my EMU 1212M and putting in the mixing booth I have planned for voice over work.

[GreenKiwi]

2) The DC-1 has dual independent headphone amps, and they're each a little bit better than the one in the XDA-2.
(The one in the XDA-2 is quite good, so, unless you have major headphone needs, this may not matter to you. The headphone amp in the DC-1 uses the BUF634 output driver, and has a super-low output impedance.)

I believe that the DC-1 has quite a bit more power than the XDA-2 does, right?

[Dark Ranger]

Oct 6, 2014 18:28:03 GMT -5 GreenKiwi said:

I believe that the DC-1 has quite a bit more power than the XDA-2 does, right?

XDA-2 Headphone Amplifier Output

1.9 VRMS max into 10 Ohms @ < 0.02% THD (360 mW)
2.25 VRMS max into 47 Ohms @ < 0.015% THD (100 mW)
2.25 VRMS max into 100 Ohms @ < 0.01% THD (50 mW)
2.25 VRMS max into 300 Ohms @ < 0.01% THD (16 mW)
2.25 VRMS max into 600 Ohms @ < 0.01% THD (8 mW)

Signal to Noise Ratio:
> 105 dB (ref full output)

Nov 11, 2013 9:41:09 GMT -5 KeithL said:

DC-1 HEADPHONE AMP OUTPUT SPECS

Since everybody has been asking for these......

DC-1
Headphone amp:

NOTE: The two headphone outputs are entirely independent - each has its own amplifier/driver (you can't set them to different levels, but these specs are for EACH one).
These are with the frequency response jumper set to FLAT.

Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz +/- 0.14 dB (at 1 V output)

THD: < 0.025% (at 1 V output; at 1 kHz)

S/N: > 101 dB (ref 1 V output; A weighted)

Power output:
750 mW into 8 ohms
1200 mW into 32 ohms
180 mW into 300 ohms
90 mW into 620 ohms

[garbulky]

Note the 300 ohm measurement: 16mwatts vs 180 mwatts! The DC-1 provides a healthy amount of power - especially for an all in one unit. Not to mention that there are two separate headphone amps onboard the DC-1.

[jinjuku]

Oct 6, 2014 11:38:27 GMT -5 KeithL said:

There are sets of AP measurements for both (they seem to have gotten "lost" from the website - I'll look into getting them put back up)....

Thanks as the missing reports is what prompted my post here.

[jt01]

I have a different question relating to the XDA-2 and the DC-1. I have both in the same room, feeding different systems. Whenever I turn on one of them with its remote, both turn on. Both will turn off only with its own remote, so no problem on that end. As I don't want both of them on at the same time, is there a way to change the Power On remote code on either the XDA-2 or the DC-1 so both won't come on at the same time? Or is there another way? Thanks in advance for all replies.