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Post by stads77 on Apr 1, 2014 6:58:52 GMT -5
I believe your tv is most likely the same as mine, as it does output fine for external HDMI devices, but not for its own Over the Air Reception. It only outputs what it receives over the air, hence DD 5.1 with no automatic downmixing.
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Post by audiobill on Apr 1, 2014 7:13:48 GMT -5
Could you use the tv analog out to the dc1 for antenna tv?
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Apr 1, 2014 8:39:56 GMT -5
Sure.... although, unfortunately, the analog out on many TVs isn't very good. But, then, if you're watching old TV shows, it's probably a lot better than you might expect. Could you use the tv analog out to the dc1 for antenna tv? |
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Post by stads77 on Apr 1, 2014 10:37:36 GMT -5
Of course, but that is for my tt rig.
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Post by stads77 on Apr 1, 2014 11:22:08 GMT -5
Called panasonic and it looks like they didn't include the option to send PCM over OTA until the VT and ZT60's came out in 2013. I don't think i want to spend 3 thousand dollars for good quality CBS broadcast. I'll have to live with the tv speakers for now when it comes to tv watching (1% of my watching).
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Post by audiobill on Apr 11, 2014 5:49:23 GMT -5
So how is everything working out at this point?
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Post by stads77 on Apr 11, 2014 7:56:38 GMT -5
That is a good question. I love the Dc-1 thus far, but have not had adequite time to give a full review. I am in the process of building a in-wall rack system for all my gear, after this is completed I hope to offer a god account of my jounrey from 5.1 to 2.1. Due to the TV not being able to have sound outside of it's own speakers, I may have to add a stereo preamp into the mix or sell the DC-1 for a USP-1 or new model and XDA-2, but for now I am really enjoying the DC-1 and have found dialogue to be much more present and clear then when running the UMC-200 in direct/stereo mode.
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Apr 11, 2014 10:28:41 GMT -5
Most TVs will down-mix surround sound to stereo before sending it out their digital output (either by default, or you may have options there), which is a GOOD THING, since the DC-1 itself can only play stereo content, and so the TV will enable you to use it to play surround sound programs (in stereo). If there's down-mixing going on, obviously the TV is altering the signal; it also MAY alter the signal for other reasons... and so MAY alter the quality. Whether they do so or not depends on how your TV manufacturer feels about it (and you don't usually see specs about whether the digital output on a certain TV is bit-perfect or not - although you might see it in a review). The BNC input on the DC-1 is electrically IDENTICAL to the Coax input; all the converter does is to mechanically and electrically convert one connector to the other. You can buy little adapters that go on the connector, or you can buy cables with BNC on one end and Coax on the other (they're usually sold for video purposes, but they work fine for digital audio). Converters that go from Coax to Toslink are active devices (and need to be powered from somewhere - since neither Toslink or Coax includes a power connection). Most Toslink interfaces don't support anything above 24/96, but a few do. Converters that go from USB to Toslink or Coax are active devices, and usually get their power from the USB port. They also are a bit more complex, and have individual capabilities and limitations. (For example, like a USB DAC input, a USB-to-Coax converter can work on a Mac without a driver, but on a PC they can do up to 24/96 without a driver, or up to 24/192 WITH a driver. Also, just like with a USB DAC input, some converters support 24/176 and others do not.) Incidentally, Toslink is galvanically isolated (always), and so immune to ground and power supply noise. Most Coax converters are NOT galvanically isolated (the ones that are will say so). You can get a Toslink to coax converter, and a coax to bnc converter cheaply at monoprice and make use of your bnc input on the DC1, as I do. The answer to your second question is yes, I connect my STB, Blu Ray and ATV all to the TV via HDMI then from the TV to the DC1 as described above. Switching among video/HDMI sources takes place on the TV. So does this mean I technically only need to use one optical in on the DC-1 for both the tv audio (antenna) and the ATV, which is connected via hdmi to the tv? If this is the case, then I am fine. Does the tv pass the digital through without altering its content, or does it mix somehow before sending it back out to the DC-1? Hope this makes sense... Thx for the reply audiobill! |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Apr 11, 2014 10:41:33 GMT -5
Yes, no, and maybe. Assuming your TV does a good job, and if it can be set to convert everything it sends out to PCM (or does so by default), then that is going to be by far the easiest solution - because you'll always be listening to whatever you're watching. In principle, connecting each device separately would be the best solution, but the reality is that you will then have to set each device properly to send STEREO PCM to the DAC... and some devices may not be especially cooperative in that regard (some cable boxes can be set to do so, others seem to occasionally override those settings and send out surround even when they're not supposed to, while still others may not even have the option). In fact, some media players may not even HAVE that option. Getting it all configured to work properly together can be tricky. Personally, if I were using the DAC for all my listening, I would "split the difference"; I would connect my computer directly to the DAC for "direct two channel listening", since there are no compatibility issues there, and then I would connect the output of the TV to another input on the DAC, and use that for all my home theater listening. The output of the TV will almost certainly be altered (for one thing, the TV will probably decode surround sound sources and output the result as stereo). This will depend to a point on the TV you have (and some will have optional settings). I wouldn't specifically count on even stereo content being passed through a TV without some modification. (Since the DC-1 doesn't do surround decoding, having the TV decode it and send it out as stereo would be a good thing.) So Keith, does this mean it would be better then sending out a PCM signal directly to the DC-1 from each device? I am new to standalone Dac's , so forgive my ingnorance as well. |
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Post by stads77 on Apr 11, 2014 10:55:25 GMT -5
My TV does not down mix the OTA content to PCM stereo (only the VT60 and ZT60 plasmas do so in the Panasonic lineup), thus OTA sound is my only dilemna currently with my setup.
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Post by stads77 on Apr 25, 2014 7:53:38 GMT -5
Updates:
I had the Dc-1 in my system for about a month and here are my observations.
Incredibly quiet, great clarity, wonderful imaging, slightly bright with my already bright sounding speakers (Kef XQ's). All in all I was very happy with its sound quality in comparison to other pre's I have owned. I have owned the XSP-1, USp-1, UMC-1, UMC-200, and a Pioneer VSX 1018 Receiver. I can say that in terms of 2 channel sound quality, it may very well have been the best I have heard.
The cons in my system were a few. My TV did not work with the DC-1 because it would not down mic from DD, I lost some of the low end on my Subwoofer, and its clarity and detail seemed to make my speakers sound too bright and fatiguing. I believe this is due to my speakers, and not the DC-1.
After moving into a simplified 2.1 setup, which was the reason for me using the DC-1, i stumbled upon a wonderful deal on a set of Thiel 1.6's and a SCS4 center. I was desiring to try out different speakers and very much prefer the sound of the Thiels in my room to the Kef's. The Thiels are not warmer sounding but somehow add more detail and are at the same time less bright. The Thiels sounded great with the DC-1, but I found I could not get my subwoofer to blend as well as when i was using either a USP-1 or Umc-1 for a preamp. I must admit I am giving up some of the clarity and detail for a smoother response top to bottom. I am happy right now with a UMC-1 and USP-1 combo as I will be integrating a 5.1 back into the lineup with my Thiels as the fronts. It was a good experience with the DC-1, but for the sake of better integration i am going back to the UMC-1/USP-1 ( for now of course ).
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