Upgrading to XSP - but should I ?

[mepositive]

This has been asked before by other Lounge members, but I wanted to get your pointed yes / no input.

Considering that I use the XPA-1L amps and have recently upgraded to the Pendragon speakers, I wanted to get your point of view if upgrading to XSP will improve sound quality. I do not need any of the many complex and potentially useful features at this stage - and hence my question is purely related to sound quality.

Also, I do have the XPS which presently feeds into a dbx II decoder which then connects to the USP. To use the dbx unit, I need to have a separate phono preamp and hence will need to continue using the XPS.

Thanks.

[AudioHTIT]

I haven't heard the USP-1 but like the XSP-1 very much. That said one of it's best features is the excellent phono preamp which you already own the equivalent of. I'm also keen on running the XDA-2 directly to my amps, but that precludes phono. So as long as you need the outboard phono I'm not sure how much of a sonic improvement you'd get just changing out the line stage. However you could get an advantage with the fully differential connection between the XSP and XPA-1L, and you could run the DBX unit in the tape loop and reduce some complexity. So if it were me I would get the XSP-1 use a balanced connection to the XPA-1Ls, put the DBX in the tape loop, run the XDA-2 into the XSP's balanced inputs and you'd have a very clean fully balanced/differential system (for digital sources). You'd also have a cleaner phono setup for non DBX records. You could then sell the XPS-1 and USP-1 to recoup some cost.

Edit: I forgot to mention that the quality of the rest of your gear also warrants the upgrade, nice system!

[novisnick]

Jul 10, 2014 19:38:47 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

I haven't heard the USP-1 but like the XSP-1 very much. That said one of it's best features is the excellent phono preamp which you already own the equivalent of. I'm also keen on running the XDA-2 directly to my amps, but that precludes phono. So as long as you need the outboard phono I'm not sure how much of a sonic improvement you'd get just changing out the line stage. However you could get an advantage with the fully differential connection between the XSP and XPA-1L, and you could run the DBX unit in the tape loop and reduce some complexity. So if it were me I would get the XSP-1 use a balanced connection the the XPA-1Ls, put the DBX in the tape loop, run the XDA-2 into the XSP's balanced inputs and you'd have a very clean fully balanced/differential system (for digital sources. You'd also have a cleaner phono setup for not DBX records. You could then sell the XPS-1 and USP-1 to recoup some cost.

This is a very well thought out observation and would heed this recommendation.
Smart, concise, and to the point. I like your thinking. 

[garbulky]

I would upgrade to the DC-1. And then later, maybe think about the XSP-1. You will get bigger gains this route imo. The DC-1 sounds better to my ears and has better S/N specs as well as being a sort of "monoblock dac" (dual dacs one per channel.)

[Deleted]

I have a similar dilemma: should I upgrade my UPA-1s to XPA-1Ls, or trade in both a USP-1 and XPS-1 on an XSP-1? I can do either (not both) for the same money after trade-in. I love my DC-1 (in the shop now but due back soon), but I also noticed the bass improvement when I switched the USP-1 back in, though I lost some of the DC-1's detail, clarity and soundstage. It is possible that using the on-board bass management of the USP-1 rather than going full-range to the Subs crossovers is responsible for the bass, in which case the XSP-1 should take care of everything. That's where I'm leaning now, waiting on the Gen2 XPA-1Ls or even, heaven forfend, XPA-1s on sale at next years Emofest in Franklin. What's a boy to do?

[mepositive]

Jul 10, 2014 19:38:47 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

I haven't heard the USP-1 but like the XSP-1 very much. That said one of it's best features is the excellent phono preamp which you already own the equivalent of. I'm also keen on running the XDA-2 directly to my amps, but that precludes phono. So as long as you need the outboard phono I'm not sure how much of a sonic improvement you'd get just changing out the line stage. However you could get an advantage with the fully differential connection between the XSP and XPA-1L, and you could run the DBX unit in the tape loop and reduce some complexity. So if it were me I would get the XSP-1 use a balanced connection to the XPA-1Ls, put the DBX in the tape loop, run the XDA-2 into the XSP's balanced inputs and you'd have a very clean fully balanced/differential system (for digital sources). You'd also have a cleaner phono setup for non DBX records. You could then sell the XPS-1 and USP-1 to recoup some cost.

Edit: I forgot to mention that the quality of the rest of your gear also warrants the upgrade, nice system!

Thank you. Very succinct and useful. Guess I will get the XSP.

Since getting into vinyl, I seem to have almost given up CD and digital formats - at least in my music room. Over the last year of so, I have amassed over 200 records of which about 80% are from Ebay as used records. So now my big next purchase will be a record cleaning machine. I do not have a price limitation - which machine would you recommend.