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Post by aussiemark on Oct 6, 2014 2:04:48 GMT -5
Would it be a good option to purchase the above combo AIRMOTIV 6S with the XDA2 for my 16 year old daughter?? Her bedroom is 4 metres by 4 metres . She plays her compressed music through her iPhone , iPad and Apple tv. Many thanks for any forthcoming suggestions or opinions
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Post by garbulky on Oct 6, 2014 2:19:41 GMT -5
I reccomend the DC-1 instead of the XDA-2. The DC-1 has an analog input to hook her phone or tablet in when she doesn't feel like doing things through airplay.
But to be honest with you, she's probably not going to use this setup if all her music listening is done through an iphone or another portable device. Unless she is really into audio.
I've set up stuff for people where all they have to do is plug it in and unless they are REALLY into sound like us, it goes unused.
A nice set of ear buds may get more use. It feels more portable and easy to just hook it up whereever she is.
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Post by aussiemark on Oct 6, 2014 2:37:43 GMT -5
Thanks Garbulky for the prompt reply . My daughter loves dancing and training hard at it I hate to think what would happen to the buds mate. I will explore the DC1 if you consider that a better option Thanks once again
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Post by garbulky on Oct 6, 2014 2:41:09 GMT -5
And the way that works is that you would connect the DC-1 DAC to the apple tv via its optical output. Then when she wants to listen to music, she hits the "airplay" button on her iphone in the app she uses and tells it to go to the appletv. And that way she gets sound. Remember she's going to have to learn this techno stuff like actually wanting to find where the airplay button is on her app etc. You might need to check what things she uses for sound like her radio app like pandora, or youtube app, or music program and walk her through everyone of them and how to hit the airplay button for each. For technology challenged people, just being TOLD that it's there means it will never be used  If she wants a physical connection she can hook up a cable from the iphone headphone jack to the DC-1. There are other options too. Also these may not sound as nice as a DC-1 but they may be more convenient. Here's one that plugs directly into the iphone: www.apogeedigital.com/products/one-dacThis one is Nuforce's airdac ($120) It doesn't require a wire! However, it DOES require a small USB transmitter that she has to manually plug in to the iphone. It's under $200. www.nuforce.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=11&Itemid=199/Arcam also has an airdac and it REALLY uses no wires or transmitter. It's a UPNP server which she can "throw" stuff directly to it from pandora etc. But it's much more expensive around $700. www.arcam.co.uk/products,rSeries,Wireless-DACs,airDAC.htm |
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Post by bub on Oct 6, 2014 7:37:10 GMT -5
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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 6, 2014 11:33:06 GMT -5
I don't know why you'd pay extra for the DC-1 when you've said she listens to compressed music. Apple TV does not have analog outputs and you'd use a TOSLink cable to connect to any DAC. I'd also doubt she'd ever hard wire the headphone jack to the analog input when Airplay is available. I think your original XDA-2/AM6S idea is a good one (and very generous). This is also to say I think the XDA-2 is very good.
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Post by garbulky on Oct 6, 2014 12:13:52 GMT -5
AudioHTIT: you've got a point. However I found that compressed music doesn't max out with the XDA_2. Heck I found pandora to sound better via the DC-1. HOWEVER, I will concede that I think the likelihood of a teenager using this setup at all is quite low. And I know that comes off as a bit presumptious but I think it's a reasonable guess. Therefore in terms of actual use, bub's suggestion may make more sense!
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Post by aussiemark on Oct 6, 2014 13:13:25 GMT -5
Thanks fellas . ;)Would she be able to play her iPhone 5 through the XDA2 without much hassle  ?
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Post by jevans64 on Oct 6, 2014 13:24:11 GMT -5
16 year old + iPod =  Kids these days just want something simple to use. They don't want to mess with DACs, wires, and multiple sources. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 6, 2014 13:30:02 GMT -5
AudioHTIT: you've got a point. However I found that compressed music doesn't max out with the XDA_2. Heck I found pandora to sound better via the DC-1. HOWEVER, I will concede that I think the likelihood of a teenager using this setup at all is quite low. And I know that comes off as a bit presumptious but I think it's a reasonable guess. Therefore in terms of actual use, bub's suggestion may make more sense! I will use an Alan Greenspan term and say you have an 'irrational exuberance' for the DC-1. You further prove this by throwing the XDA-2 under the Bluetooth speaker bus, I will just disagree on both counts. |
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Post by garbulky on Oct 6, 2014 13:30:45 GMT -5
Thanks fellas . ;)Would she be able to play her iPhone 5 through the XDA2 without much hassle ? Only if she knows how to use the airplay button on the apps. There's an airplay button which she then has to select "Apple tv". The XDA-2 will have to hook upt to the apple tv and the iphone will have to stream the music via airplay to the apple TV which then goes to the xda-2. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 6, 2014 13:35:12 GMT -5
Thanks fellas . ;)Would she be able to play her iPhone 5 through the XDA2 without much hassle ? If you're ever used AirPlay you'll know it's fairly easy, like using a speaker selector. I've taught several non technical people to use it and none have had problems. The only issue I can think of is triggering the system on and off, if you're OK with keeping everything on all the time it will be very easy. If (like me) you don't like wasting even a small amount of power you might need a triggered power strip to have things turn on and off. |
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zerafa
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running in a LH Labs Pulse X
Posts: 147
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Post by zerafa on Oct 6, 2014 13:37:32 GMT -5
the speakers and a cord from the iphone headphone jack is not bad at all. the xda would be good if she has some other sources like a tv or computer?
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Post by aussiemark on Oct 6, 2014 13:41:03 GMT -5
Thanks Garbulky, AudioHTIT, Bub and Jevans64 The XDA 2 it is .One last question and I realise its opinion but do you feel the step up to a Stealth 6 from an Airmotiv 6s equal or greater than the step up in price???
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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 6, 2014 13:54:51 GMT -5
Thanks Garbulky, AudioHTIT, Bub and Jevans64 The XDA 2 it is .One last question and I realise its opinion but do you feel the step up to a Stealth 6 from an Airmotiv 6s equal or greater than the step up in price??? Personally I use the Airmotive 5's and think they're very good, I'd be more inclined to drop down than up, but she might like the extra punch from the 6S. As for the Stealths, I'd ask if you might ever use them, or are you hoping she might become more interested in quality sound. I've only heard either of the 'Sixes' in a show environment, each speaker is a noticeable improvement, the question is not whether it's worth the cost, but whether you're daughter will appreciate them. |
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Post by drtrey3 on Oct 6, 2014 14:17:35 GMT -5
My daughter is in her second year in college and she and her friends listen to her little set up pretty frequently. Now she is primarily a headphone listener, that gen is by and large. But in the dorm, she listens out loud. I like the idea of the XDA-2 and the Airmotivs. I am listening to the 4S right now and they are wonderful! She could rock out in style with those.
Have you considered a plug in DAC like a Dragonfly or something similar? The XDA-2, while great, looks like old people stereo and she might care about such things. The XDA sounds better than the Dragon fly in my system, so that might be worth the big box to her.
Trey
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Post by Gary Cook on Oct 6, 2014 18:08:31 GMT -5
I mentioned this to Mark via SMS yesterday, my suggestion was Airmotive 6's combined with a Behringer UCA202 (sound like familiar advice garbulky?  ). Making a simple, small, inexpensive set up with no experience or fiddling required to set it up. His daughter can just plug it in and start listening. Cheers Gary |
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Post by dschartner on Oct 6, 2014 18:35:43 GMT -5
For this scenario, I would look into the Sonos products, you can set with WiFi, very simple , with lots of music streaming services. Two Playones ($400) in stereo with your iPhone or android is great solution for college daughter. Wireless and the speakers are well built with a metal like screen that would seem to survive in a college dorm. Not an audiophile solution, but this technology is hitting the marketplace like a tsunami. it will be interesting how fast and what price point Emotiva responds.
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Post by jevans64 on Oct 7, 2014 3:18:30 GMT -5
Thanks Garbulky, AudioHTIT, Bub and Jevans64 The XDA 2 it is .One last question and I realise its opinion but do you feel the step up to a Stealth 6 from an Airmotiv 6s equal or greater than the step up in price??? I don't think there will be a whole lot of difference between Stealth 6 and Airmotiv 6s. That is probably one of the reasons Emotiva is clearing out the Stealth 6... because most are probably looking at the specs of each and going with the Airmotiv 6s for a lesser cost. Only reason I stepped up to the Stealth 6 was because of the reduced price and I had Airmotiv 5. Having had the Airmotiv 5 and now the Stealth 6, there really isn't a whole lot of sound quality difference between them. The Stealth 6 play louder and go a little deeper and that's about it. I didn't feel the need to use my sub when playing music with either speaker set. Only turned it on for movies. The SVS SB-1000 was a really good match for the Airmotiv 5, but I gave that to a relative and bought an SVS SB-2000 for the Stealth 6 |
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Post by sct on Oct 7, 2014 9:57:55 GMT -5
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). Making a simple, small, inexpensive set up with no experience or fiddling required to set it up. His daughter can just plug it in and start listening.