XDA 2 Gen 2 Just Arrived

[rod]

I just found out right now that XDA 2 gen 2 just arrived. It looks that the only change is cosmetics. What do you think?

[creimes]

Looks like they tell us straight out on the XDA-2 product page

"Based on our highly successful XDA-2, with an upgraded high-performance USB input, and modern new Gen 2 styling"

[MikeWI]

I think this was the main change:

"Upgraded USB input now supports all standard sample rates including 88k and 176k"

See also comments here: emotivalounge.proboards.com/post/686484

"The differences are the black trim - and that you can now do 88k and 176k over USB.

(The Gen1 did ALL sample rates up to 24/192 via Coax and Optical, and all sample rates up to 192k EXCEPT 88k and 176k via USB.
The Gen2 now does ALL sample rates up to 192k INCLUDING 88k and 192k over ALL its inputs.)"

[solidstate]

Is it possible for me to flash the unit with the upgraded firmware like what was done with the XMC-1 or is there no facility to do this in the USB interface of the gen 1?

If not are you guys willing to give me the bin so I can use the JTAG on the mainboard?

[rod]

Isn't it that everything XDA2 g2 can do now has been already there in DC1 including 88K and 176K via USB? Did I get it right?

[brubacca]

I believe the gen 1 XDA-2 had a chip issue that limited the resolutions over USB. I doubt that gen 1 can be flashed to accept new sample rates.

[solidstate]

Nov 15, 2014 9:49:09 GMT -5 brubacca said:

I believe the gen 1 XDA-2 had a chip issue that limited the resolutions over USB. I doubt that gen 1 can be flashed to accept new sample rates.

I don't.

Are you sure about that? It looks IDENTICAL to me and I assume the only difference is the firmware.

[brubacca]

I don't know, I was speculating based on my memory. Initially XDA-2 was to work for all resolutions over USB. I think that I remembered the issue being the c-media chip. I believe they used a different chip in the DC-1.
Again this is all from memory and my opinion. Maybe Keith L could chime in with facts.

[solidstate]

Nov 15, 2014 19:59:05 GMT -5 brubacca said:

I don't know, I was speculating based on my memory. Initially XDA-2 was to work for all resolutions over USB. I think that I remembered the issue being the c-media chip. I believe they used a different chip in the DC-1.
Again this is all from memory and my opinion. Maybe Keith L could chime in with facts.

How could it possibly be a different chip if it uses the SAME DRIVERS!?!

I'd bet it's IDENTICAL just that it's using a newer firmware and driver.

The difference between the initial XMC-1 USB DAC and after the firmware update is IDENTICAL to the differences between the gen 1 and gen 2.

Coincidence?

I THINK NOT.

[coressi]

I just wonder the sound differnces between XDA2 G2 and DC1, which means G2 fixed all the problem happened before on G1? Looking on spec, G2 seem like the same clips of G1, I am perrty expect they could upgrade it to others such as PCM1974.

[bene]

Nov 15, 2014 6:06:11 GMT -5 MikeWI said:

I think this was the main change:

"Upgraded USB input now supports all standard sample rates including 88k and 176k"

See also comments here: emotivalounge.proboards.com/post/686484

"The differences are the black trim - and that you can now do 88k and 176k over USB.

(The Gen1 did ALL sample rates up to 24/192 via Coax and Optical, and all sample rates up to 192k EXCEPT 88k and 176k via USB.
The Gen2 now does ALL sample rates up to 192k INCLUDING 88k and 192k over ALL its inputs.)"

I keep reading this, but what doesn't make sense to me is that 88k works fine on my XDA-2 Gen 1 over USB. 176k is tempting, but what I really want to know is if Gen 2 solves the USB handshake problem that many Gen 1s have -- i.e. the unit needs to be power cycled and the USB connection needs to be toggled if your computer goes to sleep and the connection is inactive. This was a complaint from Mac users more so than Windows users, but some Windows machines were affected. 

[MikeWI]

Dec 4, 2014 15:28:35 GMT -5 bene said:

Nov 15, 2014 6:06:11 GMT -5 MikeWI said:

I think this was the main change:

"Upgraded USB input now supports all standard sample rates including 88k and 176k"

See also comments here: emotivalounge.proboards.com/post/686484

"The differences are the black trim - and that you can now do 88k and 176k over USB.

(The Gen1 did ALL sample rates up to 24/192 via Coax and Optical, and all sample rates up to 192k EXCEPT 88k and 176k via USB.
The Gen2 now does ALL sample rates up to 192k INCLUDING 88k and 192k over ALL its inputs.)"

I keep reading this, but what doesn't make sense to me is that 88k works fine on my XDA-2 Gen 1 over USB. 176k is tempting, but what I really want to know is if Gen 2 solves the USB handshake problem that many Gen 1s have -- i.e. the unit needs to be power cycled and the USB connection needs to be toggled if your computer goes to sleep and the connection is inactive. This was a complaint from Mac users more so than Windows users, but some Windows machines were affected. 

Interesting.
I hope it is solved.

Mike

[soundnut]

i am considering one for christmas.are there any known issues with these units?

[johnfalc]

I have one of both the Gen1 and Gen2 - both work fine. I generally run them at 192K USB from Windows 7 with no difficulty with my primary application source being JRiver MC 20 (now at version 20.0.44). The Gen1 is now connected (mainly as a volume control) to a Samsung 4K 65" TV which (BEWARE!) doesn't support variable audio output from any of its outputs; the TV is connected via TOSLINK.

[joeesp9]

Dec 5, 2014 9:16:25 GMT -5 MikeWI said:

Dec 4, 2014 15:28:35 GMT -5 bene said:

I keep reading this, but what doesn't make sense to me is that 88k works fine on my XDA-2 Gen 1 over USB. 176k is tempting, but what I really want to know is if Gen 2 solves the USB handshake problem that many Gen 1s have -- i.e. the unit needs to be power cycled and the USB connection needs to be toggled if your computer goes to sleep and the connection is inactive. This was a complaint from Mac users more so than Windows users, but some Windows machines were affected. 

Interesting.
I hope it is solved.

Mike

88.2KHz over USB seems to work with my Gen 1 XDA-2. With the couple of 176KHz files I have my XDA-2 reports 44.1(over USB). The laptop I tested this on has an external USB HDD where the music files are. It's running Windows 8.1. I've noticed no handshaking problems at any time.

[garbulky]

The gen 1 XDA-2's had trouble with USB. But the early run units like joeesp9's tended to give more issues. However lots of people didn't have these issues and were able to play 88.2 khz files just fine. Then what they did was update the firmware/driver on the gen 1 XDA-2 with the later units. This was supposed to help with these issues, but had the side effect of turning off 88.1 and 176.2 khz support.

For those that didn't update, their XDA-2 gen 1 can still do this and if they aren't having issues with their USB drivers, there is no reason to upgrade their drivers and lose functionality imo.

[soundnut]

well i got one ordered today.not getting it till xmas.

[joeesp9]

Dec 6, 2014 13:52:49 GMT -5 garbulky said:

The gen 1 XDA-2's had trouble with USB. But the early run units like joeesp9's tended to give more issues. However lots of people didn't have these issues and were able to play 88.2 khz files just fine. Then what they did was update the firmware/driver on the gen 1 XDA-2 with the later units. This was supposed to help with these issues, but had the side effect of turning off 88.1 and 176.2 khz support.

For those that didn't update, their XDA-2 gen 1 can still do this and if they aren't having issues with their USB drivers, there is no reason to upgrade their drivers and lose functionality imo.

AFAIK my XDA-2 is one of the last ones. I was not using it correctly and that's why I couldn't initially get it to read 88.2. It does now. I currently have no 176.2KHz files.