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Post by cwmcobra on Dec 1, 2014 22:19:19 GMT -5
I'm thinking of purchasing an XDA-1 to link to my laptop. The entire system would be USB out from the laptop to USB in on the XDA-1. XDA-1 outputs to an external amp connected to a pair of Cerwin-Vega speakers. In my office/extra bedroom.
This seems simple enough, but I thought I'd ask for others' experience with similar setups. Does the USB out from the laptop provide the proper digital signal for the XDA? Then set a volume level on the laptop and adjust speaker volume with the XDA remote? Anything I'm missing?
And I know its not the most highly regarded DAC that Emo has made, but would you expect decent sound quality?
Thanks!
Chuck
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Post by garbulky on Dec 1, 2014 23:38:20 GMT -5
When I first got the XDA-1 I really liked it. Now later on, I find there are better DACs out there - one being the DC-1.
The XDA-1's biggest stregnth is that it has a very airy sounding treble with the ability to make quick natural changes in treble dynamics. Probably due to its class A architecture. I believe it used no op-amps in the signal path.
Its biggest stregnth is - I found later - also its weakness. The treble feels slightly bumped up and has an artificial "glare" to the sound.
The USB input on the XDA-1 maxes out at 48Khz. It cannot do anything more than that. I may be wrong here but I felt that the other inputs had slightly more clarity but that may have been my imagination.
The volume control is a lossy digital volume control. At lower volumes it loses a slight amount of upper treble information like the slight hiss of a microphone or the hiss of air. But honestly, it's not terribly bad.
I suspect the sherbourn 7030 will sound better in terms of the treble glare.
At the prices they are selling for, the thing provides serious value imo. But there are better dacs.
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Dec 2, 2014 6:49:17 GMT -5
I hate to jump in here, because I'm selling one of these at a ridiculous low price. I agree that there are better DACs, there always are. You will pay more. However, the XDA-1 is a wonderful sounding DAC. It's quick. Dynamic. Female vocals sound great. The treble is not as pronounced as Garbulky states to my ears and I own Thiel speakers.
The digital volume control can be changed to logarithmic if that is an issue by sending the unit to Emotiva for update. Lonnie has said that this is an open ended update for those who request it. I never felt the need to do so.
It's a huge value for a cheap price.
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Post by cwmcobra on Dec 2, 2014 9:55:08 GMT -5
When I first got the XDA-1 I really liked it. Now later on, I find there are better DACs out there - one being the DC-1. The XDA-1's biggest stregnth is that it has a very airy sounding treble with the ability to make quick natural changes in treble dynamics. Probably due to its class A architecture. I believe it used no op-amps in the signal path. Its biggest stregnth is - I found later - also its weakness. The treble feels slightly bumped up and has an artificial "glare" to the sound. The USB input on the XDA-1 maxes out at 48Khz. It cannot do anything more than that. I may be wrong here but I felt that the other inputs had slightly more clarity but that may have been my imagination. The volume control is a lossy digital volume control. At lower volumes it loses a slight amount of upper treble information like the slight hiss of a microphone or the hiss of air. But honestly, it's not terribly bad. I suspect the sherbourn 7030 will sound better in terms of the treble glare. At the prices they are selling for, the thing provides serious value imo. But there are better dacs. Thanks Gar for your comments. I've read many of your reviews and comments on DACs and know that you are a big DC-1 fan. And for good reason. In this case, however, I don't feel that my intended use justifies the cost of the DC-1. I have extra speakers and amps laying around and thought this would be an inexpensive, yet relatively high value way to make decent sound quality from my laptop in this small room environment. I won't be doing any critical listening with this system. I will have the system in my signature up and running next year. I agree that the PT-7030 should provide better SQ than the XDA-1 and will rely heavily on it in my theater room that will be used for critical music listening also. My real question, since I've never used a DAC before, was about the basic function of the intended setup. Mostly about the USB output/input connection and the XDA's capability to control the system volume. I don't know if there are issues of USB signal compatibility to be concerned about or not. And cawgijoe has commented on the volume control, so it appears that's not an issue. Unless someone sees a fly in the ointment with this setup, I think I'll proceed. My belief is that if the basic function is there, it has to sound better than my old Yamaha PC speaker setup! Thanks again, Gar. Chuck |
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Post by garbulky on Dec 2, 2014 10:24:03 GMT -5
cwmcobraYou are quite welcome! The XDA-1 is a musical DAC. I just hooked mine back up the other day. Remember what I said about the "airy" treble. Listening to some music, that quality was definitely still there and it has this eery ability to make a persons voice float in the air which a lot of dac's can do but this one can also make you feel like you can hear past the person's voice as if there is something behind it - a quality which I haven't found in other DAC's. Basically a better float in the air effect. Most of the time I listened to the XDA-1 back then was by USB. If 95% of your music is CD quality/the internet, I don't see a problem as the 48khz limit on USB is only an issue for High definition tracks.  There is also a nice DAC in that price range called the dragonfly 1.2 which if you are only doing USB, is actually a darn fine DAC and imo slightly better in top to bottom balance than the XDA-1. It also does high res. The dragonfly 1.2 (make sure it's that version) produced either the second or third best sound I have ever heard. (Granted that was coupled to an XSP-1 but still). It was slightly behind an oppo coupled to an XSP-1 which was the best sound I've heard. It's high end was slightly pronounced compared which is normal for dacs in this price range. In that particular setup which wasn't mine, it happened to outperform the DC-1 dac. However the DC-1 sounded quite different in that setup compared to mine. And so I wouldn't assign it a definite winner as the DC-1 really does well in my setup. But the fact that it even got close was pretty impressive imo. The sound signature though is different. I heard way down deep by Jennifer warnes on the dragonfly connected to a XSP-1, XPA-1 L axiom m80 V4 setup and the sound was incredible. HUGE HUGE bass that reached very low and rock solid soundstage with really nice positioning. A very involving sound, bound to impress. Personally that's what I would go for and I'm usually VERY turned off by tiny DAC's.  But if you are looking for connectivity options, the dragonfly has only one input while the xda-1 has a heck of a lot more.
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Post by jamesflames on Jan 3, 2015 16:11:04 GMT -5
To the OP I just recently dusted off my XDA-1 and hooked it up to my HTPC as my receiver blew. Setup could not have been simpler. USB connection between the computer and XDA-1 and windows automatically downloads and installs the necessary drivers. Just be sure to set the XDA-1 as the default audio device once installed. My speakers are powered by a UPA-2 that was also temporarily collecting dust. The USB input of the XDA-1 is limited compared the other inputs but if you're not playing high-rez you won't be affected. This was a huge upgrade compared to my dead Onkyo receiver as far as 2 channel sound is concerned. So your plan is not a bad way to go but personally I'm thinking of purchasing an XDA-2 down the road for the added flexibility of high-rez through USB.
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Post by brubacca on Jan 3, 2015 16:21:10 GMT -5
I feel that the XDA-1 is lacking in many areas. My recommendation for what you want to do us to get a clearance Meridian Explorer. DAC. They are going for $149 and well worth it.
It is Asynch USB, will do up to 192, has internal analog volume control and also is a headphone amp. My personal experience that if you are not using Asynch USB the music just loses so much.
Just my personal experience.
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Jan 3, 2015 16:29:51 GMT -5
...The digital volume control can be changed to logarithmic if that is an issue by sending the unit to Emotiva for update... I'd much rather add a "Control-Freak" to a XDA-1, if it is going directly to a power-amp, and run the XDA-1 volume at full! |
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Jan 3, 2015 16:34:48 GMT -5
...The digital volume control can be changed to logarithmic if that is an issue by sending the unit to Emotiva for update... I'd much rather add a "Control-Freak" to a XDA-1, if it is going directly to a power-amp, and run the XDA-1 volume at full! Excellent solution Chuck! |
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Post by cwmcobra on Jan 3, 2015 17:05:59 GMT -5
...The digital volume control can be changed to logarithmic if that is an issue by sending the unit to Emotiva for update... I'd much rather add a "Control-Freak" to a XDA-1, if it is going directly to a power-amp, and run the XDA-1 volume at full! Interesting, Chuck. What is the advantage of running the XDA-1 at full volume? I'm currently using it as a pre-amp and controlling volume with it. The Control Freak is an interesting option, but would take away the ability to use the XDA-1 remote to adjust volume. |
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Post by brubacca on Jan 3, 2015 17:20:14 GMT -5
Whether or not the XDA-1 has linear or logarithmic volume control it is still lossy volume. If you are less than full volume the dac is throwing away information. Reports were the if you were up in the 70s on the volume scale that it sounded fine. People didn't seem to like it down in the teens or 30s.
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Post by Dark Ranger on Jan 3, 2015 17:26:06 GMT -5
The XDA-1 has a digitally controlled volume system. Simply put, it loses resolution and detail when you turn it down. This is true of all digital volume controls. This effect may not be noticeable depending on the overall resolving capabilities of your system, but it's been highlighted in the past as one of the Achilles Heel of the XDA-1. I've owned the XDA-1, XDA-2 (Gen 1), and DC-1. In my honest opinion, I highly recommend the XDA-2 over the XDA-1. You get a much better volume control (digitally-controlled, analog resistor ladder), but also get: - A built-in headphone amplifier - Full 24/192 capability over USB (XDA-2 Gen 2) - Selectable ASRC for digital inputs to reduce any jitter - Upgraded and informative front panel display - Small sonic refinements throughout I don't normally try to upsell, but in this case, the XDA-2 Gen 2 is well worth the extra over the XDA-1. |
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Post by cwmcobra on Jan 3, 2015 20:57:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the explanation. Chuck, I don't need a Control Freak to do what you suggest. I've just kicked the volume on the XDA-1 to 80 and all I have to do is adjust the volume on the amp. The Sherbourn 4Z-75 has both a volume knob on the front and a master volume control on the back panel. I lose volume control with the remote, but that's no biggie. The volume knob on the amp has a nice feel to it and I think it will work just fine for me.
Now to do some more critical listening!
PS: I understand the advantages of the XDA-2, but for the application it's in, the XDA-1 I think will serve me fine for awhile. Maybe I'll be bitten by the upgrade bug in the near future, though!
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Post by Dark Ranger on Jan 3, 2015 21:44:27 GMT -5
Sounds good, cobra. Running the XDA-1 at 80.0 will ensure the best possible sonic performance. Maybe I'll be bitten by the upgrade bug in the near future, though! Bugs may be hazardous to your wallet! I recommend buying this to help:   |
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Post by cwmcobra on Jan 3, 2015 23:22:11 GMT -5
Or in my case, "Deep Bass" Off!  |
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Post by cwmcobra on Jan 3, 2015 23:27:53 GMT -5
Thanks again for all your help, team! From my initial question on basic function to info on how to wring the best sound from the DAC, I'm once again thankful for all you helpful audio heads in the Lounge. But nothing more than I would expect from the Emotiva family!
Cheers!
Chuck
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