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Post by happyhopping on May 9, 2015 4:37:20 GMT -5
They both have USB, and it looks the same?
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Post by vcautokid on May 9, 2015 5:59:05 GMT -5
I had the original XDA-1, and the XDA-2 improves on it with improved USB input, and some internal improvements makes it sound even more detailed at least to me it does as I have heard the XDA-2 too as well. I never had any issues MAC or PC with the XDA-1, the XDA-2 and Gen 2 runs better still. Compatibility it is an easier dac to get along with. Icing on the cake is the Gen 2 styling too. That is what I can gather with my experience with the XDA family. I have a DC-1 now, and an XMC-1.
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Post by happyhopping on May 9, 2015 7:32:09 GMT -5
thanks for that info. I'll continue to search for a XDA-2 Gen 2 then. As all the ones I've seen at ebay is Gen 1
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Post by garbulky on May 9, 2015 8:26:29 GMT -5
The previous poster was comparing it to the XDA-1. The XDA-2 gen 1 and gen 2 have pretty much no real difference. Except for fixing a bit of a buggy USB connection and making the trim piece black in color. If you don't plan on using USB then there is no difference. I wouldn't spend additional money going for the gen 2 f you don't plan on using the USB. Also, if possible, I recommend the DC-1 which is a really nice DAC. That's the sweet spot imo.  |
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Post by happyhopping on May 9, 2015 9:05:21 GMT -5
where's DC-1 on their website?
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Post by brand on May 9, 2015 9:10:52 GMT -5
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Post by rocky500 on May 9, 2015 10:08:03 GMT -5
Also, if possible, I recommend the DC-1 which is a really nice DAC. That's the sweet spot imo. Plus 1 on the Stealth DC-1 Dac. Really is a great Dac. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on May 9, 2015 10:14:54 GMT -5
I haven't see this confirmed, but it was also mentioned that the XDA-2 Gen 2 has a different volume taper; many have complained that it took too long to increase or decrease the volume with the original XDA-2. I like the XDA-2 and this doesn't bother me, but I can see how it could be improved.
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Post by teaman on May 9, 2015 10:14:58 GMT -5
I agree with garbulky. If you are not anticipating using USB the two XDA-2's are the same. I own both and the debugging for USB in the Gen 2 is the only difference I know of outside of trim color. Both work nicely...and if you call Emotiva you can probably still get a factory refreshed, or B stock XDA-2 in either Gen 1 or 2 for $200 or less shipped with warranty. I just picked up my latest Gen 2 a couple weeks back for $180 shipped.
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Post by garbulky on May 9, 2015 10:30:25 GMT -5
The DC-1 can be purchased used from the emporium here for about $100 to $150 less than new. Also sometimes Emotiva will sell b-stock (Returned 30 day trial units) and used units. You have to give them a call and see if they have any.
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Post by happyhopping on May 10, 2015 0:21:46 GMT -5
what is the warranty of B stock? I look at the DC-1. Why would human ear need anything above 20KHz? And for $200 extra, they are still using liquid capacitor instead of Japanese Solid State Cap. Also, what kind of cable do you guys use for balance output? Is this good enough, if not, what do you get for a higher price cable? www.mycablemart.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=194 |
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Post by teaman on May 10, 2015 0:24:35 GMT -5
Hey happyhopping, I believe the B-Stock is full five year warranty, same as new. Factory refreshed is one year warranty. I use either the Emotiva XLR or the Monoprice XLR cables. Both have been reliable.
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Post by Percussionista on May 10, 2015 13:30:57 GMT -5
The previous poster was comparing it to the XDA-1. The XDA-2 gen 1 and gen 2 have pretty much no real difference. Except for fixing a bit of a buggy USB connection and making the trim piece black in color.... I seem to recall that they fixed the issue that it wouldn't process music at 176kHz via USB (I have a gen 1 with that issue, though I've supplanted it with the yummy DC-1). Every other rate up to 192kHz works fine. Although I haven't seen much recorded at 176kHz I of course bought an album's worth of such and couldn't play it through the gen-1 XDA-2 ;-) |
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Post by garbulky on May 10, 2015 14:40:06 GMT -5
what is the warranty of B stock? I look at the DC-1. Why would human ear need anything above 20KHz? And for $200 extra, they are still using liquid capacitor instead of Japanese Solid State Cap. Also, what kind of cable do you guys use for balance output? Is this good enough, if not, what do you get for a higher price cable? www.mycablemart.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=194B-stock is the same warranty as brand new. I think their used gear from them is about 1 year. Used gear from other people transfers what's left of the 5 year warranty. The human ear cannot hear anything above 20Khz. I also can't speak for the capacitor requirements as I am not knowledgeable there. But...here's where it matters....IN MY SUBJECTIVE OPINION. Vs the XDA-2. 1. It sounds better. (In my experience DAC's don't all sound the same). If you think they do, then I reccomend this DAC which really is a fantastic performer. It's $30. I own it. It goes upto 20khz reasonably flat. Limitation: USB only, 48khz max. www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI2. It sounds better going direct to a large power amp than the XDA-2. Improved dynamics. Still not perfect, not at an XSP-1 preamp level, but better than other DAC to amp units I've heard in that price range. 3. The headphone amp is a lot more robust (plus there's two of them). It is audibly better, especially if you are listening to high impedance demanding headphones 4. Did I mention it sounds better? It has a bit more dimensionality in the instruments. So they feel "realer". ALso the way they are placed in the soundstage. Instead of just having an instrument placed here, and there. You hear how it relates to the other instruments. It's confusing, but basically in real life when you hear an instrument playing and a voice in the same room singing, you know that they are singing in the same room in real life. That is one of the stregnths of this DAC is that you can hear them being in the same room better. For instance: You see how that piano is squashed into the corner? The DC-1 is better able to reproduce that squashed effect as the sound bounces off the corner walls. However, DACs are a strictly your mileage may vary deal. If even one thing is slightly off in your setup, it can mask the finer details the DC-1 is capable of. The previous poster was comparing it to the XDA-1. The XDA-2 gen 1 and gen 2 have pretty much no real difference. Except for fixing a bit of a buggy USB connection and making the trim piece black in color.... I seem to recall that they fixed the issue that it wouldn't process music at 176kHz via USB (I have a gen 1 with that issue, though I've supplanted it with the yummy DC-1). Every other rate up to 192kHz works fine. Although I haven't seen much recorded at 176kHz I of course bought an album's worth of such and couldn't play it through the gen-1 XDA-2 ;-) Yes that's what I mean. It can do 176 khz via USB. Also it may be slightly less buggy with drop outs than the previous XDA-2. SOome people had issues of static, and others had issues of the computer forgetting the XDA-2 was there or resetting it to 48Khz max capability. I'm not sure if they fixed all that. I hope so. |
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Post by happyhopping on May 11, 2015 4:37:37 GMT -5
Okay
1) who do we contact for B-Stock DAC? Is there a name of the sales rep. or contact email ?
2) I don't do USB or headphone , I am listening some regular music (no classical music) in a small 70 sq. ft., it's for my workout exercise, I plan to connect this to M-Audio M3-8, along w/ a regular Cd/DVD player, so whatever can do the job will work
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Post by teaman on May 11, 2015 10:22:37 GMT -5
Happyhopping, simply call the 877 number for Emotiva from it's website and ask for sales. They will hook you up with someone that can check their inventory to see what they have in B-Stock and give you pricing. I worked with Cathy Laufman when I called....the bosses wife. Also if you are thinking about possibly adding anything else in the next year it may be worth it to join the E-Club. It costs $49 for the year but gets you at least 10% of everything you buy. Good luck!
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Post by garbulky on May 11, 2015 11:44:44 GMT -5
Okay 1) who do we contact for B-Stock DAC? Is there a name of the sales rep. or contact email ? 2) I don't do USB or headphone , I am listening some regular music (no classical music) in a small 70 sq. ft., it's for my workout exercise, I plan to connect this to M-Audio M3-8, along w/ a regular Cd/DVD player, so whatever can do the job will work Sorry for flip flopping. If it's for workout music (and also listening relatively near feild) then I doubt you'll hear a worthwhile difference between a DC-1 and XDA-2. Now if it was in a setup where it was not nearfeild and you were sitting down in the sweet spot, there likely would be. If not, just go with the XDA-2 |
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Post by happyhopping on May 13, 2015 1:08:25 GMT -5
alright, I'll give their 1-877 no. a call. I have seen Gen 1 and Gen 2 at ebay selling for almost the same price, the average sold price is $225. Thanks everyone
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 10,271
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Post by KeithL on May 13, 2015 10:52:42 GMT -5
Correct. The XDA-2 Gen2 will play 176k via USB and the Gen1 will not. (That limitation for the Gen1 is ONLY for USB.) The previous poster was comparing it to the XDA-1. The XDA-2 gen 1 and gen 2 have pretty much no real difference. Except for fixing a bit of a buggy USB connection and making the trim piece black in color.... I seem to recall that they fixed the issue that it wouldn't process music at 176kHz via USB (I have a gen 1 with that issue, though I've supplanted it with the yummy DC-1). Every other rate up to 192kHz works fine. Although I haven't seen much recorded at 176kHz I of course bought an album's worth of such and couldn't play it through the gen-1 XDA-2 ;-) |
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Post by woofy98102 on Jul 3, 2015 11:42:33 GMT -5
I have a Gen 1 XDA-2 and use JRiver Media Center. To get around the 88/176 limit on USB, I simply went into the player's DSP section and set the media center to upsample both 88khz and 176khz files to output at 196khz to my ZDA-2 Gen 1.. After doing that, I have had ZERO issues playing 88/176 files on my Gen 1 XDA-2 and the files sound absolutely wonderful. Best of all, it was FREE!
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