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Post by nashspacerocket on Oct 15, 2015 11:40:35 GMT -5
I am an owner of an XDA-1 which has been working flawlessly for 4 years.
i see the close-out price on the xda-2g2 is very tempting.
can anybody give me an idea if it's worth the upgrade?
Firstly, some background on my listening habits.
i use the xda-1 as a digital front end (sat receiver, dvd, cd, BD).
I do not use the USB input, except when we have a party to keep music going, which is rare.
It goes into a Marantz PM6004 int amp, and i'm very happy with the headphone out from that.
So seeing as they are the only 2 things i read are different ie the headphone amp and the USB supporting > 48k input, is it worth the upgrade??
I've read about quality control issues with the xda-2 and issues with the USB, so i don't want to spend money and go from a great working unit to a potential lemon for no real audio benefit.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 15, 2015 11:44:42 GMT -5
You say 'digital front end', does that mean you use an external device to control the volume and keep the XDA-1 at 80? One of the big differences between the XDA-1 and 2 was the 'lossless' (analog) volume control. With the 1 you lost bit depth as you turned the volume down, not so with the 2. If you use an external volume control the difference (to me) was very minimal, however I used the volume control and appreciated the difference. Edit: I see you say the Marantz is an integrated amp, so probably not a compelling reason to change. I am an owner of an XDA-1 which has been working flawlessly for 4 years. i see the close-out price on the xda-2g2 is very tempting. can anybody give me an idea if it's worth the upgrade? Firstly, some background on my listening habits. i use the xda-1 as a digital front end (sat receiver, dvd, cd, BD). I do not use the USB input, except when we have a party to keep music going, which is rare. It goes into a Marantz PM6004 int amp, and i'm very happy with the headphone out from that. So seeing as they are the only 2 things i read are different ie the headphone amp and the USB supporting > 48k input, is it worth the upgrade?? I've read about quality control issues with the xda-2 and issues with the USB, so i don't want to spend money and go from a great working unit to a potential lemon for no real audio benefit. |
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Post by ocezam on Oct 15, 2015 11:46:12 GMT -5
You say 'digital front end', does that mean you use an external device to control the volume and keep the XDA-1 at 80? One of the big differences between the XDA-1 and 2 was the 'lossless' (analog) volume control. With the 1 you lost bit depth as you turned the volume down, not so with the 2. If you use an external volume control the difference (to me) was very minimal, however I used the volume control and appreciated the difference. I am an owner of an XDA-1 which has been working flawlessly for 4 years. i see the close-out price on the xda-2g2 is very tempting. can anybody give me an idea if it's worth the upgrade? Firstly, some background on my listening habits. i use the xda-1 as a digital front end (sat receiver, dvd, cd, BD). I do not use the USB input, except when we have a party to keep music going, which is rare. It goes into a Marantz PM6004 int amp, and i'm very happy with the headphone out from that. So seeing as they are the only 2 things i read are different ie the headphone amp and the USB supporting > 48k input, is it worth the upgrade?? I've read about quality control issues with the xda-2 and issues with the USB, so i don't want to spend money and go from a great working unit to a potential lemon for no real audio benefit. Yeah, this..... |
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Post by nashspacerocket on Oct 15, 2015 12:25:34 GMT -5
yes i keep the xda-1 volume maxed out and just control via the Marantz.
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Post by garbulky on Oct 15, 2015 12:31:15 GMT -5
Ah nash I have tons of opinions on your option. But with respect to audiohtit, I want to caution you that this is just that - my opionion. Having said that...I used the XDA-1 for years. Then I tried out the XDA-2. And then the DC-1. The XDA-2 though it did some things better - namely less glare on upper mids/treble, really didn't feel like an upgrade. The headphone amp wasn't great for my choice of headphones. The details in little segments didn't quite get me and the biggest problem was the dynamics just weren't really much or close enough to realistic. Now the DC-1 is a different animal altogether. My frist impression was that it was fantastic and at the time I hadn't heard better. The only thing I've heard that bettered it significantlly was an Oppo 105 combined with an XSP-1. And it was the combo that bettered it, not the oppo 105 alone. Check out my gushing review of the DC-1. A well worthwile upgrade. emotivalounge.proboards.com/thread/33501 |
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Post by nashspacerocket on Oct 15, 2015 18:12:38 GMT -5
thanks for the response.
the Dc-1 does not have enough digital coax/toslink inputs for me. I need 4 to handle my digital components, the main reason i bought the xda-1 in the first place.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 15, 2015 18:47:23 GMT -5
thanks for the response. the Dc-1 does not have enough digital coax/toslink inputs for me. I need 4 to handle my digital components, the main reason i bought the xda-1 in the first place. I'm having the same problem with my DC-1, need another TOSLink. |
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Post by garbulky on Oct 15, 2015 20:39:17 GMT -5
thanks for the response. the Dc-1 does not have enough digital coax/toslink inputs for me. I need 4 to handle my digital components, the main reason i bought the xda-1 in the first place. Easy peazy! The DC-1 has more input than you realize. First the BNC input works with Coax. So you have two coax inputs. Also I use an coaxial to optical (TOSLINK) converter which I bought for $16 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002J2MV4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpageIt works flawlessly. However its sampling output rate is 48 khz. So use it for your cable box etc. No sound quality degradation than I heard. But I wouldn't use it for like your two channel music listening source just on principle. The AES input can also be converted to a coax input. If one wishes. But the converter is a bit expensive. What are your sources? |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 16, 2015 0:28:57 GMT -5
The AES input can also be converted to a coax input. If one wishes. But the converter is a bit expensive. Years ago I used a straight RCA to XLR adapter for coax into AES/EBU, I don't remember it being particularly expensive. |
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