umc-1 anagol inputs sound quality vs 7.1 ext direct inputs

[holby]

On my UMC-1 I am using the 7.1 ext inputs for dvd audio 5.1. My new player has a separate analog board with 2 burr brown 1796 dacs in dual differential mode for stereo playback. The 5.1 outputs use a different analog board with 3 dacs for the 5.1 output channels still good but not as good as the burr brown board ,so the stereo connections are not redundant like some players.(I looked inside} .The player is a Denon 3930ci sacd/dvd audio payer. I am hooking the dedicated stereo LR into analog 1 , a high quality dac for computer audio into analog 2, a turntable with project phonobox s into analog 3.My question is: Hooking a high quality analog connection into the LR analog 1,2,3,4 connections is the UMC-1 changing the audio to digital and then back to analog out through the UMC-1 dsp and dacs. If so am I hearing the burr brown dacs and board from my player or hearing the UMC-1 dacs If so would this defeat the purpose of hooking a good cd player like the emotiva erc or anything with a better dac and analog stage into Umc-1 except through 7.1 ext inputs. Or are the UMC-1s analog inputs considered to be high high quality connections so that this is a none issue.

[Gary Cook]

The usual answer "It depends" (of course it does), for example if you select direct stereo in the UMC-1 then it should pass through at 100% analogue (hence using the DAC in the source). No room correction, no bass management just 2 channel, front, left and right stereo. If you want bass management and/or room correction then it will go through ADC circuitry in the UMC-1 then through a DAC in the UMC-1. So any advantage of the source's DAC will be lost as well as there being 2 additional conversions.

BTW, I need analogue bass management for 2.1 stereo music, that's why I have a USP-1

Cheers
Gary

[geebo]

Jan 10, 2016 21:40:36 GMT -5 holby said:

On my UMC-1 I am using the 7.1 ext inputs for dvd audio 5.1. My new player has a separate analog board with 2 burr brown 1796 dacs in dual differential mode for stereo playback. The 5.1 outputs use a different analog board with 3 dacs for the 5.1 output channels still good but not as good as the burr brown board ,so the stereo connections are not redundant like some players.(I looked inside} .The player is a Denon 3930ci sacd/dvd audio payer. I am hooking the dedicated stereo LR into analog 1 , a high quality dac for computer audio into analog 2, a turntable with project phonobox s into analog 3.My question is: Hooking a high quality analog connection into the LR analog 1,2,3,4 connections is the UMC-1 changing the audio to digital and then back to analog out through the UMC-1 dsp and dacs. If so am I hearing the burr brown dacs and board from my player or hearing the UMC-1 dacs If so would this defeat the purpose of hooking a good cd player like the emotiva erc or anything with a better dac and analog stage into Umc-1 except through 7.1 ext inputs. Or are the UMC-1s analog inputs considered to be high high quality connections so that this is a none issue.

If doing any processing with the UMC you'll be hearing the UMC DACS and stereo analog inputs are your only choice (for analog input). But if you select Direct mode then processing is bypassed and there is no A to D conversion in which case you'll be hearing the Denon's DACs. If you use the 7.1 inputs there will be no processing so again you'll be hearing the player's DACs. The downside to the latter method is that no processing will ever be available in the event you want bass management or EQ.

[holby]

Bought a used USP-1 2 weeks ago. Still have not decided if I like the sound or not. Some things sound definity better

[holby]

Seems like acoustic stuff, vocals or punchy music :John Mayer live, anything Diana Krell or Steely dan or that type of music that's recorded well sounds better,wider soundstage more detail, but not as warm as the Umc-1.Other music mostly classic rock that probably was not recorded as well seems a little harsh, sometimes almost distorted. Anyone else have any comparisons between umc-1 and usp-1

[Gary Cook]

I prefer the USP-1 as a music preamp for 2.1 stereo compared to the UMC-200. Some of which could be attributed to the DAC in the ERC-3 compared to the DAC in the UMC-200.

Cheers
Gary