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Post by rockman85 on Feb 19, 2016 18:35:08 GMT -5
What is the purpose of this input? If you had an analog signal from say a SA-CD player, why route it through the DC-1 instead of just directly into an amp? Or is this merely a convenience factor to that you can control all your sources from the DC-1? If I understand correctly, the DC-1 would not actually "do" anything to the analog signal?
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klinemj
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Official Emofest Scribe
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Post by klinemj on Feb 19, 2016 18:46:16 GMT -5
It is convenience...it acts as a preamp so you don't have to have a separate one or unplug/replug wires all the time.
Mark
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Post by garbulky on Feb 19, 2016 18:47:46 GMT -5
This a very useful feature. Basically if you look at Emotiva power amps they do not have a volume control. A crude slightly innacurate way of putting it they go full volume all the time.
So....if your SA-CD player had a preamp built in to it (to turn the volume down from maximum) then you could connect it direct to the Emotiva amp.
But there's quite a bit of equipment that send a full scale line out signal and requires a preamp to turn things down before going to the power amp. For instance a standalone DAC that does not have an integrated volume control can use the DC-1 for the volume control.
So basically the DC-1 has the ability to adjust this volume down from full. Now the nice thing is that it has an analog preamp...versus a digital preamp which loses information when you turn things down from maximmum. The analog preamp is also precisely matched left to right in terms of balance. I think it has a 0.1db margin or something.
So yes the signal does go through the DC-1 and the DC-1 CAN change its volume. But it doesn't get processed through the DAC circuitry or digitized. It is all analog. I have tried the DC-1's preamp and it's got a "straight wire with gain" sound to it.
So for instance there are a few instances I can use the DC-1.
1. My Asus Xonar Essence ST has a slightly better DAC (analog out) than the DC-1. However its volume control is digitally attenuated. And basically not fantastic. Outputting at max volume to the DC-1 analog in allows me to bypass the digital volume control and use the analog volume control.
2. I plan to use the schiit ygdrassil someday. But I don't have a standalone preamp. If I need to I can use the DC-1's analog input to act as the preamp until I get my Audio GD He-1 or Audio GD master 1 preamp.
3. Another thing that you can use it is...I found a bluetooth reciever dongle. It acts as a bluetooth audio device for an iphone and outputs an analog signal. I can hook that up to my DC-1's analog input and when I want to play something off my phone I can do so WIRELESSLY straight to the DC-1 without having to get up and connect my phone to it.
4. If you have a turntable. YOu can purchase the $150 XPS-1 phono preamp. Then hook the phono preamp (which is a full scale signal) to the DC-1. This way you can have a turn table and your DC-1 as the preamp. All from one small box as the control center. So a lot of good integration can be done.
5. Lastly for recording. Though I don't really do this .... it is possible....I can output the signal from my microphone preamps in to the DC-1 input. Then I now have my microphones linked live to my speakers.
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Post by rockman85 on Feb 19, 2016 18:56:41 GMT -5
Makes sense, thanks guys.
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Post by geebo on Feb 19, 2016 20:23:41 GMT -5
What is the purpose of this input? If you had an analog signal from say a SA-CD player, why route it through the DC-1 instead of just directly into an amp? Or is this merely a convenience factor to that you can control all your sources from the DC-1? If I understand correctly, the DC-1 would not actually "do" anything to the analog signal? What if your SACD or other player has no volume control? The DC-1 gives you that. And it's also a hell of a headphone amp for digital or analog sources. |
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Post by ralflar on Feb 20, 2016 0:54:46 GMT -5
And if you add a SP-1 to that single analog input you get a complete pre-amp with multiple analog inputs including one for MC/MM phono.
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Post by ralflar on Feb 20, 2016 1:02:05 GMT -5
... My Asus Xonar Essence ST has a slightly better DAC (analog out) than the DC-1... Interesting. Not sure how to read your statement though. Do you mean the Xonar has a better DAC chip than the DC-1, spec-wise, or do you like the whole Xonar digital/analog package better than the DC-1 in terms of sound quality? |
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Post by garbulky on Feb 20, 2016 8:42:48 GMT -5
... My Asus Xonar Essence ST has a slightly better DAC (analog out) than the DC-1... Interesting. Not sure how to read your statement though. Do you mean the Xonar has a better DAC chip than the DC-1, spec-wise, or do you like the whole Xonar digital/analog package better than the DC-1 in terms of sound quality? I mean the whole package of the xonar essence ST when bypassing the digitial volume control by being run through the DC-1s analog input has a better sound to my ears. Now keep in mind that without the analog preamp of the DC-1 the xonar wasn't quite as good. As I had to listen to it at about 35% volume. Also I tried comparing when I had my older UPA-2 amp. Now I have my XPA-1 gen 2 amps and I found a lot of my minor issues with the DC-1 sound quality (which already was very good) went away. Stuff like a slight muddiness to the sound in dynamics, some treble reticience etc. So it's possible that I may change my mind. I just haven't really done any listening with the xonar since getting the new amps. The DC-1 is a great DAC and currently - when paired with my xpa-1 amps - is producing the best sound I have heard in my room. Hope that helps. |
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celing
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 9 
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Post by celing on Feb 23, 2016 10:44:59 GMT -5
The analog input was one of the deciding factors for me picking this up, I have quite a few early compact discs with Pre-Emphasis which can only be properly EQ'd via analog out from my cd player  |
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Post by STK on Sept 20, 2017 9:08:03 GMT -5
Does anyone know the sensitivity of the analog input? Considering the DC-1, but I only have about 480mV from my phono pre. Is this sufficient to drive the headphone amp?
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