XMC-1 Zone 2 Analogue outputs

[me262]

HI All,
So I keep asking detailed questions about the output capacity of Emotiva devices so why not continue:

The new question. The Zone 2 output, is it re-sampled in anyway or inferior in anyway to the main outputs (besides the fact that it does not run through dirac). I ask because I have my turntable running through the XMC-1, and I want to output it to a headphone amplifier, but I don't want it tied to the main zones operation. Based on my reading of the manual it looks like there is no analogue to digital conversion, and for all purposes its basically a a bare wire connecting the analogue input to Zone 2, but I wanted to see if anyone has the answer.

Thanks
Sam

[AudioHTIT]

Jul 11, 2016 19:20:46 GMT -5 me262 said:

HI All,
So I keep asking detailed questions about the output capacity of Emotiva devices so why not continue:

The new question. The Zone 2 output, is it re-sampled in anyway or inferior in anyway to the main outputs (besides the fact that it does not run through dirac). I ask because I have my turntable running through the XMC-1, and I want to output it to a headphone amplifier, but I don't want it tied to the main zones operation. Based on my reading of the manual it looks like there is no analogue to digital conversion, and for all purposes its basically a a bare wire connecting the analogue input to Zone 2, but I wanted to see if anyone has the answer.

Thanks
Sam

There should be nothing inferior about the Zone 2 outputs, unless you want to consider the difference between these two devices:
• Dual CS3318 lossless resistor ladder volume controls for main zone. 0.5dB resolution.
• NJW 1298 lossless resistor ladder volume controls for secondary zones and mix out. 0.5dB resolution.

You could also use the record out to feed your headphone amp if a fixed output is desirable; it should be the cleanest signal. Also remember, the Z1 and Z2 outputs will be repurposed for Dolby Atmos/DTS:X if that upgrade interests you.

[KeithL]

On the XMC-1 (specifically) the Zone 2 output has its own DAC.

This means two things:

1) Since Zone 2 has its own DAC, you can pick different digital sources (not just analog ones) for Zone 1 and Zone 2 if you want to.

2) With digital inputs, both when you're using a separate source and when you're using "Follow Main", the Zone 2 output is mixed down digitally in the DSP before going to its own stereo DAC
    (this is a much higher quality way to do it than taking an analog mixdown from the main outputs - like our older units do).

3) With an analog source, the stereo input is routed directly to the Zone 2 output through the switching matrix.

Jul 11, 2016 23:50:12 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

Jul 11, 2016 19:20:46 GMT -5 me262 said:

HI All,
So I keep asking detailed questions about the output capacity of Emotiva devices so why not continue:

The new question. The Zone 2 output, is it re-sampled in anyway or inferior in anyway to the main outputs (besides the fact that it does not run through dirac). I ask because I have my turntable running through the XMC-1, and I want to output it to a headphone amplifier, but I don't want it tied to the main zones operation. Based on my reading of the manual it looks like there is no analogue to digital conversion, and for all purposes its basically a a bare wire connecting the analogue input to Zone 2, but I wanted to see if anyone has the answer.

Thanks
Sam

There should be nothing inferior about the Zone 2 outputs, unless you want to consider the difference between these two devices:
• Dual CS3318 lossless resistor ladder volume controls for main zone. 0.5dB resolution.
• NJW 1298 lossless resistor ladder volume controls for secondary zones and mix out. 0.5dB resolution.

You could also use the record out to feed your headphone amp if a fixed output is desirable; it should be the cleanest signal. Also remember, the Z1 and Z2 outputs will be repurposed for Dolby Atmos/DTS:X if that upgrade interests you.

[me262]

Thanks all for the responses.

One last question. I assume if I want line level output that 0db is the right volume setting.