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Post by rochesterboy on Jan 31, 2017 13:30:14 GMT -5
I recently bought used ERC-2 and like new XSP-1 Pre-amp. I understand that XSP-1 is a fully balanced preamp.
The question I have is, is ERC-2 fully balanced CD Player? Or do I have to upgrade to ERC-3 to get the full benefits of XSP-1 sound quality?
2nd question is, do I also need XPA-2 or similar amplifier to get an excellent stereo sound quality?
I currently own Polk LSiM 705 and 703 speakers and I am using 703 specifically for Stereo music.
My current amp is Behringer EP4000 Amplifier which supports XLR connectivity.
Thanks in advance.
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stiehl11
Emo VIPs 
Give me available light!
Posts: 7,269
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Post by stiehl11 on Jan 31, 2017 13:35:55 GMT -5
The ERC-2 is fully balanced. And, using XLR interconnects to the XSP-1 the chain is fully balanced. However, to keep that all the way through to your amp and speakers you will need a fully balanced amp; like the XPA-1. The XPA-2 (and others in the XPA line) offer balanced connections. But only the XPA-1 amps are fully balanced/quad-differential.
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Post by garbulky on Jan 31, 2017 15:21:10 GMT -5
Like Stiehl said your ERC-2 and XSP-1 are fully balanced. But fully balanced should ideally extend all the way through the chain through the amp. If any part is not fully balanced, then that's where it stops being fully balanced. Your Behringer is not fully balanced. It simply accepts XLR inputs.
My setup is also fully balanced. I use a DC-1 outputs via XLR to an XPA-1 gen 2. I love it! Best sound I have heard in my room. I think the balanced drive and class A and the very nice quality output of the XPA-1 gen 2 goes a long way to making it sound that way.
However, you should know that there are also other factors in your system that may make more difference than things like fully balanced. There's a good amount of people that hear zero difference in fully balanced versus regular single ended. And also lots of people that hear zero difference between electronics. My experience is different, but just saying that it's possible you may be one of those people.
So before you go off buying a super expensive amp, some of the things that can make more difference than fully balanced paths are speaker placement, room treatments, the acoustic properties of your room. Your LSIM 705's are already quite nice speakers. So I would look at all those things as well.
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Post by Axis on Jan 31, 2017 16:06:57 GMT -5
I would like to remind everyone of the coming Stealth PA-1 ICE Power Monoblocks. And used XPA-1L Monoblocks.
It would be nice if Emotiva would offer another Class A quad balanced amp that is not as big and as costly as the XPA-1. The XPA-1 is a very good amp with 60 watts of Class A. Emotiva knows they can do good class A amplifiers that are fully balance and there should be a market for good ones that do not cost tens of thousands of dollars. We have all seen them on the high end sites where they think that is normal. Emotiva should press on and take them on and take there market. Word is getting out there about Emotiva gear. If they keep the class A fully balanced gear only for the RMC gear then they will miss out on all those that want this gear for real world prices. I do not think Emotiva is going to do that. It will not cost less than the BasX but if anyone can make some good powerful amps that are like the XPA-1L at a great price it looks to be Emotiva. Maybe some others and speak with your wallet or purse.
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Post by garbulky on Jan 31, 2017 16:19:33 GMT -5
Axis I really hope they don't phase out those XPA-1 gen 2's. But I'm afraid they'll be on the way out after those double wide modules come out 
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Post by Axis on Jan 31, 2017 16:49:49 GMT -5
Axis I really hope they don't phase out those XPA-1 gen 2's. But I'm afraid they'll be on the way out after those double wide modules come out I do not think so Garbulky. I try to listen and read between lines and I think they are going forward with the new gear for Home Theater use. The light and customable nature of the new Gen 3 is needed for the new processors. I want to see them be big sales and I bet they will. I do not think they have stopped with the better 2 channel gear that you, Boom and many want see happen. Give them some time to bring out three lines of new products. All the old timers here know that sometimes you have to wait for years to upgrade. How many times have you upgraded ? Most everyone. I am still with my USP-1, UPA-2 and ERC-1. It is sublime 2 channel to me. I am waiting on Active speakers that perform like those $20,000 jobs. Not spending that much but still want to go there. Put the amps in the speakers Emotiva !  |
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Post by garbulky on Jan 31, 2017 16:55:01 GMT -5
Axis I really hope they don't phase out those XPA-1 gen 2's. But I'm afraid they'll be on the way out after those double wide modules come out I do not think so Garbulky. I try to listen and read between lines and I think they are going forward with the new gear for Home Theater use. The light and customable nature of the new Gen 3 is needed for the new processors. I want to see them be big sales and I bet they will. I do not think they have stopped with the better 2 channel gear that you, Boom and many want see happen. Give them some time to bring out three lines of new products. All the old timers here know that sometimes you have to wait for years to upgrade. How many times have you upgraded ? Most everyone. I am still with my USP-1, UPA-2 and ERC-1. It is sublime 2 channel to me. I am waiting on Active speakers that perform like those $20,000 jobs. Not spending that much but still want to go there. Put the amps in the speakers Emotiva ! I upgrade very rarely. Right now, I'm in the middle of a very slow upgrade cycle! |
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Post by rochesterboy on Jan 31, 2017 17:45:19 GMT -5
Appreciate all the responses. I understand ERC-2 is fully balanced. Are there any advantages in upgrading to ERC-3?
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Post by Axis on Jan 31, 2017 17:49:21 GMT -5
Appreciate all the responses. I understand ERC-2 is fully balanced. Are there any advantages in upgrading to ERC-3? Some would say yes. That is a slot loader you have and I like the sound on my ERC-1 that is a slot loader also. I could not tell you that the ERC-3 will sound better but Lonnie and Dan says it does so I give them the benefit of the doubt because they make the stuff !  |
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Post by garbulky on Jan 31, 2017 18:01:32 GMT -5
Appreciate all the responses. I understand ERC-2 is fully balanced. Are there any advantages in upgrading to ERC-3? The ERC-3 has the analog stage of the DC-1. However it uses a single DAC versus the two of the DC-1. |
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Post by rochesterboy on Jan 31, 2017 18:27:15 GMT -5
So If I get the DC-1, I don't need to upgrade to ERC-3 correct?
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Post by teaman on Jan 31, 2017 18:30:41 GMT -5
Appreciate all the responses. I understand ERC-2 is fully balanced. Are there any advantages in upgrading to ERC-3? Some would say yes. That is a slot loader you have and I like the sound on my ERC-1 that is a slot loader also. I could not tell you that the ERC-3 will sound better but Lonnie and Dan says it does so I give them the benefit of the doubt because they make the stuff ! I find the sound of my ERC-3 is a slight improvement over the ERC-1 and ERC-2. Also, I had a ERC-2 that the spindle table broke on and it would no longer accept discs. I got it fixed under warranty so all is better now but I actually prefer the drawer loader on the ERC-3. Just a heads up, some of the ERC-3's have noisy chassis. One of mine does but I listen at loud levels so it drowns it out. |
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Post by garbulky on Feb 2, 2017 13:37:15 GMT -5
So If I get the DC-1, I don't need to upgrade to ERC-3 correct? I've only heard the DC-1. So I couldn't tell you. I can tell you I really like the DC-1's sound quality. But I don't know if it's different from the CD players. However if you do anything other than play CD's, for instance if you want to use your sound system for movies or whatever, the DC-1 will allow you to do this provided your other systems offer that connectivity. I use my DC-1 to make most of the audio from my devices high quality audio. For instance, I have a blu ray player which connects to the DC-1 and I get nice two channel movie sound for movies, online streaming services. Other things I've also hooked up is my playstation 3 for gaming, and my PC for lossless music. I even hooked up the output of my turntable (using a cheap $20 phono preamp) to the DC-1's analog input. If I had the ERC-2, I could hook it up using the AES balanced digital connection to the DC-1 as well. Then when I want to play some gaming and crank the volume up, I use the headphone jacks for the volume. I'm also a very amateur musician and I have a set of stereo microphones. The music I record, I use the DC-1 to listen to and edit if I need to using my PC. A lot of times I use the headphone output when I got to make some editing decisions. |
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