I have an XSP-1 on the way, am I hooking it up right?

[zer00]

So, I bought an Emotiva XSP-1 Gen 2 on eBay yesterday, and I want to make sure I hook this beast in properly. I’ve been using an XDA-1 as my source selector and volume control, the XSP-1 will let me add in a cassette player (mostly for my wife), a record player down the road, hopefully make better use of my XDA-1, and hopefully make better use of my ERC-3 Gen 2. So here’s what I’m looking at:

Apple TV 4K > HDMI > Vizio TV
Nintendo Switch > HDMI > Vizio TV
(Because these sources don’t have separate audio outputs, and I haven’t yet sprung for an HDMI switch, or a cheap receiver as an HDMI switch, or an XMC-2.)

Vizio TV > Optical > XDA-1 Optical 1
Xbox One X > Optical > XDA-1 Optical 2
HTPC > USB > XDA-1 USB

XDA-1 > XLR > XSP-1 Input 1
ERC-3 > XLR > XSP-1 Input 2
Marantz PMD 501 Cassette Player > RCA > XSP-1 Input 3

XSP-1 > XLR > Powered Speakers

XSP-1 Trigger Out > XDA-1 Trigger In
(So when the XSP-1 turns on, it turns on the XDA-1, which is how it will be used about 90% of the time.)
ERC-3 Trigger Out > XSP-1 Trigger In
(So when I turn on the CD player, it turns on the XSP-1, which should then turn on the XDA-1 if the above trigger works properly.)

Can I use a regular 1/8” cable (regular headphone cable that many of us have laying around, or emotiva.com/collections/accessories/products/msm if I wanted them to match) for the triggers?

—————

I’m told that the volume mechanism on the XDA-1 isn’t awful, but isn’t the best. I’ve read that you really need to get the XDA-1 turned up to make it sing, and that should have been corrected with the XDA-2 and DC-1. So, if I turn my XDA-1 up all the way, that should make it line level for the XSP-1, right? And should take full advantage of the XDA-1 until either an XDA-3 or DC-2 comes out, or a killer deal for a DC-1 shows up on eBay or Craigslist, right?

If I remember right, the digital to analog stage of the ERC-3 Gen 2 is supposed to be on par with/equivalent/identical to the DC-1. Currently the ERC-3 is running to the XDA-1 via an XLR cable to the AES/EBU input on the XDA-1. So now that I have a real stereo preamp, I should be running the ERC-3 straight in to the XSP-1, again until an XDA-3 or DC-2 or better digital to analog converter comes out, right?

I don’t think I have any reason to use the processor loop at the moment. Maybe in the future, I could see running the the processor loop out to an analog to digital unit for the purpose of ripping vinyl, but that seems a long way off.

—————

So, have I got this planned out alright? Am I missing anything obvious? Thanks!

Edit: Mistyped an ERC and an XSP, fixed.

[stiehl11]

Your best bet would be to run all your digital sources to your XDA-1, then run the XDA-1 to your XSP-1 (step up to XLR interconnects for more robustness and (possibly) better sound); using the XSP-1 to trigger the XDA-1 and any other analog sources you need. Then run all your analog sources (tape deck, turntable) to the XSP-1. Not sure if you have an ERC-1 or an ERC-3 (or both) as you mention them both. I would run an ERC-1 to the XDA-1 or the XSP-1 depending on available inputs and taste. If, however, you have the ERC-3 I would go XLR to the XSP-1; the ERC-3 (and ERC-4) have superior sound to the XDA-1. Use the XSP-1 to control volume. And, not sure where your XMC-1 (that you mention in the title) is in all of this.

[garbulky]

Jan 19, 2020 17:06:33 GMT -5 zer00 said:

So, I bought an Emotiva XSP-1 Gen 2 on eBay yesterday, and I want to make sure I hook this beast in properly. I’ve been using an XDA-1 as my source selector and volume control, the XSP-1 will let me add in a cassette player (mostly for my wife), a record player down the road, hopefully make better use of my XDA-1, and hopefully make better use of my ERC-3 Gen 2. So here’s what I’m looking at:

Apple TV 4K > HDMI > Vizio TV
Nintendo Switch > HDMI > Vizio TV
(Because these sources don’t have separate audio outputs, and I haven’t yet sprung for an HDMI switch, or a cheap receiver as an HDMI switch, or an XMC-2.)

Vizio TV > Optical > XDA-1 Optical 1
Xbox One X > Optical > XDA-1 Optical 2
HTPC > USB > XDA-1 USB

XDA-1 > XLR > XSP-1 Input 1
ERC-3 > XLR > XSP-1 Input 2
Marantz PMD 501 Cassette Player > RCA > XSP-1 Input 3

XSP-1 > XLR > Powered Speakers

XSP-1 Trigger Out > XDA-1 Trigger In
(So when the XSP-1 turns on, it turns on the XDA-1, which is how it will be used about 90% of the time.)
ERC-3 Trigger Out > XSP-1 Trigger In
(So when I turn on the CD player, it turns on the XSP-1, which should then turn on the XDA-1 if the above trigger works properly.)

Can I use a regular 1/8” cable (regular headphone cable that many of us have laying around, or emotiva.com/collections/accessories/products/msm if I wanted them to match) for the triggers?

—————

I’m told that the volume mechanism on the XDA-1 isn’t awful, but isn’t the best. I’ve read that you really need to get the XDA-1 turned up to make it sing, and that should have been corrected with the XDA-2 and DC-1. So, if I turn my XDA-1 up all the way, that should make it line level for the XSP-1, right? And should take full advantage of the XDA-1 until either an XDA-3 or DC-2 comes out, or a killer deal for a DC-1 shows up on eBay or Craigslist, right?

If I remember right, the digital to analog stage of the ERC-3 Gen 2 is supposed to be on par with/equivalent/identical to the DC-1. Currently the ERC-3 is running to the XDA-1 via an XLR cable to the AES/EBU input on the XDA-1. So now that I have a real stereo preamp, I should be running the ERC-3 straight in to the XSP-1, again until an XDA-3 or DC-2 or better digital to analog converter comes out, right?

I don’t think I have any reason to use the processor loop at the moment. Maybe in the future, I could see running the the processor loop out to an analog to digital unit for the purpose of ripping vinyl, but that seems a long way off.

—————

So, have I got this planned out alright? Am I missing anything obvious? Thanks!

Edit: Mistyped an ERC and an XSP, fixed.

Hi I have hands on experience with the XSP-1, XDA-1 (sooo much) XDA-2 and DC-1.
First I think you are doing all this correctly.
Also I don't know what kind of quality or preference your setup sounds like, but imo the DC-1 is superior to both the XDA-1 as a DAC and the XSP-1 as a preamp.
Having said that ...for most conditions the XSP-1 will be more than adequate as a preamp though the XDA-1 is simply not as good sounding as a DC-1 for me. BUT both XDA-1 and XSP-1 still sound Grrreat so don't be too worried about it.
If you are curious about the (subjective difference) the XDA-1 when compared has a glare on the treble compared to the DC-1. The DC-1 sounds a bit more "3 dimensional sound" and has more treble detail and better tone. The XDA-1's tonal signature however produces a very nice "see-through" effect which is quite nice though and you'll notice everything sounds very "clean" and low noise.

The XDA-1's USB input is not the best maxing out at 48khz. The DC-1's USB input (and all inputs) are asynchronous with a powerful (and user-defeatable) jitter reduction circuit and the USB input can take up 24 bit 192 khz.

IN regards to the XSP-1: The headphone amp section of the DC-1 is also significantly better than the XSP-1. The XSP-1 gives you the feeling of a bit more punch when used as a preamp. So if you like to just turn things up the XSP-1 produces a lot of punch and it sounds great at all volumes. However the DC-1 is a bit clearer in the low bass and the treble whereas the XSP-1 gets a little muddy in low bass and loses just a hint of high end air when compared. I noticed these differences using an XPA-1 gen 2 and the XPA-2 gen 1 and 2. However using weaker amps like the Emotiva UPA-2 and pretty much all other amps the differences were not noticeable.
The XSP-1 however has a great phono preamp. The DC-1's companion the SP-1 provides the phono input along with additional analog inputs if you were interested in that.

The ERC-3 has the same analog stage as the DC-1 and one of the DAC chips. The DC-1 contains two dac chips for "pseudo" dual mono operation.But yes, I would presume the ERC-3 to sound better than the XDA-1 and so your theory of connecting direfctly to the XSP-1 is a good idea.

You are doing something that I am doing. You are using multiple devices into a two channel dac. This is a great idea and it works very very well.
The DC-1 has an analog input (which is very high quality, imo a bit better than the XSP-1 even though it is unbalanced) so if you ever made the switch you can do without the XSP-1 in the chain.

My only input is that for your Apple TV and the nintendo switch you can use this:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RZ5MC1D/


It is a 4k HDMI 2.0b HDR 10 capable 4 port HDMI switcher (with remote). But where it really comes in useful is that it has AN OPTICAL AND A COAX RCA (DIGITAL) OUTPUT.
This allows you to get a bit perfect digital output from your HDMI only sources like the apple tv and nintendo switch.
If you don't want to bother with the input switching you can just get two of them. This way all your digital sources will be routed in to the XDA-1.

Finally you can also compare which sound you prefer for CD's. The ERC-3's digital outputs work at the same time as the analog outputs. So you can connect the XLR analog outputs to the XSP-1 and the AES XLR output to the AES input in the XDA-1 and switch in real time.

Also YES the XDA-1 produces its best sound at 80 volume (full). Here the digital volume control is not engaged and you just get the DAC's line output. Once you get below 50 volume, the digital reduction can start to get noticeable, but not by much.
Yes the DC-1 does not have this issue. It uses a analog resistor ladder on a chip as a volume control. I would skip the XDA-2 if I were looking to upgrade. I think the sound is not very good imo. The DC-1 is a superior solution for an upgrade.

[mfeust]

Ok so the only question I have since it's been awhile the XDA-1 should be run at full volume. But the problem was corrected with the XDA-2. I currently run my XDA-2 at 0db volume is this right.

Mark

[yeeeha17]

Hey loungers

I’m going to use this thread to see if I can resolve my issues with my XSP-1. I thought this would be a straight forward easy hook up but I am stump why it is not working for me. I did have this system working 1.5 years ago but had to box everything thing up so my daughter can use the room. Now she’s out, I am getting my office back. So here’s the situation. I can not get the XSP-1 to work with XLR connection to either balance 1 or 2. It works with RCA inputs but not the XLR.
I have PA-1>XLR>XSP-1>XLR>XDA-2>USB or optical>PC. System will not play with this setup. However if I replace the XLR with RCA from XSP-1>RCA>XDA-2 it will play. I have tried different XLR cables Emotiva and Monoprice with no luck. I can go from XDA-2 straight to PA-1 amps with XLR and it plays. So I can rule out the XDA-2 or the PA-1 amps. What’s else can I tried?

[Gary Cook]

Feb 6, 2021 15:43:44 GMT -5 yeeeha17 said:

Hey loungers

I’m going to use this thread to see if I can resolve my issues with my XSP-1. I thought this would be a straight forward easy hook up but I am stump why it is not working for me. I did have this system working 1.5 years ago but had to box everything thing up so my daughter can use the room. Now she’s out, I am getting my office back. So here’s the situation. I can not get the XSP-1 to work with XLR connection to either balance 1 or 2. It works with RCA inputs but not the XLR.
I have PA-1>XLR>XSP-1>XLR>XDA-2>USB or optical>PC. System will not play with this setup. However if I replace the XLR with RCA from XSP-1>RCA>XDA-2 it will play. I have tried different XLR cables Emotiva and Monoprice with no luck. I can go from XDA-2 straight to PA-1 amps with XLR and it plays. So I can rule out the XDA-2 or the PA-1 amps. What’s else can I tried?

Is this possible since it’s been a while since you used it? The Balanced inputs have their own selectors on the remote control Bal-1 and Bal-2, same on the front panel. Which are not the same as the RCA inputs, In-1, In-2.

Cheers
Gary

[yeeeha17]

Feb 7, 2021 14:18:37 GMT -5 Gary Cook said:

Feb 6, 2021 15:43:44 GMT -5 yeeeha17 said:

Hey loungers

I’m going to use this thread to see if I can resolve my issues with my XSP-1. I thought this would be a straight forward easy hook up but I am stump why it is not working for me. I did have this system working 1.5 years ago but had to box everything thing up so my daughter can use the room. Now she’s out, I am getting my office back. So here’s the situation. I can not get the XSP-1 to work with XLR connection to either balance 1 or 2. It works with RCA inputs but not the XLR.
I have PA-1>XLR>XSP-1>XLR>XDA-2>USB or optical>PC. System will not play with this setup. However if I replace the XLR with RCA from XSP-1>RCA>XDA-2 it will play. I have tried different XLR cables Emotiva and Monoprice with no luck. I can go from XDA-2 straight to PA-1 amps with XLR and it plays. So I can rule out the XDA-2 or the PA-1 amps. What’s else can I tried?

Is this possible since it’s been a while since you used it? The Balanced inputs have their own selectors on the remote control Bal-1 and Bal-2, same on the front panel. Which are not the same as the RCA inputs, In-1, In-2.

Cheers
Gary

I don’t know if it’s possible but I know I can’t get any sound from balance input 1 or 2 and any rca input I used would work. I’m just hoping there’s an easy fix because I don’t think this unit is worth sending back to get fix for $300. I have had this since it came out and it had always worked. I think it’s mad because I boxed it up for a year lol
Thanks for your input

[Gary Cook]

For one Balanced input not to work while its equivalent RCA input does is most unusual, for 2 of them not to work is unfathomable. Plainly there is something going on that is common to both. Maybe the input source settings, digital vs analogue for example. Maybe the XLR cable not connecting, they are a tight fit, I listen for the click of the lock to make sure that they are fully seated.

We are all going going to give out a DOH when it’s works.

Cheers
Gary