DAC for TV in 2.1 or AVR?

[quattroll]

Hi Lounge,

Hopefully I’m not splitting hairs here but I have 3 components and only one need. So I will probably sell those that lose out. I have a bedroom setup with B&O 6000 powered speakers and a Emo Ultra Sub 10, so 2.1 only. Also video switching done at tv, optical out being used. I can power the sub using RCA or XLR.

My components:

Emotiva XDA-2
Emotiva UMC-1
Marantz Slim Line 1504 I think, has stereo rca out and crossover capability.

Does the higher fidelity of my XDA-2 warrant the trade off of no room EQ?
I think the XDA does sound best, but the quality of the feed is important. I think the Marantz is most convenient. Should I try the UMC? A crossover is handy on the B&O 6000s because they don’t play very low. In fact, a recent EQ on the Marantz put them at 90khz which surprised me.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

[vcautokid]

Either the Marantz or the UMC-1 will give you Bass management definitely worth having. The XDA-2 has no such facilities so you would have to cross it at the Subwoofer control itself. Not the end of the world, but it is nice to have a device that manages your Subwoofer for you.

[KeithL]

You do have a few other options.....

For example, the UMC-1 has relatively advanced bass management, but there are other options there.

For example, instead of using the UMC-1, you COULD use a passive crossover between the XDA-2 and your speakers....

The passive crossover would goes between the output of the XDA-2 and the inputs of your B&O speakers and subwoofer.

(If you had a separate power amp it would go between the DAC or preamp and the power amp.)

Here's one with a range of programmable crossover frequencies...

It doesn't have gain, or a level control, but because it's passive it adds no noise and very little if any distortion...

www.hlabs.com/products/crossovers/index_files/Page384.htm

(you would be looking at the two-way 2W-1 model... which is $49 )

And, for those who haven't purchased their subwoofer yet, our AIrmotiv 8 Flex subwoofer has a built-in crossover.

(And it has a bigger brother, with the same features, which will be available shortly.)

Mar 18, 2020 20:23:12 GMT -5 quattroll said:

Hi Lounge,

Hopefully I’m not splitting hairs here but I have 3 components and only one need. So I will probably sell those that lose out. I have a bedroom setup with B&O 6000 powered speakers and a Emo Ultra Sub 10, so 2.1 only. Also video switching done at tv, optical out being used. I can power the sub using RCA or XLR.

My components:

Emotiva XDA-2
Emotiva UMC-1
Marantz Slim Line 1504 I think, has stereo rca out and crossover capability.

Does the higher fidelity of my XDA-2 warrant the trade off of no room EQ?
I think the XDA does sound best, but the quality of the feed is important. I think the Marantz is most convenient. Should I try the UMC? A crossover is handy on the B&O 6000s because they don’t play very low. In fact, a recent EQ on the Marantz put them at 90khz which surprised me.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

[quattroll]

Thanks Keith, I’ll take a look at these options.