a2058
Emo VIPs 
Posts: 260
|
Post by a2058 on Jul 6, 2009 20:28:48 GMT -5
So, would these be "better" than what is in the ERC-1? Or are they the same?
|
|
TJHUB
Emo VIPs
Posts: 488
|
Post by TJHUB on Jul 6, 2009 20:43:08 GMT -5
I know a few things... 1. As you can see from the images, the larger unit would have more features. 2. The unit would definitely be black, with silver trim and blue lights. 3. Anteaters swallow 35,000 ants and termites whole every day. We feel that the DAC used in the ERC-1 is pretty dang smackin', and doing an external DAC would be a project that was already halfway there. Lonnie feels that a 'real' rack sized version is cooler than the majority of external DACs out there, which more or less look like external hard drives or cable modems. A good external DAC would quickly become an important part of your setup...we are more more and more towards server-based audio and video files. More facts...er...Lonnie? *Looks around* Lonnie is correct about the "real" rack sized version being cooler. I pass on a lot of gear that is not stackable. I hate that my PS Audio DAC has such an odd form factor. Everything should be stackable or at least a standard form factor. YMMV.  Please, please, please, give it a trigger on. I also hate that so many devices out there never turn off the digital output so that my DAC is always on. Maybe it doesn't matter, but it seems so dumb to have a device go to standby mode and not turn off the digital outs.  |
|
|
|
Post by tkyr1967 on Jul 6, 2009 20:50:20 GMT -5
When you say volume control will this be a full featured DAC/Pre?
|
|
lonnie
Administrator 
GM
OZ- 'Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain'
Posts: 1,292
|
Post by lonnie on Jul 6, 2009 21:16:51 GMT -5
So, would these be "better" than what is in the ERC-1? Or are they the same? Very similar because it would be based off of the same technology. Everyone seems to love the audio quality of the DAC and analog stages in the ERC-1 and I think it would make a fantastic stand-a-lone DAC in my opinion. ;D |
|
lonnie
Administrator
GM
OZ- 'Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain'
Posts: 1,292
|
Post by lonnie on Jul 6, 2009 21:18:57 GMT -5
When you say volume control will this be a full featured DAC/Pre? Yes, it would have a digital volume control so it could be used as a stand-a-lone piece. Just connect a digital source into the unit and the outputs to an amp and your good to go. ;D |
|
lonnie
Administrator
GM
OZ- 'Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain'
Posts: 1,292
|
Post by lonnie on Jul 6, 2009 21:21:03 GMT -5
I know a few things... 1. As you can see from the images, the larger unit would have more features. 2. The unit would definitely be black, with silver trim and blue lights. 3. Anteaters swallow 35,000 ants and termites whole every day. We feel that the DAC used in the ERC-1 is pretty dang smackin', and doing an external DAC would be a project that was already halfway there. Lonnie feels that a 'real' rack sized version is cooler than the majority of external DACs out there, which more or less look like external hard drives or cable modems. A good external DAC would quickly become an important part of your setup...we are more more and more towards server-based audio and video files. More facts...er...Lonnie? *Looks around* Lonnie is correct about the "real" rack sized version being cooler. I pass on a lot of gear that is not stackable. I hate that my PS Audio DAC has such an odd form factor. Everything should be stackable or at least a standard form factor. YMMV. Please, please, please, give it a trigger on. I also hate that so many devices out there never turn off the digital output so that my DAC is always on. Maybe it doesn't matter, but it seems so dumb to have a device go to standby mode and not turn off the digital outs. Don't worry it will have trigger.  |
|
|
|
Post by tkyr1967 on Jul 6, 2009 21:29:46 GMT -5
When you say volume control will this be a full featured DAC/Pre? Yes, it would have a digital volume control so it could be used as a stand-a-lone piece. Just connect a digital source into the unit and the outputs to an amp and your good to go. ;D SWEET! Build it. I would love a DAC/Pre, XPA-2, and ERC-1. |
|
|
|
Post by tcs2tx on Jul 6, 2009 22:00:29 GMT -5
I decided against the ERC-1 because I have moved all my media to a server on my network. This would be perfect.
The ERC-1 is good (and an Oppo competitor would be great) for everyone that likes to have their system surrounded by all their various discs. For peuple moving to some form of computer storage, which I assume everyone would agree is where A/V is eventually headed, you have to have a DAC.
Please, please, please put this towards the top of the Emotiva priority list.
|
|
|
|
Post by UT-Driven on Jul 6, 2009 22:26:38 GMT -5
For those just coming into this, I added some specs onto main pic. ;D Specs look nice. I would rather pay the extra $50 for the larger size with volume and the other features that you listed. XDC-1 ERC-1 USP-1 RPA-2 will make for a nice stack in my home office system! Doug |
|
akai
Minor Hero
Posts: 11
|
Post by akai on Jul 6, 2009 23:18:14 GMT -5
I am not sure what this unit is targeting at in terms of competitor, I am hoping for a Benchmark 1 USB or a Bel Canto DAC 3 level at a resonable price. Both B1 and BC DAC3 have USB that can accomodate 24/96 and not just 16/48. Both are well regarded, I believe the Benchmark is priced at around $1300 and the Bel Canto DAC3 which is overpriced at about $3000 (a few like new are available on Agon at $1300-1600 obo). Perhaps we can create a unit that will perform close to Benchmark 1 at a decent price - EMO's philosophy - great value? Please pay attention to the USB interface and go for the 24/96. A few other niche players, Neko $1295 retail, Stello - Korean made, DA 220 MKII, a bit over $2000 - very limited product lines. I believe EMO can do a much better job than Neko or Stello. I do not agree with the current approach of a DAC derivative of the ERC-1, same approach as DacMagic? Cambridge Audio also goes the other way, incorporated access to DAC in their CDP (model 840C - retail $1599), McIntosh MCD500 also allows it's CDP's DAC to be used by outside sources. If we want to maintain the ERC-1 DAC, why not modify the ERC-1 to allow for access to it's DAC? Call it ERC-2 with USB interface. Better yet, make it a wireless USB. While consumers prefer to match their amp and preamp of the same brand, DAC is a totally different approach, good sound is more important than matching the appearances. I think the market is wide open and EMO should not limit itself to its current customer base. In fact, a great DAC at a reasonable price may bring new customers into buying other EMO gears. The sub $500 DAC is perhaps dominated by DacMagic (often out of stock) and a lot of other Chinese brands, pretty crowded market. By the way, I also vote for the rack mount. Looks much better. I recently bought a wireless Dugood DAC 3W - USB DAC (need wireless feature - can't find anything else on the market) directly from HK at $310 delivered, full size, matched the size of my Denon CDP. This unit is also available through a seller on the Bay. cgi.ebay.com/Dugood-DAC-3W-HIFI-WIRELESS-DAC-FOR-DVD-PLAYER-COMPUTER_W0QQitemZ400038344782QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d2424b84e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1205|293%3A1|294%3A50Looking forward to EMO's first DAC. mP |
|
|
|
Post by jlafrenz on Jul 6, 2009 23:28:51 GMT -5
There are a couple of reasons for a separate DAC vs utilizing the one in the ERC-1. The first is that not everyone wants a CD player AND a DAC. Some like myself would only want the DAC. This brings me to the second reason. It would keep the price down for both Emotiva and the customer. One shouldn't have to pay for a CD player when all they really want is the DAC.
|
|
|
|
Post by iknowdoyou on Jul 6, 2009 23:33:58 GMT -5
Probably a (yet another) dumb question from me, but I understand there are a good number of uses for an external DAC, but why wouldn't I just use the DAC in the UMC/XMC-1? Would this only have a use if you're not using a pre/pro? Would there be a good use to have it in addition to a pre/pro? Thanks! |
|
|
|
Post by iknowdoyou on Jul 6, 2009 23:35:00 GMT -5
Oh, and I vote for the full length, but only if the volume control can be optionally disabled. |
|
|
|
Post by mditty on Jul 6, 2009 23:35:52 GMT -5
Current plan for my computer (once I get a UMC-1) is to use the LMC-1 with the zone two amp and optical out on my PC. If you guys make this I'll be getting it instead as I really want a DAC but can't find one out there I like that doesn't cost too much money.
The rack one looks great.
|
|
|
|
Post by littlesaint on Jul 7, 2009 6:53:49 GMT -5
Probably a (yet another) dumb question from me, but I understand there are a good number of uses for an external DAC, but why wouldn't I just use the DAC in the UMC/XMC-1? Would this only have a use if you're not using a pre/pro? Would there be a good use to have it in addition to a pre/pro? Thanks! The DACs and implementation here would be much better than that of the UMC-1. The UMC-1 uses a single multi-DAC designed more for HT implementation, whereas this design is near perfect for 2Ch music listening. It also adds a USB port for media PCs that do not have a good digital audio implementation. |
|
|
|
Post by oscartheclimber on Jul 7, 2009 7:13:00 GMT -5
Lets end this debate and get this puppy into production - I need it like yesterday ;D ;D ;D
Where's the POL?
|
|
|
|
Post by robin on Jul 7, 2009 7:12:26 GMT -5
I nearly spent >$500USD to have the ERC-1 shipped to my home in Canada. A DAC is definitely what I am looking for.
But my opinion on a volume control for a DAC is not positive.
I did purchase a Yulong DAH1mark recently on audiogon. It is a headphone amp and pre-amp too. Not what I wanted, but it was cheap. I would love to have a pure DAC unit that is stripped of the mark up for features that are piratically useless in a DAC. How many people who purchase separates actually use no pre-amp? I mean there is no volume control on the ERC-1.
I am not sure if the market is big enough for two DACs, but maybe a small UDC-1 unit and a rack sized XDC-1 unit with extra features will work out in everyone's favour. Either way, as long as the volume stays in the digital domain, I will probably get the rack sized unit.
I also agree with the 24/96 USB. I think that will be a high selling point. I don't see many DACs with that option that are affordable at all. A 16/48 USB would be all but useless to me and force me to continue to use the SPDIF on my dated soundcard.
Lonnie, will the DAC have balanced outputs?
And have you considered a passive analog stage without opamps? Minimum components should always be a priority. But I won't claim to know anything about building a DAC. NekoAudio made such a DAC and caught my interest. But they want over $1000USD for it, so I will never buy one.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigred7078 on Jul 7, 2009 8:27:23 GMT -5
XDC-1 July window closing....  |
|
|
|
Post by Mr. Ben on Jul 7, 2009 8:53:02 GMT -5
I like this idea, and I like the small one. I won't consider the ERC-1 because it won't play SACDs, and I don't want to buy another disc player just to hear the ERC-1's DAC section. This lets me add the DAC to my existing SACD player, potentially giving me better performance in CDs without loosing any features. I'd rather have the smaller unit because:
- Less expensive. Given the ERC-1 is $400, this unit should be in the $100-$300 range, and $50 is a pretty big chunk of that.
- I don't need any features like a remote, volume control, etc. That's what the preamp is for. I just need digital in, analog out, and maybe a power switch.
- Less space. I can hide it behind the CD player or preamp. I don't need to interact with it, so I'd rather not have it taking up valuable space in my rack. Smaller is better.
Support for 24bit/96khz over SPDIF would be nice. I have several DVD's with audio in this format. It would also allow me to use this DAC with stuff I buy from HDTracks and similar sites. I wouldn't use USB, but I know that's important to many people.
|
|
|
|
Post by doug917 on Jul 7, 2009 8:55:51 GMT -5
Full rack size all the way...can't wait for this!
|
|
