Am I moving HD Audio to my pre processor the right way?

[vitoonthebeach]

I'll start with my setup...
I use a Mac that houses "a few" FLAC files of varying bitrates
I connect a Big EGO+ to the mac via USB
I connect the Big EGO + to an Emotiva TA1 via Toslink/Optical
I use Media Center (version 32) to organize and play the music files. (note: the Mac is not doing any Digital/Analog translation. Media Center reports "no changes," meaning this should be a pass-through to the Big EGO +

So, my question is, should I change this setup? If so, what do you do?
I am considering an USB cable directly to my TA1
I am considering upgrading to a XDA-3 DAC and again, try to connect directly from the Mac to the XDA.

I have to say, this Big EGO+ has been one heck of a DAC. I have to throttle the sample rate to 192 for some music because it is able to sample higher than my TA1.
Oh and one last thing. I love my TA1 too because I run a 2.1 system with a sub, triggers a XPA-3 amp, and is connected to a VPI turn table. So, if I upgraded to the XDA-3, could I still use the TA1? 

[KeithL]

OK...
There's nothing exactly wrong with the way you're doing it... but there are several other ways you could try.

AT THE MOMENT you are basically using the Big EGO+ as a "USB-to-Toslink converter"... and you are using the DAC in the TA1.
(You are using the Big EGO+ as a digital converter... but you are not using the Big EGO+ as a DAC since you are not using its analog outputs.)
(And, since you are using a digital input on the TA1, you are using the DAC in the TA1 as your DAC.)

1.
You could connect the computer directly to the USB input on the TA1.
In theory this would sound the same as what you have now (since the conversion the Big EGO+ is going now should not be affecting the sound).
However, since you'll be using a different input on the TA1, you might notice a slight difference (the USB input might sound a tiny bit better).

2.
You could leave the computer connected to the Big EGO+ and connect the ANALOG output of the Big EGO+ to an ANALOG input on the TA1.
This might sound a tiny bit better because you would be using the DAC in the Big EGO+ instead of the DAC in the TA1.
It would also eliminate the need to "throttle" higher-resolution files since the Big EGO+ supports up to 384k.

3.
You absolutely could use the XDA-3 with the TA1.
You would be connecting the USB output of the computer to the XDA-3 and the ANALOG output on the XDA-3 to an ANALOG input on the TA1.
In theory this should sound a tiny bit better since the XDA-3 is a slightly "better" DAC than the Big EGO+ or the DAC in the TA1...
However, in reality, the difference may or may not be obvious or significant. 

May 20, 2024 10:38:19 GMT -5 vitoonthebeach said:

I'll start with my setup...
I use a Mac that houses "a few" FLAC files of varying bitrates
I connect a Big EGO+ to the mac via USB
I connect the Big EGO + to an Emotiva TA1 via Toslink/Optical
I use Media Center (version 32) to organize and play the music files. (note: the Mac is not doing any Digital/Analog translation. Media Center reports "no changes," meaning this should be a pass-through to the Big EGO +

So, my question is, should I change this setup? If so, what do you do?
I am considering an USB cable directly to my TA1
I am considering upgrading to a XDA-3 DAC and again, try to connect directly from the Mac to the XDA.

I have to say, this Big EGO+ has been one heck of a DAC. I have to throttle the sample rate to 192 for some music because it is able to sample higher than my TA1.
Oh and one last thing. I love my TA1 too because I run a 2.1 system with a sub, triggers a XPA-3 amp, and is connected to a VPI turn table. So, if I upgraded to the XDA-3, could I still use the TA1? 

[vitoonthebeach]

That's Awesome - I appreciate the quick response. I originally opted for the Optical cable because the TA1 is about 18 Ft. away from my computer. I thought that approach would help with signal (copper vs. optical) but I know that is a whole other can of worms.
Bottom line, I have been doing this digital-to-analog style of listening for a long time, and I read a lot about the expensive AWESOME DACs out there, and I wonder if they also align with your "slight difference" or "not obvious or significant" way of categorizing changes/upgrades to digital audio. For some of this I do think you get to diminishing returns. Maybe at some point, the driver will be to simplify to get down to one device/DAC and just keep buying speakers lol.