Any opinions on the Emotiva XDA-1 DAC

[SandyRavage]

On sale now for $250.

Is there any other offerings I should look at that is in the same price range +/- $50?

Thanks

 

[cpp]

Here's a review
Emotiva XDA-1 Differential Reference DAC for the Audiophile

Also on the Emotiva forum there are numerous reviews there

 

[adk highlander]

I got one for Christmas and overall I like it.

There are a couple of issues to know about..

1) It only does 16/44 with the USB input if you want higher you will have to use the coax or other digital inputs.
2) The volume control can/does affect the sound quality. Here is a quote from Lonnie at Emotiva:

Sorry for any confusion on this. I explained this in one of the other threads, but with all the threads out there, I can see where it would be hard to find everything.

Basically I goofed on this one. The data sheets on the AD1955 are a bit vague about how the volume control works to say the least. So I tried contacting them about it, but got mixed replies. So going off the block diagrams and such from the data sheet. It looked like it was a resistor ladder and when we released it, I did state it was lossless based on the information at hand. Unfortunately we found out later that it wasn't.

So I do apologize for any confusion here, but it is not lossless.

Right now in my office system I am using the internal volume control and have not hooked my Marantz pre back up yet but I probably will.

What I will say is it is dead quiet. Very low to non existent noise floor which has made it very nice with the near field setup I am using.

So like it but, the two issues I listed have bummed me out a bit.

 

[SandyRavage]

Thank you for the quick replies.

I was interested in Emotiva's newer airmotiv 4 monitors for a computer based music system and liked the idea of brand matching for components, but I might keep looking at other options.

 

[Irvrobinson]

As long as you don't use it as a pre-amp, because of that before-mentioned digital volume control, I think XDA-1 at the clearance price is an incredible bargain.

 

[gotchaforce]

Confused about the volume control thing... how does it affect sound quality?

also does it still have the problem of being super loud?

 

[Irvrobinson]

Attenuating loudness in the digital domain is not a good idea because you're effectively reducing the number of bits in the data word. This effectively reduces resolution. Volume controls should work in the analog domain so that the overall output voltage level is reduced, not resolution.

 

[gotchaforce]

Attenuating loudness in the digital domain is not a good idea because you're effectively reducing the number of bits in the data word. This effectively reduces resolution. Volume controls should work in the analog domain so that the overall output voltage level is reduced, not resolution.

Interesting, thats too bad because a nice pre-amp for $250 with a badass remote would be nice for my desktop setup.

i remember reading something similar when it comes to using the windows volume, it should always be at 100%, so i guess thats for the same reason (its in the digital domain)

 

[TheWarrior]

I wouldn't knock it too hard as a pre-amp. I picked one up for said purpose of using it in my 2 channel set up with 2x UPA-1's powering the speakers. I'm far from well experienced, but I do play instruments so my ears are not completely untrained. The sound could best be described as delicious.

There can always be better, but not at this price.

Also, I emailed Emotiva before I bought, there will be a replacement due out later this year. Its safe to assume they will offer the same trade-in policy they are known for. They may also address the digital quality issues.

 

[Irvrobinson]

I wouldn't knock it too hard as a pre-amp. I picked one up for said purpose of using it in my 2 channel set up with 2x UPA-1's powering the speakers. I'm far from well experienced, but I do play instruments so my ears are not completely untrained. The sound could best be described as delicious.

There can always be better, but not at this price.

I think that's a fair point. I'm a perfectionist and for a lot of people, especially with inefficient systems that need high volume control settings, it might be just fine. As I said, even just as a pure DAC it is a bargain.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I got stuck looking for good usb OR spdif interface to connect my situation with slightly floor noise situation between sound blaster and jbl monitors

Was looking on tons of products, but then realized that i'm limited to usb - i could just use spdif...

all I need is outboard balanced dac (not a pre-amp - volume control would be nice, but not required - same for headphones out)

current top runners up:
XDA-1 and Behringer SRC2496
$250 vs $164 (my gut feeling tells me these used to be $129 new)

 

[Irvrobinson]

I got stuck looking for good usb OR spdif interface to connect my situation with slightly floor noise situation between sound blaster and jbl monitors

Was looking on tons of products, but then realized that i'm limited to usb - i could just use spdif...

all I need is outboard balanced dac (not a pre-amp - volume control would be nice, but not required - same for headphones out)

current top runners up:
XDA-1 and Behringer SRC2496
$250 vs $164 (my gut feeling tells me these used to be $129 new)

I'd pick the XDA-1. It seems to be built a lot better. I've seen the SRC2496 locally; it's built pretty cheaply like the other Behringer stuff. I haven't seen the XDA-1, but I've seen the way Emotiva put my ERC-2 together, and it sure looks like it came from a company with a different goal in mind than the SRC2496 did. It'll probably be more reliable. It looks better, if that means anything. No contest on your choice, for me.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Why do you even need a DAC if you have an AVR?

Unless you don't have an AVR.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Why do you even need a DAC if you have an AVR?

Unless you don't have an AVR.

yes, I have AVR in the living room, this is for desktop setup and jbl pro (active) monitors

this is another option:
Amazon.com: Lexicon Alpha Desktop Recording Studio: Musical Instruments
but it has limited support for x64 win7