XDA-1 DAC vs Xonar Essensce ST : which is better ?

[Spidey]

hi guys,

I am planning to setup a HTPC rig with first aim in stereo playback.

I need very good sound (?analogue).

So, should it be :


PC > XONAR essence ST > RCAs > Preamp

PC > Optical > XDA1-DAC > Preamp


pls give your valuable suggestions.

thanks

 

[santhosh]

Re: XDA-D1 DAC vs Xonar Essensce ST : which is better ?

PC > XONAR essence ST > RCAs > Preamp

^ we know works great. We have several members who can vouch for it.

PC > Optical > XDA1-DAC > Preamp

^ we'll know once the Emotiva XDA DAC is released/reviewed. What we do know is this will be easier to use, offer many more connections and types of connections including USB. I see you have mentioned Optical, which IMO is not necessary as the USB should suffice. You can save some $ on a good soundcard/good MOBO as you don't need a HTPC...any PC/Laptop with USB 2.0 will do just well.

 

[Spidey]

A basic question, does USB work as a sound out in a PC ?? how ??

 

[audiodelic]

A basic question, does USB work as a sound out in a PC ?? how ??

the dac just plugs in as an external sound card via usb port.

 

[santhosh]

the dac just plugs in as an external sound card via usb port.

Yup, and as per Emotiva it works out of the box, no special drivers are required on your HTPC/PC.

 

[spirovious]

DAC can do better job than SC & will have more options.Only time will tell once DAC is out.

 

[sonic_nirvana]

From emotiva site : "In addition to being a state of the art 24Bit/192kHz DAC, the XDA-1 can operate as a digital preamplifier ".

What is digital preamp? Is it just a regular preamp? I am confused

Satya

 

[spirovious]

Digital preamp means DAC + preamp(which has volume control,even Tone control)with digital inputs.

 

[hemantwaghe]

Digital preamp means DAC + preamp(which has volume control,even Tone control)with digital inputs.

Add to that UNFORTUNATELY it does not have analouge inputs ..otherwise it would be a nice preamplifier!

 

[magma]

umm

spidey
why do you need to have the preamp in the chain?

the Xonar essence by itself is a nice preamp and the XDA has a pre amp too

By adding a preamp you wont achiev much in your current setup

Yes if youre looking at multiple inputs when using the Xonar well thats a different story
But other than that
Unless your are going vinyl or have some specific flavour in mind i dont really see the need for a preamp if its just for 2 channel audio in your setup.

 

[magma]

Add to that UNFORTUNATELY it does not have analouge inputs ..otherwise it would be a nice preamplifier!

analogue inputs could have been added easily
but obviously no company having a regulr 300$ preamp would provide that!

 

[anm]

hmm you can also put to your list the dac from Viren, Lyrita. I think he can put pre too in the same box. Not very sure about the pricing but I think it would be costlier.

 

[anm]

it would have made a lot of sense (for me, of course, ymmv) if they clubbed cdp and DAC into one unit.

 

[Spidey]

umm

spidey
why do you need to have the preamp in the chain?

Hi

The pre is chain has already arrived ie USP-1.
Thats not a purchase plan.

thanks

 

[hemantwaghe]

Spidey what is your HTPC's config? Any soundcard in it?

Why not adding SC in HTPC and controlling it by ipad?

 

[Spidey]

Spidey what is your HTPC's config? Any soundcard in it?

Why not adding SC in HTPC and controlling it by ipad?

I have no specific htpc but my pc is core2 duo.

That's what I was thinking to invest in a sound card or ext DAC.
Xonar st 9k vs xda dac ~ 20k.

Thanks

 

[spirovious]

it would have made a lot of sense (for me, of course, ymmv) if they clubbed cdp and DAC into one unit.

There are costly solutions-

Azur 740C upsampling CD player
NAD Electronics :: C 565BEE CD Player