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Review: Emotiva XDA-1 DA converter

Category: Digital

I haven't really owned or listened to many low priced DACs. I have to say that this Emotiva is pretty amazing.

I have owned other Emotiva gear, mainly the XPA amps and the ERC-1 Cd player. While I thought those products offered great build quality and warranty for the price, I wasn't impressed enough to keep them for long. Nothing in the sound offended, but the bass wasn't as good as I wanted or expected given the size/weight of the amps, the highs had no real sparkle and mids sounded a little sharp to me.....maybe because the highs were a bit recessed. The cd player had nice extension at the frequency extremes, but just didn't sound cohesive to me.

But the XDA-1 is a different animal altogether. This review concentrates on using the XDA-1 as a DAC/pre.

It is detailed yet natural..not etched. It has very nice imaging. Bass is deep, mids have no etch and the highs produce shimmer or nuance when called upon to do so.

Compared to the best I have owned (recently the Bel Canto DAC3vb with VBS-1 PS and the Benchmark DAC1pre) the XDA-1 performs very well. Compared to the Bel Canto, it loses only in soundstage size...mainly depth and definition at the rear corners of the soundstage. It is similar in the ease at which it produces nuance/detail.

Compared to the Benchmark, there is just zero emphasis in the upper mids. In my system, the Benchmark was just a little too hot.

I listen mostly to jazz both modern and classic.......Bill Bruford, Pat Metheny, Stan Kenton, Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride. I also listen to classic rock with an emphasis on progressive rock.....Floyd, Yes, Moody Blues. And I also listen to classical. Mephisto is one of my standard test discs.

Weaknesses.......some systems and listeners may find this unit too warm sounding. It wasn't at first. The sound I am describing only appeared after the unit had been turned on for 3 days. At first, it was bass shy, peaky in the mids/highs, and disorganized sounding.

Highly recommended!

Associated gear
Sunfire Cinema Grand 5-ch amp
Lexicon RT-10 Transport
Emerald Physics CS2 speakers
PS Audio Power Plant Premier
PS Audio AC-12 Power Cords
Audio Metallurgy GA-0 XLR interconnects
Simply Physics speaker cables

Similar products
Bel Canto DAC3vb +VBS1
Benchmark DAC1 pre
tkmetz
oandj
10 posts
 
Thanks for the quick review! I am considering an XDA-1 but would like to know how you'd use it as a DAC and not just a DAC/PRE? How do you know if you have the proper level set compared to the output of most DACs which do not have a volume control? I don't want to color the sound unnaturally with the output turned up too high or too low. Thanks!
ggeers222
37 posts
 
According to a technical consultant at Emotiva, who I'd chatted with prior to my own purchase of the XDA-1, this unit was designed to run at its full 2v output (or "80" on the volume display) for absolute best sound quality. Apparently a setting down to "50" is acceptable, but lower than that and you start to lose detail and dynamics (again this is according to Emotiva).

I as well use the XDA-1 as a preamp in front of an Emerald Physics CS2 speaker setup, and what I've done is to set the amplifiers' input levels to where "80" on the XDA-1 is at a maximum volume I'd choose to listen to, and then use its volume control for attenuation. I typically listen at around the 70 or 75 (and as low as 65) settings, and have noticed zero degradation of sound quality (which I agree is quite good especially at its price point, and particularly since it comes with a very useful remote).

If you already use a separate preamp, then the above is moot - Just set the XDA-1's volume to 80 and you're covered.
gumbydammit
186 posts
 
I have one of these on its way.
My little Tascam popped its drive and digital in my system has been awful...being forced to use the DVD player for our Chip Davis et al at Christmas. (*gag*(to the DVD, not the Steamroller.))

This is the first component I have EVER pulled the trigger on without a return policy or hearing it.
(The greatly discounted pricing closeout deal negates the return policy.)
After having read enough about it, I felt the risk was small. My digital has been done cheap for years with excellent results.
I was drawn to it as much due to its design as its input switching.
The thing about it for me, is the ability to change with the times. In all of the reviews, I did not see one person notice how truly easy it is to modify that unit to upgrade the core of the conversion process. It is, for all purposes, a few modules combined in one box. Between myself and a couple of friends, we intend to play with them a bit as time goes on.

Do you still feel the same way about your unit?
I am very interested in knowing.
gareneau
110 posts
 
Having just bought this unit, I too am interested in knowing whether Tkmetz feels the same way. I'd also like to know if any particular cables offer real synergy with the XDA-1. I own an older Krell integrated and wonder if cables known for their warmth might be the best way to go.
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