[StratocasterMan]

Does anyone have the Emotiva XDA-2 yet? It looks really interesting. It seems they have addressed the main concern with the XDA-1 which was the volume control. Also, it now has a headphone out and supports 24/192 via USB. If anyone has one, please post your impressions!
 

 
http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/processors/products/xda2

 

[sor1n]

I too am interested in this.  Does anyone have any experience with this dac (for use with powered monitor speakers or headphones) ?

 

[Thunder240]

Also eagerly waiting a review! I'm a happy XDA-1 owner, but the USB input on it sucks compared to TOSLINK. In addition to adding a headphone amp on the XDA-2, it appears that Emotiva is trying to fix the USB issue. XDA-2 supposedly supports asynchronous USB operation up to 192/24.

 

[buson160man]

  Same here I would appreciate opinions of the new xda-2.The price is really attractive for something so flexible.I have emotiva pro activ 5s and at the price I could free up my decco 2 for living room duty as a dac preamp for my flat screen tv,higher end headphone amps and possibly the larger activ 6s which at the price emotiva pro is offering them for.This would make a great living room system with the decco 2 as a good sounding setup.

 

[PeterK53]

Have one coming this week to go with my Bryston BHA-1 amp and Audeze LCD-2s. Won't be able to give an in depth comparitive review as I have never owned any other components as this is my first and hopefully last rig. Trying to do it right. Still need to get a balanced headphone cable. I will post my thoughts when I get some play time.

 

[C-WL87]

I would also be interested in hearing your impressions of the headphone out on the xda-2. I'm thinking of pairing it with my airmotiv 5's and using it as a preamp with the speakers and a blu-ray player, as well as a headphone amp. 

 

[PeterK53]

I will try it. Over on the Emotiva forum the posts about the XDA-2 make it sound like it will not power the LCD-2 very well but I am going to check it out. It is supposed to be a nice amp but designed for more efficient headphones than the Audeze. Will reply back.

 

[runswithaliens]

Here are the headphone amp specs listed on their website:
 

1. Headphone Amplifier Output
2. Output Power:
   1.9 VRMS max into 10 Ohms @
   < 0.02% THD (360 mW)
   2.25 VRMS max into 47 Ohms @
   < 0.015% THD (100 mW)
   2.25 VRMS max into 100 Ohms @
   < 0.01% THD (50 mW)
   2.25 VRMS max into 300 Ohms @
   < 0.01% THD (16 mW)
   2.25 VRMS max into 600 Ohms @
   < 0.01% THD (8 mW)
3. Signal to Noise Ratio:
   > 105 dB (ref full output)

 

[steveting99]

Quote:

Here are the headphone amp specs listed on their website:
 

1. Headphone Amplifier Output
2. Output Power:
   1.9 VRMS max into 10 Ohms @
   < 0.02% THD (360 mW)
   2.25 VRMS max into 47 Ohms @
   < 0.015% THD (100 mW)
   2.25 VRMS max into 100 Ohms @
   < 0.01% THD (50 mW)
   2.25 VRMS max into 300 Ohms @
   < 0.01% THD (16 mW)
   2.25 VRMS max into 600 Ohms @
   < 0.01% THD (8 mW)
3. Signal to Noise Ratio:
   > 105 dB (ref full output)

 
The XDA-2 has great features, but I stayed away from it due to the low power output for the headphone amp. It'll be good enough to drive In-Ear-Monitors (IEMs) and most low-ohm head headphones, but I have some doubts on it's ability to drive the high impedance and power hungry headphones (orthos, etc.). My other concern is the impedance of the headphone amp - it's not specified in the manual? Generally this needs to be as low as possible (i.e. less than 1 ohm for the sensitive IEMs) and if it is higher, there could be impedance mismatch.
 
Steve

 

[sor1n]

yeah thats definately not going to drive the higher end headphones.. will require a seperate headphone amp, or have to pair it with a mini-x-100a to drive hifi headphones

 

[StratocasterMan]

I'm more interested in it as a DAC and digital preamp. I'm looking at the headphone out as just kind of a bonus they threw in since the previous model didn't have a headphone out at all.

 

[C-WL87]

Yes, I see the headphone out as more of a bonus as well, but it would still be nice to know it wasn't merely an afterthought on their part. I don't expect it was designed to power a pair of HE-6s, or compete with dedicated head amps, but Emotiva is known for offering a lot for the money.

 

[calipilot227]

Good to see they've filled the void after discontinuing the XDA-1. I think I'll hold onto mine though, since I only use it over coax/toslink.

 

[swmtnbiker]

Anyone care to post their impressions of how the XDA-2 *sounds*?

 

[lwrs10]

Just got my XDA-2 tonight, and been running it for about 3 hours now. 
 
So far, it is ok. I hope it will improve over a few more hours. I am comparing it to the Aune X1, Schitt Bitfrost, Keces DA-151 MKII, and a Bel Canto 2.5. It is plugged in USB to my computer, and is hooked up to a small tube amp driving B&W DM600 S3 speakers. This is my computer setup.
 
The XDA-2 is soft sounding. The higher frequencies seem to be a bit rolled off. But, the midrange, soundstage, and imaging are wonderful. 
 
 
And it can't drive my HD600's worth a damn. 
 
 
so far, the Aune X1 is beating it in every way SQ wise. But remember, it only has about 3 hours on it so far.....