I've been wondering kind of the same questions...Is there a way to use the Spring with a 2 ch preamp (which I haven't bought yet...I'm presently just using the XMC as my 2 ch pre and HT) integrated to my HT processor/a Emotiva XMC-1. No HT bypass on the XMC 1.
The goal is to use my 2 ch setup/preamp, but to be able to use these two channels in my HT setup.
Here's the XMC's specs: http://emotiva.com/products/pres-and-pros/xmc-1
hello leeg,
I'm not very sure what you want to achieve. Anyway it looks like the "best of both worls" (stereo and HT) dilemma. Either use a HT Prepro for movies or a good stereo setup for music. In that situation the L and R front speakers would be used by either the home cinema or the stereo setup (with separate preamplifier).
Until recently, what I did to solve that situation was use a custom fabricated (inexpensive- about 70 USD) amplifier selector. It accepted the outputs from two different amplifiers (selectable with a switch) and has stereo outputs to my L and R front speakers. Thus, just by toggling a switch in this simple mechanical "amplifier selector box" I could choose if either to listen to one amplifier (for music) or the other amplifier (the receiver, for movies). I don't use that solution anymore, as I found that having the Receiver "On" lowered the volume when I was listening to the other amp... also meant more (speaker) cables required, and I also forgot often that I had to use that switch when changling amps.
I have browsed the XMC-1 user guide (don't have this machine) and found:
1. Digital Audio Outputs
Connect these outputs to the digital inputs of an external audio device or DAC.
Note: The Digital Audio Outputs of the XMC-1 are subject to processing, and/or re-sampling
or sample rate conversion in some instances. They are intended for connecting other external
devices with their own digital inputs, but should not be considered to be bit-perfect copies of
the digital input signal.
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Possibly you can use the optical out of the XMC-1 to feed the Holo (knowing that the XMC-1 may resample it as stated above). The Holo outs would feed your new Preamplifier (For front L and R channels) which would feed an amplifier. You should use the LR analogue outs of the XMC-1 to feed the same external preamplifier (which needs to accept then at least two stereo inputs, one for the Holo out and one for the XMC L and R analogue outs).
This way, you can use the Holo for stereo movies. However, I don't know if the XMC will apply its "tricks" (e.g. room correction, etc) to the digital out. Don't know either if the XMC will decode a dolby or DTS into PCM for its digital out, so that the Holo can recognize it.
So,
not sure if this (using the digital out to feed the holo) will work for movies in such compressed audio formats, because, as mentioned, the Holo will not "understand" Dolby or DTS signals. May depend on what you feed the XMC, and if there's any internal conversion required in the XMC and if it is capable of that conversion from the input to the digital output. I wouldn't count that the XMC will have much flexibility of conversion towards its digital outs, but as I say, I don't own one, and if interested in the capabilities of its digital outs, you better search/ask in an XMC-1 forum.
With an external preamplifier, you can select if you will listen to the Holo or to the XMC. A problem with this setup (aside from the not "bitperfect" digital out of the XMC) is that you have two daisychained preamplifiers for the LR channels (first the XMC and then the external preamplifier) when listening to multichannel. When listening to the Holo, you only have one preamplifier in the chain (the external one).
Because the Holo has various inputs, you could use a separate input to feed it directly from your stereo source. What you will not be able to do with the XMC-1 is use at the same time different dacs (the XMC and and the HOLO) for multichannel analogue to digital conversion (which is what I will try to do without the HTPC&Jriver+Focusrite+Holo combo.)
Probably chaining two preamps would remove most of the sonic advantages of using a separate one suposedly better than the XMC.
If I had the XMC-1, I would just use it and forget about using a second preamplifier, and would just use the XMC-1 as preamplifier for the Holo (music) and for movies.
If I wanted to use&buy a separate new preamp for the Holo dac, I would probably look for a TVC passive preamplifier (passive with Transformer Volume Control instead of resistors) and a switch for two stereo inputs (one for the XMC LR and one for the Holo LR). I have not tried TVC passive preamps myself, but they look like a very good solution under 1,000 USD. PS: Google for TVC preamplifier if interested or I can provide some links with info.
Hope that helps rather than confuses.
note; various edits to (hopefully) clarify
