Features
| Colour | Black |
|---|---|
| Brand | Emotiva |
Product Description
The Emotiva XDA-3 Reference DAC and Pre Amplifier is the flagship DAC and preamp from Emotiva. It has several high-end features including a digitally controlled analogue ladder volume control and a comprehensive VFD display. The unit can be used as a stand-alone DAC or as a control centre or preamp.
Most sampling rates and formats are supported and there is an HDMI-ARC input for HD streaming from your TV or projector. There is also a high-quality headphone amplifier built in and an aluminium-cased remote control.
About DAC’s
The DAC is arguably the most important part of any modern sound system. It converts the ones and zeros back into music. The DAC is the heart and soul of the system and has a major impact on the sound quality. Moreover, for those with an analogue system, the Emotiva XDA-3 Reference DAC and Pre Amplifier can be thought of as a way to add top-quality digital sound.
On the other hand, if you only use digital sources this unit can be thought of as a control centre and preamp. There are many high-end digital features. Digital to Analog Conversion uses the ESS ES9038Q2M SABRE32 Reference DAC (32-bit Stereo DAC with Hyperstream® II DAC architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator).
A wide range of inputs and format support
The USB input of the Emotiva XDA-3 Reference DAC and Pre Amplifier supports PCM at 32-bit 768kHz. Notably, it has DoP support up to DoP 256 and native DSD up to DSD512. DoP stands for DSD over PCM and is a way of sending DSD signals via USB.
There are four S/.PDIF digital inputs that have sample rates up to 24 bits/192kHz. These are good for CD players and audio streamers. Moreover, the HDMI-ARC connector adds support for HD TV sound. Unusually there are also balanced input and output XLR connectors.
Great analogue functionality
The Emotiva XDA-3 Reference DAC and Pre Amplifier has top-end analogue features. These include a fully balanced digital input circuit that is fully balanced from the output of the DAC chips to the XLR connectors. Moreover, the analogue inputs are also fully balanced from the input to the output. Lastly, there is an analogue ladder network that controls the volume so that the signal path is never converted to digital.
Display and build quality
The case of the Emotiva XDA-3 Reference DAC and Pre Amplifier is full sized making the unit at home with most systems. High-end features include the high visibility OLED graphical display and the high-performance headphone amplifier. The cabinet is all metal and the power supply is a low-noise switching type. All the connectors are also full-sized.
Why a separate preamp and DAC?
While integrated Preamp/DAC/streamers are available audiophile systems try to separate the functionality as much as possible. Cramming everything together can result in mutual interference. For example, digital circuits operate at high frequencies, and these can interfere with the analogue circuits.
Additionally, component spacing is better with a separate full-sized unit. The power supply with the Emotiva XDA-3 Reference DAC and Pre Amplifier is placed well away from anything else in the case.
