Emotiva Stealth DC-1

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by velvetx, Nov 4, 2015.

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  1. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    Just got this little guy and man just initial impression is that this thing looks and feels like a quality piece. The remote it comes with is great (weighs about a pound or so as it's metal). I thought initially that I would get something that feels cheap but man it's got some weight to it and the power cord it came with is pretty beefy. This is my interim DAC while I save for the Yggdrasil and so far I am very pleased. Right now I am using my HD650s listening through the built in headphone amp.

    A more in depth conversation will take place in the future but for now if you have any input to weigh in by all means go for it.

    Price:


    $499 but currently on sale through the end of the year for $399

    Specifications:

    • Frequency Response
      20 Hz to 20 kHz + / - 0.1 dB @ 44.1k sample rate
      20 Hz to 40 kHz + / - 0.1 dB @ 96k sample rate
      20 Hz to 70 kHz + / - 0.1 dB @ 192k sample rate
    • THD+N
      0.00033% or less @ all sample rates
    • IMD (SMPTE)
      0.0025% typical
    • S/N Ratio
      95 dB @ all sample rates; 16 bit word length
      115 dB @ all sample rates; 24 bit word length
    • Headphone Amplifier Output Power (from digital sources):
      2.5 VRMS max into 10 Ohms @ < 0.01% THD (625 mW)
      7.1 VRMS max into 47 Ohms @ < 0.02% THD (1070 mW)
      7.26 VRMS max into 100 Ohms @ < 0.02% THD (525 mW)
      7.32 VRMS max into 300 Ohms @ < 0.02% THD (175 mW)
      7.35 VRMS max into 600 Ohms @ < 0.02% THD (90 mW)
    • Headphone Amplifier Output Power (from analog input):
      (note: 2.5 VRMS analog input required for full output into 47 ohms or higher)
      2.5 VRMS max into 10 Ohms @ < 0.003% THD (625 mW)
      7.1 VRMS max into 47 Ohms @ < 0.003% THD (1070 mW)
      7.2 VRMS max into 100 Ohms @ < 0.006% THD (510 mW)
      9.23 VRMS max into 300 Ohms @ < 0.004% THD (280 mW)
      9.27 VRMS max into 600 Ohms @ < 0.007% THD (140 mW)
    • Input Connectors
      One pair unbalanced analog audio (consumer level); gold plated solid machined RCA
      One AES/EBU digital audio (XLR)
      Three S/PDIF digital audio (1 x RCA, 1 x BNC, 1 x Toslink optical)
      One USB digital audio input (“type B” USB connector; UAC2)
    • Output Connectors
      One pair unbalanced analog audio (consumer level); gold plated solid machined RCA
      One pair balanced analog audio (pro level; +6 dBV); XLR
      Two headphone connectors, front panel (2 x 1/8” stereo “mini”)
    • USB Audio
      Stealth DC-1 appears to computer as “USB audio device”
      UAC2 drivers required (provided) for computers running Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8)
    • Power Source
      115 VAC or 230 VAC; manually switched (switch on bottom of chassis)
      Power consumption: approximately 15 watts
      Standard IEC AC power inlet on rear panel
      (Removable / interchangeable power cord; included.)
      Main AC Power rocker switch on rear panel
      Fuse: 20mm x 5mm; 1 A / 250 V fast acting; T1AL250V (internal)
    • Size and Weight
      Size: 1.75” high x 8.5” wide x 10” deep (including connectors and knobs).
      Weight: 2.2 pounds (1 kg)
    Headphones I Own

    Sennheiser HD-650

    Music Preferences:

    Rock and Roll
    Hip Hop
    Electronic

    Upgradability:

    None

    Pictures:

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2015
  2. AustinValentine

    AustinValentine Friend

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    IMO It's Emotiva's best non-speaker product. Sound is as good as a Gungnir (non-multibit) - albeit with a different overall presentation. It's built like a tank and has a really great form factor. Plus, it has a whole swiss army knife worth of features.

    And it's priced completely right considering all of the above. You don't run into that too often.
     
  3. Judeus

    Judeus Facebook Friend

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    tis a lovely piece of kit, used it before i got my Yggdrasil. I don't like their method of jitter reduction using an asynchronous sample rate converter though. Since it is a D/S dac it probably doesn't really matter anyway though.
     
  4. Judeus

    Judeus Facebook Friend

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    ps. this uses the same volume control as in the 55000 orpheus 2
     
  5. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    Just to confirm there is an asynchronous and synchronous setting. So would you suggest using the synchronous setting?
     
  6. Judeus

    Judeus Facebook Friend

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    just use whatever sounds best to you, I don't think I could really tell a difference. It's more of a philosophy thing, by using the asynchronous src to resample everything to a New clean clock you are removing jitter but your also lose the original samples. Since it's a d/s dac you do that anyway so it doesn't really matter.

    Would be interesting to see measurements of this though with the asynchronous on or off
     
  7. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    We will be getting measurements at some point when I send it out or Marv comes to do it up here and we will post them with the comparisons you requested. Thanks for the info though.
     
  8. Judeus

    Judeus Facebook Friend

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    cool, yeah like honestly it's probably best to leave it on as the jitter will for sure be lower especially if your not using the USB input which is asynchronous. I believe it uses the cmedia 6631a which is the same as the schiit gen 2 .

    Like I said it's more a philosophy thing, I remember reading this somewhere "just because you cook a turkey in the microwave doesn't mean you have to run it through a food processor first"
     
  9. blackships

    blackships Friend

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    How's the headphone amp on this? I'm getting a Bifrost Multibit today, but if it doesn't blow me away, I could very possibly return it, grab the Emotiva, and pocket the difference.
     
  10. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    I wouldn't say it is impressive as I am buying another amp and am just going to use this as a DAC (will eventually be upgrading to the Yggdrasil). Bifrost Multibit is a great value and I would get that over the Emotiva as the upgradability on Schiit products is second to none. What amp are you going to be pairing with the Bifrost Multibit?

    I mentioned this DAC does comes with a headphone amp but I wouldn't waste your time with it as I think my Creative ZX-R headphone amp section outscales the one on the Emotiva.
     
  11. blackships

    blackships Friend

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    I'm pairing it with a Project Polaris. I don't really see myself sending the Bifrost Multibit back, but it's certainly possible.
     
  12. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    That is a cool looking futuristic amp. If you do send the Bifrost Multibit back maybe give the Gungnir Multibit or Yggdrasil a listen. You might like the sound better (of course there is a price associated with it though :) ).
     
  13. Hekeli

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  14. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Emotiva... India...

    I'm still looking for a change, even if it turns out to be crossgrade, mid-fi, or whatever, which is quite likely the case for a mere couple of hundred dollars. The lower-cost XDA-2 (gen 2) is available for just that, clearout sale. Emotiva tell me they have a distributor in India. I know where this is going, and yes, that distributor tells me the price. it is double the current US price. I got no reply to my email pointing that out.

    Getting back on topic... the DC-1 looks like it would be much more than a cross-grade. I could be tempted, if I had a friend coming from US, which I don't.
     
  15. muse

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    I've had the DC-1 for quite a strech of time where I listened from the HO, single-ended LO to the Asgard 2, pre-amp out to my Audioengine A5+

    I liked the DAC section. Clean, quite resolving, good detail, fairly neutral. HO out compared to the Asgard 2 was unimpressive.

    The Arcam irDAC was better to my ears though (out of the A2 as well). Noticably more microdetail. Layering and separation was up a notch. More dynamic sounding as well.

    For the feature set though the DC-1 is obviously leagues ahead of the irDAC (and cheaper), and generally unbeatable even by today's standards, particularly at the current $399 price. I'd assume the balanced LO to be pretty great as well from all accounts.
     
  16. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    This slipped by me, but Emotiva have announced the Stealth DC-2 in a recent Podcast. Should be available in Q3 (2017). There's not much detail beyond that right now. There is a discussion in the Emo Lounge on it, but just speculation at this point.

    The DC-1 is now out pf production and they're moving the last stock out.
     
  17. AllanMarcus

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    Some more details in case you don't want to read the thread...

    Tidbit from KeithEmo (from Emotiva) on HF:

    The DC-2 will replace the DC-1, and includes several new features which customers have often requested for the DC-1.
    (PCM up to 384k, DSDx1 and DSDx2, and a subwoofer output - among others.)

    EmoLounge rumors are speculating $699

    From Mark's Emofest post:
    "DC-2:
    Similar to DC-1 but includes new chips ([dual] AKM AK4490) that support 32 bit/384k and DSD. It is still a Delta-sigma DAC. Now includes selectable filters (exact # TBD). It will include the wifi unit discussed about internally (as an option most likely). It has bass MGMT (!) via an XLR sub out, fixed 80 Hz crossover, no high pass filter for mains (they always get full range). Form factor is same as DC-1 (but may be longer and display shape is different). The headphone amp is different than the one in the DC-1 (and not as powerful) – but a standalone very nice headphone amp is being considered. The DC-2 was displayed as a set of wired boards, but the design is nearly done. The prototype had a noisy power supply merely due to not having the final parts in hand, but that will change with the final version. Regarding MQA, it does not have MQA support. Dan sees the technical logic but is not yet convinced of the need for it yet. As he noted, he felt the same way about Atmos but changed his mind."

    People there are also saying (after EmoFest) it might not ship until Feb/Mar 2018, but that is also speculation.

    As far as the wifi, I didn't get into details like DLNA, etc. But, they did say that if you have wifi and apps on a device that can send sound via wifi - you'll be able to send it to the DC-2 via that means. I specifically asked if I could send Tidal output to it from my MS Surface, and the answer was "yes"

    And from this thread...

    Similar to DC-1 but includes new chips (DUAL AKM AK4490) that support 32 bit/384k and DSD. It is still a Delta-sigma DAC. Now includes 5 selectable filters. It will include the wifi unit discussed about internally (as an option most likely). It has bass MGMT (!) via an XLR sub out, SEE CLARIFICATION BELOW! Form factor is same as DC-1 (but may be longer and display shape is different). It will have triggers! And, per Lonnie, they plan to have the trigger wire also carry information from 1 unit to another (within the stack of the DC-2, the little monoblocks and SP-1 preamp and pending headphone amp noted below) such as the light dimming data. So, if you dim one, they will all dim. The prototype did not have this feature.The headphone amp is different than the one in the DC-1 (and not as powerful) – but a standalone very nice headphone amp is being considered. The DC-2 was displayed as a set of wired boards, but the design is nearly done. The prototype had a noisy power supply merely due to not having the final parts in hand, but that will change with the final version. Regarding MQA, it does not have MQA support. Dan sees the technical logic but is not yet convinced of the need for it yet. As he noted, he felt the same way about Atmos but changed his mind. Note: Another attendee posted that the timing was at least 6 months out. I asked the person where they got that information but have not heard back. This was not said to me in any of my discussions on the topic, so I assume the report is speculation from the other attendee.

    BASS MGMT Update directly from Big Dan: "A switchable 2 pole High Pass filter can be applied to the L & R outputs of the DC-2. The mixed mono "Subwoofer Output" is FULL RANGE. We expect the low pass filter in the subwoofer to do this duty. You'll adjust the sub level on the subwoofer's amplifier to balance relative sub/satt levels. Simple, flexible and sweet!"


    DAC Demo: The DC1 was compared to the DC2 running into some powered desktop Airmotiv 5s speakers(?) (Note: someone reported they had 4s's on Saturday when I listened. When I went back on Sunday, there were 5's in place. Perhaps they switched them at some point.).
    There’s a clear difference, and to my ears – there’s more depth and detail in the DC2. It’s not a huge difference, but a step in the right direction from an already excellent DAC.

    And finally, his thoughts on the doc "I was interested to know if Emotiva would be working on an even higher end DAC (such as something that might keep people from looking at Shiit products and other higher end options or even things like my LH LAbs Geek Pulse X Infinity). After a frank discussion with Dan and Lonnie, Dan feels the DC-2 will be that type of product."

    Interesting.
     
  18. Lenroot77

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  19. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    I stopped reading once I got to the word "aplomb".
     
  20. Biodegraded

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    $200 more but no knobs :(
     

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