Headphone Output - Emotiva XMC-1 User Manual

Operating the XMC-1

headphone output

The XMC-1 includes a high-quality front panel Headphone Output; the Main Outputs on the
XMC-1 are muted when headphones are plugged into this output. When headphones are
connected, all internal EQ processing is disabled (Dirac Live and the Speaker Presets are disabled
while the headphones are connected.)
The XMC-1 also includes a unique level of intelligence in how it handles Level Trims and Tone
Trims for the headphones; both sets of trims are configured and stored independently for the
Main Outputs and the Headphone Outputs. When no headphones are connected, the Tone Trim
and Level Trim settings you make apply to the Main Outputs; when headphones are connected,
the Tone Trim and Level Trim settings apply to the headphones. When you unplug your
headphones, the trim settings return to their previous settings for the Main Outputs; when you
plug your headphones back in, they return to the previous settings for the headphones.
Note: Trim settings for BoTh the headphone output and Main outputs are not persistent, and
both are reset when you switch the XMC-1 into standby Mode or switch it off.
playing sACD Audio in pure DsD
There are a wide variety of disc players which support playback of standard SACD discs (and the
SACD portion of hybrid discs). These discs are recorded in a special digital audio format called
DSD (direct stream digital).
For audio purists who prefer to play the DSD content from SACD discs directly, without
modification or processing, the XMC-1 supports direct playback of DSD audio content received
over an HDMI connection. In order to utilize this feature, your player must be configured to deliver
the unaltered DSD "bitstream" to the XMC-1via HDMI.
Note: Different players require different settings to enable them to output DsD digital audio
without converting it; and some players may not offer this option. on some players, you will
select "DsD" as your output mode; on some you may select "bitstream" as your output mode
when playing sACDs; and on others you will DIsABlE the option "convert sACD output to pCM";
some players may require you to set multiple options on different menu pages.
Note: Many sACDs include versions of the same content in both stereo and surround sound.
These are actually separate tracks on the disc, and you must choose the one you want when
playing the disc.
Because DSD digital audio cannot be processed in the normal way, and because most purists
who choose to listen to unconverted DSD content prefer to avoid any and all conversions and
processing, the playback options for DSD content on the XMC-1 are limited. Two channel DSD
content may be played in modes equivalent to Stereo and All Stereo, with no bass management
or other processing. Surround Sound DSD content may be played in its original 5.1 channels,
or the XMC-1 can be configured to duplicate the Surround Channels into the Rear Surround
Channels (if you have a 7.1 or 7.2 system), also with no bass management or other processing.
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