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Anyone here using an Emotiva UMC-200? What are your thoughts? - Page 3

post #61 of 165
1/28/13 at 11:40am
No word on this at all and mums from Emo on it too. There is a thread on their forum, and most posts are trying to prod info out of Emo but they aren't biting. Probably because they have been burned before with release dates for other products that continue to be delayed... XMC-1 anyone?
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post #62 of 165
1/28/13 at 11:52am
Other than XLR outputs and a volume knob what else does the UMC-500 offer over the UMC-200?

Bill
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post #63 of 165
1/28/13 at 11:55am
Pride of ownership.
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post #64 of 165
1/28/13 at 12:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Mac View Post

Other than XLR outputs and a volume knob what else does the UMC-500 offer over the UMC-200?

Bill

I believe additional HDMI inputs as well.
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post #65 of 165
1/28/13 at 3:16pm
Thank you for the update guys.
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post #66 of 165
1/28/13 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LVS View Post

I believe additional HDMI inputs as well.

and maybe you can even turn the display off!
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post #67 of 165
1/29/13 at 12:27am
If the 500's pre production back panel pic holds up the usb port is a type b not an a so the possibility of music streaming like the xmc1 will have smile.gif Maybe bypassing the power amp and feeding balanced straight to some airmotiv stealth 8's will be possible depending on power points , Makes the extra $500 over the 200 not as big a hurdle possibly Larry wink.gif If this is for your lovely home theater or secondary family room ?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86522064@N06/7924544516/in/set-72157631391329898/lightbox/
Edited by cwt - 1/29/13 at 12:33am
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post #68 of 165
1/29/13 at 6:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LVS View Post

I just bypass EmoQ by setting every input to Direct Mode, since in my room EmoQ is just not satisfying. I swapped in a new Pioneer SC-61, D3 amps, MCACC etc, and even though I wasn't able to do A/B testing, I ended up being very disappointed in the Pioneer in comparison to my UMC-200/UPA-500 combo, yes just the 80wX5 emo amp.

I was actually shocked at the difference and was not expecting it. The UMC-200/UPA-500 in direct mode (bypassing EmoQ) sounds much more open, transparent, greater detail and better bass at lower SPL readings (as opposed to running the SC-61 10db hot on sub). I was ready to sell my Emo pair but not sure I will give it up for the SC-61. To be fair I put the SC-61 in Pure Direct mode (bypassing MCACC, and the crossovers) and it still seemed less detailed and contrained in comparison to the Emo pair. I listened to a James Taylor Multi-SACD and remembered being wowed hearing it with the UMC-200 and then listening to the same tracks with SC-61 and thinking it wasn't a high fidelity format. I really need a component input, so I may try the offering from Outlaw, which forgoes the room EQ which I don't like with the Emo anyway but has legacy component inputs.

Just to follow-up on this... After listening a bit more to the SC-61 last night I replaced it with the UMC-200/UPA-500 combo and can reiterate my findings above. To my ears in my room, Emo sounds much cleaner and detailed, again purely in Direct mode and bypassing EmoQ.
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post #69 of 165
1/29/13 at 2:58pm
Not having a real volume knob is pretty weird on the UMC-200. It remind me of being a teenager in the 80s before the big volume knob revival.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Mac View Post

Other than XLR outputs and a volume knob what else does the UMC-500 offer over the UMC-200?

Bill
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post #70 of 165
2/6/13 at 1:07pm
A couple of quick questions as I'm new to multichannel sound:

1) I don't understand the pre-outs. My understanding is that they're RCA, and that means line level. Are they designed to go to powered speakers that have RCA inputs?

2) I want to feed my old, good 2 channel stereo system a line level signal when I use my cable box or new bluray player. However, I live in a sound sensitive environment, and think it would be ideal to mute the subwoofer channel, feed the center channel to a small speaker behind the couch, feed some mix of the remaining multichannels to my stereo setup, and be able to tune the balance between them. Late night, my significant other can sleep, and I can hear dialogue. Despite optimizing all settings, my blue ray to 2 channel conversion is awful and needs a fix. Will the UMC 200 let me do this? Any comments welcome, and thanks.
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post #71 of 165
2/6/13 at 2:40pm
The pre-out are designed to connect the preamp to an amplifier. Since this is a multichannel preamp, it's designed to be connected to a multichannel amp. Powered speakers have a built-in amplifier so yes, you can connect the pre-outs to powered speakers. If speakers are passive (not internally powered) then the preouts get connected to an amp and the speakers get connected via speaker wire to the amp.

Not sure about your second question. I don't have mine yet as Its scheduled for deliver tomorrow. Hoping I'm going to like the UMC-200. It will be replacing an Emo LMC-1.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chriscpm View Post

Not having a real volume knob is pretty weird on the UMC-200. It remind me of being a teenager in the 80s before the big volume knob revival.

Cant say I will miss a volume knob. I always just use the remote, even on gear that has a knob!
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post #72 of 165
2/6/13 at 3:05pm
Just ordered a UMC-200 to replace my Lexicon MC-1 with 8ch bypass. Seems like a good replacement for the price. I don't need any legacy connections and I can still send 8ch from my Oppo-93. Any video processing is handled by my Lumagen. I'm hoping that it sounds at least as good as the MC-1. I'll post back when I get it installed and put it through the paces.
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post #73 of 165
2/6/13 at 4:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevenjw View Post

Just ordered a UMC-200 to replace my Lexicon MC-1 with 8ch bypass. Seems like a good replacement for the price. I don't need any legacy connections and I can still send 8ch from my Oppo-93. Any video processing is handled by my Lumagen. I'm hoping that it sounds at least as good as the MC-1. I'll post back when I get it installed and put it through the paces.

That should be very interesting.
When will you have it?

- Rich
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post #74 of 165
2/6/13 at 5:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RetRoe View Post

The pre-out are...designed to be connected to a multichannel amp...

Not sure about your second question. I don't have mine yet as Its scheduled for deliver tomorrow. Hoping I'm going to like the UMC-200.

A multichannel amp. Of course. Never seen one, and it's a little counter-intuitive, but can grasp the concept.

If I use the center channel RCA out to a powered speaker, how would I optimally set the unit to blend the remaining channels (excluding the subwoofer) into 2 channel? I'd really like to feel comfortable I could do this (apparently the Outlaw 975 has this capability). Thanks.
Edited by dcnblues - 2/7/13 at 11:01am
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post #75 of 165
2/7/13 at 8:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevenjw View Post

Just ordered a UMC-200 to replace my Lexicon MC-1 with 8ch bypass. Seems like a good replacement for the price. I don't need any legacy connections and I can still send 8ch from my Oppo-93. Any video processing is handled by my Lumagen. I'm hoping that it sounds at least as good as the MC-1. I'll post back when I get it installed and put it through the paces.

Look forward to hearing what you think. I used to own a Lexicon DC-1 way back in the day and thought it was awesome. Over the years I have migrated to receivers instead of separates and always have felt I have been missing something. Recently went with the UMC-200 and even though it has a few irritations I find it sounding much better than the receivers I replaced it with.
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post #76 of 165
2/7/13 at 12:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcnblues View Post

If I use the center channel RCA out to a powered speaker, how would I optimally set the unit to blend the remaining channels (excluding the subwoofer) into 2 channel? I'd really like to feel comfortable I could do this (apparently the Outlaw 975 has this capability). Thanks.

When you say the remaining channels do you mean the R&L speakers or them and the surrounds? Have you thought about a phantom center?

Bill
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post #77 of 165
2/7/13 at 3:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LVS View Post

Recently went with the UMC-200 and even though it has a few irritations I find it sounding much better than the receivers I replaced it with.

I took delivery of mine today. I have yet to open the box but it appears it made the trip just fine. I'm going to inspect it for now and set it up this weekend. I'm just curious, what few irritations do you find with the UMC-200?
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post #78 of 165
2/7/13 at 4:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichB View Post

That should be very interesting.
When will you have it?

- Rich

Not sure. They wouldn't promise anything other than sometime in March, but did say they're expecting a shipment soon, so it may be earlier than that. No charge until it ships of course.

Once it arrives, I'll still need time to swap with MC-1, update the Harmony remote, calibrate the sound via Emo-Q gen2 or manually with sound meter, and throw some music and movies at it..... wink.gif

Edit: I received an email from them indicating that it will ship on 3/4.
Edited by stevenjw - 2/8/13 at 10:53am
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post #79 of 165
2/8/13 at 9:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Mac View Post

When you say the remaining channels do you mean the R&L speakers or them and the surrounds? Have you thought about a phantom center?

Bill

Well, I'm a little out of my depth, so you tell me. I was thinking R&L plus surrounds, but don't know what would work best with basically a 3 channel setup. And I don't know what a phantom center is. Could you tell me more? Many thanks for the help.
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post #80 of 165
2/8/13 at 10:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RetRoe View Post

I took delivery of mine today. I have yet to open the box but it appears it made the trip just fine. I'm going to inspect it for now and set it up this weekend. I'm just curious, what few irritations do you find with the UMC-200?

The way they implemented volume, after powering it on it remembers where it was and then after approximately 20 second boot up it starts to ramp up slowly. However if UMC-200 receives another IR command before it finishes it just stops ramping up. In addition after power off it does not remember the playback option you set for a particular source/input. I find EmoQ dismal at best at least for my room so I end up setting playback for everything to Direct mode. I am living with the shortcomings in hopes that a firmware release will address some of the issues and the fact that I think it sounds so very good. I thought I decided to sell it so I went out and bought a Pioneer SC-61 receiver (it has the Class D3 amps) and after listening to the UMC-200 and replacing it with the Pioneer and finding the sound quality not even close to the UMC-200 I kept the UMC-200/UPA-500 combo.
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post #81 of 165
2/8/13 at 10:41am
^^^

I had many emails with their sales department trying desperately to get them to at least acknowledged the usefulness of power-on and max-volume settings.

Alas, I failed.

I like their feature set. I really do not know their history, but I suspect they have become thick-skinned and closed-lipped.

- Rich
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post #82 of 165
2/8/13 at 10:43am
Too bad they decided to handle the powering up process like that. But at this price point it's going to have some compromises and such. Have you set up the speakers manually then, since the Emo Q was a bust for you? At any rate, good to hear the sound quality is there, here's hoping the XMC comes soon and is trouble free.
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post #83 of 165
2/8/13 at 1:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcnblues View Post

Well, I'm a little out of my depth, so you tell me. I was thinking R&L plus surrounds, but don't know what would work best with basically a 3 channel setup. And I don't know what a phantom center is. Could you tell me more? Many thanks for the help.

I really have no experience with downmixing of all channels to two or three speakers as I have a 5.1 setup. Below are a few links discussing phantom center speakers. If you do further searches I'm sure you will find more information. I have always had a dedicated center channel so I have no experience using a phantom center. But using a phantom center is an option to having a dedicated center speaker. The best part is it doesn't cost anything to try it smile.gif.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1448360/dedicated-center-channel-or-phantom-center

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1195211/prefering-phantom-center-over-actual-center-channel

Bill
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post #84 of 165
2/8/13 at 2:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by runnin' View Post

Too bad they decided to handle the powering up process like that. But at this price point it's going to have some compromises and such.

I agree that at the UMC-200s price point compromises have to be made. But there are $300 AVRs available with preset power up and maximum volume settings. So the cost to implement these features can't be very much if anything at all. To not have these basic settings in this day and age is ridiculous IMO. If the XMC-1 doesn't have these features then I won't even consider buying it.

Bill
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post #85 of 165
2/8/13 at 2:08pm
^^^

Right now, it remembers your last volume somehwere.
All you need is a power on volume setting, then when powering on or off, use it instead.
It is trivial.

Max volume is also trivial and even more important.

That said, they are sold out of UMC-200's...

- Rich
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post #86 of 165
2/8/13 at 2:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichB View Post

^^^

Right now, it remembers your last volume somehwere.
All you need is a power on volume setting, then when powering on or off, use it instead.
It is trivial.

Max volume is also trivial and even more important.

That said, they are sold out of UMC-200's...

- Rich

To me those settings are not trivial but maybe to Emotiva they are. If I listen to music at loud volumes (-10dB to 0dB) then turn off my system it powers back on at -25dB not 0dB. I have the maximum volume set to 0dB just so no one in my family can blow the speakers eek.gif.

Bill
Edited by Bill Mac - 2/8/13 at 2:29pm
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post #87 of 165
2/8/13 at 2:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Mac View Post

To me those settings are not trivial but maybe to Emotiva they are. If I listen to music at loud volumes (-10dB to 0dB) then turn off my system it powers back on at -25dB not 0dB. I have the maximum volume set to 0dB just so no one in my family can blow the speakers eek.gif.

Bill

I do meant these features value is trivial, they are very important!

However, the implementation is really is not complicated.
Most of the work is the user interface and documentation.

It is actually harder to remember the last volume level and restore it.
These are really not analog devices, the position of the volume control does not matter.
(Digital control means no more white line on the knob)

- Rich
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post #88 of 165
2/8/13 at 2:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Mac View Post

I agree that at the UMC-200s price point compromises have to be made. But there are $300 AVRs available with preset power up and maximum volume settings. So the cost to implement these features can't be very much if anything at all. To not have these basic settings in this day and age is ridiculous IMO. If the XMC-1 doesn't have these features then I won't even consider buying it.

Bill

Those $300 AVR's are missing in other areas that may be more important. No pre outs and most importantly. SQ.

I have a Sony 5700ES that is also lacking intelligent volume. I would prefer it and like you I see no need not to include it these days.

I doubt you would buy the XMC regardless of features. Then you would have no reason to keep switching components. smile.gif
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post #89 of 165
2/8/13 at 3:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MUDCAT45 View Post

Those $300 AVR's are missing in other areas that may be more important. No pre outs and most importantly. SQ.

I have a Sony 5700ES that is also lacking intelligent volume. I would prefer it and like you I see no need not to include it these days.

I doubt you would buy the XMC regardless of features. Then you would have no reason to keep switching components. smile.gif

There is alway the RMC-1. The reference version in all black the match their new reference amps.

- Rich
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post #90 of 165
2/8/13 at 3:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MUDCAT45 View Post

Quote:
Those $300 AVR's are missing in other areas that may be more important. No pre outs and most importantly. SQ.

The topic was about the volume settings apparently you missed that wink.gif.
Quote:
I doubt you would buy the XMC regardless of features. Then you would have no reason to keep switching components. smile.gif

Why would you doubt I would buy the XMC-1? So what is your issue with those that switch out components? Do you still own your first stereo?

Bill
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