Emotiva UMC-200 with a UPA-500 vs. my old Sony STR-DH800

Originally Posted by Hawkboy 

Hi Guys... newbie questions here so bear with me.

As the title says how would an Emotiva UMC-200 with a UPA-500 amp sound vs. my old Sony STR-DH800??? I'm more than sure it would sound WAY better but some honest opinions would be nice. I currently have a Klipsch RB-62 II Speaker system with a Klipsch RW-10 Sub.

Here's another question... My current Sony receiver says it's 100 watts the Emotiva Amp is 80 W. Am I losing too much there or am I worrying about nothing? I'm sure there is something misleading about these numbers from Sony. I don't have a large room if you are wondering.

Just curious what you guys have to say... THANKS!

-Gregg

Originally Posted by Hawkboy 

While that would be awesome (the XPA-5) it's just way out of my price range and probably overkill for my needs. But I like the IDEA of it!

Originally Posted by Hawkboy 

While that would be awesome (the XPA-5) it's just way out of my price range and probably overkill for my needs. But I like the IDEA of it!

Originally Posted by Hawkboy 

Good to Know Crussader! As far as i can tell right now the UMC-200 is all I really need because between my Oppo, X-Box, and HTPC all my networking needs are taken care of and I don't have any legacy video nor do I ever use DSP modes. So more and more thanks to you guys the UMC-200 is hitting the price point/performance sweet spot for me. I have been considering breaking the bank and getting a Marantz AVR like the SR5007, SR6007, or even saving up longer for the SR7007. But sadly, money is a factor so the Emotiva has just shot out as the lead horse in my quest for better audio!


Ohhh Deltadube I wish I could say "ONLY About 400 more..."

Originally Posted by Elmo C 

Don't waste your time on the mediocre unless run of the mill sound is no issue.

Originally Posted by Hawkboy 

Hey guys here is a link that discusses what we are talking about... enjoy! (I hope we can post links... if not I apologize.)
The author uses an Emotiva UMC-200 with a UPA-500!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-57573961-47/do-separate-components-sound-better-than-av-receivers-part-2/

Originally Posted by Paraneer 

I think the main point he was making was about power ratings - that the Denon is rated higher at 90 wpc yet it was still smoked by the Emotiva at 80 wpc. Because of the Emotivas high current design and ability to distribute power to all frequencies and likely impedence loads for sustained periods of time without wimping out.

But you're right - he should have used an even more expensive AVR at the same price or even higher price than the Emotiva separates and the AVR would still get smoked in actual power output. This would have been even more dramatic. Either way, it illustrates the authors point. The OP is looking at a very nice package indeed.

Originally Posted by Bill Mac 

I have seen that "comparison" before. To me it is seriously flawed as the reviewer is using a $399 AVR and comparing it to the $1100 Emotiva separates. Not what I would call a level playing field . I'm not sure why a $1100 AVR wasn't used to make it an actual "comparison" .

Bill

Originally Posted by MUDCAT45 


I certainly wouldn't cry foul if the $1100 Emotiva beat $5000 separates. It would spark my interest in hearing them in my own system. I would think it would be an interesting comparison. Now if the $5000 separates beat the $1100 Emotiva separates would that be a fair comparison? Say the Marantz 8801/Outlaw 7500 against the UMC-200/UPA-500. I wonder if those partial to Emotiva would then be claiming foul and saying "thats not a fair comparison" .


Your point is?


I certainly feel that an AVR with preouts makes a fine prepro. I'm using one and it is working quite well.


How so? What might made the cnet comparison real interesting would have been if the reviewer used an AVR with preouts. Then do a comparison between the AVR with the UPA-500 and the UMC-200/UPA-500. That would have been more of a level playing field as far as seeing which processor sounded better. I think it is common knowledge that an external amp will offer more actual power than most AVRs amp sections. I still think there was very little from the reviewer on how he compared the 1912 to the UMC-200/UPA-500. No mention of level matching or any other facts as to how the comparison was done. To me the article was nothing better than a fellow AVS member making the same comparison . Just because it came from cnet added no further credibility as to the results of the comparison.

Bill

Originally Posted by Bill Mac 

...Say the Marantz 8801/Outlaw 7500 against the UMC-200/UPA-500. I wonder if those partial to Emotiva would then be claiming foul and saying "thats not a fair comparison"...

Originally Posted by Hawkboy 


If you look at my post I was not asking Paraneer "Your point is?" but asking MUDCAT45. Paraneer makes some very valid points. But in the cnet comparison it never states that the Emotiva "smoked" the Denon. In that article the reviewer does not mention anything about level matching, how each processor was setup, source used (analog or HDMI) and how much time passed between listening comparisons. These are all simple items anyone doing a critical comparison would be aware of and should be mentioned in the article. None of these items were mentioned in the article so I do not put much stock in it. If the volume levels are not matched as part of the comparison the results can be skewed either way IMO.


That is your opinion and thats fine. I have a different opinion on the topic.

Bill

Originally Posted by Hawkboy 


I don't want to get into an argument, as I'm fairly new here, but Paraneer's point was pretty clear.
Sure he should have used a similar priced model, but he wanted something with the same advertised power. So in that particular regard it was an apt comparison, matched price point or no.