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Need to replace UMC-200

1350 Views 17 Replies 5 Participants Last post by eriksells916, Aug 17, 2019

T. Perinne

Discussion Starter · Aug 14, 2019

Our house had a lightning strike and the Emotiva UMC-200 prepro in my living room (7.1) got fried. I need to replace it, I see that Emotiva has had their MC-700 out for a while now at around $750 but now I'm wondering if I should go a different route. Any recommendations? I'd like to stay around that price range, give or take a little. I still have my Emotiva amps working fine.... So MC-700, different brand prepro, receiver? Thanks!

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eriksells916

· #2 · Aug 14, 2019

@t.perinne I read the outlaw 976 is supposed to be a little better than the mc700. I don't own one, just some food for thought here...

https://www.avsforum.com/forum/90-receivers-amps-processors/2936064-outlaw-audio-976-processor-owner-s-thread.html

T. Perinne

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 14, 2019

Thanks, I'll go check out the 976. Also wondering about an AVR instead of a prepro... Those Onkyo, Yamaha, Denon units have a lot of bells and whistles - just not sure which leads the pack.

eriksells916

· #4 · Aug 14, 2019

@t.perinne loaded question LOL! Yes many of these mid-level receivers now have 9 channels that can expand to 11, akm 4458 dacs and all of the bells and whistles for under $700.

For a musical avr as prepro, the marantz 5012/5013 are the 7 channel options, 6012/6013 are 9 channel options and then the 7012/7013/8012 are the big boys. They have hdam circuits to keep the sound as clean as possible. All of those options are over budget, except refurbished.

Yamaha too, especially their higher end stuff will probably make an excellent prepro. However Yamaha is rarely discounted so the a1070/1080 for 7 channels, 2070/2080 for 9 and 3070/3080 for 9+ channels. They are very reliable, have and excellent phone app and very good hdmi switching

Denon is known for being an excellent HT receiver, if that is your main goal? The x3400/3500 is 7 channels while the x4400/4500 and new x3600 are 9 channels and can expand to 11. They have full preouts, a ton of features and have audyssey xt32 which has dual sub control. Rare for the price (x3400/x3500).

Pionkyo has always been known for having the most features for the price. Their reliability will never be in the same conversation with Yamaha, but there are a lot of happy owners with the new stuff. All of these are 9 channels that can expand to 11, have akm 4458 dacs and full preouts for your emotiva amps; tx-rz730/740 and rz830/840 plus the cousin Pioneer vsx-lx503/504.

Again I own none of these, this is purely my $.02 from spending wayyy too much time on this forum reading!

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Vital

· #5 · Aug 14, 2019

T. Perinne said:
Thanks, I'll go check out the 976. Also wondering about an AVR instead of a prepro... Those Onkyo, Yamaha, Denon units have a lot of bells and whistles - just not sure which leads the pack.

I went from an Emotiva UMC to a Yamaha RX-A3060 and was blown away. The Yamaha kills it everywhere. I don't know how or why but the Yamaha delivers surround sound so much better than everything else I've tried. The separation in sound is better too. In the last 15+ years I've ran Harman Kardon, Pioneer Elite, Denon, Emotiva and now Yamaha. I will stick with Yamaha from here on as far as pre/pro.

T. Perinne

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 15, 2019

I like what I see from Yamaha, however the RXA3060 from the UMC-200 is a huge jump. If I went Yamaha I would most likely go mid tier like the RXA880. Are the mid tier Yamaha's still worth a look?

WOKNROX

· #7 · Aug 15, 2019

Is Atmos in your very near future?
Are you really wanting 4k passthrough?

If not... why not just get another 200?
It's a really great little unit, sounds fantastic and can be had for only a couple hundy...

spyboy

· #8 · Aug 15, 2019

T. Perinne said:
I like what I see from Yamaha, however the RXA3060 from the UMC-200 is a huge jump. If I went Yamaha I would most likely go mid tier like the RXA880. Are the mid tier Yamaha's still worth a look?

Adorama has the Yamaha RX-V2085 for $799 brand new. The sale price is in effect every couple of weeks.

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T. Perinne

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 15, 2019

spyboy said:
Adorama has the Yamaha RX-V2085 for $799 brand new. The sale price is in effect every couple of weeks.

I did a little more research, seems you're right about what model to go with if I want Yamaha. I don't see any difference between the RX-V2085 and the RX-A2080 besides the foot and the warranty, I'm not sure I believe if there is a difference in the quality of the internal components. That being said, $799 is a great price for that much of a receiver. If there really is an internal difference I care about with the Aventage I'd have to look at the RX-A1080 which would be stretching my budget.

I can't say that Atmos is in the future of this particular system. This new unit will be in my general living/family room (7.1) which is 90% TV and streaming movies, 10% music. I do want to step up to 4K passthrough as I'm also upgrading the TV. I have 2 additional 2-speaker zones that I can use a receiver's amps for, otherwise I'll be needing pre outs for the 7.1 in my living room and still keeping my Emotiva amps.

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eriksells916

· #10 · Aug 15, 2019 (Edited)

@t.perinne then step up to the v2085 as it is 9 channels with zone 2/3 preouts. I believe that will allow you 7 channels in the main zone and then 2 more zones. I was going to get one but just found out it cant cannot expand to 7.1.4 like the onkyo, pioneer and denon can.

I would think the a1080 is a step down in quality, parts and features from the v2085.

If you are on a budget then look at the denon x3500, onkyo rz730/830 and pioneer vsx-lx503 as they are all priced below the a1080.

T. Perinne

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 15, 2019

eriksells916 said:
@t.perinne then step up to the v2085 as it is 9 channels with zone 2/3 preouts. I believe that will allow you 7 channels in the main zone and then 2 more zones. I was going to get one but just found out it cant cannot expand to 7.1.4 like the onkyo, pioneer and denon can.

I would think the a1080 is a step down in quality, parts and features from the v2085.

If you are on a budget then look at the denon x3500, onkyo rz730/830 and pioneer vsx-lx503 as they are all priced below the a1080.

Thanks Erik - I'd love more subs in that room but I'm lucky that even the .1 is allowed by the wife, the living room has zero hiding spots. I'll check out the denon x3500, onkyo rz730/830 and pioneer vsx-lx503 but I think that the Yammy V2085 at its sale price is still at the top of that pile.

eriksells916

· #12 · Aug 15, 2019

@t.perinne Oh I am with you brother, I built a massive entertainment center and overlooked the subs. So they are on the floor and the wife is like...um yea those are not going there! I like being married so I am building dual end table subs to match the couches.

Take a look at this...2019 model, full 3 yr man. warranty, 11 channel preouts, phono, 3 zones, imax enhanced, sonos ready, dts play-fi, airplay 2...it just doesn't carry the same reliability name that Yamaha does. https://www.onkyousa.com/product/web-only/tx-rz740-2/

T. Perinne

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 15, 2019

eriksells916 said:
@t.perinne Oh I am with you brother, I built a massive entertainment center and overlooked the subs. So they are on the floor and the wife is like...um yea those are not going there! I like being married so I am building dual end table subs to match the couches.

Take a look at this...2019 model, full 3 yr man. warranty, 11 channel preouts, phono, 3 zones, imax enhanced, sonos ready, dts play-fi, airplay 2...it just doesn't carry the same reliability name that Yamaha does. https://www.onkyousa.com/product/web-only/tx-rz740-2/

Thanks for that link, $599 direct!?! That's $200 less than the big sites (Crutchfield, BB, etc). You would pick it over the V2085 for $799?

eriksells916

· #14 · Aug 15, 2019 (Edited)

@t.perinne oh boy, tough question! The 2085 probably has better room correction, is very reliable (at this point) and has excellent reviews. First choice would be denon x4500 but I missed the frys sale 4-5 months ago, then I would get an x4400, but can only find it used for the same price as the new 2085, so I would go that route first.

However, the 740 is less $$ then all of those, it's brand new (2019), has a new hdmi board and it can expand to 7.1.4 with ext. 2 channel amp. The 740 cousin is the lx503 which got amazing reviews, has a very strong amp section as well as phono preamp but has crappy universal crossover. So if the 740 has those same internal parts with accueq advanced, then it makes total sense at $599.

T. Perinne

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 15, 2019

Great info, thanks... but still a tough decision. Not sure why but I'm more drawn to Yamaha as a brand than Onkyo, the bigger discount on the 2085 also makes me feel like I'm getting more value even though the specs are similar. I'll take the weekend to evaluate some more and will give the 740 a fair shake. I'm sure some other models will work their way into the mix too.

eriksells916

· #16 · Aug 16, 2019

@t.perinne yes remember these are off the top of my head, someone this weekend might chime in with something I missed.

I think the 2085 is a bad ass receiver, at that price even more so. Like @Vital said the 3060 was the best sound he heard and he had separates, top of the line gear, etc. That speakes volumes about Yamaha sound, which already has the best reliability, their apps are excellent and iirc, one member here once commented that they have the best hdmi switching in the industry since they have something built in house or they are part of the hdmi foundation???

No hurry, look at my hundreds of posts. Here is what I have told members that I was getting over the last 12 months. I had these in my cart at Frys, Amazon and/or AC4L and never pull the trigger. Onkyo rz630, 730, 830 and rz920 (biggest mistake), Denon x3400, x4400 and x4500, Pioneer sc-lx502, vsx-lx303 and lx503, Yamaha rx-a1060 and a1070 and today the rz740 direct from Onkyo. Analysis Paralysis!

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Vital

· #17 · Aug 17, 2019

T. Perinne said:
I like what I see from Yamaha, however the RXA3060 from the UMC-200 is a huge jump. If I went Yamaha I would most likely go mid tier like the RXA880. Are the mid tier Yamaha's still worth a look?

A huge jump in quality and performance but I think I only paid $899 or $999 for my Yamaha RX-A3060 from accessories4less. In my experience factory refurbished units are awesome deals. They are gone over with a fine tooth comb.

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eriksells916

· #18 · Aug 17, 2019 (Edited)

@Vital @t.perinne if it makes it easier for you, I was watching a youtube video review of the best old receivers this morning. This guy said based on his measurements the a3080 has better and less distorted sound reproduction than their flagship cx-a5200. The 2085 is a step down but that speaks volumes about Yamaha quality.

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