What's the latest word on the Emotiva UMC-1?

Hi James

To name expensive products that fall short of less expensive ones is not hard to do. I recently posted a shootout between CD players costing over 3K vs. a Oppo player that cost 300 dollars.
In the world of speakers I've heard models costing over 10K that I didn't find worth 10 dollars, but to name them would be trolling.
You can't "buy" the best systems. They have to be assembled with years of listening experience and an ear for synergy.

Rob

Chadnliz, have you listened to the UMC-1 vs. the Onkyo and Marantz models that cost many times the price? If so was it with the same amps?

I'm only asking because I have heard these products. I have no stock in any of them. If the Marantz, Denon or Onkyo were better I'd say so and STILL be happy with the UMC-1 since it does a very good job for my application. So I'll score it simply:

Ease of Use:
All three units are a pain to set up, even if you know how to tune for a room yourself. But any of them can be tuned better by ear if you spend the time. And it's time well spent.

Ease of Use using the Auto-Tune systems:
I felt Denon got it much closer to what I'd finally wanted.

Sound quality:
There is no question in my mind (or any of my friends who own the other models) that the UMC-1 is superior. It's even surprisingly good in two channel audio!

Cosmetics:
The UMC-1 is one of the few units around that isn't covered with a bazillion buttons, looking like a 90's receiver or Bob Carver's nightmare. It's low profile and elegant.

Remote:
The Emotiva all metal remote looks the best, but it's horrible in use. I like the Marantz remote.

As for Lexicon, I'm not a fan. What they did with the Oppo reflected a way of doing business that some installer friends had told me about for years and my impressions based on listening only added to that. Still, the move with the Oppo redress was awful.

Rob

PS: No one should take this too seriously! It's just audio gear and most of us will have totally different stuff in 5 years anyway.

Except for my Merlin speakers, which I may be buried with!

Rob

Not everyone has access to every specific model of every ilk so no I didnt do a direct comparison but have heard it and to me its cold and sterile and doesnt involve me.
I said its good for the money and thats all I am going to say.

Well...I have directly compared the Emotiva XPA-3 & XPA-2 to some fairly good SS amps. You can do an search and see my comparison between the Emotiva XPA-3 and Rotel 1090, Odyssey Stratos and so on.
I have always wondered how people judged amps as anything without hearing them through several pre-amps.

Other insane items from Emotiva are their CD player which I also recently compared to the Rega Saturn (and others) and their USP-1 preamp, which lost in it's shootout with a Rogue Metis tube pre-amp, but not by much.

Obviously much of this is subjective. What sounds cold to you may sound detailed and accurate to someone else. I don't use the Emotiva gear for music much, but for home theater it's as good as anything I've tried. As I said, I've abandoned SS completely for amp/preamp on music.

Rob