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Emotiva UMC-1... Still a science-lab affair?

Hi, I'm new to Audiogon, and hi-fi in general. I started my journey on Audiogon looking for a new AVR to replace my beginner, entry-level Yamaha with something that will do my new speakers justice:

B&W CDM 7 Special Edition
B&W CDM C center channel

I picked out the Marantz SR6005, but asked a very knowledgable friend of mine about all of this and he suggested instead the Emotiva UMC-1 and a 2-channel amp for now; later I can buy another amp and pick up the rear channels. He said I can't beat the value for dollar, and the sound will be much better than the SR6005 that I am auditioning right now.

Whatever I get, I want to run in 2 channel (plus sub) most of the time and later do 5.1 when my theatre room is ready.

Problem is, my initial research on the UMC-1 is that most owners are really having to tinker with it to resolve bugs or get it to function properly. I can't tell if the bugs are worked out or not. I really don't want to live on a forum to see if "my issue is normal" or "do I need to update the software yet again."

His advice is probably very good, but should I stay away from the UMC-1?
hades281
zmanastronomy's avatar
zmanastronomy
738 posts
 
My experience with Emotiva is that you get what you pay for.
jt3
33 posts
 
I think the amps are terrific for the money and for home theatre.

I think they are still working out the bugs on the processors.

As a company, they really do stand behind their products.
thesoundhouse
250 posts
 
Yesterday I received the Emotiva XDA-1 DAC. It works great and it built very well. I have played all day on a loop from a new 2011 Mach2Music Mac Mini. I got home from work and figured it should burn in a little and sound better than right out of the box. It was fully warmed up. I do not think I am going to keep it. I was going to use it in a second system but the HRT Music Streamer Pro and my spare Music Streamer II+ beat it by a huge margin. I am going to send it back. I thought I could plug it directly to my XA30.5 which run a pair of ultra high efficiency home brew speakers with a pair Fostex 208sigmas and Aurum Cantus 2 GSI tweeters and a pair of 12" Rythmic servo Subs on an open baffle. It is crazy how efficient my home brew speakers are but Emotiva DAC with it volume control could not drive the Pass Labs XA30.5 and speakers like the Music Streamers could using the volume control from the computer. Sonically the Emotiva XDA-1 was very poor compared to other lower priced DACs.
geh7's avatar
geh7
29 posts
 
I'd get a decent 2 channel integrated now with a home theater bypass and add the receiver (which will depreciate faster than a banana) later if you really want good 2 channel sound. I started with a receiver based system, and now I hardly ever turn it on, but then I'm not too excited about 5.1 use.
sthomas12321
408 posts
 
My opinion.

I love Emotiva XPA amps. Amazing value

The UMC 1 is not a wise investment. Buy a used Anthem 30, B&K 50 s2, Krell Showcase, etc the same like money and run HD audio analog out of a oppo blu ray player. The UMC been around along time, and still buggy. Bass management is broken. Pop noises, audio dropouts + more are present too. A Onkyo 866 is under $600 shipped now on audiogon, I would easily recommend going that route over the UMC
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