I have an SE and don't know if there is any difference in sound and if it's worth getting the UMC-1 to replace an Outlaw 990, especially since I only use the 990 as an analog passthrough for the SE..... I am now running the 83SE analog outs into the Outlaw 990.
I don't know if you realize this, but the 990 is
NOT a true analog pass through. The 990 re-digitizes the analog inputs (including the 7.1 inputs) to apply bass management.
This additional AD/DA conversion totally negates any benefit of the superior Sabre DACs of the BDP-83.
I've previously owned the 990 (which my UMC-1 replaced) and 83SE (replaced by a BDP-93) combination. Actually, I bought the 83 before the SE version was released. Once the "SE" was announced, and an upgrade path was offered, I jumped on it.
Much to my surprise, I heard very little difference and thought that the "SE" upgrade was a total waste of money. It wasn't until I purchased a USP-1 (my first Emotiva purchase) that I realized how wrong I was. I luckily had access to a "standard" 83 for comparison, and yes, there's a huge difference between the two (83 vs. 83SE) that was totally veiled by the 990.
I did contact Outlaw regarding the analog path of the 990 and they would have you believe the the ADC used in the 990 is "good enough" to not reveal a difference. That is not true in this case. The difference was quite apparent. With Outlaw processors prior to the 990, the analog paths were always "straight wire" and utilized analog bass management. With the 990, Outlaw chose a different design approach which, to me, could have remained as it was.
The UMC-1
does incorporate "true" analog paths on
ALL analog inputs using the "Direct" mode. The 7.1 analog input is "Direct" by default and no processing is possible (by design) using that input. Processing is possible on the remaining 2-channel analog inputs ("Stereo" for example if you want to induce bass management for a 2.1 channel mix), but an AD/DA conversion would be required.
Has anyone compared the analog output of the oppo-83SE to the UMC-1?..... Has anyone compared the oppo 83se hdmi out into the UMC-1 to the Oppo analog out?
Yes, In my testing between the UMC-1 (using a
coax connection from the 83SE) and the 83SE (connected either through my USP-1 or through an analog connection of the UMC-1 itself), I found that while the Sabre DACs of the 83SE had a "
very slight" performance edge, the difference was not so great that it would quantify the $400 difference in price between a standard 83 connected to a UMC-1 (using the 83 as a transport and allowing the UMC-1 to perform the processing and conversion) and an 83SE via analog.
Since I already owned the 83SE, that was a moot point, but "if" I had to do it again, I'd be perfectly happy with a UMC-1/BDP-83 combo and not feel that I was missing anything.
I'm not saying that my 83SE wasn't a damn fine player, what I'm saying that the UMC-1 was (and is) that good!!!
What's the thinking on any difference between the Cirrus & Sabre chipsets?
Refer to the above as it's not always quite as simple as that... ;D
It's more a matter of how a particular chipset is implemented and "fine tuned".
It is well know by those of us here on the Forum that the UMC-1 is a spectacular performer when it comes to the reproduction of music. Emotiva has taken a very good Cirrus DAC and groomed it to be very "musical" where others have not.
On the fence on getting a UMC-1. A bit concerned about ongoing bugs, but since I am not hooked up to a cable/sat box and run hdmi directly to my display, I think I will be ok.
Well, for starters, with that configuration, I don't see as where you'd have a problem. I'm assuming that you would connect the 7.1 analog outs of the 83 to the 7.1 inputs of the UMC-1. To me, that wouldn't be your best option for several "beneficial" reasons. The lack-luster bass management of the BDP-83 being my biggest area of concern.
To ease your fear of the "bugs" (of which I don't think you'd encounter anyway considering you don't use a cable box or DVR), please see this post...
emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=announcements&action=display&thread=19396Also, if I send a signal. either 2ch or MCH, to the UMC-1 analog inputs, is there any processing I can do to that analog signal in the UMC-1 without digitizing it, i.e. remaining in the analog domain?
No, the UMC-1 (or any other current processor) performs processing (DSP), post processing (EQ and "room correction") and bass management in the digital domain and therefore must convert the incoming analog signal to digital. This includes your current Outlaw 990.
You'd need bass management to be performed in the analog domain, and in the current age of digital room correction (Audyssey, EmoQ, etc...), you'd be hard pressed to find a current processor that employed that.
For 2-channel, you "could" do what I (and many others) have done and also incorporate a USP-1 along with the UMC-1. The USP-1 is a pure analog 2 channel preamp which does employ analog bass management for 2.1 incorporation of a subwoofer. It also has an "HT Bypass" feature that allows it to co-habitate transparently within a multipurpose audio environment.
In addition to trying to address your specific questions, I'll add that there are many other benefits to upgrading to the UMC-1.
One of the many great things about the UMC-1 is that you can configure several different inputs using the same source. For example, you can configure an input using your 83 for watching video using HDMI. Configure another input using your 83 for listening to music via a digital input (coax or optical) with processing. Configure another input using your 83 to listen to SACD or DVD Audio CDs using the 7.1 analog inputs.... and so on.... you get the idea.
On the video side, you already have a highly regarded video processor built right into your 83 and you can continue to utilize that while still utilizing the UMC-1 merely as a video switch, and a superb sounding audio processor, by just setting the UMC-1 to software "pass-through".
I, having utilized the same exact hardware configuration that you currently own, would have no reservation (all things considered) recommending the UMC-1 as a replacement for your 990. I think that you would be very pleasantly surprised. It is an outstanding sonic performer at an outstanding price!
Sorry to have been so long winded, but I hope this helps...
