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Post by charlie7 on Nov 7, 2012 15:48:45 GMT -5
Thank you for your review. I am also hearing more detail and the halographic imaging that you described. I've had my XSP-1 since the beginning of November and was hesitant to write a review as I wanted to make sure what I was hearing was actually real and not in my mind. Your review and some others confirm my observations as well. Thanks! ;D
The only thing additional I have to add is I find the build quality of the XSP-1 much better than the USP-1 I had as far as the various connecting jacks. Seems to be better materials and there is a nice solid feel to it when connecting and disconnecting cabling.
Enjoy! Charlie
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Post by paintedklown on Nov 9, 2012 2:07:20 GMT -5
Ok guys, I have had the XSP-1 for nine days now, and I found a real issue. I am posting this to see if anyone else is having this happen. The lettering on the remote is actually starting to wear off already. Not the entire thing, but around the volume up and down triangles, where my hand spends most of its time. I can imagine that, eventually, it will come off altogether, making navigation of the remote difficult if you aren't already familiar with it. Anybody else having this already, or is it just me?
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Pauly
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Post by Pauly on Nov 9, 2012 2:50:51 GMT -5
The lettering is wearing off? I've had the silver/chrome wear off the buttons on my milled remotes, but not the lettering. I'd call Emo and see if they can send you a new one. As you probably know, they're very good about replacing remotes with no questions asked.
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Post by garbulky on Nov 9, 2012 6:03:40 GMT -5
+1, another poster had the same problem on a diff emo device and it was replaced according to the poster
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Nov 9, 2012 7:08:16 GMT -5
I'm not seeing that yet...but thanks for the heads up - I will watch for that.
Mark
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Post by jvs1670 on Nov 9, 2012 10:27:28 GMT -5
Right now I'm still using an old Denon 3803. I need to boost the bass +4 or +6 and I leave the treble at 0. If I don't do that my Klipschorns are just way too much with the highs and the bottom end won't match up at low levels. Do you think I will have enough adjustability based on that info?
Thanks
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RPA-1 man
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Post by RPA-1 man on Nov 9, 2012 11:15:45 GMT -5
Well, the XSP only has +/- 3 dB of adjustment. If you can do with +4 dB now you may be fine. Are you able to play with speaker placement at all? That may be another option for you.
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Post by roadrunner on Nov 9, 2012 12:11:31 GMT -5
Right now I'm still using an old Denon 3803. I need to boost the bass +4 or +6 and I leave the treble at 0. If I don't do that my Klipschorns are just way too much with the highs and the bottom end won't match up at low levels. Do you think I will have enough adjustability based on that info? Thanks I think you may find the bass response thru the XSP-1 will be several dB stronger than your Denon 3803, particularly if you hook up the sub woofer with XLR cable. I know the bass is noticeably stronger when using the XSP-1.
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Post by jvs1670 on Nov 9, 2012 12:45:58 GMT -5
I can't really play with placement at all, I designed the room with corners just for these speakers, they must stay where they are. I guess its not the lack of bass I have its really the imbalance. These speakers are just so over the top with the mids and highs that I just need to tone that part down or boost the bottom end to make it match...does that make sense?
RR...So you're saying the bass is a few dB hotter with the XSP to the subwoofer or just to the full range output to the mains?
I am thinking that a HSU VTf-15h is in my near future, I'm pretty sure all my problems will be solved with that sub but I was just trying to make it as good as possible as is.
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Post by avidhiker on Nov 9, 2012 14:30:28 GMT -5
Sounds like the XSP may be worth a look still. You might get away with a 1 or 2 dB decrease on the trebel control along with a 2 or 3 dB increase on the bass. Unlike some other tone controls I've used, decreasing the treble on the XSP can help to boost bass in the mix without overly softening the sound.
Of course getting an external sub can also help, but it can sometimes present new challenges WRT integration. But with the XSP's very flexible bass management, I've had no issues - seemless integration with minimal tweaking.
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Post by roadrunner on Nov 9, 2012 21:10:03 GMT -5
I can't really play with placement at all, I designed the room with corners just for these speakers, they must stay where they are. I guess its not the lack of bass I have its really the imbalance. These speakers are just so over the top with the mids and highs that I just need to tone that part down or boost the bottom end to make it match...does that make sense? RR...So you're saying the bass is a few dB hotter with the XSP to the subwoofer or just to the full range output to the mains?I am thinking that a HSU VTf-15h is in my near future, I'm pretty sure all my problems will be solved with that sub but I was just trying to make it as good as possible as is. Actually, I am saying the Denon tends to be a little soft with bass response and in comparison the XSP-1 will sound a few dB hotter. The XSP-1 uses Fletcher–Munson curves technology to provide the most accurate balancing of perceived loudness across all frequencies. Just about everything in the XSP-1 is on a much higher plateau than the Denon AVR. Expect a huge improvement to what you are used to hearing.
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Post by monkumonku on Nov 9, 2012 21:36:55 GMT -5
I can't really play with placement at all, I designed the room with corners just for these speakers, they must stay where they are. I guess its not the lack of bass I have its really the imbalance. These speakers are just so over the top with the mids and highs that I just need to tone that part down or boost the bottom end to make it match...does that make sense? RR...So you're saying the bass is a few dB hotter with the XSP to the subwoofer or just to the full range output to the mains?I am thinking that a HSU VTf-15h is in my near future, I'm pretty sure all my problems will be solved with that sub but I was just trying to make it as good as possible as is. Actually, I am saying the Denon tends to be a little soft with bass response and in comparison the XSP-1 will sound a few dB hotter. The XSP-1 uses Fletcher–Munson curves technology to provide the most accurate balancing of perceived loudness across all frequencies. Just about everything in the XSP-1 is on a much higher plateau than the Denon AVR. Expect a huge improvement to what you are used to hearing. So are you saying that the low frequency range of the response curve for the XSP-1 is not flat? And if so, does it vary according to the volume level?
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Post by roadrunner on Nov 9, 2012 23:29:35 GMT -5
Rickie
Apparently, I did not do a good job explaining Fletcher-Munson's implementation on the XSP-1. Where many pre-amps have "Loudness controls", treble adjustments, and bass adjustments they are very crude in their implementation. The actual volume level is not taken into consideration and changes in volume can sound artificial. This is where the Fletcher-Munson technology comes to play. It will automatically adjust the equalization by frequency and volume level to provide a realistic sounding change. This is also why the XSP-1 does NOT have a separate "Loudness Control" -- it is built-in to the curve equalization based on Flethcher-Munson technology.
Any changes you make to the XSP-1's "Trim Controls", treble or bass, will incorporate Equalization based on the relative frequency and the volume level. Does that make more sense? If not, ask me again when the impact of my pain pills wears off, or google Fletcher-Munson and read what the experts have to say.
The XSP-1's frequency response from 0 to 80 KHz is flat as a ruler, until you activate the "Trims" on the font of the case, +/- 3 dB for treble and bass response. In my previous post I was focusing on how the XSP-1 sounded compared to the Denon 3803 AVR. The PDF test files are ample proof of the extremely flat frequency response of the XSP-1. I hope this makes it clear what I was attempting say.
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Post by paintedklown on Nov 10, 2012 1:07:27 GMT -5
The lettering is wearing off? I've had the silver/chrome wear off the buttons on my milled remotes, but not the lettering. I'd call Emo and see if they can send you a new one. As you probably know, they're very good about replacing remotes with no questions asked. Thanks for the tip Pauly, I will have to give them a call and see what they will do. Yes, the lettering is literally wearing off already. I don't get it. The lettering that says "Volume" is fading, as well as "Source". Additionally, the "+" and "-" symbols are almost nearly faded off the remote. I was surprised, because I haven't had the thing for very long at all, and it's not like I sat there and rubbed the remote repeatedly. I find it odd that no one else has had this issue at all. Maybe I just got one where the screen printing (or however the text is applied) machine was having a bad day. Regarding the tone controls: In my experience playing around with them I noticed zero degradation to the sound quality, at least nothing I could audibly detect, so if you plan to use the tone controls (especially of you do not have a fully balanced stack), then have no fears. The SQ "holds up" in my opinion. With regards to how audible the stepping is: It is what you would expect for a +/- 3db step to be. Nothing that I would consider too much, but more for a "fine tuning" if you will. If you are heavily relying on the tone controls to dramatically alter and shape your sound, the XSP-1 may not meet your needs. Having said that, what it lacks in sound shaping prowess, it more than makes up for in actual sound quality. IMO, the XSP-1 is the "purists" pre-amp. If you want a clean and neutral signal, the XSP-1 can deliver it in spades.
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Post by monkumonku on Nov 10, 2012 1:21:59 GMT -5
Rickie Apparently, I did not do a good job explaining Fletcher-Munson's implementation on the XSP-1. Where many pre-amps have "Loudness controls", treble adjustments, and bass adjustments they are very crude in their implementation. The actual volume level is not taken into consideration and changes in volume can sound artificial. This is where the Fletcher-Munson technology comes to play. It will automatically adjust the equalization by frequency and volume level to provide a realistic sounding change. This is also why the XSP-1 does NOT have a separate "Loudness Control" -- it is built-in to the curve equalization based on Flethcher-Munson technology. Any changes you make to the XSP-1's "Trim Controls", treble or bass, will incorporate Equalization based on the relative frequency and the volume level. Does that make more sense? If not, ask me again when the impact of my pain pills wears off, or google Fletcher-Munson and read what the experts have to say. The XSP-1's frequency response from 0 to 80 KHz is flat as a ruler, until you activate the "Trims" on the font of the case, +/- 3 dB for treble and bass response. In my previous post I was focusing on how the XSP-1 sounded compared to the Denon 3803 AVR. The PDF test files are ample proof of the extremely flat frequency response of the XSP-1. I hope this makes it clear what I was attempting say. Thanks, Ronny - you did clarify things but I do have one more question or request for clarification: So you are saying the Fletcher-Muson curve/phenomena is employed when using the trims - i.e., when the XSP-1 is NOT in direct mode. Then it is applied proportionally based on the volume level? (The curve gets flatter as the volume is increased) But if the XSP-1 is in direct mode, then there is no curve at all applied, right?
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Post by frenchyfranky on Nov 10, 2012 8:48:19 GMT -5
Rickie Apparently, I did not do a good job explaining Fletcher-Munson's implementation on the XSP-1. Where many pre-amps have "Loudness controls", treble adjustments, and bass adjustments they are very crude in their implementation. The actual volume level is not taken into consideration and changes in volume can sound artificial. This is where the Fletcher-Munson technology comes to play. It will automatically adjust the equalization by frequency and volume level to provide a realistic sounding change. This is also why the XSP-1 does NOT have a separate "Loudness Control" -- it is built-in to the curve equalization based on Flethcher-Munson technology. Any changes you make to the XSP-1's "Trim Controls", treble or bass, will incorporate Equalization based on the relative frequency and the volume level. Does that make more sense? If not, ask me again when the impact of my pain pills wears off, or google Fletcher-Munson and read what the experts have to say. The XSP-1's frequency response from 0 to 80 KHz is flat as a ruler, until you activate the "Trims" on the font of the case, +/- 3 dB for treble and bass response. In my previous post I was focusing on how the XSP-1 sounded compared to the Denon 3803 AVR. The PDF test files are ample proof of the extremely flat frequency response of the XSP-1. I hope this makes it clear what I was attempting say. Thanks, Ronny - you did clarify things but I do have one more question or request for clarification: So you are saying the Fletcher-Muson curve/phenomena is employed when using the trims - i.e., when the XSP-1 is NOT in direct mode. Then it is applied proportionally based on the volume level? (The curve gets flatter as the volume is increased) But if the XSP-1 is in direct mode, then there is no curve at all applied, right? Yes, absolutely right.
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Post by avidhiker on Nov 10, 2012 10:27:39 GMT -5
I don't think there is ANY implementation of fletcher munson on the XSP - engaging the tone controls would sound much different if they were also adding a "loudness" effect. Further, if it was to be based on the volume control, wouldn't the XSP have to know the resulting SPL from your speakers to properly apply the curve? This would require microphone calibration, would it not? (e.g., dynamic volume processing available on AVRs)
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RPA-1 man
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Post by RPA-1 man on Nov 10, 2012 12:22:56 GMT -5
Looks more like the shelving type tone circuit. Images from from the XSP-1 test report: Tone BoostTone CutBob Carver used a similar design in his preamps. The image below is of the tone circuits at full boost and cut at the 40Hz/100Hz and 2KHz/8KHz turnover settings of one channel of my C-1 preamp. The shelving is more obvious when cutting rather than boosting but the similarity is definitely there.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Nov 10, 2012 12:27:53 GMT -5
I don't think there is ANY implementation of fletcher munson on the XSP - engaging the tone controls would sound much different if they were also adding a "loudness" effect. Further, if it was to be based on the volume control, wouldn't the XSP have to know the resulting SPL from your speakers to properly apply the curve? This would require microphone calibration, would it not? (e.g., dynamic volume processing available on AVRs) I think you're right, I've searched the XSP-1 quick manual and find no reference to the Fletcher-Munson curves. You're also correct that to implement them you'd need to know the SPL at the listener; possibly roadrunner was thinking of the XMC-1 where the FM curves will be implemented as part of TaCT which will know the SPL.
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Post by paintedklown on Nov 13, 2012 10:13:56 GMT -5
Hey gang, a little update here and a big thumbs up to Emotiva customer service. I called regarding my remote control lettering issue and they said they could get me a replacement remote out to me. They did day that it may take a bit to get it out, but it should be coming. I will be looking forward to getting my replacement. Thanks Nick! ;D
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