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Post by newprometheus on Jan 21, 2013 10:53:09 GMT -5
All,
There seems to be some controversy with regard to whether or not the Enhanced Bass feature of the UMC-1 is broken. I have been in communication with Emotiva Support, and they seem to think that the Enhanced Bass feature works as it should. However, myself and others, seem to have experience which conflicts with this assessment. So, I would ask that you all please relate your experience on this topic so that we can get to the bottom of this.
To that end, I'll start!
I've turned the UMC-1 off, and unplugged it's power cord. I've turned the subwoofer off, and unplugged it's power cord. I've unplugged and reseated the subwoofer audio interconnect on the UMC-1 and on the subwoofer. I've confirmed the mode is set to Stereo, and the Speaker Settings in the UMC-1: L/R speaker size is set to Full, Subwoofer crossover is set to 80 Hz, and Enhanced Bass is On.
In this way, the UMC-1 should be sending everything to the front mains, and everything below 80 Hz to the subwoofer, but I still get no output from the subwoofer when playing music with material under 80 Hz. I've also gone into the Speaker Level menu, and when selecting the subwoofer adjustment, I do actually get a low rumble from the subwoofer indicating that it is working and, in this case, the UMC-1 is actually sending a signal to the subwoofer, and the subwoofer audio interconnect is good. Alas, as soon as I exit the Speaker Level menu, again I get nothing from the subwoofer again.
What has been your experience on this?
Thank you!
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bootman
Emo VIPs 
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
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Post by bootman on Jan 21, 2013 11:39:23 GMT -5
Maybe KeithL can shed some light?
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Post by doc1963 on Jan 21, 2013 12:05:57 GMT -5
I do not have my UMC-1 "in system" at the moment (the UMC-200 is), but when I checked it previously I could detect NO difference. With mains set to "Full" and "Enhanced Bass = On", you should hear a definite increase in bass response. I could not. Latest firmware, successful load, everything else works just fine......  |
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Post by Dark Ranger on Jan 21, 2013 12:57:40 GMT -5
I seem to recall that Enhanced Bass is a non-working feature since the last firmware update. Although I don't (and won't) use it, I have played around with it a while back to confirm this. Like Doc mentioned, there is no noticeable difference with this setting on or off.
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Post by doc1963 on Jan 21, 2013 13:31:25 GMT -5
I seem to recall that Enhanced Bass is a non-working feature since the last firmware update. Although I don't (and won't) use it, I have played around with it a while back to confirm this. Like Doc mentioned, there is no noticeable difference with this setting on or off. That's exactly correct. It seems to have been "broken" in the last (latest) firmware. To the contributor who voted "YES", it would be helpful to also post your firmware version or at least a response to confirm why "yours" seems to work... |
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Post by pkoss455 on Jan 21, 2013 14:31:09 GMT -5
I have my UMC-1 set as indicated above (full mains and enhanced bass). I can tell you that in my system, which includes an Emo xref-12, the sub does not automatically turn on if the mains are set to full with enhanced bass, when you are playing anything 2-channel (stereo or direct modes). The sub will come on with anything with a .1 program (e.g. Dolby Digital).
That to me is pretty empirical. The sub is set to auto-on when it has a signal presented to it. The sub does not turn on if full/enhanced with 2 channel material.
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Post by calvinhobbe on Jan 22, 2013 7:58:06 GMT -5
No bass response here either for my subs, never had after the last f/w update, obviously never will as there has been zero communication regarding a new f/w update. Just a UMC-1 situation that will not be addressed as it is "...as designed".
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Post by Ramair on Jan 22, 2013 10:38:08 GMT -5
Same for me...does not work after last firmware upgrade. In all honesty, I regret ever getting rid of my LMC-1. I wish I did not use my upgrade certificate on this turd. And as the above stated, the UMC-1 will not see an further firmware revisions. It's right up there with the soon to be released unicorn tears and the ERS-212.  |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jan 23, 2013 13:38:52 GMT -5
OK, just to set the record straight.......
We checked, and the Enhanced Bass on the UMC-1 indeed DOES NOT WORK in stereo mode in the latest firmware release (although it works in PLIIx and DSP modes).
To be honest, it was supposedly checked, but I assume somebody verified that it worked in some modes and didn't bother to check them all.
Also, to be honest, most of us here don't consider Enhanced Bass to be terribly useful - since it doesn't fit well with our philosophy of either surround or two channel audio. We do include it (because some customers seem to really want it), but we don't recommend it... for various reasons.
[In both surround and stereo, if the fronts are large, then they are intended to handle their own full range signals, while the sub handles the LFE channel, and the channels remain distinctly separate. If the fronts are small, then they have crossovers set, and their bass goes to the sub (so the bass is all handled from one location). The assumption in surround is that the author of your surround content has placed the information in the various channels as they wish it to be played. In stereo, it's all the same, except that there is no LFE channel. Again, if the fronts are large, then they handle their own bass; if they are small, it gets sent to the sub. In stereo, the assumption is that the fronts, if they are large, will provide the best audio quality if they handle the entire signal. If they are unable to do so, then it's best to let the sub do it. By having BOTH the fronts and the sub handle the same bass information, you are opening the door to all sorts of interactions between them. If you had two or three actual separate subs, you could position them optimally to minimize interactions and actually get better frequency response by doing so, but since you can't move your main speakers around at will, you lose this advantage. As such, with Enhanced Bass you gain a few dB in bass response, but you also incur more opportunities for frequency response anomalies.]
In any case, since we have confirmed that this isn't working, we will put fixing it it on the list for the next firmware update on the UMC-1.
Keith
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2013 13:46:22 GMT -5
W00t! So there *will* be another firmware update for the UMC-1. That is *very* good news indeed.
One thing that I would request is for Emo to try and reduce the time it takes for the UMC-1 to lock-on to the audio signal. I have a UMC-1 that has an Oppo BDP-93 and a Comcast cable box as its only inputs, both via HDMI. Whenever I try to playback a movie or music from the Oppo, the UMC-1 apparently initiates a handshake 3-4 times before it finally settles down and allows me to view the movie. During this time, about 45 seconds to 1 minute, the screen goes blank 3-4 times and I get to see "Unsupported format" being displayed on my screen.
I've learned to live with it, but it surely is an annoyance...
-RW-
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Post by Dark Ranger on Jan 23, 2013 13:48:52 GMT -5
In any case, since we have confirmed that this isn't working, we will put fixing it it on the list for the next firmware update on the UMC-1. *falls out of chair* A firmware update for the UMC-1? Are you serious?!  Thank you, Keith! Regarding the topic at hand (Enhanced Bass), I don't use it for the reasons mentioned by Keith and others. It can cause too many problems. I did try it with my previous AVR (before the UMC-1), and it was just a mess. But I can understand why some folks like it. |
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Post by doc1963 on Jan 23, 2013 14:09:00 GMT -5
I don't use it (in practice) either, but if it's there, it should work..... Now, if only they could make "ALL STEREO" work just as it does on the UMC-200, we'd be happier than..... well, you get it..... ;D Thank you Keith...!!! |
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Post by newprometheus on Jan 23, 2013 14:41:22 GMT -5
Thank you, Keith, that is wonderful news! Cheers!  |
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Post by suffolk112000 on Jan 23, 2013 14:47:23 GMT -5
what exactly does the enhanced bass feature do? Does it simply make your bass run a bit hotter without inconvenient tweaking? great news that there will be another firmware update.
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Post by repeetavx on Jan 23, 2013 14:49:35 GMT -5
In any case, since we have confirmed that this isn't working, we will put fixing it it on the list for the next firmware update on the UMC-1.
Keith I would love to have a firmware cleanup for my UMC-1, Thank you! |
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Post by doc1963 on Jan 23, 2013 14:57:20 GMT -5
what exactly does the enhanced bass feature do? Does it simply make your bass run a bit hotter without inconvenient tweaking? great news that there will be another firmware update. Your subwoofer gets a "summed" copy of the signal even if your mains are set to "full range" (no crossover). Some manufactures refer to it as "double bass". |
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Post by wizardofoz on Jan 23, 2013 14:57:30 GMT -5
no lead time on the firmware date? great news...as long as apoll for current bugs is done.
I was playing with the centre channel crossover freq and that impacted what bass got sent to the mains (large) iirc. will go back and re document this as it was late and I was tired when doing it. I had no sub connected at the time.
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Post by calvinhobbe on Jan 24, 2013 8:05:41 GMT -5
OK, just to set the record straight....... We checked, and the Enhanced Bass on the UMC-1 indeed DOES NOT WORK in stereo mode in the latest firmware release (although it works in PLIIx and DSP modes). To be honest, it was supposedly checked, but I assume somebody verified that it worked in some modes and didn't bother to check them all. Also, to be honest, most of us here don't consider Enhanced Bass to be terribly useful - since it doesn't fit well with our philosophy of either surround or two channel audio. We do include it (because some customers seem to really want it), but we don't recommend it... for various reasons. In any case, since we have confirmed that this isn't working, we will put fixing it it on the list for the next firmware update on the UMC-1. Keith Keith, This has been an issue that has popped up for more than a year with either silence or it works as designed, but not as advertised. Many have been waiting for the long promised f/w upgrade others have sold their UMC-1s and those that don't use the option don't care. It would be nice to finally see the f/w updated to cover the list of bugs going back more than a year, but I fear that the QA stage, as shown in the past, will miss (& allow/introduce new bugs). Will Emo provide a list of the items changed as part of the f/w file so that your customers can review the fixes prior to determining whether or not they wish to take the chance with the f/w update process? CH |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2013 8:59:53 GMT -5
I have to agree with CalvinH on this. I develop software for a living and I would think that Emo *must* be maintaining a Change Release Log of the various issues and their resolutions on a version by version basis. How else could you possibly know if you've done everything that needs doing?
Additionally, whenever we made substantial changes to our underlying code, we conducted regression testing to ensure that the fixes we applied did not introduce new problems. This is something that has been woefully lacking with many of the UMC-1 releases.
Yeah, it takes time, and is a solid PITA for the developers, but it is the *only* way to ensure the release of a truly reliable piece of software that does what it purports to do...
-RW-
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Post by cwad8505 on Jan 24, 2013 10:25:54 GMT -5
Long time lurker, first time poster (sorta)..
This f/w update is great news, indeed! I am fairly new to the world of Emotiva and bought a UMC-1 to be the brains of my new Home Theater. I have been less than impressed due to a few issues that have been mentioned above. The audio lock is a HUGE issue for me. If we pause something we're watching and come back to it, it sometimes takes 30 seconds or more to regain audio. I've also had an issue with cc content being sent to the surrounds. I would love to see "All channel stereo" be an option with 2 channel content (Isn't that the point?). I'm certainly not bashing Emo (also bought the XPA-5 and looove it!), but they definitely should put out a new firmware update that clears these issues up.. especially with no firm date on the XMC-1 release.
Sorry to rant!
Chris
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