Hello From Washington, D.C.

[thoff]

Well not actually D.C., but northern Virginia. Once you are inside the D.C. beltway things seem to blend together. I was down in Birmingham 2 weeks ago and really wanted to make the 2 hr drive north to Emotiva HQ, but didn't have the opportunity.

Anyway, I've posted in a few other threads but wanted to do a formal introduction here.

A few months ago I was looking at all the wires going to my TV since my current receiver (Yamaha RXV-1400) does not have HDMI. I knew my wife prefers a clean look to the room and I started thinking about upgrading to a new receiver - the only logical solution to the wire issue.
Long story short, I started doing research and separates started to catch my eye and I came across Emotiva products.

I am planning to get an XPA-5 in the near future, and to prepare for this I had to build a new audio rack to hold the weight. I researched and built a knockoff Salamander Synergy rack. I am very happy with how it turned out and this thing can hold a lot of weight. It will easily hold a XPA-5/XPA-2 combo which is my plan in the more distant future. Now I'm just trying to decide on a pre/pro. Going back and forth between the UMC-200, Onkyo TX-NR818 (receiver as pre/pro) and the Marantz AV7005 (open box item at a local bestbuy). Tax season wasn't kind to me so I have a month or two before I'll pull the trigger so I still have some time to think it over and see what happens.

My current setup along with the Yamaha receiver is:
TV - pioneer Kuro
Speakers - Paradigm Monitor 7 v4, CC 370 v4, ADP 370 v4, PS-1000
BD - some Sony blue ray, may upgrade but not a priority right now

I've enjoyed lurking around here to learn some things, and hope that changes to being more active asking questions about my own emo gear in the near future.

Tim

[mickeyharlow]

Welcome Tim. I grew up in the DC area, the Bethesda Chevy Chase area. If I had 2 months, I would wait for the XMC-1 unless funds are the problem, then the UMC-200.

Wish you well with your decision.

[Deleted]

Hi Tim and Mickey!! Small world - I grew up in Kensington and Bethesda, went to Landon and Walter Johnson HS. I attended a LOT of shows in the area, love Merriwether Post Pavilion, DAR Constitution Hall, Lisner Auditorium, Tornado Alley, and the Twist & Shout. And, if you're a long-time resident, you remember the PsycheDeli <g>.

Welcome to The Lounge, Tim!

-RW-

[mickeyharlow]

Left DC in 76. Went to St. John's & BCC. Loved Carter Baron amphitheater in Rock Creek park. Saw many good shows. Used to be on a darting league in the downtown bars. I was on one of the Blackie's restaurant teams. Was that fun.

[thoff]

Mickey - I figure in a month or two part of my decision will be made for me, i.e. the marantz may be gone from the store. For now, the UMC-200 would give me everything I need and I'm not sure if I'd be using all the XMC-1 features that would make it worthwhile. As I've seen others say, I can get the 25% upgrade for life with the UMC-200 and upgrade later if/when I see what it will do for me.

I moved to Alexandria, VA after college in 2001. Don't make it to the MD side of the Potomac too much. I try to stay out of the traffic as much as possible.

Thank you all for the welcome.

[Deleted]

>> Left DC in 76. Went to St. John's & BCC. <<

Oh yeah, I bermember! I even met Blackie Auger one night!!

BCC had a good tennis team and some very cooperative young ladeez <smirk>. I remember a *special* night with Amber Amberson out back of BCC late one night. But we always kicked their arses on the football field <g>. I had some good, stoner friends at BCC. And St.Johns used to play Landon in the IAC - they had a good football and b'ball team.

>> Don't make it to the MD side of the Potomac too much. I try to stay out of the traffic as much as possible.<<

It took me 25 minutes to go 4 blocks to the grocery store in B'town one time. I cursed up a blue streak that day. Down here, in Palm *bleep* Gdns, they piss and moan when there are 5 cars at a traffic light. They have NO idea.

Man, those were the daze....

-RW-

PS: Ya oughta snag the UMC-200, it'll do 'most everything you need as long as all you require are dig-it-all inputs.