My Review Of The Emotiva Fusion 8100

[Michael Hill]

1) Sound quality - Excellent. I own very revealing JBL Studio L890s as my left and right speakers, and JBL ES20s for surrounds. Simply put the Emotiva Fusion 8100 sounds better than two pretty well rated receivers I’ve had in my system previously, a Yamaha RX-V673 and a Marantz SR6005. Bass and treble (which can be a little hot as a result of the super-tweeter included in the L890s) sound great and natural but it’s the mid-range that really gives this receiver an edge. Simply put, I hear new details in songs I’ve listened to hundreds of times, that I’ve never heard through the other receivers.

2) Power - Could be better. I have to admit, the other receivers I’ve had in my system are more powerful. With a couple of sources, I’ve had to take advantage of the ability in the Emotiva Fusion 8100 to increase the source level of individual inputs, something that I never had to do with either the Yamaha or the Marantz. My living room is of average size, and my L890s are very efficient speakers with a sensitivity of 91dB, but I still find I have to crank the volume up considerably higher than I did with the other receivers in my system.

3) Imaging - Quite frankly I didn’t expect to hear much difference in imaging between the receivers, but I do. I absolutely can better locate placement of individual instruments in a mix through the Emotiva Fusion 8100 than the other receivers.

4) Ergonomics - Mixed. I appreciate the fact that there aren’t features of dubious quality such as hall, stadium, club settings that create an unnatural soundstage or setting to theoretically enhance compressed music, or budget video processing. The automatic speaker, room setup routine is intuitive, much like the competition, but it is worth noting that the Emotiva takes all of its input from a single location in the room, unlike other systems that take inputs from multiple listening positions. I found that the system set the speaker distances very accurately, identified each speaker correctly as large or small and ultimately found the results satisfying, though ultimately I decided on adjusting the equalization manually to my tastes. Which leads to my criticism. While the remote has the necessary buttons, up, down, left, right, back, menu, and OK, I find the menu unintuitive. Occasions where I think I should press OK I need to press up or down, or left or right. Fortunately, once the system is setup to your liking the need to navigate the menu becomes less important. With that said, using the system from the front panel, or the remote are extremely intuitive.

5) Features - Everything you need, nothing you don’t. The auto-room, speaker correction works as expected, though having the ability to manually adjust equalization settings to a very detailed degree (me reduced a low frequency room mode around 80 Hz in my room, tipped up the bass EQ a little at 42 Hz, tipped up the treble a bit to make up for my age related hearing loss) all the while leaving the beautiful mid-range supplied by the Emotiva Fusion 8100 alone using the very comprehensive parametric EQ capabilities means you can tailor the sound to your liking and adjust room modes and deficiencies in your listening room easily. Like the fact you can dim the display. Video switching works as expected and like the fact that if you switch to an audio source, the picture remains to the last tuned video source, great for watching college football games on the television while listing to the local radio broadcast of the game at the same time, or keep up to date on severe weather on TV but listen to your favorite CD. Pretty much supports all of the latest surround modes. Love the fact that it has a full set of pre-amp outs. Should I decide to swap out speakers for those less efficient, or decide I need to up the power-output, or follow a life-long dream since I was a teenager to own a pair of Bose 901s (I know audiophiles, foolish but…) I can use it as a pre-amp to drive a more powerful amp. Love the built-in Bluetooth. I tried external Bluetooth adapters with both the Yamaha and Marantz and the Bluetooth functionality in the Emotiva Fusion 8100 worked better, more reliably and sounded better.

6) Satisfaction - Very satisfied. I didn’t expect to hear a great improvement in sound quality as the Yamaha and Marantz are both pretty highly reviewed. I did. Somewhat surprised that at maximum volume the Emotiva trails the power output of the other receivers but I’d trade a decibel or two of loudness for the better quality sound from the Emotiva any day. Strongly thinking of adding an Oppo BDP-103D and think I’ll have a more than reasonably priced, budget hi-fi home theater system that very well might put to shame other home theater systems that cost twice to three times as much as my system.

[Boomzilla]

Thank you, mjhi11 - I appreciate your taking the time to describe your experiences with the Fusion. The receiver has piqued my interest, but I've held off, waiting for more feedback. I appreciate your thoroughness!

Boomzilla

[frenchyfranky]

Welcome to the lounge mjhi11, thank you for the nicely written review, I just enjoyed reading what a new Emo junkie had to tell.

[novisnick]

mjhi11,
There is no cure for your new found addiction ,,,, Hi, my name is Nick and I live my Emo gear!

[geebo]

Thank for posting and glad to see you're pleased with the purchase. The Fusion would definitely be on my short list if I find myself wanting a receicer. But I have a few questions:
On item 2. You know there is no correlation of volume control position of different components to power output, right? And what is "maximum volume"? Is it the point where it will increase no more or some point at which distortion becomes too much?

[Michael Hill]

Re: #2 I do understand. Not basing it on volume knob position or read-out (as the Emotiva volume displays differently than the Yamaha and Marantz and all have infinite volume controls) but more based on reaching maximum value on the Emotiva from the exact same sources and (using my analog Radio Shack meter) I still had a little more headroom left with the Yahama and Marantz though I was uncomfortable pushing my JBLs any further with those receivers though they probably could have taken it for at least a short time. Not claiming a scientific result here because I'm going from memory with the other two receivers and their db readings but let's just say I could push the other two receivers further and that wasn't an option with the Fusion 8100.

[geebo]

May 27, 2014 20:18:55 GMT -5 Michael Hill said:

Re: #2 I do understand. Not basing it on volume knob position or read-out (as the Emotiva volume displays differently than the Yamaha and Marantz and all have infinite volume controls) but more based on reaching maximum value on the Emotiva from the exact same sources and (using my analog Radio Shack meter) I still had a little more headroom left with the Yahama and Marantz though I was uncomfortable pushing my JBLs any further with those receivers though they probably could have taken it for at least a short time. Not claiming a scientific result here because I'm going from memory with the other two receivers and their db readings but let's just say I could push the other two receivers further and that wasn't an option with the Fusion 8100.

Is that to say the others could be pushed louder before the onset of objectionable distortion?

[Michael Hill]

Well without a very expensive, calibrated spectrum analyzer and matching exactly output levels into the same load (2 ohm, 4 ohm, 8 ohm) pretty much impossible to know what distortion levels are isn't it. With that said, the output of the Emotiva sounded clean at maximum volume, and though I'm going from memory which is completely unrelaible, I recall the Yamaha sounded a little harsh, at similar levels, the Marantz not so much, but then that very well may be more about subtle variations in the frequency response, tuning or characteristics of the amplification between each receiver, and my ability to distinguish between 1% and 10% distortion which I don't trust myself to be able to distinguish reliably on higher quality technology but I can recognize distortion frequently on mobile devices, FM radio stations and less quality amplification but would never presume to speculate what percentage of distortion between these certainly higher quality sources.

[geebo]

May 27, 2014 21:25:06 GMT -5 Michael Hill said:

Well without a very expensive, calibrated spectrum analyzer and matching exactly output levels into the same load (2 ohm, 4 ohm, 8 ohm) pretty much impossible to know what distortion levels are isn't it. With that said, the output of the Emotiva sounded clean at maximum volume, and though I'm going from memory which is completely unrelaible, I recall the Yamaha sounded a little harsh, at similar levels, the Marantz not so much, but then that very well may be more about subtle variations in the frequency response, tuning or characteristics of the amplification between each receiver, and my ability to distinguish between 1% and 10% distortion which I don't trust myself to be able to distinguish reliably on higher quality technology but I can recognize distortion frequently on mobile devices, FM radio stations and less quality amplification but would never presume to speculate what percentage of distortion between these certainly higher quality sources.

Don't misunderstand. I was just trying to get a better understanding of what you were trying to relay. I took it to mean that the other receivers could drive the speakers louder cleanly as heard with your own ears. I wasn't expecting distortion figures or anything like that.

[Michael Hill]

Guess I failed to hit send on this post earlier in the thread but it is worth noting that I am not using a sub with my system as the JBLs have pretty great output at low frequencies, which certainly puts a greater load on the internal amplifiers of any receiver/amp, not to mention goosing 42 Hz a little I'm speculating. I mostly listen to music, surround and 5.1 movies are secondary to me and again since the L890s go down pretty low anyway haven't really felt the need to complicate things with a subwoofer.

[Michael Hill]

Now...anyone want to talk me out of Bose 901s some day?

[novisnick]

May 27, 2014 21:45:43 GMT -5 Michael Hill said:

Now...anyone want to talk me out of Bose 901s some day?

What do you need to know about them?
what duties are you considering for the 901s?

[Michael Hill]

Well, music is my passion, care less about movies but I want a home theater that does well at both. Since I first saw them as a kid, read my first review (I'm 47) that was always my dream to own a pair. With the way they work direct/reflect always thought that they might work as a decent 2 channel home theater solution for someone who has no intrest in surround sound, subs, etc. I've read all about the "comb filter" effect of the direct/reflect but that doesn't necessarily disuade me. Believe that the potential of phase shift what with the pretty aggressive equalization they require may be real, and have read that they require a lot of power, maybe more than a receiver, any receiver, even the Emotiva Fusion 8100 has kept me from pulling the triger, particularly since the model down from my JBLs the L880s received pretty great accolades from the hi-fi press, particularly theiw low bass output. So just wondering if anyone is "happy" with the 901s, pros-cons, any information anyone would be willing to share, good or bad.

[novisnick]

May 27, 2014 22:07:06 GMT -5 Michael Hill said:

Well, music is my passion, care less about movies but I want a home theater that does well at both. Since I first saw them as a kid, read my first review (I'm 47) that was always my dream to own a pair. With the way they work direct/reflect always thought that they might work as a decent 2 channel home theater solution for someone who has no intrest in surround sound, subs, etc. I've read all about the "comb filter" effect of the direct/reflect but that doesn't necessarily disuade me. Believe that the potential of phase shift what with the pretty aggressive equalization they require may be real, and have read that they require a lot of power, maybe more than a receiver, any receiver, even the Emotiva Fusion 8100 has kept me from pulling the triger, particularly since the model down from my JBLs the L880s received pretty great accolades from the hi-fi press, particularly theiw low bass output. So just wondering if anyone is "happy" with the 901s, pros-cons, any information anyone would be willing to share, good or bad.

I'm using my 901s for front hight presence speakers and not mains. You do realize that they have 9 mid-range speakers in them, therefor limiting the highs and lows.
they will handle tons of watts I just havnt heard them that way.

[Michael Hill]

Emotiva staff...quick note that I think I found a bug...on the menu where slopes are listed note that SubWoofer reads Slop, not slope.

[Boomzilla]

May 28, 2014 20:34:57 GMT -5 Michael Hill said:

Emotiva staff...quick note that I think I found a bug...on the menu where slopes are listed note that SubWoofer reads Slop, not slope.

You sure that's a misprint?

[Michael Hill]

May 29, 2014 8:42:45 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

May 28, 2014 20:34:57 GMT -5 Michael Hill said:

Emotiva staff...quick note that I think I found a bug...on the menu where slopes are listed note that SubWoofer reads Slop, not slope.

You sure that's a misprint?

Cute funny man.

[garbulky]

May 27, 2014 22:07:06 GMT -5 Michael Hill said:

Well, music is my passion, care less about movies but I want a home theater that does well at both. Since I first saw them as a kid, read my first review (I'm 47) that was always my dream to own a pair. With the way they work direct/reflect always thought that they might work as a decent 2 channel home theater solution for someone who has no intrest in surround sound, subs, etc. I've read all about the "comb filter" effect of the direct/reflect but that doesn't necessarily disuade me. Believe that the potential of phase shift what with the pretty aggressive equalization they require may be real, and have read that they require a lot of power, maybe more than a receiver, any receiver, even the Emotiva Fusion 8100 has kept me from pulling the triger, particularly since the model down from my JBLs the L880s received pretty great accolades from the hi-fi press, particularly theiw low bass output. So just wondering if anyone is "happy" with the 901s, pros-cons, any information anyone would be willing to share, good or bad.

The 901's are Bose's better stuff. If you are budget is on the low side and you are serious about sound quality, I would prefer to look at some other brands first.

[bub]

Hey Michael.. Check out your numbering in your first post.. Lol. Emotiva can't spell. Guess who can't count. Just teasing..

[bub]

May 27, 2014 12:15:24 GMT -5 Michael Hill said:

1) Sound quality - Excellent. I own very revealing JBL Studio L890s as my left and right speakers, and JBL ES20s for surrounds. Simply put the Emotiva Fusion 8100 sounds better than two pretty well rated receivers I’ve had in my system previously, a Yamaha RX-V673 and a Marantz SR6005. Bass and treble (which can be a little hot as a result of the super-tweeter included in the L890s) sound great and natural but it’s the mid-range that really gives this receiver an edge. Simply put, I hear new details in songs I’ve listened to hundreds of times, that I’ve never heard through the other receivers.

2) Power - Could be better. I have to admit, the other receivers I’ve had in my system are more powerful. With a couple of sources, I’ve had to take advantage of the ability in the Emotiva Fusion 8100 to increase the source level of individual inputs, something that I never had to do with either the Yamaha or the Marantz. My living room is of average size, and my L890s are very efficient speakers with a sensitivity of 91dB, but I still find I have to crank the volume up considerably higher than I did with the other receivers in my system.

3) Imaging - Quite frankly I didn’t expect to hear much difference in imaging between the receivers, but I do. I absolutely can better locate placement of individual instruments in a mix through the Emotiva Fusion 8100 than the other receivers.

3) Ergonomics - Mixed. I appreciate the fact that there aren’t features of dubious quality such as hall, stadium, club settings that create an unnatural soundstage or setting to theoretically enhance compressed music, or budget video processing. The automatic speaker, room setup routine is intuitive, much like the competition, but it is worth noting that the Emotiva takes all of its input from a single location in the room, unlike other systems that take inputs from multiple listening positions. I found that the system set the speaker distances very accurately, identified each speaker correctly as large or small and ultimately found the results satisfying, though ultimately I decided on adjusting the equalization manually to my tastes. Which leads to my criticism. While the remote has the necessary buttons, up, down, left, right, back, menu, and OK, I find the menu unintuitive. Occasions where I think I should press OK I need to press up or down, or left or right. Fortunately, once the system is setup to your liking the need to navigate the menu becomes less important. With that said, using the system from the front panel, or the remote are extremely intuitive.

4) Features - Everything you need, nothing you don’t. The auto-room, speaker correction works as expected, though having the ability to manually adjust equalization settings to a very detailed degree (me reduced a low frequency room mode around 80 Hz in my room, tipped up the bass EQ a little at 42 Hz, tipped up the treble a bit to make up for my age related hearing loss) all the while leaving the beautiful mid-range supplied by the Emotiva Fusion 8100 alone using the very comprehensive parametric EQ capabilities means you can tailor the sound to your liking and adjust room modes and deficiencies in your listening room easily. Like the fact you can dim the display. Video switching works as expected and like the fact that if you switch to an audio source, the picture remains to the last tuned video source, great for watching college football games on the television while listing to the local radio broadcast of the game at the same time, or keep up to date on severe weather on TV but listen to your favorite CD. Pretty much supports all of the latest surround modes. Love the fact that it has a full set of pre-amp outs. Should I decide to swap out speakers for those less efficient, or decide I need to up the power-output, or follow a life-long dream since I was a teenager to own a pair of Bose 901s (I know audiophiles, foolish but…) I can use it as a pre-amp to drive a more powerful amp. Love the built-in Bluetooth. I tried external Bluetooth adapters with both the Yamaha and Marantz and the Bluetooth functionality in the Emotiva Fusion 8100 worked better, more reliably and sounded better.

5) Satisfaction - Very satisfied. I didn’t expect to hear a great improvement in sound quality as the Yamaha and Marantz are both pretty highly reviewed. I did. Somewhat surprised that at maximum volume the Emotiva trails the power output of the other receivers but I’d trade a decibel or two of loudness for the better quality sound from the Emotiva any day. Strongly thinking of adding an Oppo BDP-103D and think I’ll have a more than reasonably priced, budget hi-fi home theater system that very well might put to shame other home theater systems that cost twice to three times as much as my system.