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Post by hifiaudio2 on Sept 3, 2014 19:56:07 GMT -5
My Marantz 8801. I only start this thread because I am a pretty big believer that well made preamps are going to all sound pretty much the same if setup about the same way. Well I have so far only turned it on, set distances and levels (didnt have to recalibrate my subs because my outboard Xilica already takes care of those so all I have to do is set the single sub distance as before and the rest is done), but it is pretty obviously a nice step up. I feel a bit qualified to make that statement also because I read all over the web how much better the Marantz 8801 sounded than the Integra 80.2 I had, but I found them to sound basically identical. Not so here.
I can say with relative certainly, while listening carefully again and again to familiar music and movies that the background is "blacker". I really do think I hear more distinct steering of effects as well. Effects that seem to go from back to front, or "through" the listener in the middle of the room are MUCH more pronounced. In fact, I don't recall getting that feeling of sound passing through my personal space before, and now it has been there on quite a few movies I have sampled. Dialogue, vocals on 2 channel music, and delineation of instruments are all improved.
I have long had a low hiss and a very low frequency hiss that came from my powered Seaton speakers and subs. Not audible at all with anything playing, but with a silent room (my room is extremely silent), I could hear it. With the XMC-1 this is definitely lower in level than with the Marantz. I am not sure what part of the processor plays a part in that, as I always assumed it was just inherent to the speakers because of the very high wattage, high efficiency amps in them (three amps in each front speaker alone). So like I said its still there, but its almost inaudible when the room is silent. So much so that I could be convinced its not there. With the Marantz in a silent room there was always the slight sense that it was there. Very impressed.
Also when I tried a UMC-1 I got a ground loop. No such loop from this one. Perhaps the balanced runs make the difference here (marantz was balanced as well).
Big fan of the menus. Two seconds to get used to it and really like it.
VERY happy! More to come. Bring on DIRAC!
So glad I got the surprise call today that I could come pick it up!
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Post by dvcdude on Sept 4, 2014 15:32:07 GMT -5
I completely agree with you. I went from an Anthenm AVM-50v to the Marantz 8801 and did not. Notice a difference (to my surprise). XMC-1 entered the theater and things opened up, became more detailed and a deeper sound field (i hope that makes sense). It is like 3D to the ears.
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Post by aud on Sept 4, 2014 16:32:32 GMT -5
Replaced an Anthem AVM-20 and I'm also experiencing a blacker background. My room is very quiet as well. Couldn't be happier.
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Post by darien87 on Sept 5, 2014 21:58:16 GMT -5
So far I am liking the XMC much more than my AV7005. The Marantz has always had a ground loop hum that I couldn't get rid of. With the XMC it is gone. I now only have a VERY faint hum that I have to put my ear right up against the speaker to hear. I think this is just an inherent hum coming from the XPA-5.
I also noticed today while watching Avatar at the very beginning scene where Sully wakes up from Cryo-sleep the sound of monitors beeping that I had never heard before. Can't wait to re-watch a bunch of old movies.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Sept 5, 2014 23:01:50 GMT -5
I have long had a low hiss and a very low frequency hiss that came from my powered Seaton speakers and subs. Not audible at all with anything playing, but with a silent room (my room is extremely silent), I could hear it. With the XMC-1 this is definitely lower in level than with the Marantz. I am not sure what part of the processor plays a part in that, as I always assumed it was just inherent to the speakers because of the very high wattage, high efficiency amps in them (three amps in each front speaker alone). So like I said its still there, but its almost inaudible when the room is silent. Have you ever tried putting shorting plugs on the inputs to your speakers to see what noise they produce all on their own? It's great that the XMC-1 sounds so much better in your system, including noise, but this might help you determine how much of whatever noise is left comes from the speaker. Nice comments! |
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Post by junchoon on Sept 6, 2014 8:12:58 GMT -5
Interesting. What is shorting plugs???
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Post by aud on Sept 6, 2014 8:43:49 GMT -5
So far I am liking the XMC much more than my AV7005. The Marantz has always had a ground loop hum that I couldn't get rid of. With the XMC it is gone. I now only have a VERY faint hum that I have to put my ear right up against the speaker to hear. I think this is just an inherent hum coming from the XPA-5. I also noticed today while watching Avatar at the very beginning scene where Sully wakes up from Cryo-sleep the sound of monitors beeping that I had never heard before. Can't wait to re-watch a bunch of old movies. When I had the XPA-5 in my system the faint hum was definitely there. You're right, it comes from the XPA-5. |
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Post by repeetavx on Sept 6, 2014 9:45:11 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 15:26:31 GMT -5
I swear my xmc sounds better than my sherbourn. I got everything all hooked up this morning and turned on my Bon Jovi Live at madison square garden bluray as I'm fairly familiar with it and I like to use it as a test disk. First and foremost I was blown away at how powerful and articulate the bass was, I was about 45 seconds in when I got a huge dumb grin on my face and the hair on my neck stood up. My wife came down on about the third song in and after the second song she turned to me and said "that just gave me goosebumps"... I proceeded to turn it up a few more db's and watched the grin transfer from my face to hers.
WELL DONE Emotiva it was worth the wait
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Post by creimes on Sept 6, 2014 23:41:24 GMT -5
I swear my xmc sounds better than my sherbourn. I got everything all hooked up this morning and turned on my Bon Jovi Live at madison square garden bluray as I'm fairly familiar with it and I like to use it as a test disk. First and foremost I was blown away at how powerful and articulate the bass was, I was about 45 seconds in when I got a huge dumb grin on my face and the hair on my neck stood up. My wife came down on about the third song in and after the second song she turned to me and said "that just gave me goosebumps"... I proceeded to turn it up a few more db's and watched the grin transfer from my face to hers. WELL DONE Emotiva it was worth the wait Oh thanks a lot man now my 7030 is trembling in the rack and scared it's gonna get dumped for an XMC-1 but it's owner is broke hahaha but shhhh don't tell the 7030 that so it just keeps doing what it needs to earn it's place    |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2014 0:05:00 GMT -5
I swear my xmc sounds better than my sherbourn. I got everything all hooked up this morning and turned on my Bon Jovi Live at madison square garden bluray as I'm fairly familiar with it and I like to use it as a test disk. First and foremost I was blown away at how powerful and articulate the bass was, I was about 45 seconds in when I got a huge dumb grin on my face and the hair on my neck stood up. My wife came down on about the third song in and after the second song she turned to me and said "that just gave me goosebumps"... I proceeded to turn it up a few more db's and watched the grin transfer from my face to hers. WELL DONE Emotiva it was worth the wait Oh thanks a lot man now my 7030 is trembling in the rack and scared it's gonna get dumped for an XMC-1 but it's owner is broke hahaha but shhhh don't tell the 7030 that so it just keeps doing what it needs to earn it's place Tell me your friend is gonna let you try it out in your system... I need someone else to back up and justify my findings in this highly scientific test I did.  Ivor |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2014 1:51:46 GMT -5
I swear my xmc sounds better than my sherbourn. I got everything all hooked up this morning and turned on my Bon Jovi Live at madison square garden bluray as I'm fairly familiar with it and I like to use it as a test disk. First and foremost I was blown away at how powerful and articulate the bass was, I was about 45 seconds in when I got a huge dumb grin on my face and the hair on my neck stood up. My wife came down on about the third song in and after the second song she turned to me and said "that just gave me goosebumps"... I proceeded to turn it up a few more db's and watched the grin transfer from my face to hers. WELL DONE Emotiva it was worth the wait Oh No! Just wait until Monkumonku reads this post!  |
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Post by creimes on Sept 7, 2014 2:26:09 GMT -5
Oh thanks a lot man now my 7030 is trembling in the rack and scared it's gonna get dumped for an XMC-1 but it's owner is broke hahaha but shhhh don't tell the 7030 that so it just keeps doing what it needs to earn it's place Tell me your friend is gonna let you try it out in your system... I need someone else to back up and justify my findings in this highly scientific test I did. Ivor Well I did give him my spot in line so he does owe me something haha, I wanna try out his ERC-3 as well and see if any difference to my ERC-1, mine has blue trim though so it's already a step ahead in SQ  |
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Post by junchoon on Sept 7, 2014 4:21:12 GMT -5
Going sidetrack: are there shorting plugs for XLR? Why can't you use them on outputs?
Thanks.
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Post by MaisterK on Sept 7, 2014 7:53:44 GMT -5
Going sidetrack: are there shorting plugs for XLR? Why can't you use them on outputs? Thanks. Good question. |
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Post by aud on Sept 7, 2014 13:58:47 GMT -5
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Post by Poodleluvr on Sept 7, 2014 20:22:26 GMT -5
Glad you are enjoying your brand new Emotiva XMC-1 !
BTW, I just watched a bidding war on E-Bay for a brand new unopened box XMC-1.
About 4 minutes before auction end it was bid about $1725.00, with about a minute left the bidding was about $1825.00 and with 6 seconds left the bidding ended at above MSRP: $2030.00 plus 31.15 shipping!
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Post by tchaik on Sept 7, 2014 20:30:43 GMT -5
Glad you are enjoying your brand new Emotiva XMC-1 ! BTW, I just watched a bidding war on E-Bay for a brand new unopened box XMC-1. About 4 minutes before auction end it was bid about $1725.00, with about a minute left the bidding was about $1825.00 and with 6 seconds left the bidding ended at above MSRP: $2030.00 plus 31.15 shipping! wow.... that is impressive.......... |
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Post by badong on Sept 7, 2014 21:32:43 GMT -5
Glad you are enjoying your brand new Emotiva XMC-1 ! BTW, I just watched a bidding war on E-Bay for a brand new unopened box XMC-1. About 4 minutes before auction end it was bid about $1725.00, with about a minute left the bidding was about $1825.00 and with 6 seconds left the bidding ended at above MSRP: $2030.00 plus 31.15 shipping! That is funny, especially at the rate they are burning through reservations. It won't be long before they are caught up. I reserved mine in December 2012 and my XMC-1 gets here tomorrow! |
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Post by frenchyfranky on Sept 7, 2014 21:50:32 GMT -5
I swear my xmc sounds better than my sherbourn. I got everything all hooked up this morning and turned on my Bon Jovi Live at madison square garden bluray as I'm fairly familiar with it and I like to use it as a test disk. First and foremost I was blown away at how powerful and articulate the bass was, I was about 45 seconds in when I got a huge dumb grin on my face and the hair on my neck stood up. My wife came down on about the third song in and after the second song she turned to me and said "that just gave me goosebumps"... I proceeded to turn it up a few more db's and watched the grin transfer from my face to hers. WELL DONE Emotiva it was worth the wait My wife not said exactly the same as your, she said " that just gave me headache, now you're gonna listen this damn thing night and day"... And you know what? She's absolutely right, as always. |
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