A new XMC request for Emotiva

[mj]

Howdy:

I have a simple request for the XMC, and for Emotiva products with CPUs that follow it:

Please use a USB Host chip and connector, and do upgrades via a USB FLASH stick. This way no one has software or PC incompatibilities - ever. And if you need to, you can setup a download or mail a $5 USB stick to someone and they have the new firmware. My camera upgrades off a memory card, and my BD player updates firmware off the internet, and I can tell you that from a user perspective it's awesome.

As background, I am on the UMC pre-order list. I don't have one yet, but I do have two UPA-1s that I enjoy. When I get my UMC, I'll try it out and then make the keep/buy decision. I know that it's too late to get this functionality into the UMC, and I am not trying to add any fuel to the UMC flames.

And I don't think that I'll buy an XMC, as I'll buy either the UMC or something else "soon". So my request for the XMC is just part of a general "helping Emotiva make better stuff" request.

I don't think that the current UMC update process is good for your customers, and it's got to be a support pain for you as well.

Thanks for listening,

- Marlin

[eric84405]

I agree with mj on this. Definitely would software updates a piece of cake.

[rcstevensonaz]

Apart from software updates, this would allow playing music from a laptop or computer. Replaces the need to purchase a separate USB DAC that then plugs into RCA or Optical input.

Using a standard sound cards on a PC or laptop (i.e. 3.5mm stereo output) is not the ideal due to poor quality D/A implementation and audio noise from the computers power supply, cards and drives. And SPID (optical) is lower quality resolution than can be achieved by a USB 2.0 port.

[bootman]

+1
This would make upgrades infinitely easier.

[emovac]

good idea

[ratmice]

Yes, please.

[rang]

i would agree this would make updates easier but would like to see a RJ45 jack on the back of the XMC.... ;D

[weigle2]

Mar 7, 2010 7:36:30 GMT -5 rang said:

i would agree this would make updates easier but would like to see a RJ45 jack on the back of the XMC.... ;D

Me three, for the USB functionality mentioned above.

What are you looking for with the RJ45 connectivity? Internet radio, Pandora? Can you elaborate? Thanks.

Weigle2

[merlinwerks]

For me personally, I'd like ethernet connectivity with the ability to stream lossless (FLAC) from my media server

[hpc]

Excellent idea - add the cost of the USB stick to the unit and include one with each XMC.
Glow-in-the-dark EMO logo would be nice on the USB.

[jgeiger]

You are aware there is a USB port that would take a flash drive on the back of the UMC already?

It's a question of adding the functionality to the firmware which I believe is no easy task if there wasn't a plan for it from the beginning.

[Mister L'fe]

...and this is one of the reasons I chose not to purchase the UMC-1. If you have a Windows laptop you're OK. If you have a Windows desktop computer you need to either disconnect and bring the UMC-1 to the computer or move the computer to the media/living room. And if you have a Mac OS computer you're SOL. When Emotiva was designing this thing did they not think it would need user installed firmware updates? And, why no USB port on the front to make access easy? I have updated the firmware on my 5507 once already from my wireless network. A couple of clicks in the setup menus and a short wait for the files to download and install, a basic no-brainer. Likewise with my 2 Blu-ray players.

Just my 2 cents!!!

[matt]

I use Linux (Fedora and CentOS), so making upgrades easer for me would be nice.

And yes, streaming FLAC over TCP/IP is a great idea. Streaming via UPnP or PulseAudio would work for me.

[playbass]

+1. I updated my Oppo Bluray recently using a flash drive...very easy and straightforward.

[Mister L'fe]

Even easier with a network connection. Obviously you have a computer, home networking is pretty simple to set up. I have an Airport Extreme upstairs on my desktop computer and down here in the living room an Airport Express connected to an ethernet switch . The Oppo blu-ray player and Onkyo are connected to the switch. The Mini is using its internal wireless connection.

[coolhands]

For all the complainers, when you start your company make sure you do it your way. Complain, complain, complain, complain. By the way the UMC-1 is not a camera.

[mj]

Hi Coolhands -

Thanks for the nice positive comment yourself.

[For all the complainers, when you start your company make sure you do it your way. Complain, complain, complain, complain. By the way the UMC-1 is not a camerai]

The UMC is a done deal, I wasn't trying to change it or complain about it. I was giving feedback on changes that I'd hope are in the XMC.

And seriously, you'd prefer to plug in your PC and using software download new firmware into your pre-pro? Rather than sticking in a flash drive that that has a file on it you downloaded? You must have a lot easier rack to get into than I do. ;D

BTW, the camera reference was because my SLR is a small embedded system just like the XMC will be. And if you have a host CPU and a chip that can do USB host (they're about $2 in moderate volume) then you can read a flash disk - and the rest is easy from there.

- mj

[butcher]

He would prefer what Emotiva tells him to prefer. It's as simple as that. Don't pay attention to his replies, they are worthless.

[sadams2206]

Mar 7, 2010 22:50:21 GMT -5 coolhands said:

For all the complainers, when you start your company make sure you do it your way. Complain, complain, complain, complain. By the way the UMC-1 is not a camera.

im pretty new to this forum, and I can personally say that I read this entire thread and did not recognize anything as a complaint, but merely great suggestions for a group of software/hardware engineers to consider to perhaps make a product a bit more user friendly and potentially save a company some money on stamps and burnt software discs. etc. If you have read any other thread related to the development of the XMC you would recognize that the company values suggestions from its' consumers, even if they cant commit to all of them. If you can't provide some creative criticism or at least provide anything of value then just save your fingers and keyboard the trouble. Kudos to all of you with the suggestions for USB/RJ45 connectivity. So far everything I have read in this and other forums for the XMC have been an awesome collaboration from all.

[mj]

Sorry folks, should have seen the troll under the bridge before I replied to coolhands.