outlaw 998 vs. emotiva xmc-1

[lancity]

Had to ask it... thoughts?

[jlafrenz]

Neither are out yet so it would be difficult to compare.

[lancity]

From the company information made available to the public:

XMC-1 Audio/Video Media Processor/Controller – (updated November 8, 2009)

The Emotiva XMC-1 Twin Cirrus® 32 bit dual core DSP’s for uncompromised high resolution HD audio decoding.

THX Ultra II certification

Decoding support for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital True HD, Dolby PLIIx, Dolby Headphone, DTS, DTSES, DTS HD, DTS Master Audio, DTS Neo 6, SPDIF, PCM 8 channel (note: some audio formats only supported via HDMI)

Wireless or wired Internet radio capability featuring the Frontier Silicon Venice 6.2 streaming engine; allows live Internet radio broadcast reception, Pandora, Sirius/XM Internet radio, FM broadcast, etc.

Multichannel Dolby Volume

Genesis® Torino high performance video scaling engine with full Faroujda DCDi®

OUTLAW 998 - On the audio side, Dolby Volume, Dolby PLIIz, high-performance DACs and balanced audio outputs.
Also on the audio side, our commitment to the Trinnov Optimizer has not changed. We have heard and evaluated Trinnov and assure you that it is the real deal: far ahead of any room correction system we have ever heard, at any price. With this new product, we will implement Trinnov so that it works the way it is meant to be used - and heard! Trinnov is fully on-board with our plan, and they are now exchanging details with our engineering teams.

XMC - 1 Dual HDMI outputs for main and secondary displays – selectable for outputs 1, 2, or both simultaneously.

Full HDMI 1.3a support

Front panel direct access control for inputs

Absolute HDMI “reference” bypass mode – hardware enabled, supports advanced bit depths

Automatic Emo-Q™ multi channel room correction and automatic loudspeaker setup. Calibrated measurement microphone included.

OUTLAW 998 - Multiple 3D-Ready, HDMI 1.4 inputs and outputs, including a front panel jack for connection to digital cameras and camcorders

On the video side, there will be state-of-the-art video processing and scaling when you want it, and full bypass when you don't. The interface and menu system will be straightforward, easy to use and powerful, all at the same time.

I fully welcome corrections and updates that I've missed... I've been watching and waiting patiently for XMC-1 updates and am eagerly awaiting its arrival, however this 998 information is giving me a bit of a wandering eye....

[jlafrenz]

I realize that the specs are out, but that is only half the story. It really depends on how the unit sounds and the functionality of it. This will not be able to be determined until both units are released.

[lancity]

I get that, but until we have both units available to the public its entertaining to at least talk about what they're gonna have under the hood.

I find it interesting that Outlaw has no issues with showing images to the public and Emotiva is keeping them very tightly held... a lot of Outlaw's information almost seems like a direct response to the UMC-1 as well as some of the information thats been given by Emotiva on the XMC-1. I don't know how directly these two companies compete but I do notice a lot of chatter of Outlaw products being compared to Emo products so... it wouldn't be surprising to me if the Outlaw guys have Emo squarely in their sights. That said, Emo probably isn't going to be provoked into sharing more information about the XMC-1 (though I wish they would, if the 998 comes to market and there is still a general vagueness on the XMC I wouldn't be surprised if a few emo watchers jump to the outlaw). Still, its fun to talk about, I was really just interested in other people's opinions and takes on the various information swirling about on both projects... that is all.

[bigred7078]

From Specs alone, the 998 appears stronger to be honest since everything will be up to date with it.

[jasona]

I disagree... I think Outlaw is considerably less open and communicates far less than Emotiva. The 997 was announced 2 years ago, and as far as I know, they never released full specs nor any sort of image. The image and specs on the 998 are about as vague as you can get. And I'd be very willing to bet the XMC will be out way before the 998.

I think it's natural that Outlaw and Emotiva compete closely - as far as I know they are the only two ID companies that sell pre-pros. Interestingly, I think the Outlaws are listening more to their own customers than Emotiva's. They've gotten a lot of flack lately about just rebadging stuff, so I think the "ground up" design of the 998 is them listening to their customers and trying to get back to their roots and what made them an attractive company in the past. Hopefully they can keep their prices down - seems to me that Emotiva has them handily beat in that regard.

[lancity]

I don't know anything about designing and implementing the manufacture of stereo equipment but... the last really comprehensive clue we were given on the XMC was in mid-November of last year. Lately we've been told that Emo will be releasing it in July or August of this year. Thats about 8 or 9 months of development time. My assumption is that you set a target for performance when you are implementing a new product and then you do everything you can to hit it... but the technology is constantly evolving so you have to have some ability to update the direction mid-stream... so if Dolby releases a new thingamajig or if a new HDMI version comes out, you can still release with the most up-to date product without huge delays or cost overruns. I just don't know if the 998 appears better because they have 4 months more of information to work with and Emo is adjusting accordingly since the last information was really disseminated, or if the XMC is just going to be a day late and a dollar short coming to market in comparison with the 998...

[lancity]

also, bit of an aside, but what is the relationship between Onkyo-Integra-Outlaw???

[DYohn]

Mar 13, 2010 14:07:32 GMT -5 lancity said:

also, bit of an aside, but what is the relationship between Onkyo-Integra-Outlaw???

Relationship? As far as I know the Outlaws simply sell Onkyo products.

[DYohn]

Also, the spec comparison is interesting, but both sets of information are preliminary. It'll be much more useful to compare when both are ready for sale. Or should I say *IF* both are ever ready for sale...

[deanej]

Maybe it would be more productive to make book on whether the 998 ever makes it to the marketplace.

[LCSeminole]

Mar 13, 2010 15:03:17 GMT -5 deanej said:

Maybe it would be more productive to make book on whether the 998 ever makes it to the marketplace.

Very insightful statement. I would tend to agree.

[Mike Ronesia]

I think Emo said in the past the XMC would be out about 6 months after the UMC. Now that is coming up soon if you go by the first release. If they had the info out by now I might have waited but not being able to compare specs and prices I went with the UMC. I'm not sure if I'm ready to jump into 3D any time soon anyway.

It will be interesting to see just how long it takes Outlaw to have a stable product in the market place.

[LCSeminole]

Mar 13, 2010 16:38:20 GMT -5 Mike Ronesia said:

I'm not sure if I'm ready to jump into 3D any time soon anyway.

What, you mean you don't want to have to buy another blu-ray player and flat panel display that is 3-D ready. ;D

[tchaik]

just curious,

went on to outlaw sight and the 998 is no where to be found. any thoughts?

tchaik........................

[Mike Ronesia]

Mar 13, 2010 20:52:03 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

Mar 13, 2010 16:38:20 GMT -5 Mike Ronesia said:

I'm not sure if I'm ready to jump into 3D any time soon anyway.

What, you mean you don't want to have to buy another blu-ray player and flat panel display that is 3-D ready. ;D

Yes, and then have 3D 2.6 1024hz come out and be the bomb. I'll give it a couple of years and then move the current stuff into the bedroom. Though if it takes long enough to find a new BD player it might end up being 3D.

[Nemesis.ie]

Mar 14, 2010 3:53:00 GMT -5 tchaik said:

just curious,

went on to outlaw sight and the 998 is no where to be found. any thoughts?

tchaik........................

They only released info via their e-mail newsletter so far.

They posted a picture too, the look did not appeal to be at all (apart from the white display).

[artiek]

Mar 14, 2010 3:53:00 GMT -5 tchaik said:

just curious,

went on to outlaw sight and the 998 is no where to be found. any thoughts?

tchaik........................

It's vaporware at this point.

[flamingeye]

?vs? I do not know about any one else but “I” want to invest in Emotiva simply because they are promising me top equality for my money !!! they are not promising me more bells there not promising me there ahead of the carve !! They promise me that if I buy there product it`s with the best components with top notch engineering and design with sound/audio quality as the for front with top quality video to boot and all this with costumer services second to none this is why I`m here and will continue to support Emotiva , I want Emotiva to succeed there giving me high end A/V that I want at a price I can afford so I`m willing to give them some leeway and time so they can accomplish this , I see this as a win win for Emotiva and me so call me a Emotiva fanboy I wear it proudly they have answered every one of my calls and emails and have treated me with respect I only own 2 of there products thus far there built like tanks and are of high quality and I look foreword to owning more so for me it`s never ? vs ? It`s Emotiva until they stop making high quality component at reasonable prices