UMC vs. Onkyo PR-SC5507

[Deleted]

Reserved...

[Deleted]

Ok, here goes...

Note: I realize the Onkyo cost over twice as much as the UMC, but a comparison such as this is interesting to see what levels of refinement one gets as the price escalates.

Video
While I returned my UMC, I listened to it extensively for months (several units), and became very familiar with its sound and operation. I am going to focus of the video portion first.

While the UMC's video processor is good, the Reon in the 5507 is spectacular. Upconversion is as impressive as my Oppo 83. I tried both "Through" and "Auto" on the Onkyo, and both yielded same results. This is a top flight video processor. Images appear much more natural than the overly crisp images the UMC gave in "Auto" mode. One other thing I noticed is that in "Through" mode, the pic of the Onkyo was stellar, going into my Epson 8500 projector. As far as functionality, the Onkyo never had any issue while going from one resolution to another in "Through" mode and only took a few seconds to lock into a signal. Once it locked, it never dropped out. Something the UMC could not do on occassion with the units I had. It seems I had video drop outs daily with the UMC in "Pass through" mode.

Video results= Onkyo. First rate video processing.

[Topend]

^ Great review but I was left hangin for more. What about SQ in HT and music listening? My guess, the UMC-1 is an equal in HT and possibly better in direct 2 channel music.

Dave

[bootman]

I'm not really surprised here.
The Reon a a much better starting platform for a VP than anything Faroudja currently offers.

I could forgive this from the UMC if it had a "true" video pass through since I have an external VP in my system anyway.

The FLI8532 was really designed for display units.
(Just Google FLI8532 and see for yourself)
So the current limitations we see are not that surprising.

[Deleted]

Now for the audio comparison.

I felt one of the strengths the UMC had was its ability to resolve music much better than what I was accustomed to in the past. I tried the UMC with the ERC and the results were very good. I then tried the UMC with my Oppo 83 and the results were similar although to me, not as transparent as the ERC outputting analog to the UMC's multichannel inputs. That was the best sound reproduction in my system at the time.

I no longer have the ERC, but I played so much music over the past 4 months through it that I remember its sonic traits well. I hooked up the Oppo in tow manners. One with hdmi directly into the Onkyo using "Stereo" and then using the analog outputs of the Oppo into the multi channel inputs of the Onkyo giving me the purest path possible.

With the Oppo in analog output mode, the player does not have the voltage swing to muster up any significant volume to make any decision on. It maxed out without giving just a bit more that I was looking for. This is one area where the ERC could have come in handy. Oh well.

I recall the UMC with the Oppo outputting a bitstream signal gave a good representation of the dacs used in the UMC. Although I preferred the UMC with the ERC, the Oppo with UMC was very good. This definitely had to do with the voltage swing of the UMC in helping out the anemic output voltage of the Oppo going analog into the UMC. Conclusion: the UMC has more voltage output than the Onkyo and thus is able to make a failrly weak transport enjoyable for analog playback.

Now I was set for the UMC versus the Onkyo with the Oppo as a transport. This is where the Onkyo showed its muscle. After Audyssey calibration, the results were impressive. The UMC with its EMO-Q always left me with wanting a better integration of sound. I never once felt the music sounded exceptional. in order to get good sound, I defeated the EMO-Q and did most of my listening that way. The results were still very good. What the Onkyo does is portray music in a very detailed and natural manner. On Dvorak's Symphony No. 9,

The percussions and strings literally floated above and beyod the ERM-6.2's. I am not a classical person, but the presentation the Onkyo gave on this recording left me wanting to hear more. The Onkyo captured a sense of space and warmth that the UMC never reached. The sound was detailed yet fuller and rounder than what the UMC ever produced for me. It sorth of felt that the instruments were now more focused than with the UMC. The reverberations and impacts in percussion was a result of the quality job of the Audyssey processing. Like I said, each instrument was recognizable and everything sounded as a cohesive performance. That's the best way I can describe it on this recording.

Next was Kate Mulea:


Track 2 is the one in which I concentrated "Nine Million Bicycles". Her voice with the Onkyo just hung in air, the ERM's ability to portray female vocals is stunning. The impact of the bass drum and guitar gave it the weight in proper proportions. I remember this song well playing through the UMC. I could never get that toe tapping experience as I did with the Onkyo. This was the first time in a long while where I was treated to music of this caliber with an avr/pre-pro doing the digital conversion. The dacs used in the Onkyo must be very good. Track 10 treated me with an old song written by The Cure, "Just Like Heaven". It sure was.. ;D The song has some very potent bass lines and the Onkyo handled it without any bloating. The UMC could not muster this well. Again, I remained impressed with how well Audyssey calibrated the system. I was hearing things in my room that I could not replicate at any other time regardless of equipment. I should note that the room is treated with wall panels and has a very neutral sound to it.

I then popped in 2L: . The Onkyo's display lit up DSD while playing the SACD. The sound is one of wonder ! This is what people talk about when they describe certain recordings via SACD. Bells and strings appeared from points in the room as though you were surrounded by the event. Truly amazing !! The UMC was okay in this regard but again, the sound was not as cohesive as the Onkyo. The 5507 has the better detail, control, pace, you name it.

I'm rambling....Now for ht use. As good as the UMC was for ht use, the Onkyo brought it up several notches. This is where the strength of the Onkyo lies. I played Batman Returns. When I had the UMC, I must have played this movie about ten times trying to hear the improvements over the Yamaha 665 I was using prior. The UMC was much better than the Yamaha. The Onkyo improved on what the UMC did by again, sounding more natural, very detailed, cohesive, solid! bass. Explosions and gun fire were phenomenal. The reverberations and effects of the Onkyo in ht is such in which you have to experience it. The UMC as good as it was, was outclassed. This area alone is worth the price of admission for the Onkyo.

I have to take a break..

[Topend]

Thanks Neekos, not what I was expecting but a good read.

[Deleted]

The audio comparison in a nutshell:

The UMC is an excellent processor used for music. It's also very good for ht use.

The Onkyo matched and exceeded the UMC for audio because of the better room equalization, in my estimation. Vocals, instruments, etc.. all sounded more natural and clean through the Onkyo. Again, my opinion. Also, I upgraded the unit via Ethernet in about 15 minutes. This is where it just slaughters the UMC. Sorry Emotiva, you are way behind on that one.

BUT, for the price of what the Onkyo goes for, I would expect it to have strengths that few in its price range can touch. The UMC can hold its head high, it acquited itself very well against a unit that is more than twice its price. What you get though is..

1. Top notch video processing
2. Excellent dacs
3. Ballanced inputs and outputs.
4. Audyssey refinement.
5. Ethernet upgrades.

PS. As for any glitches, I had the audio drop for one second then restored, in two days of testing. Never had a video snafu. In this sense, the Onkyo just works.

I have to be fair and note one issue which might bother some. The Onkyo does emit a relay click when the audio signal changes and locks on. The unit is about 12 feet from me so it does not bother me, but for some it can matter.

[RadTech]

Thanks neekos. ;D Awesome review and, I'm glad you like the 5507! I"ve had my 886 for a good 6 months now and, I'm really enjoying it. Wish I had that second sub output.

[Deleted]

thanks Radtech.

I'm still amazed at how much Onkyo put into this thing. Look at the price of the Carys and Anthems...

This is my first plunge into a processor in this price class and I now get what the reviewers have said in the past about these products.

[monkumonku]

Jul 9, 2010 14:09:25 GMT -5 neekos said:

thanks Radtech.

I'm still amazed at how much Onkyo put into this thing. Look at the price of the Carys and Anthems...

This is my first plunge into a processor in this price class and I now get what the reviewers have said in the past about these products.

I think what you have with the Careys and Anthems are someone in the executive chain coming up with a figure in his head as to how many thousands of dollars to add to the price to preserve the image and reputation. I suspect it has very little to do with the actual cost of manufacturing.

[moovtune]

That analog output "voltage swing" you mention is probably actually a product of where the Audyssey calibration sets its "0" level. On my Onkyo 886, after letting Audyssey set things, on certain CD's that didn't use the full dynamic range of the CD, I wasn't getting enough output level from my ERC-1. I ended up raising all the speaker levels Audyssey had set by 5db to give myself more level. I don't use Dynamic EQ so it didn't matter that I probably screwed up the "0" setting for using that. Did you have the ERC-1 when you got the Onkyo? Is your memory of it being louder from having it connected to the Onkyo or just the UMC-1?

[Deleted]

There is no doubt about it. The UMC along with the ERC yielded much higher output compared to the Onkyo being driven by the Oppo via analog for both scenarios.

The ERC has a high voltage swing which makes it ideal for analog playback.

[Topend]

I considered the Onkyo but in Australia it is about $5000 ($3350 on sale) verses the UMC-1 at <$1000 delivered.

Hopefully the XMC-1 can close the gap.

Cheers,
Dave.

[Deleted]

Wow Dave, talk about you guys getting the short end of the stick..

[bootman]

Very nice review.

When you get the chance can you go over the video portion of the unit in a bit more detail?

Thanks.

[Topend]

Jul 9, 2010 17:57:52 GMT -5 neekos said:

Wow Dave, talk about you guys getting the short end of the stick..

Yes we do sometimes but this is where Emotiva come in to provide quality products to Australians. For example:

XPA-2 and XPA-5 = $2100 delivered.
300w/ch and 200w/ch

Quality Australian brand = $4500
200w/ch


Yamaha RX-V3900 = RRP $3000

UMC-1/XPA-2/XPA-5 = $3000


The choice is easy.

Dave.

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2010 18:00:39 GMT -5 bootman said:

Very nice review.

When you get the chance can you go over the video portion of the unit in a bit more detail?

Thanks.

Sure.

"Through" on the Onkyo is no video processing what so ever. "Auto" takes the native signal from my DTV and outputs it at the resolution which it is fed using the Reon. The Reon is so good, I can't tell much difference from using the through function going to my projector, to the Onkyo doing the upscaling.

The are tons of adjustments that can be made on the video side, including ISF calibration, which I do not need but some might.

I'm not sure how much detail you want, so just let me know and I'll provide you with as much as I can.

[NorthStar]

Great insights neekos. ...And I'm not surprised by your overall findings. The Onkyo pre/pro is an excellent piece of engineering.
Also the Onkyo is Audyssey MultEQ Pro capable I believe (up to 32 mic positions plus few more audio curves to choose from in your computer computational calculations). This is a great feature for people having a larger Home Theater.
And those two separate subwoofers' audio parameter adjustments (for each individual sub!) is also a HUGE beneficial feature.
And that HQV Reon-VX video processor with a multitude of video parameters' adjustments (ISF certified too) for EACH SOURCE!, is another big PLUS feature.

I'm using the 886 right now, but might upgrade later on with the 5508. ...We'll see...
By the way the Dacs in the 5507 are the TI Burr-Brown PCM-1795, 32-bit / 192 Khz Dacs (six of them for 11 channels). These are Stereo Dacs.

* As for the relay clicks that you mentioned in your review, that is NOTHING at all, just normal stuff from the relay circuits. It NEVER happens while listening to Music or watching Movies.

That was a very informative review comparison, thanks.

[Deleted]

Thanks

I love reviewing equipment such as this because of the wonderful performance it provides. Every so often a few products come to market that in their price range have little to no competition.

[NorthStar]

Jul 9, 2010 23:21:25 GMT -5 neekos said:

Thanks

I love reviewing equipment such as this because of the wonderful performance it provides. Every so often a few products come to market that in their price range have little to no competition.

Cannot agree more with you!