Asking for a few XSP-1 details

[basicsystem]

A few questions for those that demoed the XSP-1 at Emofest (or Emo people in the know):

1. Will the XSP-1 have something like the UMC-1 Emo-Q? What I like to do is use Emo-Q to set a base and then adjust the lows on my mains and my ultra sub to reduce some of the wall effects.

2. Will the XSP-1 have an on screen display similar to the UMC-1? I'm guessing that it must because I don't see too many knobs on the front panel.

3. The XSP-1 has connections for right and left subs. I currently have an ultra sub on the right side (you know where this is going). I have seen a few posts by people that say two subs are great. But I wonder if someone can explain the benefits from right and left subs, especially since low frequencies are non-directional?

4. I have seen a bunch of posts on the HT bypass. If I understand that correctly, you would connect your front and sub outputs from the UMC-1 to the USP-1 and the UMC-1 would control those speakers when watching movies. And some people said that would work when the XSP-1 is off. If so, I would only have to turn on my UMC-1 for movies? That would be perfect (if true).

If anyone knows the answers to the above questions, please spread the wealth.

[oppman99]

The XSP will definately not have Emo-Q or anything like it. It was designed for 2 channel use, not home theater.

It's been a while since I read anything on the XSP, but I don't believe it will have an onscreen display. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.

Using multiple subs can help smooth out room response over a single sub. You also get more SPL from the combined subs at lower volumes. In theory, less distortion from having to turn up the volume. I'm sure there are more advantages and the experts will chime in.

I used to have a USP-1, but never used the HT bypass, so I'll leave that one alone.

[doc1963]

Hello again,

Here's some input to your questions:

1) The XSP-1 is a 2 channel analog preamp. While it will utilize an analog bass management system, it cannot incorporate something as powerful as EmoQ. It does engage a High Pass/Low Pass analog filtering system to manage the analog sources connected and output through it. HT Bypass, on the other hand, is a straight wire bypass through the XSP that will leave any incoming signal from your UMC-1 untouched.

2) No, there will be no OSD (nor will there be a need for it). All required settings for the XSP can be performed via switches on the exterior of the unit itself.

3) If you only need to utilize one sub, you would use the "Summed" output from the XSP (there are 3 sub outs... Right/Left/Summed). People, like myself, would use multiple subs in various or co-locations as an effort to correct for room anomalies, such as nulls, and for better overall performance in your room. Sometimes digital EQing (such as EmoQ) alone is not enough (and sometimes if your subs are placed correctly throughout your room, you won't need EQing at all). If you are happy with what you are hearing in your room as it is, you probably won't need an additional sub.

4) Yes, in HT Bypass (on both the USP-1 and XSP-1) the unit is just a pass through of the signal from the UMC-1. The USP-1 must be "on" to utilize HT Bypass, the XSP reportedly will not.

Hope this helps.....

[basicsystem]

OK. I got it. Duh. The buttons must have a select and hold option tied into the display. That will work (although I love on screen displays).

Its interesting that the pic of the back of the XSP-1 from Emofest shows the right and left sub connections on the "wrong" sides (unless the picture is flipped). So, if someone has their XSP-1 between their subs, their cords will go in the opposite directions. No big deal, but interesting.

It will be an eventful two months for me in terms of music upgrades. Today I just installed a digital cable directly to the UMC-1 from a Squeezebox Duet. Sounds really good sitting in the sweet spot between my SRSs.

When I get the XDA-1 I will go from the Duet to the XDA-1 to the UMC-1 analog.

When I get the XSP-1 I will be able to go from the XDA-1 directly to the XSP-1. I hope that will yield the benefit that Lonnie talked about for going directly from the XDA-1 to the speakers.

Then I'll hook up the second sub I just ordered.

I wonder if I will actually be able to hear an improvement at each of these steps because (like I said) my starting point is awfully good.

[basicsystem]

Not having something like Emo-Q with the XSP-1 may actually be a little bit of an issue. I just upgraded my UMC-1, so I used the opportunity to set up my system as I would with an additional XSP-1. I used the UMC-1 to check my relative levels between my mains and my sub. I went back and forth with the sub manual control until the levels were approximately equal. Then I finished the Em-Q setup and did an A/B with and without Emo-Q. The Emo-Q setup (with the equalization and additional right/left adjustments) was much better. Unfortunately, with the XSP-1 I will be limited to the manual setup.

I realize the direct XDA-1 to XSP-1 link will be "cleaner." But I will lose the benefits of the room adjustments (although some could be slightly replicated with the balance and tone controls of the XSP-1).

What do others do to "shape" their rooms for two-channel listening? Manual equalizers? Meters?

Any suggestions/ideas would be appreciated.

[klinemj]

Many use sound treatments - like panels/etc. to take care of unwanted reflections that cause issue. Personally, in over 30 years of critical listening, I have never felt the great need for these. And, I have had some really bad rooms. Do I currently have issues w/my room? Not that I can hear, but...REW says they are there. So, I am working to "Calm" my room...I'd rather take care of it that way than more electronics.

Mark

[ossif]

The XSP-1 is a pure analog preamp and I think that is very fine. I would absolutely not like to see any EMO-Q (that works in the digital domain) and destroy the pure analogue path.
However the EMO-Q would have been a potential nice feature for the XDA-1, and here this could have made sence for those willing to experiment.
Perhaps something to think of for a XDA-2 or something like that.
Now what is much more important, where is that preorder list for the XSP-1??? Should it have come up this week?

[doc1963]

The reality of it is that all EQ based "Room Correction" systems (such as EmoQ and Audyssey) perform their work in the digital realm. There is no analog based system, that I am aware of, that will perform the task that your are asking of it to the levels attained by a digital system.

Most of the buyers of the XSP-1 "would" purchase it because it is a basic, pure and simple return to two channel analog of the highest quality. There is analog accommodation for a subwoofer, via analog HP/LP filters, but that is it. I don't believe a Bass/Treble control is in the spec (can't recall), but hopefully we will all find out soon.

Seriously though, if you're now finding that room correction (and that's really a misnomer anyway) and EQ is of more relevance to you than the overall quality and purity of the signal, then maybe you should consider an XMC-1 over the XSP-1/XDA-1 combo.

The XMC-1 may give you exactly what you're looking for at a lower cost (for sure if you use your "Upgrade Certificate") and it really is all about what appeals to you.

Just a thought.....

[roadrunner]

Until the XSP-1's features are posted we will not know for sure whether it will have bass and treble controls, not to mention how flexible those control will be. However, from pieces of information gathered over the past several months, I believe the XSP-1 will have bass and treble controls; and, they will be far more precise in their adjustments than pre-amps typically are. Knowing Lonnie and his dedication to superior analog sound quality, I doubt that he would design bass/treble controls for Emotiva's "flagship stereo pre-amp" that did not have the ability to make precise adjustments.

Maybe this is just my wishful thinking at work, but I think I heard Lonnie make mention of this unusual control level at this year's Emofest celebration. In all of the stereo pre-amps I have used over the past 45 years none of them had bass/treble controls that I would consider useful in making adjustments to the sound because the controls were only capable of making GROSS changes. I, for one, am curious to see just how well the XSP-1 is going to handle bass and treble adjustments.

The things I am most anxious to see and use are the fully differential signal path and the "external processor loop". The XDA-1 looks like it will be the perfect companion piece for those looking to optimize both the analog and digital sound of their systems. Everyone can start drooling right now.