XSP-1???

[edmondwolfman]

Is there still an XSP-1 in the works? Haven't seen anything or heard anything in forever it seems like. Is there any info at all?

I'd like to know what the physical dimensions will be. Will it be about the same size as the USP-1 or taller like the RPS-2? Hopefully it will be closer to the USP-1 dimensions.

Maybe it's gonna have some tubes inside

I'm looking for a pre but I want one with the balanced outputs to use with my RPA-2.

The bit in "News" says it should be out by late 2009. Before someone gets their panties in a wad I am not, repeat I AM NOT asking for a release date ;D

[briank]

I just stopped by Emo headquarters today and picked up some cables and asked Lonnie if they had received the XSP-1 prototype yet (I was hoping I would get a peek). Lonnie advised they were still working on the prototype and wasn't sure when they would receive it. So, my guess is it probably wouldn't be ready for sale till Christmas at the earliest and it may very well be later than that. I would expect the size of the unit to be larger than the USP-1 to accomodate the additional outputs such as the XLR inputs and outputs. Btw, the emo cables sound awesome. I swapped out one pair at a time to see if I could hear a difference. I was always skeptical about cables making much of a difference. The results, I could hear no difference between the Emo's and some older but expensive audioquest cables, however, when I swapped out the one pair of Monster Cable that I was using between the pre and the amp, the difference was huge. Much, much smoother all around, sweeter highs, and I also didn't realize I was getting some background noise from them till it went away with the new cables. The monster cable went in the trash and my system has never sounded better. If anyone has the USP-1 that they feel sounds too bright or a bit harsh, you may want to try swapping your interconnects for some Emo Cables.

[robin]

Don't expect to here anything about the XSP-1 until after the UMC-1 is released.

[jimi]

Sept 24, 2009 21:52:33 GMT -5 robin said:

Don't expect to here anything about the XSP-1 until after the UMC-1 is released.

*groan*

I'm so desperate to have an XSP1.


I've started a thread in the Sandbox to whinge about my lonely XPA1s!

Can't quite bring myself to go and buy another preamp for the interim as I probably wont buy the XSP1 out of inertia.... esp as I'm in Singapore I can't exactly ignore the shipping costs for the 'free' 30 days trial.

[vincedog3]

Actually, depending on where the XSP-1 is on its development, I wouldn't be so sure it would be too long. Remember no certification processes to worry about, and it is an all analog stage etc. It could be here sooner than you think. I am guessing Christmas too. I would love to have an XSP-1 for my main 2 channel and put my already excellent USP-1 and a future UPA-2 in my studio bridge and run computer audio through them.

[hikinokie]

Sept 24, 2009 16:55:01 GMT -5 briank said:

I just stopped by Emo headquarters today and picked up some cables and asked Lonnie if they had received the XSP-1 prototype yet (I was hoping I would get a peek). Lonnie advised they were still working on the prototype and wasn't sure when they would receive it. So, my guess is it probably wouldn't be ready for sale till Christmas at the earliest and it may very well be later than that. I would expect the size of the unit to be larger than the USP-1 to accomodate the additional outputs such as the XLR inputs and outputs. Btw, the emo cables sound awesome. I swapped out one pair at a time to see if I could hear a difference. I was always skeptical about cables making much of a difference. The results, I could hear no difference between the Emo's and some older but expensive audioquest cables, however, when I swapped out the one pair of Monster Cable that I was using between the pre and the amp, the difference was huge. Much, much smoother all around, sweeter highs, and I also didn't realize I was getting some background noise from them till it went away with the new cables. The monster cable went in the trash and my system has never sounded better. If anyone has the USP-1 that they feel sounds too bright or a bit harsh, you may want to try swapping your interconnects for some Emo Cables.

Huge difference? Anybody else notice a huge difference? Hmm...wonder if I should replace the cheapo monoprice cables between my MMC-1 & IPS1.....

[briank]

A cable swap probably wouldn't make much difference in a system that has quality cables already. My monster cables were over 10 years old and I think wire technology has improved or that particular model of monster cable just sucked. I couldn't tell any difference between the new Emo cables and my pair of audioquest cables. I wanted to post my experience in case anyone else out their is running either some cheap or really old interconnects, if so a cable swap might be a very noticeable improvement. I was really surprised, I examined the monsters and could find no bad solder at the terminals and then I cut one in half, everything looked ok except the wire was almost needle thin.

[Deleted]

Sept 24, 2009 16:55:01 GMT -5 briank said:

If anyone has the USP-1 that they feel sounds too bright or a bit harsh, you may want to try swapping your interconnects for some Emo Cables.

Nice feedback, Brian and good suggestion. Hopefully others will do an A/B with EMO cables against other cables especially the cheaper ones. I might try that myself when I get the EMO cables and time to do a test. Thanks. ;D

[MikeWI]

Can someone summarize the UPS-1 vs. XSP-1 expected differences?

Thanks

Mike

[bigred7078]

Oct 6, 2009 17:26:33 GMT -5 MikeWI said:

Can someone summarize the UPS-1 vs. XSP-1 expected differences?

Thanks

Mike

balanced in's/out's, i assume a better remote, larger chassis, a digital screen, and i would hope the option for a full range HT bypass. No one knows technical details though.

[MikeWI]

Oct 6, 2009 17:28:46 GMT -5 bigred7078 said:

Oct 6, 2009 17:26:33 GMT -5 MikeWI said:

Can someone summarize the UPS-1 vs. XSP-1 expected differences?

Thanks

Mike

balanced in's/out's, i assume a better remote, larger chassis, a digital screen, and i would hope the option for a full range HT bypass. No one knows technical details though.

I recall reading something about the HT bypass (maybe on the AVS thread), can you expand on the "problems" (if called that) with the HT bypass for the UPS-1?

Also, any links/semi-offiical info on the XSP-1?

Thanks,

Mike

EDIT:
Here is one link:
emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=preamps&action=display&thread=6485

[bigred7078]

Oct 6, 2009 17:32:23 GMT -5 MikeWI said:

Oct 6, 2009 17:28:46 GMT -5 bigred7078 said:

balanced in's/out's, i assume a better remote, larger chassis, a digital screen, and i would hope the option for a full range HT bypass. No one knows technical details though.

I recall reading something about the HT bypass (maybe on the AVS thread), can you expand on the "problems" (if called that) with the HT bypass for the UPS-1?

Also, any links/semi-offiical info on the XSP-1?

Thanks,

Mike

nothing but a few posts in random threads has been mentioned about the XSP-1.

The USP-1's HT bypass only works when used with a subwoofer connected to the USP-1. That means if you like to listen to music without a sub then you are out of luck if you are trying to implement this in your HT system.

If you use a sub for music than its not an issue at all.

[MikeWI]

This may be a stupid question, but for USP-1 and UPA-2 (no AVR)

2 ch - just use full range outputs
2.1 ch - L/R - full range + sub

Will that work or does the "HT bypass" come into play at all?

From Emotiva product site:
During normal stereo use, the USP-1 operates as a normal preamplifier. In HT BYPASS mode, the USP-1 simply becomes a passive pass-through connection for the signals from your processor, allowing it to control the left, right, and subwoofer channels.


Thanks

Mike

[briank]

If your only using 2 ch or 2.1 channel, the HT Bypass would not be used at all.

[tb123]

Oct 6, 2009 17:35:11 GMT -5 bigred7078 said:

Oct 6, 2009 17:32:23 GMT -5 MikeWI said:

I recall reading something about the HT bypass (maybe on the AVS thread), can you expand on the "problems" (if called that) with the HT bypass for the UPS-1?

Also, any links/semi-offiical info on the XSP-1?

Thanks,

Mike

nothing but a few posts in random threads has been mentioned about the XSP-1.

The USP-1's HT bypass only works when used with a subwoofer connected to the USP-1. That means if you like to listen to music without a sub then you are out of luck if you are trying to implement this in your HT system.

If you use a sub for music than its not an issue at all.

actually, the USP-1's HT bypass works fine with or without a sub, the problems is that is uses the HP/LP conections (not an issue in bypass mode), so for listening to 2 channel music via the usp, you have to use a sub for anything below 50Hz

[briank]

Regarding your last post tb123, if your only using 2 channel on the USP-1 you can use either the high pass output or the full range output with a sub. My set up is 2.1 and I use the full range output and the lp output for my sub. You're only limited to the HP output if you're using the HT bypass feature. I do agree that it would be nice to be able to use either the HP output or the full range output with the HT Bypass feature but unfortunately it's limited to the HP output. I think the easy fix that Emo could do for this on the up and coming XSP is to lower the HP low end frequency to say 30 hz instead of 50 hz as even most full range speakers do not do a good job with frequencies lower than that. This would allow for better flexibility when blending your sub with full range speakers.

[MikeWI]

Thanks.
So, for my office setup I don't really need the XSP-1 and can likely just wait for a USP-1 sale.

Mike

[briank]

Hey Mike, I think you'd be very happy with the USP-1 for your 2 channel. It is very transparent. I can't tell a difference in the sound from listening thru it, versus connecting my cd player directly to the UPA-2. That's one bonus of the UPA-2, because it has a volume (gain) control, It allows me to hear what, if any, coloration or distortion the pre-amp is adding by listening thru it versus direct from source to amp. When I first tried this, I noticed it sounded much better from source to amp using my audioquest cables. I thought it was the USP-1 distorting the sound and was considering returning it. I was debating this when I decided to buy some Emotiva cables as I was using some ten plus year old monster stuff from the pre-amp to amp connection. When I got home and installed my new Emo interconnects between the USP-1 and amp, I immediately noticed a rather dramatic improvement. I could no longer tell a difference between source to amp versus going thru the USP-1. The sound was more natural, smoother, the violin sounded 'spot on' while before it was a bit screechy. The voices were much clearer and the artist voices just "sounded right'. Sorry to rattle on Mike, but if you get the USP-1, I would strongly recommend some high quality cables suche as the Emotiva interconnects to go with it. I love my audioquest wire too but you can't beat the price to performance that you get with the Emotiva wire. The USP-1 and UPA-2 combo is sounding pretty dang awesome now.

[gocolts]

Any word on this? I've found a parasound 2100 with a trigger-in for easier usage, and am resisting buying it in hopes the XSP-1 was still on track for a late-2009 release. Any info?

[roadrunner]

Oct 20, 2009 10:30:36 GMT -5 gocolts said:

Any word on this? I've found a parasound 2100 with a trigger-in for easier usage, and am resisting buying it in hopes the XSP-1 was still on track for a late-2009 release. Any info?

The only thing I heard about when we might expect to see this unit, during Emofest, was they are hoping for something around Christmas. Note really certain exactly how to interpret, but it at least gives you an idea of where it stands. Roll the dice and, after the UMC-1 is officially released, ask again. I don't think you will bet any better feedback before this happens.