|
|
Post by restless on Jun 25, 2013 11:37:19 GMT -5
jking: Loved the Anthem and the ARC setup. I will probably be keeping the MRX500, just because it was so good. The basic reason I moved to the 7030 was the dual HDMI out (one TV/One projector). Other than that, I really felt the Anthem was better in some areas.
Anthem:
Pro's - Internet connect (nice to relax to some internet radio stations), quick HDMI switching, ARC setup, connect both 'old style' and HDMI, settings for sound processing much easier to access/more control, used with both Front and Rear surrounds -both worked well, remote control was usable. Coming from a B&K 507, much easier to use (and seemed quieter). OPPO 93 could output BITSTREAM and DSD to the Anthem with no issues. Had to change all my OPPO settings for the 7030.
Con's - power output. while clean power, adding a XPA-3 improved the sound quite a bit, and adding the XPA-2 was even better. Using the MRX as a PRE was a very good but expensive option. No 7.1 inputs. no XLR output (cost much more for AVM series). IPOD dock never happened. (Got a iPure instead).
7030: Pro's - Still learning this equipment. Mainly of the Home Theater options are done automatically. (Saw the DTS-HD logo, and could not figure out how to turn it on... you don't, it is selected automatically). Dual HDMI outputs, but slower HDMI switching (a second or so). Remote is a bit different, but usable. Bluetooth connection (worked first try, no hassle!!).
Cons: Slower HDMI switching, some loss of audio while switching. Using HDMI and Optical for Audio for my DirecTV equip, since I switch channels often, that audio delay was a bother with just HDMI.
Using same amps with both units, and sound is good on the 7030 without using any changes to the parameter settings yet. So, it may get better as I understand what can be done.
Probably don't have the right vocabulary, since not a critic, but the 7030 sounds a little more cleaner, where the Anthem sounded warmer.
If you consider the MRX-500 as a PRE-AMP, rather than a receiver, it is a very good product, and would not have changed from it because I did not like it. I changed because all the other Dual HDMI options were a waste of money, and the 7030 gave me a mix of the best of the Anthem and the ability to run two HDMI output, plus the additional 7.1 inputs and dedicated stereo input (analog). The pricing now on the 7030 was what made the decision. The output from the MRX amps was clean, and with more efficient speakers, might be adequate. Use of the MRX with the Emotiva amplifiers puts you in heaven.
Unless you spend time with both Anthem and the 7030, it would be hard to make a decision on one over the other, unless there was a specific feature you were concerned with (like dual HDMI outs, 7.1 in, etc).
Hope this is helpful
John
|
|
|
|
Post by jking on Jun 25, 2013 11:50:35 GMT -5
Thanks that helps. I am looking to update my Onkyo PR885 and am leaning toward to 500 but still think I will wait for the New Emo.
My 2nd Sherbourn 7-350 just showed up Via FedEx (the 1st one died out of box) so time to play.
|
|
|
|
Post by solidstate on Jul 11, 2013 13:49:56 GMT -5
No worries boys. Rotel does a lot of very high quality OEM work. They are a great company, and even nicer people. You can see their see their name inside some of the hi end Oppo BD players. Sweet. Unrelated to what looks to be one fine AVR in the PT-7030... Are you guys going to ship a floor standing loudspeaker using those Adam drivers in a design like the Column with the newer X-ART midrange? If you can ship a speaker like like the Column for $2500-3000 including a matching center I'd bite in a heartbeat. |
|
|
|
Post by repeetavx on Jul 16, 2013 2:39:25 GMT -5
Andrew,
I know it's not advertised, so I guess that it doesn't have it but; is there any chance that there is any balanced signal path inside the 7030. I know that there is balanced ins and outs, and I was just thinking how wasteful it would be not to have a balanced path hiding in there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andrew Robinson on Jul 16, 2013 8:43:36 GMT -5
Andrew, I know it's not advertised, so I guess that it doesn't have it but; is there any chance that there is any balanced signal path inside the 7030. I know that there is balanced ins and outs, and I was just thinking how wasteful it would be not to have a balanced path hiding in there. The PT-7030, while possessing balanced outputs is not a fully balanced design. If you're looking for a fully balanced multi-channel preamp you're either going to have to look at some of the older reference Mark Levinson products (no HDMI though) or older Krell (same issue(s)). Emotiva's XMC-1 AV preamp is going to be fully balanced however  |
|
|
|
Post by jmilton on Jul 16, 2013 9:22:13 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by repeetavx on Jul 20, 2013 2:06:37 GMT -5
Since the remote for the PT-7030 is so hard to use, I started to look around and see if I could find an RS232 interface device. It comes with the cord so I figured I would see what it would take to get the conveniently supplied command codes to the PT-7030. Unfortunately it appears that anything to do with RS232 automation is tied up in the "professional installers" universe. My local "home center" has automation devices to turn lights on or off and control your thermostat, but nothing versatile enough to control a home theater processor.
Eventually I'm planning on getting a phone with an IR Blaster in it. But until then I guess I'll start looking for IR universal remotes.
|
|
|
|
Post by petew on Jul 20, 2013 8:45:38 GMT -5
check out iRule. www.iruleathome.comiRule has an app that runs on your iOS or Android device (free) You buy a license for the "Builder" app that's cloud based ($50 basic, $100 pro version) The next piece is "gateways". Think of the gateway as a translator that receives commands from your network and acts upon the commands. Gateways differ as to what they do. The 7030 can be a gateway and you should be able to control it with ip commands through its network jack - I don't see an iRule specific device profile for IP control from Sherbourn on the iRule builder. Alternatively you can buy a Global Cache gateway for about $100 that receives commands from iRule and spews control data out through its RS232 port - there is a device profile for RS232 control of the 7030. Global Cache also makes another gateway that spews ir commands - you'd probably want that anyway to control your other ir devices. Many other a/v devices are controllable over IP. Using the cloud based builder you construct a user interface for your remote control. It's mostly drag and drop to add the control functions you need. The interface then gets downloaded from the cloud onto your phone or tablet. Then you assign your a/v components to the gateways that are controlling them. When you tap a button that you've created in your user interface your tablet or phone sends a command to the appropriate gateway which then sends the command out to the device you're controlling. It sounds complicated at first but is actually pretty easy. Check out some of the info and tutorials at the irule web site. Sherbourn and Emotiva really need to step up and do the IP device profiles for iRule. It shouldn't be too big of an undertaking and good device profiles make setting up iRule painless. |
|
|
|
Post by repeetavx on Jul 20, 2013 18:33:44 GMT -5
Thanks petew,
The Global Cache gateway looks like what I was looking for.
Dispite appearences the PT-7030 doesn't have any network connections. The manual has this warning about the RJ-45 connector on the back:
I've seen the iRule application around but I haven't investigated it yet. A quick look around looks like everything I need to know will be on their website or forum site.
|
|
|
|
Post by amplifieroverkill on Aug 3, 2013 0:43:25 GMT -5
Hello, newbie to the lounge here fellas, first post. I'm the proud new owner of the PT-7030 and 7-150 and I created this account originally to ask questions to find out if I should jump on this deal or if I should wait for the new Emotiva per/pro coming out. Well, restless me purchased now and am asking questions later  . So far very happy, 5 days listening and so far so good. Like everyone else I hate the remote and would like to know about this iRule. How much cost is involved to get android or iOS to control this thing? And how much tech know how is needed? Also, I'm sure this is the place to ask, how do I biamp my front speakers? I'm assuming that y cables from the outputs is the only way. I was hoping, but not expecting, a built in crossover solution to be able to have 2 Xovers for each front to be able to do this easily but sigh, I have way too high of expectations. No matter. I think I'd like to keep the 150 watt sherbourn on the 10" speakers and use my old trusty and warm and loveable yamaha CA 610 II for the highs... Not sure, want to experiment. Overall, I'm thrilled with my sherbourn components. Love the amp, it is perfect for my modestly sized tv room. The preamp is a HUGE improvement in sound quality over my older yamaha receiver. I've never used a standalone preamp for home theater before. My preamp experience is limited strictly to stereo set ups and I've experimented with quite a few. Also, I've never had 7.1 before. My 5 speakers are klipsch legend KLF 20s in front, KLF c7 center, and RS 62 II rears. The back surround channel poses a problem with placement possibilities to get suitable imaging, so I opted to try emotivas 8" ceiling speakers (not yet installed) to take up the position for rear surrounds. Anyone have experience with these speakers. Seemed like a steal at $140 for the pair. Wish they came with installation instructions though. They look complicated. Thanks all |
|
|
|
Post by creimes on Aug 3, 2013 1:09:35 GMT -5
I have the UAC-8.2's for my rears and I have no complaints, and they are easy to install, it comes with a template, I found the best thing to do is use a tack and tack it to the ceiling in the direct center of the template and trace around the template with a pencil. I did this but before cutting the actual hole I used a 2" hole saw bit and drilled out the center where my tack mark was just to make sure I was within the floor joists. I used a handheld drywall saw and cut out what I could of the drywall, my ceiling is strapped with 1x3 that the drywall is screwed to, for where i ran into the 1x3 I used my jigsaw.
Chad
|
|
|
|
Post by amplifieroverkill on Aug 3, 2013 1:16:50 GMT -5
Also, I'd like to add, I never even heard of emotiva/sherbourn until I was searching one day last year for info on my klipsch legends to rebuild them and found a thread on here by LCSeminole about his klipsch speaker rebuild project. I Followed his footsteps for bringing my KLF 20s and C7 back to life after over a decade of abuse. Put the titanium diaphragms in all 3 speakers and recapped all Xovers with Crites SoniCaps and rebuilt cabinets with new bracing and better glue. Wanted crites squawker horn diaphragms too but hes been out of stock for quite some time. Thanks to LCSeminole for reigniting the home theater spark in me and for leading me in the absolute best direction to revive my klipsch speakers as well as the best direction in my new purchase.. I was actually gonna buy new speakers before i rebuilt these until I found out what kind of crap is out there now for under $5000 for fronts and a center. When did home theater retail speakers go down the crapper? Anything i demoed did not please me like my old legends. So happy with my improved legends and now absolutely thrilled with this sherbourn package. Outstanding deal for $1800 IMHO. Maybe the best deal in all of home theater right now, although my experience and product knowledge is quite limited. I almost bought the XPR-2 amp for my fronts too, but I can now see that it would just be absolute overkill for my size of room. I may still eventually buy one to replace my old adcom in a different setup. We'll see. I have to thank Mother Nature too for sending that bolt of lightning that fried a bunch of my electronics including an old receiver. Gave me the perfect excuse with the wife to UPGRADE in spectacular fashion. OK, I'll stop rambling, hope to hear some more advice on this iRule remote solution.
|
|
|
|
Post by amplifieroverkill on Aug 3, 2013 1:20:02 GMT -5
I have the UAC-8.2's for my rears and I have no complaints, and they are easy to install, it comes with a template, I found the best thing to do is use a tack and tack it to the ceiling in the direct center of the template and trace around the template with a pencil. I did this but before cutting the actual hole I used a 2" hole saw bit and drilled out the center where my tack mark was just to make sure I was within the floor joists. I used a handheld drywall saw and cut out what I could of the drywall, my ceiling is strapped with 1x3 that the drywall is screwed to, for where i ran into the 1x3 I used my jigsaw. Chad |
|
|
|
Post by repeetavx on Aug 3, 2013 2:07:24 GMT -5
Hello, newbie to the lounge here fellas, first post. I'm the proud new owner of the PT-7030 and 7-150 and I created this account originally to ask questions to find out if I should jump on this deal or if I should wait for the new Emotiva per/pro coming out. Well, restless me purchased now and am asking questions later . So far very happy, 5 days listening and so far so good. Like everyone else I hate the remote and would like to know about this iRule. How much cost is involved to get android or iOS to control this thing? And how much tech know how is needed? Also, I'm sure this is the place to ask, how do I biamp my front speakers? I'm assuming that y cables from the outputs is the only way. I was hoping, but not expecting, a built in crossover solution to be able to have 2 Xovers for each front to be able to do this easily but sigh, I have way too high of expectations. No matter. I think I'd like to keep the 150 watt sherbourn on the 10" speakers and use my old trusty and warm and loveable yamaha CA 610 II for the highs... Not sure, want to experiment. Overall, I'm thrilled with my sherbourn components. Love the amp, it is perfect for my modestly sized tv room. The preamp is a HUGE improvement in sound quality over my older yamaha receiver. I've never used a standalone preamp for home theater before. My preamp experience is limited strictly to stereo set ups and I've experimented with quite a few. Hi amplifieroverkill, Congratulations on your new system. Your right, its hard to beat the sound of the PT-7030. I'm looking forward to a shootout with the XMC-1 whenever it shows up. I'm betting the PT-7030 will be equal in sound quality. Ok, iRule first. I've been reading but haven't moved on it yet. You need the $49 license for the simple "remote builder" but chances are we'd want the flexibility of the $99 pro-version. Then you need to buy the interface device. Either IR or 232 at about $150. Once you have your infrastructure in place, then you can build your remote "pages" in the cloud. To download it to your mobile device is "free". The build up looks like it takes some planning but still a straight forward process. Yes, to passively bi-amp simply requires a Y cable from your preamp to the two different channels of your amplifying stages. Then of course two different sets of speaker wires. For active biamping a lot of the guys have been using the MiniDSP. I just rebuilt my crossovers with SoniCaps. I'm really impressed at how good my speakers sound now. As much as I'm impressed by my XPA-2, I'm sure the XPR-2 sounds better. I think I'll wait a couple of years for that one though. |
|
|
|
Post by petew on Aug 3, 2013 7:48:21 GMT -5
For iRule, you can often find hardware on ebay at a great price. The GC100-12 has two RS232 ports, six IR ports and three relay ports. There's one on the bay right now for $90 The newer Global Cache modules do have advantages, but are more expensive than used GC series. Newer iTach units: - packaged with IR emitters.
- built in IR learner for devices that aren't in the iRule device list.
- will accept multiple connections. (older GC units will have to negotiate a new connection if you try to control it with two separate iOS or Android devices at the same time)
- user firmware upgrades. (older GC units can be upgraded by Global Cache - they work fine with old firmware though)
- Disadvantage: You'll probably need two devices, one for RS232 to control the preamp, and another IR to control your display and disc player (and any other equipment)
|
|
|
|
Post by msamblanet on Aug 3, 2013 10:26:10 GMT -5
For those considering iRule, also have a look at RoomieRemote. It uses most of the same hardware for IR/Serial but is iOS only. It is somewhere between a Harmony and iRule - slightly closer to a Harmony in the sense that you cannot fully customize everything...however it is much easier to maintain your remotes with it in my opinion.... I used to have a Pronto back in the day (with the CRT projector) and every time we got new gear it would be months to years before we felt like reprograming the remote to deal with it...my trial of iRule had much of the same feel. RoomieRemote did not have this problem - it was much more like maintaining my harmony. Both products have a place - it depends how custom you want it and how much effort you want to spend... www.roomieremote.com/- M |
|
LCSeminole
Global Moderator 
Res firma mitescere nescit.
Posts: 20,848
|
Post by LCSeminole on Aug 3, 2013 13:16:58 GMT -5
amplifieroverkill, I'm just catching up on a few days of absence from the Lounge only to read that I've been a been a bad influence on you!  In all seriousness, glad I could unknowingly help in improving your Klipsch Legend, I'm still pleased with my Bob Crite's upgrades and saved quite a bit of money in not buying new. Good to hear you are pleased with your new processor/power amplifier combo and at $1799 a killer deal indeed. |
|
|
|
Post by chaosrv on Aug 6, 2013 13:03:07 GMT -5
With the announcement that some existing Sherbourn products are to be rebadged as Emotiva gear, does anyone think the 7030 will survive in some form? I for one would like to see it rebadged/tweaked as the UMC-500. It may take some rewiring/reconfiguring of the from panel to fit the Emotiva aesthetic. 95% of the design & manufacturing is done, it retains the balanced connections of the UMC-500 prototype and it may help bring more customers in that do require some legacy video inputs. Strip out a few of the CE-centric features and I think they would have a winner on their hands.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 13:17:20 GMT -5
AOK lamented: "I was actually gonna buy new speakers before i rebuilt these until I found out what kind of crap is out there now for under $5000 for fronts and a center. When did home theater retail speakers go down the crapper? "
You simply need to look for the good stuff, son. DefTech, GoldenEar, Tekton, and Gallo, among many others, have some absolutely *terrific* speakers that fall within that budget. Honestly, I think that we are in a Golden Age for high-performance, reasonably low-cost speaker systems. $5,000 will buy a TON of speaker goodness nowadays. And most of the brands mentioned are internet direct and also have in-home trials so you can really hear what you're buying in your own room.
Do a little research and ask fellow Lounge members, you may be quite pleasantly surprised at what's out there...
-RW-
|
|
|
|
Post by Kris Deering on Aug 6, 2013 15:46:01 GMT -5
Andrew, I know it's not advertised, so I guess that it doesn't have it but; is there any chance that there is any balanced signal path inside the 7030. I know that there is balanced ins and outs, and I was just thinking how wasteful it would be not to have a balanced path hiding in there. The PT-7030, while possessing balanced outputs is not a fully balanced design. If you're looking for a fully balanced multi-channel preamp you're either going to have to look at some of the older reference Mark Levinson products (no HDMI though) or older Krell (same issue(s)). Emotiva's XMC-1 AV preamp is going to be fully balanced however Actually the Integra 80.3 if used as a 5.1 preamp (not 7.1) is balanced. The DACs go into a differential mode that makes it a fully balanced design. The Denon preamp is also fully balanced. Looking forward to checking out the XMC-1. |
|
. So far very happy, 5 days listening and so far so good. Like everyone else I hate the remote and would like to know about this iRule. How much cost is involved to get android or iOS to control this thing? And how much tech know how is needed? Also, I'm sure this is the place to ask, how do I biamp my front speakers? I'm assuming that y cables from the outputs is the only way. I was hoping, but not expecting, a built in crossover solution to be able to have 2 Xovers for each front to be able to do this easily but sigh, I have way too high of expectations. No matter. I think I'd like to keep the 150 watt sherbourn on the 10" speakers and use my old trusty and warm and loveable yamaha CA 610 II for the highs... Not sure, want to experiment. 
In all seriousness, glad I could unknowingly help in improving your Klipsch Legend, I'm still pleased with my Bob Crite's upgrades and saved quite a bit of money in not buying new. Good to hear you are pleased with your new processor/power amplifier combo and at $1799 a killer deal indeed.
