Hello all!

[Deleted]

I am a long time audiophile that started with my parents vinyl, moved to cassette tapes (hated them but they were portable) then onto the CD/DVD-A/super audio CD generation. Many, many years ago I purchased my Lexicon DC-2 (DD, DTS, THX). I will be receiving my first Emotiva preamp next Monday and I couldn't be more excited. My Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature 5 channel amplifier is still working flawlessly but my preamp/processor is so far out of date I had to replace it. I went ahead and got the UMC-200 while I patiently wait for the new flagship XMC-1. After reading the changes made to the specs and the fact that the production of the XMC-1 will now be designed and manufactured in the USA, it is a no-brainier. I kept seeing ads for the company, so I finally started investigating Emotiva and was floored at the cost/benefit ratio of the products. I can't wait to get my UMC-200 to play with until the XMC-1 is released. I am positive that it will make my setup sound wonderful and I will finally be able to hear all the DTS MA and Dolby True HD tracks on my movies. So my setup will be Emotiva preamp/pro - Sunfire - Bowers and Wilkins CM9, CMC2 and CM5 speakers. (I am planning on adding an SVS 13 sealed sub because a recent storm here in Oklahoma fried my Monitor Audio sub . )

This was exactly the company, people and philosophy I was looking for to replace my 15 year old preamp/pro. I'm sure I will find even more Emotiva products down the road to purchase also. (Considering moving to a 7.1 system but I will need an additional 2 channel amplifier for the side channels)

Hello everyone and I'm glad I found this great company!

[garbulky]

Hi and welcome! Sounds like you've got a nice system. Do stay awhile and update us with your purchases

[hemster]

Greetings prongato and welcome to the madhouse!

You do have a nice system and I bet it sounds wonderful. Keep us posted on your progress and look forward to sharing your journey.

[drtrey3]

Welcome, I hope the weekend is not too long as you wait. Please let us know what you think when you get it all set up!

Trey

[Cory Cooper]

Welcome...welcome.

C

[autiger]

Welcome, What part of the country are you haling from? Warm or Cold

[mshump]

Welcome to the lounge !! Enjoy !!

[frenchyfranky]

Welcome to the lounge, you will not be disappointed with Emo products.

[Deleted]

I doubt I will be let-down at all. Especially the XMC-1 preamp when I can finally get my hands on it. For the last 15 years I've kept an eye on Theata Digital products and when Mr. Laufman mentioned that Dirac room correction was going to be included in the XMC-1 I noticed that is the same software that is coming standard on the new Theta Digital Casablanca IV (easily $20,000+ when fully configured). I am overjoyed to find a company like Emotiva that doesn't price gouge audiophiles for huge profits. I worked in the high-end audio instillation and sales industry when I lived in West Palm Beach Florida, so I know what the cost and mark-up is on most equipment and it is at least 100% when you shop at a brick and mortar store. It was even higher in the custom instillation place I worked.

It most definitely will be a LONG weekend waiting for my first Emotiva preamp/processor. After 15 years my Lexicon will finally be retired.

Thanks for all the kind words, after I get everything setup I will find the appropriate subsection of the forums and upload some photos.

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2014 11:02:09 GMT -5 autiger said:

Welcome, What part of the country are you haling from? Warm or Cold

Cold right now! Edmond, Oklahoma.

We don't normally get a lot of snow but we have quite a bit right now.

[Deleted]

WELCOME! to Da Lounge!..SunFire amp uh?...Sweet.

[pop]

Feb 7, 2014 17:47:22 GMT -5 @prongato said:

Feb 7, 2014 11:02:09 GMT -5 autiger said:

Welcome, What part of the country are you haling from? Warm or Cold

Cold right now! Edmond, Oklahoma.

We don't normally get a lot of snow but we have quite a bit right now.

I was working up there during all the twisters last summer. I was actually sitting in my buddies storm shelter in Edmond when one ripped through about 5 miles away. Scary summer, and truly sad event. I hope you and yours went unharmed.

One a cheery note Welcome to the lounge! Let me help you get a visual of what it looks like around here.

[Deleted]

Welcome  prongato.  Just be aware that some of the folks who hang out here are nuts.  I'm not one of them.

Emotiva offers price/performance value unheard of in the history of this hobby.  Plus the blue lights are hypnotic ..... relax ..... relax ..... relax ..... let yourself go ..... sleep ..... sleep ..... get your credit card out ..... pick up the phone and call 1-877-EMO-TECH. 

[Chuck Elliot]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[novisnick]

Feb 7, 2014 22:24:55 GMT -5 @chuckienut said:

Welcome  prongato.  Just be aware that some of the folks who hang out here are nuts.  I'm not one of them.

Emotiva offers price/performance value unheard of in the history of this hobby.  Plus the blue lights are hypnotic ..... relax ..... relax ..... relax ..... let yourself go ..... sleep ..... sleep ..... get your credit card out ..... pick up the phone and call 1-877-EMO-TECH. 

Yes ,,my ,,,,,master,,,,,,,,,,,,I
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,will pick up my phone,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I'm dialing,,,,,,,,,,,,8,,,,,,7,,,,,,,7,,,,,,,,,,,E,,,,,,,M,,,,,,,,,,O,,,,,,,T,,,,,,,,E,,,,,,C,,,,,,,H,,,,,,,,,

YES,,MY ,,,,MASTER,,,,,,,,,
My,,,,,,,,credit,,,,,,,card,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Umph$$$$$$$$$$ WHAT

A trance you say ,,,,,,I'm ,,,,,,,in,,,,,,,,,
Umphhh,,,,,,,,,,,what,,,,,,,,,OH! ,,,,,,the same recurring dream,,,,,,; ).           Big grin!!!!!!!!!!

I think my dreams are trying to tell me something??

Nick



whos NUTS???  : )

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2014 19:28:04 GMT -5 pop said:

Feb 7, 2014 17:47:22 GMT -5 @prongato said:

Cold right now! Edmond, Oklahoma.

We don't normally get a lot of snow but we have quite a bit right now.

I was working up there during all the twisters last summer. I was actually sitting in my buddies storm shelter in Edmond when one ripped through about 5 miles away. Scary summer, and truly sad event. I hope you and yours went unharmed.

Yeah, I grew up in Oklahoma so tornados are pretty commonplace every spring. Luckily the last few that moved through Edmond ended up tracking north of my house, thank you for your concern. The ironic thing is that I moved to West Palm Beach Florida after I got my BS in electrical engineering from Oklahoma State University in 2003 and while I lived there (4 years) the east coast got pummeled with 4 hurricanes. I felt like I just couldn't win!

I've always had the tendency to attempt to find the best cost/performance companies. Back when I got my Lexicon DC-2, lexicon was more well known for their professional studio and concert equipment and Steely Dan used their pro audio gear. (Steely Dan is my go-to audition material) Unfortunately, after seeing that they were bought-out by the Harmon group they were no longer an option. I tend to shy away from brands that make too many things and gravitate to brands that do a few things really well. In my engineering ethics course we studied the point of diminishing returns extensively. From the research I've done, Emotiva is the absolute best on the market at this point. Cutting out the "middle-man" and outrageous brick and mortar mark-ups leaves us audiophiles with much more affordable reference level gear.

It's been a pleasant surprise to see all the warm welcomes to this forum and Emotiva family. Thank you to everyone for all the kind words.

Mark

PS. ARGH! Monday can't get here quickly enough!!

[sidvicious]

Prongato, welcome, this is a great forum with very knowledgeable people. Emotiva is a wonderful company to do business with.

[Deleted]

Got my UMC-200 Wednesday and I can definitively tell you that I am a true believer now. Granted, my Lexicon DC-2 was about 15 years old and lacked any HDMI connections but it was a solid, great sounding preamp/processor. (Paid over 4000.00 for it back in 1999). I still can't get over a 599.00 preamp can blow other competition out of the water for such a great price. 

I unpacked the box...  First, the build quality was even better than I expected.  Second, the difference in audio clarity after running the auto setup was like taking a blanket off my B&W CM9 speakers. I still have to purchase a replacement subwoofer since my Monitor Audio sub got fried. (Of course it was in the back of my room and not hooked up to a surge protector). It keeps blowing every fuse I put in it. Rather than troubleshoot a 500.00 sub I am going to get the SVS 13.5" sealed sub. 

Extremely happy with the performance of the UMC-200.  With a 599 price tag, I would say by far and away it's the best preamp in cost to performance category. I already auditioned the Rotel 1572 and the Emotiva is head and shoulders better in sound quality. After I get the flagship Emotiva processor I am going to blind test A/B it against the Classe flagship processor. I have a sneaking suspicion that it will equal the 9500.00 Classe, if not surpass it.  (My wife actually loves audio/video as much as I do so she can switch components while I stay blindfolded)

Does this mean I am an Emotiva addict now?

other equipment in play are:
Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature amplifier (405 WPCx5)
Kimber Kable Hero interconnects (WBT-0144 termination) for preamp to amp connection
Kimber Kable 4TC-8TC Bi-wire to front L & R speakers, 8TC-8TC bi-wire to center channel (B&W CM9-CMC2)
Kimber Kable 8PR single run to surrounds (B&W CM5) I might add the di/bi-pole surrounds at some point to go 7.1

I use a custom built raid array media server (unRaid).  It streams to my living room HTPC which is then connected to the UMC-200 via HDMI (192/24). Music and movies are run through XBMC and live through WMC (switched digital channels so I can't route it to XBMC). My media server has 27 TB of space and its mosty full! . All audio is lossless FLAC with differing resolution depending in the original disc when I imported it.  Now that I have a processor that can decode HD audio formats, the difference is amazing!

Looking forward to the flagship preamp to be released, then I will move the UMC-200 in the bedroom and get a Emotiva 5 channel amp. 

All I have to say is just wow, this has surpassed every expectation I had for the price. Now I see why it got so many 5 star reviews.  I was skeptical at first but am glad I decided to get an Emotiva product. 

Thank you Emotiva and everyone on this forum, everyone has been so helpful and friendly. Great products, great customers and great advice.. You can't ask for anything more!  

[jmilton]

Welcome

Emotiva addict? We prefer Emotiva Audio substance abuse.

We can quite any time....we just don't want to.

[Chuck Elliot]

All this time I thought it was a 12 step recovery program.

1) Buy amp
2) Buy processor
3) Buy preamp
4) Buy DAC
.....