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?
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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!
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. 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!