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Post by creimes on Apr 5, 2014 9:50:19 GMT -5
Boom did you grab the unbalanced or balanced CF Both Any imbalance in left and right with either ?, like I mentioned it's rare I listen really quiet anyway so I'm sure I'll be fine either way Chad |
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 5, 2014 13:43:47 GMT -5
To date, I've only tried the unbalanced. The left channel is missing in action. I haven't had time to troubleshoot. It may be an interconnect, but when I bypass the CF (using the same interconnects, Emotiva X-series), both channels play fine. I've been working 12-hour days for the past few on client jobs, and leave town tomorrow for a work week. I'll recheck the CF when I return home.
A bit disappointing, but it may yet turn out to be something else. I'll report when I know.
Boom
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Post by creimes on Apr 13, 2014 9:28:43 GMT -5
To date, I've only tried the unbalanced. The left channel is missing in action. I haven't had time to troubleshoot. It may be an interconnect, but when I bypass the CF (using the same interconnects, Emotiva X-series), both channels play fine. I've been working 12-hour days for the past few on client jobs, and leave town tomorrow for a work week. I'll recheck the CF when I return home. A bit disappointing, but it may yet turn out to be something else. I'll report when I know. Boom I'm currently down in North Dakota right now and heading home today, I picked up my control freak and some cables I ordered and had shipped to the border and now I'm looking forward to trying out the CF between my ERC-1 and XPA-5. I as well will report my findings if I do indeed notice any difference taking my PT-7030 out of the mix, here's hoping. Chad |
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Post by phatfos1 on Apr 13, 2014 9:56:25 GMT -5
I got the replacement. The knob was glued to the base. Same level issue at low volume. It's annoying. I have to turn the volume on my airmotivs down so that I can turn the control freak up. At least that's an analog volume control on the airmotivs (I assume)? Anyhow, I have the unbalanced version. Buyer beware if you listen at very low volumes sometimes. My speakers are very near field, so I don't need much volume, hence the problem.
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 13, 2014 10:02:04 GMT -5
My CF unbalanced works perfectly. At first, I thought a channel might be dead - Instead, I didn't have an interconnect plugged in all the way. I'm listening now & it sounds great! Oops - I spoke too soon. Left channel is 50% of right channel's output.  I guess I better check the balanced one too... And, as usual, great service & support from Emotiva - A replacement's on the way! |
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kt10r
Emo VIPs 
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Post by kt10r on Apr 13, 2014 11:07:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the update phat, I was afraid of that. The mini-x amp works the same way. Can be annoying when using it at your desk at that lower volume.
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Post by aud on Apr 13, 2014 13:32:40 GMT -5
I had to send two mini x integrated amps back. One had a crackling noise on the left channel and the other had a loose internal connection on the left channel. Finally gave up on them. I'am so glad to hear Emotiva is bringing back some of their manufacturing to the USA. Hopefully all of it, eventually !
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Post by Jim on Apr 13, 2014 16:03:55 GMT -5
I got the replacement. The knob was glued to the base. Same level issue at low volume. It's annoying. I have to turn the volume on my airmotivs down so that I can turn the control freak up. At least that's an analog volume control on the airmotivs (I assume)? Anyhow, I have the unbalanced version. Buyer beware if you listen at very low volumes sometimes. My speakers are very near field, so I don't need much volume, hence the problem. How low are you talking - when talking about the total range of the CF? First 10 degrees of motion? 50? |
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Post by phatfos1 on Apr 13, 2014 19:49:04 GMT -5
First 10% I would say. But with iTunes and Airmotiv all the way up you am imagine that at, say, 20% we're at a pretty loud volume for an office. So I need to turn the Airmotivs down and then attempt to match their volumes by ear which is not an exact science and I am always second guessing the levels. And because my speakers in this system are only maybe 36" from me anything above about 20% is really loud .
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Post by creimes on Apr 13, 2014 23:02:26 GMT -5
Initial impressions for me are great, left channel is louder at very low volume, not a worry for me as I use this in my main setup and that would be way too quiet of a volume level for my listening, not sure what could be done about it as most potentiometers I have used do have this issue. But anyways on to my initial impressions after a few of my favorite albums on CD, for myself in my room, my gear and my ears I notice an improvement over having any type of preamp whether it be my previous XDA-1, USP-1, UMC-1, DC-1 and my current PT-7030. My setup is as follows, ERC-1 to Unbalanced Control Freak to XPA-5 using of course unbalanced Emotiva interconnects. The album I love to spin the most when there are any changes or new gear in my setup is Rainbows by Radiohead, I know this album quite well and have listened to it many times and is really one of my favorites, now of course I am not a pro reviewer of any sorts and mostly do not listen critically as I really just like to enjoy my music and not critique too much on the way it sounds, I will say in the best way I can that having only the CF between my ERC-1 and XPA-5 is the most real sounding I have heard this album to date, at first I thought it was a little edgy sounding but as I kept listening I realized I just had to get used to the sharper crisper sound that I have not heard in my system, things like cymbals and instruments that I can hear through my PT-7030 are just a little more natural and cleaner sounding and jump out a little more using only the CF. Like I said I am not at all a pro reviewer so do not take my experience to heart, if you would like to find out how it sounds in your system the only one that can tell you is you yourself. I am really liking the way my system is sounding with the Control Freak but don't get me wrong I am not saying the difference is night and day from the PT-7030 but it is an improvement for sure. Kudos to Nick at Emotiva for a great piece for a great price Chad Here it sits atop my RX Center speaker  And in it's OEM packaging  |
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Post by creimes on Apr 14, 2014 21:27:40 GMT -5
I have been noticing some sibilance with the Control freak that I don't get passing the audio through my PT-7030, some discs are okay but some are not, for instance I bought Metallica's self titled album Metallica on CD over the weekend and wow does it sound bad, it's enough to make me have to turn it off, I'm guessing it's either poorly recorded or it has been made from a terrible copy of the album and it seems like having the CF will most noticeably let through what is being played through it haha. I decided to do a temporary makeshift set up my Control Freak, ERC-1 and my UPA-200 that is currently not in use out in the room for a listen and it is nice seeing those pretty blue lights that are always hidden from my view   |
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Post by cwmcobra on Apr 14, 2014 21:52:00 GMT -5
Thanks for the information and review, Chad. By the way, you have some very interesting avatars!
Cheers!
Chuck
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Post by creimes on Apr 15, 2014 0:44:07 GMT -5
Thanks for the information and review, Chad. By the way, you have some very interesting avatars! Cheers! Chuck haha, that's my Axial Honcho rock crawler driving up the side of my tower , that truck is insane and will climb almost anything |
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Post by phatfos1 on Apr 15, 2014 10:35:36 GMT -5
I have that Metallica album. It sounds like crap, though perhaps by design. I have not noticed any difference in the audio with CF in line.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2014 12:05:31 GMT -5
XDA-1 turned all the way up (DAC mode) with a balanced control freak (for my desktop system)...good idea?
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 16, 2014 12:21:23 GMT -5
XDA-1 turned all the way up (DAC mode) with a balanced control freak (for my desktop system)...good idea? Yes. The DAC attenuates in the digital domain & throws away resolution. Therefore, full up on the DAC (or very nearly so) and attenuate passively with the CF. |
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Post by musicinmymind on Apr 20, 2014 0:28:20 GMT -5
I wish both ends of unbalanced Control freak was male RCA connectors
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Post by solarrdadd on Apr 22, 2014 20:21:30 GMT -5
I wish both ends of unbalanced Control freak was male RCA connectors Why? |
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Post by solarrdadd on Apr 22, 2014 20:34:49 GMT -5
I wish both ends of unbalanced Control freak was male RCA connectors i just realized what you meant. i'm surprised that it's not male at both ends to connect to RCA source & destination; both of course will be female on each of the respective devices. does anyone know why emo made the RCA this way? the XLR is made properly with male & female ends on it, but the RCA should be male x male. you need to add another pair of cables or male x male adapter which is another potential form of impedance in the circuit that's probably not needed. anyone got pictures that show how they have theirs connected and it actually shows the connection to the CF's connectors? |
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Post by brubacca on Apr 22, 2014 20:35:18 GMT -5
I wish both ends of unbalanced Control freak was male RCA connectors Why? Because you wouldn't need an interconnect to connect two components together. |
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