XMR-1 Spec Updates

[Jim]

XMR-1 - What's known?
I wanted a single page to try to keep track of "hints" as they get dropped about the XMR-1. I figured I'd try a new thread and see how it works out.

• Channels: 16
• "new" Codecs supported: Dolby Atmos
• CPU: TI Series 800 6 core
• Completely balanced (all channels)
• Manufacture Location: Franklin, TN
• EQ: Ship with Dirac Live, Dirac Unison offered later
• Anticipated MSRP: $5k
• Release date: Nothing suggested yet
• Misc notes: "enough power to handle Atmos, DTS-X, and whatever else is thrown at us. "

Sources (Dan):
From emotivalounge.proboards.com/post/719740
and emotivalounge.proboards.com/post/719866

[skiman1]

Release date: Early 2016

[petew]

DTS:X

www.audioholics.com/audio-technologies/dts-x-immersive-surround-format

[Priapulus]

www.audioholics.com/audio-technologies/dts-x-immersive-surround-format

•Emotiva – XMR processor with DTS:X support coming in early 2016

[lesliew]

Speculation only on my part but after reading this article about the XMC-1 by Dr. Rich

www.hometheaterhifi.com/technical-articles-and-editorials/technical-articles-and-editorials/avr-audio-video-receiver-build-quality-part-iv-the-emotiva-xmc-1-ssp-a-paradigm-of-a-pre-pro-implementation.html

The XMR-1 will likely contain an Emotiva variant of this DSP module which supports both ATMOS and DTS:X (UHD) and support for 16 channels

mds.com/wp-content/uploads/Datasheets/Audio/DAE89_rev1b.pdf

[cwt]

Aug 5, 2015 16:14:22 GMT -5 lesliew said:

The XMR-1 will likely contain an Emotiva variant of this DSP module which supports both ATMOS and DTS:X (UHD) and support for 16 channels

mds.com/wp-content/uploads/Datasheets/Audio/DAE89_rev1b.pdf

More than likely I agree Lesliew ; interesting that the 2nd dsp module lists atmos 13.2@48hz and dts uhd 11.2@48hz ; though these are standard not customised dsp chips
A few more dsp modes like thx neural etc would be welcome even if its additional certification cost and Momentum can add them ; bring back dolby volume - yes

There are a number of optional ASPs that offer functionality from 3rd parties, for example THX or Dolby Volume.

For MDS DAE-7x customers the DAE-89 is a functional equivalent offering 1.5 to 3 times the DSP MIPs

Plenty of mips compared to the xmc1's dae 7 series

[eliwankenobi]

16 channels... Including subwoofers? So 9.1.6? 7.1.8? Assuming multiple sub outs in mono.

[altloff]

Yes, including Sub, most like 9.1.6 or 7.2.6 with an open channel.
We're still waiting on exacts.

[bradford]

Aug 13, 2015 3:12:30 GMT -5 altloff said:

Yes, including Sub, most like 9.1.6 or 7.2.6 with an open channel.
We're still waiting on exacts.

For those interested, you may want to read the last 4 pages of posts on the AVS Atmos thread. Even though this module supports 16 channels (15 for primary output) the current  HT Atmos release for DSP's seems limited to 11 primary output channels (7.1.4,9.1.2). The Datasat RS20i currently has 16 channel output capabilities but its forthcoming Atmos release is said to have the same 11 channel limitation. The theta CBV (which is TI, MDS based) may also be in the same boat. It would be interesting to get Emotiva's take on this situation.

[altloff]

I was paying attention to that, my choice to wait on the XMR-1 has a lot to do with what happens in the future, just didn't want to have to replace a Pre/Pro within a year simply because of hardware limitations. This is also another reason it won't bother me much of we can't get these until Summer 2016.

[lesliew]

A $5K 11 Channel Pre/Pro is not going to fly especially after announcing it as a 16 channel product so I sure hope that Emotiva has all of their ducks in a row.  

9.3.4 doesn't count, not in my book.

[Erwin.BE]

Aug 6, 2015 5:12:59 GMT -5 cwt said:

Aug 5, 2015 16:14:22 GMT -5 lesliew said:

The XMR-1 will likely contain an Emotiva variant of this DSP module which supports both ATMOS and DTS:X (UHD) and support for 16 channels

mds.com/wp-content/uploads/Datasheets/Audio/DAE89_rev1b.pdf

More than likely I agree Lesliew ; interesting that the 2nd dsp module lists atmos 13.2@48hz and dts uhd 11.2@48hz ; though these are standard not customised dsp chips
A few more dsp modes like thx neural etc would be welcome even if its additional certification cost and Momentum can add them ; bring back dolby volume - yes

There are a number of optional ASPs that offer functionality from 3rd parties, for example THX or Dolby Volume.

For MDS DAE-7x customers the DAE-89 is a functional equivalent offering 1.5 to 3 times the DSP MIPs

Plenty of mips compared to the xmc1's dae 7 series

I have read the pdf from MDS' DAE-89 and on the last page it says the DAE motherboard includes 13.3 analog outs for DAE-89. Does this mean that's the limit? 13 main speakers and 3 subs?

[lesliew]

Aug 13, 2015 16:01:28 GMT -5 Erwin.BE said:

I have read the pdf from MDS' DAE-89 and on the last page it says the DAE motherboard includes 13.3 analog outs for DAE-89. Does this mean that's the limit? 13 main speakers and 3 subs?

13.3 is how their evaluation board DAE-89 EVM is configured thats how I read it.  The DAE-89 module sits on top.

The text of the document indicates in several places that the boards configuration i.e DAE-89 module is customizable, hence the 4 digit code which unlocks various functions.  

Page 1 'There are 15 channels available for the primary output.' , primary being channel count + mono subwoofer


But TBH a little skepticism is starting to creep into my mind. 

[bradford]

Aug 13, 2015 15:14:10 GMT -5 lesliew said:

A $5K 11 Channel Pre/Pro is not going to fly especially after announcing it as a 16 channel product so I sure hope that Emotiva has all of their ducks in a row.  

9.3.4 doesn't count, not in my book.

I don't think Emotiva has any control over this. If Datasat and Theta's 16+ channel products are limited to 7.x.4 or 9.x.2 Atmos at 20K and up you can't really blame Emotiva for the same limit at 5K. It appears that anything with a DSP architecture is currently limited in channel count to 11.
Given the fact that Trinnov is running a 32 channel setup, I speculated on another thread that Dolby may have had to release a downsized DSP specific code line. Managing multiple code lines is very hard and expensive.  This may be the limiting factor, pure speculation on my part.

[ansat]

Aug 13, 2015 17:17:18 GMT -5 bradford said:

Aug 13, 2015 15:14:10 GMT -5 lesliew said:

A $5K 11 Channel Pre/Pro is not going to fly especially after announcing it as a 16 channel product so I sure hope that Emotiva has all of their ducks in a row.  

9.3.4 doesn't count, not in my book.

I don't think Emotiva has any control over this. If Datasat and Theta's 16+ channel products are limited to 7.x.4 or 9.x.2 Atmos at 20K and up you can't really blame Emotiva for the same limit at 5K. It appears that anything with a DSP architecture is currently limited in channel count to 11.
Given the fact that Trinnov is running a 32 channel setup, I speculated on another thread that Dolby may have had to release a downsized DSP specific code line. Managing multiple code lines is very hard and expensive.  This may be the limiting factor, pure speculation on my part.

I would agree, but hope to have the same datasat channel system for using the extra channels for creating arrays. Yeah, it's a custom install type of thing, but isn't all prepros of the caliber of what we are hoping this will be?

Tony

[bradford]

agreed, that coupled with Dirac Unison would be quite an offering

[lesliew]

Aug 13, 2015 17:17:18 GMT -5 bradford said:

Aug 13, 2015 15:14:10 GMT -5 lesliew said:

A $5K 11 Channel Pre/Pro is not going to fly especially after announcing it as a 16 channel product so I sure hope that Emotiva has all of their ducks in a row.  

9.3.4 doesn't count, not in my book.

I don't think Emotiva has any control over this. If Datasat and Theta's 16+ channel products are limited to 7.x.4 or 9.x.2 Atmos at 20K and up you can't really blame Emotiva for the same limit at 5K. It appears that anything with a DSP architecture is currently limited in channel count to 11.
Given the fact that Trinnov is running a 32 channel setup, I speculated on another thread that Dolby may have had to release a downsized DSP specific code line. Managing multiple code lines is very hard and expensive.  This may be the limiting factor, pure speculation on my part.

But the difference here is that both Datasat and Theta are expandable products, even if there is a limitation with the current DSP chipset that is on their card now you will be able to replace the card with a new one supporting the full channel count when it becomes available.

The XMR-1 was not introduced as such. 

Its not a matter of blame but somebody should have done their homework

[altloff]

To me, one of the thing to keep in mind is that Datasat and Trinov's current restrictions are based on the tech that was available when the were released, hopefully by the time the XMR-1 is released those limitations will have changed and the units updated accordingly before they are out.
You would have to think that Emo was at least thinking the same thing or has some kind of plan for an upgrade after the fact, otherwise why even bother with 16 channels, even 9.3.4 is ridiculous, there's no need for 3 LFE outputs, 2 individual is more than enough, hell one is enough, it's just LFE.

[cwt]

Aug 14, 2015 1:13:42 GMT -5 altloff said:

To me, one of the thing to keep in mind is that Datasat and Trinov's current restrictions are based on the tech that was available when the were released, hopefully by the time the XMR-1 is released those limitations will have changed and the units updated accordingly before they are out.
You would have to think that Emo was at least thinking the same thing or has some kind of plan for an upgrade after the fact, otherwise why even bother with 16 channels, even 9.3.4 is ridiculous, there's no need for 3 LFE outputs, 2 individual is more than enough, hell one is enough, it's just LFE.

Yes ; we dont know yet what upgradeability the xmr1 will have but the modular xmc1 gives a pointer - it will be at least as good If integra can manage a slot in card based system at a lower echelon price and the xmc1/xmr1 has stacked pcb's it lends a lot to flexibility ; speculating

product-images.highwire.com/10785056/5023-8_160.jpg

We know very little about the xmr1 atm as Dan's post was busy describing other products as well ; and Ime reminded about Theta's track record with upgrades Buy what is available or you may get burnt with nothing released [ aforementioned dtr10.5] or overpriced datasat upgrades imho

[lesliew]

Aug 14, 2015 1:13:42 GMT -5 altloff said:

To me, one of the thing to keep in mind is that Datasat and Trinov's current restrictions are based on the tech that was available when the were released, hopefully by the time the XMR-1 is released those limitations will have changed and the units updated accordingly before they are out.
You would have to think that Emo was at least thinking the same thing or has some kind of plan for an upgrade after the fact, otherwise why even bother with 16 channels, even 9.3.4 is ridiculous, there's no need for 3 LFE outputs, 2 individual is more than enough, hell one is enough, it's just LFE.

The Trinov doesn't have these restrictions since it is purely software based.  

But yes the development lifecycle of the current shipping products probably started 24 months ago the code for Atmos was only released to the DSP manufacturers around Feb/Mar of last year at that point there was little understanding of the codecs overhead requirements.  That is rumored to be one of the reasons why Onkyo had to drop Auydessy because their DSP couldn't keep up.

I don't want history to repeat itself with lots of promises, then a product that is significantly scaled back.

It will be a sad day if Emotiva releases the XMR-1 as a 7.1.4 channel product in 2016.  How do you possibly backtrack from that.