Uh Oh.... Pre Pro decisions and questions on XMC-1

[imjustdave]

Sorry if this has been covered before but need to decide if I'm going to get a XMC-1 before the sales over. 

I have purchased some gear in the past and always ended up hitting limitations and issues so hoping to find out before I buy this time...

Has anyone heard any timelines for the new gear? 

Do the new XMC-1 come with the 4K upgrade card?  Specs say the OSD will show up over 4k and 3D, but not much other detail. 
I don't have a 4k TV but some day maybe.

I see it has ethernet input and as I understand it can play a lot of music  but how does the user browse and play music?  is it over the display or TV? and remote   or can I use a computer to send to it and or use it to select what I want to listen to? 
Can I play music over zone 2 or 3 while watching TV in a HT setup?   I assume the volume is separate some how. 
Can FM radio .. yeah I know who listen to FM any more... but can you listen to FM over Zone 2 or 3?

Can the second video out have a different display over the main out?   So  TV on main output and say music info on the second one? 
What to most people use the second output for? guess im simple and only have  1 TV,   I assume maybe TV in a AV room to see whats going on while getting things setup. 

Anyone have a great link to learn more about DAC and how I might enjoy and use it.  

My thought are to setup a 5.1 in my living room and then to use the 2nd zone out to the unused channels on my 7 channel amp to drive speakers in another room, yeah it will be some wiring but would save lots of space in the second room. 

Will this separate system gear really sound better than a $300 HTIB for movies and TV?   I hope so or I'm in the dog house. 

Ugh, wish emo had an option between used and $2500 for the XMC-1   I'm sure its a great pre pro just a little hard talk the dear wife into more $ after the speakers, wires, amp...  LOL   

I know this last question is loaded and can be debated in its own thread.. but if I'm running less than ten feet  more like 5 feet are balanced connects VS RCA interconnects.  I assume RCA is ok but this is all new to me so if balanced is worth it I reckon I need to know. 

Thanks everyone. I know lots of questions 

[fbczar]

Jan 9, 2016 1:10:27 GMT -5 imjustdave said:

Sorry if this has been covered before but need to decide if I'm going to get a XMC-1 before the sales over. 

I have purchased some gear in the past and always ended up hitting limitations and issues so hoping to find out before I buy this time...

Has anyone heard any timelines for the new gear? 

Do the new XMC-1 come with the 4K upgrade card?  Specs say the OSD will show up over 4k and 3D, but not much other detail. 
I don't have a 4k TV but some day maybe.

I see it has ethernet input and as I understand it can play a lot of music  but how does the user browse and play music?  is it over the display or TV? and remote   or can I use a computer to send to it and or use it to select what I want to listen to? 
Can I play music over zone 2 or 3 while watching TV in a HT setup?   I assume the volume is separate some how. 
Can FM radio .. yeah I know who listen to FM any more... but can you listen to FM over Zone 2 or 3?

Can the second video out have a different display over the main out?   So  TV on main output and say music info on the second one? 
What to most people use the second output for? guess im simple and only have  1 TV,   I assume maybe TV in a AV room to see whats going on while getting things setup. 

Anyone have a great link to learn more about DAC and how I might enjoy and use it.  

My thought are to setup a 5.1 in my living room and then to use the 2nd zone out to the unused channels on my 7 channel amp to drive speakers in another room, yeah it will be some wiring but would save lots of space in the second room. 

Will this separate system gear really sound better than a $300 HTIB for movies and TV?   I hope so or I'm in the dog house. 

Ugh, wish emo had an option between used and $2500 for the XMC-1   I'm sure its a great pre pro just a little hard talk the dear wife into more $ after the speakers, wires, amp...  LOL    

I know this last question is loaded and can be debated in its own thread.. but if I'm running less than ten feet  more like 5 feet are balanced connects VS RCA interconnects.  I assume RCA is ok but this is all new to me so if balanced is worth it I reckon I need to know. 

Thanks everyone. I know lots of questions 

I will try to answer a few of your questions. The XMC-1 uses a Burr Brown 1796 DSD DAC and features a state of the art dual ladder volume control. The front left and right channels are balanced. (However, as with any fully balanced processor the power amp you use must also be fully balanced or you cannot take advantage of the lower signal to noise ratio the balanced circuit can provide. If you have balanced amplifiers use balanced cables). You can connect a computer via its asynchronous USB port and send the output directly to the DAC.  You can also connect a BluRay/SACD/CD play via HDMI and the DAC in the XMC-1 will handle all the processing.  I have not heard any processor at three times the price of the XMC-1 that sounds better. The Dirac EQ system is incredibly impressive. You can download the XMC-1 owner's manual and learn a lot. You can also read the review in Secrets of Home Theater and HiFi at hometheaterhifi.com. The XMC-1 is a fantastic sounding processor with great versatility. If you care about sound it is expensive to do much better.

[cheapthryl]

I understand the sale ended on the 8th (yesterday) from an email. If you order on line before they change the prices today you should be good. They may not change the price for a few days but that's a chance you take. Maybe someone else has different info.

[greenpsycho]

I have an email saying sales ends Jan 11th (the Happy NYE one). Not a big difference, but don't want people ot think they missed the sale