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Post by jra on Sept 10, 2016 22:29:31 GMT -5
So I finally got some time today to give the Emotiva 5-channel bundle a listen after setting up the room correction (Pioneer MCACC). I'm amazed. I am comparing them with my 2 other systems, one a complete GoldenEar setup with GoldenEar Triton One towers, with a SuperCenter XL center channel, 2 SuperSat 3 surrounds and a ForceField 5 sub. The other is a Focal Berylium 1028Be setup with center channel, sub and Dolby DTS certified surrounds. Both the GoldenEar and Focal setups are driven using an XMC-1 with XPA-5 amp. I'm using a fairly low-end sub with the Emotiva speakers (can't be bothered to go back upstairs and look it up, sorry :-), but any reasonable quality sub would do I think. I set the Emotiva T1's as "large" and a cross-over at 50Hz (lowest I can do on the Pioneer SC-1222-K receiver). I listened to the Emotivas on Neo6 Music upmix, and "pure direct" to listen to just the T1's on their own. I'm familiar with both Neo6 and Direct configurations on my XMC-1 setups with the GoldenEar and Focal setups so I'm comparing apples to apples I think.
Comparing the Emotivas to the GoldenEar, the GoldenEar has the advantage on bass, but my god the imaging is almost identical. I listened to Jigalong on Peter Gabriels "Long Walk Home" soundtrack, which has the most punishing bass track for speakers I've ever heard, and the Emotiva's handled it with aplomb. You feel it in your gut. On Paul Simon's Graceland "Homeless" the vocals were haunting and clear. Best of Queen was a joy :-). I wandered around my music collection for a while, just enjoying stuff.
The Focal setup is better, no doubt (slightly better clarity, imaging and bass handling) - but costs twenty times as much. It's not 20x better :-). I can tell the difference, but not massively so - I really enjoy the Emotiva speaker setup. Both the GoldenEar and Focal setups are being driven by Emotiva XMC-1 processors and XPA-5 amps, whereas the Emotiva speaker setup is being driven by a comparatively wimpy Pioneer SC-1222-K receiver. Probably if I cranked up the volume to discomfort levels I'd notice more difference, but why would I hurt my ears :-).
Run, do not walk - and listen to the Emotivas. For just over $1k for a 5-channel setup I'm astounded by what they can do. I noticed on the website they're already sold out. Now I know why :-).
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Post by Loop 7 on Sept 10, 2016 22:40:12 GMT -5
Even though it's anecdotal, if Emotiva can compete with GoldenEar it would potentially be disruptive. Sandy Gross has eons of experience and GoldenEar speakers have received some stellar reviews. Also, the price differential is dramatic.
BTW, Pioneer's MCACC is often overlooked but I think it's quite good.
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Post by jra on Sept 10, 2016 23:34:01 GMT -5
Yeah, I will be really curious to read the first "offical" review of the T1's by a real industry reviewer (not some random bum on the internet like me tooling around in his house :-). I hope someone does a full 5 channel or 7 channel review. I wish Emotiva would get their finger out and start selling the sub. I'd love to complete the all-emo setup on this one.
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Post by frenchyfranky on Sept 11, 2016 0:01:01 GMT -5
A lot of people should be interested in your thoughts about this setup on your XMC-1 and XPA-5 combo.
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Post by jra on Sept 11, 2016 0:07:47 GMT -5
Yeah, but I *really* like the existing GoldenEar/Focal setups I have downstairs :-). I bought the Emotiva system kind of on a whim to replace the miss-matched older Onix reference 1 and Paradigm center setup I had in the playroom (for $1k and Emotiva's return guarantees I couldn't really lose - the Onix speakers cost more than that on their own), and the wife would never agree to me getting *another* XMC-1 + XPA-5 system for upstairs (no matter how much it appeals to my sense of symmetry and replacability：-）. If I moved the Emo's downstairs I'd have to re-run Dirac again just to test. It'd be a pain to re-set all that up..
I guess what I'm saying is I love you guys, but not *that* much :-).
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Post by vneal on Sept 11, 2016 8:18:17 GMT -5
Switch the large to small and set the crossover at 80Hz. I bet the sound improves
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Post by jra on Sept 11, 2016 10:06:57 GMT -5
OK, what is the theory behind that change ? The subwoofer I have with the Emotiva's is kind of "flabby", so my thinking was to direct as much of the low-end to the T1's as possible, as I know from my Airmotiv6's that the bass on those is really tight.
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Post by Dan Laufman on Sept 11, 2016 10:27:43 GMT -5
Agreed, if you're using the tower with a sub, please redirect the very low end to the subs. The T1's will sound great with a 60-80Hz high pass setting and the complementary setting on the sub.. This will dramatically lower distortion at higher volumes and improve system headroom.
Also be sure to play with the subwoofer phase control. You're going to hear a more "integrated" and natural bass response in the mid-bass when the phase is dialed in. You'll easily hear it when it is correct. It just sounds right.
There will also be less "flab" when you make the sub work at a lower low pass setting, like 60 Hz.
Try it, you'll like it!
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Post by novisnick on Sept 11, 2016 10:44:32 GMT -5
Agreed, if you're using the tower with a sub, please redirect the very low end to the subs. The T1's will sound great with a 60-80Hz high pass setting and the complementary setting on the sub.. This will dramatically lower distortion at higher volumes and improve system headroom. Also be sure to play with the subwoofer phase control. You're going to hear a more "integrated" and natural bass response in the mid-bass when the phase is dialed in. You'll easily hear it when it is correct. It just sounds right. There will also be less "flab" when you make the sub work at a lower low pass setting, like 60 Hz. Try it, you'll like it! Thanks for the advice big guy!  I bet they would intigrate perfectly with an Emotiva 15" sub!  Just sayin!!,,,,,he,,,,he,,,,he,,,,, |
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Post by Dan Laufman on Sept 11, 2016 12:08:24 GMT -5
Everything is better with a big sub!!  |
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Post by novisnick on Sept 11, 2016 12:12:37 GMT -5
Everything is better with a big sub!! Even better with a pair! |
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Post by vcautokid on Sept 11, 2016 12:16:12 GMT -5
I also want to hear the big 15 also.
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Post by frenchyfranky on Sept 11, 2016 12:16:18 GMT -5
Everything is better with a big sub!! Sooner is better too. |
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Post by jra on Sept 11, 2016 12:22:13 GMT -5
Agreed, if you're using the tower with a sub, please redirect the very low end to the subs. The T1's will sound great with a 60-80Hz high pass setting and the complementary setting on the sub.. This will dramatically lower distortion at higher volumes and improve system headroom. Also be sure to play with the subwoofer phase control. You're going to hear a more "integrated" and natural bass response in the mid-bass when the phase is dialed in. You'll easily hear it when it is correct. It just sounds right. There will also be less "flab" when you make the sub work at a lower low pass setting, like 60 Hz. Try it, you'll like it! Thanks Dan, I'll give that a try. Might not be until next weekend though. Of course I'd love to replace the current sub with an Emotiva one to make everything match, no pressure of course :-). |
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Post by craigl59 on Sept 11, 2016 12:49:18 GMT -5
Agreed, if you're using the tower with a sub, please redirect the very low end to the subs. The T1's will sound great with a 60-80Hz high pass setting and the complementary setting on the sub.. This will dramatically lower distortion at higher volumes and improve system headroom. Also be sure to play with the subwoofer phase control. You're going to hear a more "integrated" and natural bass response in the mid-bass when the phase is dialed in. You'll easily hear it when it is correct. It just sounds right. There will also be less "flab" when you make the sub work at a lower low pass setting, like 60 Hz. Try it, you'll like it! Dan: Tried exactly what you describe here with a stereo pair of T1s and a Hsu Research 12 inch sub. Checked it out carefully at 80, 60, and 40 hz crossover points. Found that at 80 hz the spatial imaging suffered from the single sub passing data from the speaker further away from it. The lower two frequencies were less troublesome but not as clear as the towers themselves. So, instead, am boosting the lows with apQualizr from 30-50 hz and finding the towers by themselves have plenty of bass. This stereo system is devoted to music more than movies and think that the sub is more helpful with the latter (if that is the emphasis). Will be adding the T1s to the C1 and E1s this next week and hope to second the information found in this thread for a 5.1 setup. Keep up the excellent design work. Craig |
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Post by MusicHead on Sept 11, 2016 18:16:44 GMT -5
Everything is better with a big sub!! Big Dan, Big Sub, Big Grin :-) |
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I bet they would intigrate perfectly with an Emotiva 15" sub! 
Just sayin!!,,,,,he,,,,he,,,,he,,,,,
