XMC-1 1.4b VS Planned XMC-1 Gen3

[mikes]

So here's my situation. I'm currently renovating a large room the idea being to make a theatre room. Everything should be finished in a couple of months. I had no intentions of buying any equipment until then, but then I saw the sale for the XMC-1 and now i'm seriously considering taking the plunge. I'm considering the original XMC-1 1.4b version and using the %10 discount on an XPA amp. I do plan to upgrade to HDMI 2.0 but not for sometime in the future. Currently I have no need for it.

While reading the XMC-1 Enhancements page I read the following in the Dolby Atmos and DTS-X upgrade
“ Available as an option on the XMC-1 Gen3 - which will be available early 2017 (XMC-1 Gen3 will be $2,499 without Atmos & DTS-X and $2,999 WITH Atmos & DTS-X)”

My question, what is the difference between the XMC-1 Gen 3 and the original 1.4b unit that is on sale. Is it just the upgrade boards or is there something else? I understand Gen 3 is not out so it may be a difficult question to answer. Clearly buying the original and only upgrading what I need would save money, but if there are fundamental changes planned that are worth the wait, I'll wait.  

Apologies if this question has been answered on another thread.  Just want to make sure i'm not missing something.

Thanks for your help

[frenchyfranky]

Yes it is just the upgrade board. Anyone who actually owns the first generation can send his unit to Emo when the board will be available in 2017 and update this unit to gen 3.

[KeithL]

By all current plans, the only functional differences are going to be the upgrade boards.
(So you will be able to upgrade any XMC-1 ever made to the latest rev by installing the upgrade boards.)

At most, maybe the front panel will say "Gen 3" instead of "Gen 2".

Oct 21, 2016 10:29:10 GMT -5 mikes said:

So here's my situation. I'm currently renovating a large room the idea being to make a theatre room. Everything should be finished in a couple of months. I had no intentions of buying any equipment until then, but then I saw the sale for the XMC-1 and now i'm seriously considering taking the plunge. I'm considering the original XMC-1 1.4b version and using the %10 discount on an XPA amp. I do plan to upgrade to HDMI 2.0 but not for sometime in the future. Currently I have no need for it.

While reading the XMC-1 Enhancements page I read the following in the Dolby Atmos and DTS-X upgrade
“ Available as an option on the XMC-1 Gen3 - which will be available early 2017 (XMC-1 Gen3 will be $2,499 without Atmos & DTS-X and $2,999 WITH Atmos & DTS-X)”

My question, what is the difference between the XMC-1 Gen 3 and the original 1.4b unit that is on sale. Is it just the upgrade boards or is there something else? I understand Gen 3 is not out so it may be a difficult question to answer. Clearly buying the original and only upgrading what I need would save money, but if there are fundamental changes planned that are worth the wait, I'll wait.  

Apologies if this question has been answered on another thread.  Just want to make sure i'm not missing something.

Thanks for your help

[panchakshari]

Hi Keith..
Again my humble request from India..
Kindly make Atoms/DtsX board like HDMI 2.0 board to easy installation in our homes/minimum professional service centres across the world..send the XMC-1 to USA is..ohh God.

[lonert]

Oct 21, 2016 10:50:17 GMT -5 KeithL said:

By all current plans, the only functional differences are going to be the upgrade boards.
(So you will be able to upgrade any XMC-1 ever made to the latest rev by installing the upgrade boards.)

At most, maybe the front panel will say "Gen 3" instead of "Gen 2".

I am very curious how this will work, given the real estate available in the rear of the XMC-1. Sacrificing the current Balanced-Ins for Height seems counterintuitive, but again, this is mere speculation.

[AudioHTIT]

Nov 7, 2016 7:54:14 GMT -5 lonert said:

Oct 21, 2016 10:50:17 GMT -5 KeithL said:

By all current plans, the only functional differences are going to be the upgrade boards.
(So you will be able to upgrade any XMC-1 ever made to the latest rev by installing the upgrade boards.)

At most, maybe the front panel will say "Gen 3" instead of "Gen 2".

I am very curious how this will work, given the real estate available in the rear of the XMC-1. Sacrificing the current Balanced-Ins for Height seems counterintuitive, but again, this is mere speculation.

The 'Gen 3' will get to 7.2.4 by repurposing the Z1 and Z2 RCA outputs for the .4 height channels. Zone 2 output will then only be available via the repurposed digital outputs (you're supposed to be able to select either the Main Zone or Zone 2 for the digital out).