abd1
Minor Hero
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Post by abd1 on Feb 23, 2017 18:30:18 GMT -5
I just purchased a used XMC-1 for just under $1300 including s/h. I'm going to replace a Pioneer SC1323k receiver, which was equivalent to one of their higher end Elite models. I've been slowly acquiring Emo amps to use. I already have 3 XPA-100's, and XPA-2, and even a mini-X A100 if needed. I was using the XPA-100's for LCR channels and then a friend sold me his XPA-2 for just over $300. I think I prefer the XPA-2 over the XPA-100's but still testing. I'll wind up selling either 2 of the XPA-100's or the XPA-2 depending on which I prefer least. So, I'll either end up with a front stage of 3 XPA-100's or an XPA-2/XPA-100. I also had some Amazon gift cards and was able to get the A500 amp on Amazon for just over $110 out of pocket. I'll use it for the 4 surround channels. I'm pretty excited about the upgrade from the Pioneer as I listen to a lot of 2-channel music and watch movies in surround and the XMC-1 seems like a perfect fit for what I'm looking for. I have a decent 2-channel system upstairs, but I've struggled to get great 2-channel performance using the Pioneer downstairs, so I'm expecting big things from the XMC-1 and amp combo.
A couple questions.... I'm going to use XLR connections for the front 3-channels since the amps support it. The A-500 does not. I have some basic monster rca cables. For amps, does upgrading the quality of these cables really matter?
When listening to 2-channel do you engage Dirac or not? I've heard that the included Dirac version limits the sampling rate, but applies room correction. Turning it off increases sampling rate but disengages room correction. Is that correct? Any thoughts or recommendations from 2-channel fans? Any other bits of wisdom I should know going in to this?
Also, I recently purchased the Blackbird 4k HDCP converter from Monoprice since my Pioneer wasn't HDCP 2.2 compatible. This little device cost me under $30 and I can now watch 4k video through my Amazon Fire TV box. Seems like a much better than adding the upgrade board from Emotiva, and at under $30 a piece I plan on adding one for my Blu-Ray player and Chromecast Ultra. Anyone use this device with their XMC-1 yet?
Thanks,
Adam
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Post by wilburthegoose on Feb 23, 2017 18:35:10 GMT -5
For XLR cables, just go to Guitar Center and pick up what you need. Professional musicians use their grades of cable for concerts - IMHO, no need to spend more.
I use Dirac (Full) for 2-channel.
PS - make sure you get a mic stand for Dirac measurements!
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abd1
Minor Hero
Posts: 29
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Post by abd1 on Feb 23, 2017 20:34:05 GMT -5
For XLR cables, just go to Guitar Center and pick up what you need. Professional musicians use their grades of cable for concerts - IMHO, no need to spend more. I use Dirac (Full) for 2-channel. PS - make sure you get a mic stand for Dirac measurements! Thanks. I purchased some Mogami XLR cables from Markertek. They were about $16 each. Maybe I could have gotten them a bit cheaper from monoprice, but I've heard really good things about their build quality. I don't have a mic stand. I do have a Joby Gorilla tripod. I used it for my Audyssey and MCACC mic as they just screwed right into it and it worked great because I could bend the arms around my sofa so the mic would sit exactly where my ears are. Would that work for the Dirac mic? |
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Post by pknaz on Feb 23, 2017 20:45:48 GMT -5
Welcome to the XMC club, you'll love it! I'd recommend doing a LOT of testing, listening, moving of speakers, mics and room treatments. Every room is different, measure, listen, measure, listen, etc. Download REW and check out the added measurement data it can provide. The mic you get with the XMC is perfectly fine to use with REW in the short term.
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Post by wilburthegoose on Feb 24, 2017 10:18:03 GMT -5
Buy a mic stand.
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Post by doc1963 on Feb 24, 2017 10:56:58 GMT -5
+1 to Wilbur's suggestion and I'd add to make it a "boom" mic stand. THIS ONE works wonderfully...!!! |
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abd1
Minor Hero
Posts: 29
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Post by abd1 on Feb 24, 2017 11:55:18 GMT -5
+1 to Wilbur's suggestion and I'd add to make it a "boom" mic stand. THIS ONE works wonderfully...!!! Thanks, purchased! |
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Post by neekos on Feb 24, 2017 12:07:23 GMT -5
I just purchased a used XMC-1 for just under $1300 including s/h. I'm going to replace a Pioneer SC1323k receiver, which was equivalent to one of their higher end Elite models. I've been slowly acquiring Emo amps to use. I already have 3 XPA-100's, and XPA-2, and even a mini-X A100 if needed. I was using the XPA-100's for LCR channels and then a friend sold me his XPA-2 for just over $300. I think I prefer the XPA-2 over the XPA-100's but still testing. I'll wind up selling either 2 of the XPA-100's or the XPA-2 depending on which I prefer least. So, I'll either end up with a front stage of 3 XPA-100's or an XPA-2/XPA-100. I also had some Amazon gift cards and was able to get the A500 amp on Amazon for just over $110 out of pocket. I'll use it for the 4 surround channels. I'm pretty excited about the upgrade from the Pioneer as I listen to a lot of 2-channel music and watch movies in surround and the XMC-1 seems like a perfect fit for what I'm looking for. I have a decent 2-channel system upstairs, but I've struggled to get great 2-channel performance using the Pioneer downstairs, so I'm expecting big things from the XMC-1 and amp combo. A couple questions.... I'm going to use XLR connections for the front 3-channels since the amps support it. The A-500 does not. I have some basic monster rca cables. For amps, does upgrading the quality of these cables really matter? When listening to 2-channel do you engage Dirac or not? I've heard that the included Dirac version limits the sampling rate, but applies room correction. Turning it off increases sampling rate but disengages room correction. Is that correct? Any thoughts or recommendations from 2-channel fans? Any other bits of wisdom I should know going in to this? Also, I recently purchased the Blackbird 4k HDCP converter from Monoprice since my Pioneer wasn't HDCP 2.2 compatible. This little device cost me under $30 and I can now watch 4k video through my Amazon Fire TV box. Seems like a much better than adding the upgrade board from Emotiva, and at under $30 a piece I plan on adding one for my Blu-Ray player and Chromecast Ultra. Anyone use this device with their XMC-1 yet? Thanks, Adam Why would you need the Blackbird device ? Why couldn't you just feed an optical cable or hdmi cable from your Amazon fire tv box to the XMC-1 and then still stream 4k content from your tv ?
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Post by andyman on Feb 24, 2017 15:03:21 GMT -5
Thanks Doc and Wilbur. I too just purchased a used Xmc. Didn't have the mic clip, was gonna order one but saw your recommendation. 👍
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abd1
Minor Hero
Posts: 29
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Post by abd1 on Feb 24, 2017 15:29:58 GMT -5
I just purchased a used XMC-1 for just under $1300 including s/h. I'm going to replace a Pioneer SC1323k receiver, which was equivalent to one of their higher end Elite models. I've been slowly acquiring Emo amps to use. I already have 3 XPA-100's, and XPA-2, and even a mini-X A100 if needed. I was using the XPA-100's for LCR channels and then a friend sold me his XPA-2 for just over $300. I think I prefer the XPA-2 over the XPA-100's but still testing. I'll wind up selling either 2 of the XPA-100's or the XPA-2 depending on which I prefer least. So, I'll either end up with a front stage of 3 XPA-100's or an XPA-2/XPA-100. I also had some Amazon gift cards and was able to get the A500 amp on Amazon for just over $110 out of pocket. I'll use it for the 4 surround channels. I'm pretty excited about the upgrade from the Pioneer as I listen to a lot of 2-channel music and watch movies in surround and the XMC-1 seems like a perfect fit for what I'm looking for. I have a decent 2-channel system upstairs, but I've struggled to get great 2-channel performance using the Pioneer downstairs, so I'm expecting big things from the XMC-1 and amp combo. A couple questions.... I'm going to use XLR connections for the front 3-channels since the amps support it. The A-500 does not. I have some basic monster rca cables. For amps, does upgrading the quality of these cables really matter? When listening to 2-channel do you engage Dirac or not? I've heard that the included Dirac version limits the sampling rate, but applies room correction. Turning it off increases sampling rate but disengages room correction. Is that correct? Any thoughts or recommendations from 2-channel fans? Any other bits of wisdom I should know going in to this? Also, I recently purchased the Blackbird 4k HDCP converter from Monoprice since my Pioneer wasn't HDCP 2.2 compatible. This little device cost me under $30 and I can now watch 4k video through my Amazon Fire TV box. Seems like a much better than adding the upgrade board from Emotiva, and at under $30 a piece I plan on adding one for my Blu-Ray player and Chromecast Ultra. Anyone use this device with their XMC-1 yet? Thanks, Adam Why would you need the Blackbird device ? Why couldn't you just feed an optical cable or hdmi cable from your Amazon fire tv box to the XMC-1 and then still stream 4k content from your tv ?
It will stream but since my current receiver, like the XMC-1, isn't HDCP 2.2 compatible, the video converts back to regular HD. In order to get the video to stream in 4K I purchased the blackbird device and now I can stream 4k from netflix or amazon, in 4k, without an issue. Basically, it serves the same function as upgrading the board that Emo is offering, except that the Blackbird is under $30 and I can just add one for each device that I need.
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Post by doc1963 on Feb 24, 2017 15:33:04 GMT -5
Thanks Doc and Wilbur. I too just purchased a used Xmc. Didn't have the mic clip, was gonna order one but saw your recommendation. 👍 You're welcome, but please be aware that the stand doesn't come with the mic clip. The threading on the boom is universal, so any one that adequately grips the body of the mic should work. Personally, I like the "clamp" style that comes with the XMC-1 calibration mic. Maybe someone else might chime in with an alternate recommendation for a good mic clip...  |
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Post by andyman on Feb 24, 2017 15:43:05 GMT -5
Hmmmm. I says in the description it does ?
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Post by doc1963 on Feb 24, 2017 15:44:25 GMT -5
Hmmmm. I says in the description it does ? Hmmm... Maybe now it does. Mine didn't, but it's been awhile...  HERE are the "clip" style if you're interested. |
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Post by andyman on Feb 24, 2017 16:03:59 GMT -5
Hmmmm. I says in the description it does ? Hmmm... Maybe now it does. Mine didn't, but it's been awhile... HERE are the "clip" style if you're interested. Thank you. I will see what's included in the pkg when it arrives. I do hope the clip is included as specified, if not will order the 3 pack. |
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Post by RichGuy on Feb 24, 2017 17:29:13 GMT -5
I have this same mic stand and it did come with the mic holder. It is a more traditional mic holder not an actual clip and it works great. This is a nice mic boom and I recommend it for setting up Dirac it works well. The included mic holder is similar to this pic but only one, not two as in the pic.  Also here is a good pic that better shows the suggested Dirac mic locations.  |
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Post by andyman on Feb 24, 2017 19:46:46 GMT -5
That's great ! Thanks RichGuy
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Post by enricoclaudio on Feb 24, 2017 22:04:33 GMT -5
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abd1
Minor Hero
Posts: 29
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Post by abd1 on Feb 27, 2017 13:49:17 GMT -5
I have this same mic stand and it did come with the mic holder. It is a more traditional mic holder not an actual clip and it works great. This is a nice mic boom and I recommend it for setting up Dirac it works well. The included mic holder is similar to this pic but only one, not two as in the pic. Also here is a good pic that better shows the suggested Dirac mic locations. Thanks! A couple of questions as I'm preparing to receive and set-up my XMC-1 soon. I noticed that during the Dirac set up there's the image of the sofa. Is that sofa representing the entire listening area or the MLP? For example, my room has an L-sectional. Should I move the mic around the MLP, or middle of the sectional, or should I move the mic around the entire sectional? Also, does the XMC-1 have to be connected to my wifi network? Or can I just run an ethernet cable to my laptop for the Dirac and firmware upgrades? Thanks again! |
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Post by Soup on Feb 27, 2017 18:27:07 GMT -5
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Post by andyman on Feb 27, 2017 19:24:44 GMT -5
Good question. But I don't know either.
I'm gonna try to set mine up tonite . I haven't purchased Dirac yet.
Lonnie has a series of videos on YouTube about set up and how to connect your unit and computer for Dirac.
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