UMC-I to MC-700

[suffolk112000]

Hey all, I've been out of the audio/video loop for a few years now. I currently am still using my UMC-I and am looking to upgrade.
The MC-700 seems like it's a direct replacement of the UMC-I.
For those of you that went from the UMC-I to the MC-700, I'd love to hear your overall thoughts.
How stable is the 700?
In your opinion, was their any improvement in tonal quality? EMOQ? What about sync issues?
I'd just like to get some user experience from all of you and thanks in advance for your comments. 😀

[macromicroman]

If you do a search of this forum for MC-700, you should fine several posts with comments from users about this product.

[vneal]

Ditto on the search

[GTPlus]

While I get the request to use search, I also understand why he asked the question. Trying to read through the MC-700 thread to get any sort of comparison is no easy task.

Here are my quick thoughts on the upgrade, since I went from a UMC-1 to the 700.

         Pluses:
           - I noticed no degradation in sound quality 
           - HDMI switching is much, much faster and far more reliable

           - More EQ adjustment
           - I no longer have to constantly switch between inputs to get my audio back
           - Two HDMI outs was a plus for me since I have a projector
           - smaller, less rack space

           - firmware updates are easier

       Minuses
          - I highly dislike the menu GUI in the MC-700 and feel it is a step backward
          - The EQ adjustments are not user friendly and a pain to visualize and adjust.  I would tag it - powerful but frustratingly awful
          - Emo-Q is not as good for me. I can't seem to make it sound good no matter what I do. The UMC-1 I had no trouble. 

          Maybe with time I can figure it out.

Overall it was well worth the upgrade and I would recommend making the switch

[rbk123]

Definitely a noticeable improvement in sound quality with my MC700 over my UMC-1, and it rivals my XMC. If you're used to the HDMI quirks of the UMC, you'll have the patience to deal with the similar quirks in the MC. However the audio improvement is definitely worth it.

[suffolk112000]

Thanks for ALL of your replies thus far.
I actually did some searching and didn't find much.
My thinking is, now that 700 has been in the hands of several customers for a while now, much of the initial thoughts/comments are essentially not meaningful to me since there has already been fixes since initial rollout.

I guess I'll have to see the menu display firsthand as I'm planning on attending emofest this summer.
I may just choose to pony up for the XMC-I when all is said and done.
Please keep the opinions of the 700 rolling in.

[Loop 7]

Unless 4K is a must have near-term, maybe consider a UMC-200 which can be had for remarkably low pricing. This would just give you options if the MC-700 isn't quite what you want.

I've not yet made the jump to another processor simply because the UMC-200 does everything I need. I only utilize two of the four HDMI ports (streamer and BRD player).

[dasanto2]

Jun 29, 2017 13:42:28 GMT -5 Loop 7 said:

Unless 4K is a must have near-term, maybe consider a UMC-200 which can be had for remarkably low pricing. This would just give you options if the MC-700 isn't quite what you want.

I've not yet made the jump to another processor simply because the UMC-200 does everything I need. I only utilize two of the four HDMI ports (streamer and BRD player).

What's the value of a umc200 on the used market right now ?

[Loop 7]

Jun 29, 2017 13:53:31 GMT -5 dasanto2 said:

What's the value of a umc200 on the used market right now ?

I sold a UMC-200 here in the Lounge last October for $350 shipped. It was mint in every way, included 100% original everything with over 3 years remaining warranty. I sold it for a friend (still have mine).

I've seen them sell for under $300 without a box.

[suffolk112000]

So in your opinion the 200 is better than the 700?
If that's the case, I'll be looking at the XMC-I

[algreen345]

I doubt the XMC-1 will sound 8x better than the UMC-200. I had the LMC-1, UMC-1, and now UMC-200. Differences between them were large on usability and stability, very small on sonic improvements. The UMC-200 is $300. The XMC-1 is $2495. Better to spend the money on source components and speakers.

[creimes]

Jun 29, 2017 19:35:31 GMT -5 suffolk112000 said:

So in your opinion the 200 is better than the 700?
If that's the case, I'll be looking at the XMC-I

Dirac is the S%#t, all I need to say

Chad

[novisnick]

Jun 29, 2017 22:16:06 GMT -5 creimes said:

Jun 29, 2017 19:35:31 GMT -5 suffolk112000 said:

So in your opinion the 200 is better than the 700?
If that's the case, I'll be looking at the XMC-I

Dirac is the S%#t, all I need to say

Chad

What Chad said! 👍👍👍

[foggy1956]

Jun 29, 2017 22:06:30 GMT -5 algreen345 said:

I doubt the XMC-1 will sound 8x better than the UMC-200. I had the LMC-1, UMC-1, and now UMC-200. Differences between them were large on usability and stability, very small on sonic improvements. The UMC-200 is $300. The XMC-1 is $2495. Better to spend the money on source components and speakers.

Lovin my xmc-1

[vneal]

Anyone wanting to trade a XMC-1 for a UMC 200 please email me. As seen above the XMC 1 is not as good. I want to reach out and help someone here. Just trying to do my part.

[rbk123]

Jun 29, 2017 22:06:30 GMT -5 algreen345 said:

I doubt the XMC-1 will sound 8x better than the UMC-200. I had the LMC-1, UMC-1, and now UMC-200. Differences between them were large on usability and stability, very small on sonic improvements. The UMC-200 is $300. The XMC-1 is $2495. Better to spend the money on source components and speakers.

Even without Dirac (as mentioned above) there was a sizable improvement in sound quality of my XMC over my UMC-1. However, to your point, it wasn't 8x better - but that's the non-linear nature of diminishing returns. The XMC technically crosses the line into source componentry since it is the source of the processed sound as well as the room corrected sound if you're using Dirac. Preamps typically affect the sound more than amps; while speakers affect the sound more than preamps, so like you suggested - putting $$ into speakers normally is your best bang for the buck.

[suffolk112000]

I love my speakers. They sound similar to paradigm studios which, I was also demoing at that time.
Anyway, what I'm essentially hearing is that the MC-700 is moderately better (at best) than the XMC-I, big difference is better switching.
So, now I'm paying more attention to the XMC-I.
Any more comments would be appreciated.

[rbk123]

Jun 30, 2017 20:49:57 GMT -5 suffolk112000 said:

Anyway, what I'm essentially hearing is that the MC-700 is moderately better (at best) than the XMC-I, big difference is better switching.

I'm assuming you meant UMC-1, not XMC-I. And no, my experience is that sonically it was substantially superior (not moderately) to my UMC and even rivals my XMC. However the HDMI is quite finicky and I also would not describe it as "better" over the UMC; at least not yet. Might be a little faster but it's tempermental like the UMC was.

If you can swing it, the XMC is a gem, but it's also a pricey aging gem at $2.5k.

[suffolk112000]

rbk123, yes, I meant the UMC-1.
The switching issue on my UMC seems to have worsened.
Even my wife says it's time to upgrade.

[dolby]

I must be honest - I've always heard about these glitches but still bought UMC-1. There was the odd issue, but on the whole - I was actually very happy with it and the whole Internet really disliked the product due to glitches! I then decided a few months to get a UMC-200 again same story - everyone chats about the glitches but I loved it!

Maybe I've been lucky twice in a row

Now, considering an MC-700 (assuming Emotiva give me a discount) and I've read about glitches. I'm hoping to be lucky of 3 of 3 times, as effectively we have no warranty in South Africa when buying kit and it's a lucky draw.