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Post by greddy09sc on Nov 13, 2017 10:56:05 GMT -5
I'm in the market to upgrade my UMC-200.
I'm not planning to have over 5.1 channels. Would XMC only benefit if you have 7.1 channel or more for Dolby Atmos? Can Dolby Atmos be used in 5.1? Just want to make sure i'm not wasting more money on an XMC when I can have a MC-700 since I won't be using all the additional features of the XMC.
I will only be using a dvd player and tv hooking up to the pre-amp.
If it matters, I have XPA-5 Gen 3 Amp with Rockets AV123 RS 760 speakers.
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Post by thrillcat on Nov 13, 2017 11:00:37 GMT -5
Dirac will be an improvement over EmoQ regardless of how many channels you're using.
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Post by creimes on Nov 13, 2017 11:08:35 GMT -5
Depending on your budget I would go with the XMC-1, I owned one and Dirac is really really good.
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Post by Gary Cook on Nov 13, 2017 16:53:37 GMT -5
I'll go against the trend, I don't believe that DIRAC is worth the $2,000 premium. I'm very happy with my UMC-200 and would contemplate an MC-700 even if just for its 4K handling, which right now the XMC-1 does not match. Eventually everything will be 4K, buying a non UHD TV is getting hard already and 4K is mainstream in price these days.
With my UMC-200 I set it up using a tape measure, a sound meter, my ears and then REW via the inbuilt parametric equalisers. If you don't want to REW the MC-700 yourself it will cost way less than $2,000 to get it done professionally.
Cheers Gary
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doc1963
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Post by doc1963 on Nov 13, 2017 18:22:34 GMT -5
I’m going go against both sides and ask that for such straight forward and basic requirements, why do you feel you need to upgrade at all...? DVDs will not offer you Dolby Atmos and certainly not 4K, so are you planning to upgrade more than you’re saying here... To answer your additional question regarding Atmos, no, Dolby Atmos requires a minimum of two height channels which are usually mounted overhead. That’s typically referred to as a 5.1.2 setup.
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Post by rbk123 on Nov 13, 2017 18:57:27 GMT -5
I have both and they are a definite sonic upgrade over the UMC-200 (let alone the XMC with Dirac). The XMC will handle non-4k HDMI much better than the MC, but for 4k you'll have to drop some additional dough into the XMC.
Used XMC's are in the $1500 range and new MC's are $600 so no clue where the $2000 price difference is claimed above.
My recommendation is to try the MC and see how you like it. Return it within 30 days if it just isn't wow'ing you.
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Post by Gary Cook on Nov 13, 2017 21:51:58 GMT -5
Used XMC's are in the $1500 range and new MC's are $600 so no clue where the $2000 price difference is claimed above.. New XMC-1 = $2,499 (with free Technology Enhancement 2: HDMI 2.0b and HDCP 2.2 (V3) when it becomes available) New MC-700 = $599 Diff = $1,900 (pretty close to $2,000) Used XMC-1 = $1500 (let's say) Plus $499 for Technology Enhancement 2: HDMI 2.0b and HDCP 2.2 (V3) Plus $599 for Technology Enhancement 3: Dolby Atmos and DTS-X Total = $2,598 New MC-700 = $599 Diff = $1,999 (even closer to $2,000) Of course there is no compulsion to take the upgrades, but no 4K will prove difficult in the not so distant future as noted in the previous post. Cheers Gary
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Post by rbk123 on Nov 13, 2017 22:20:44 GMT -5
He never mentioned a need for the HDMI or the Atmos board. Not only did he not mention that, but his use case listed a DVD player (not even Bluray). $1500 - $700 = $800. Going to take a lot of rounding to get that to $2k. Don't confuse your use case with his use case.
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Post by Gary Cook on Nov 13, 2017 22:57:00 GMT -5
He never mentioned a need for the HDMI or the Atmos board. Not only did he not mention that, but his use case listed a DVD player (not even Bluray). $1500 - $700 = $800. Going to take a lot of rounding to get that to $2k. Don't confuse your use case with his use case. No argument here, but I did point out that the lack of 4K was going to be an issue if/when a new TV is required. FWIW, I believe even $800 for DIRAC is too much, get a professional to REW an MC-700 for way less and they can calibrate the TV while their there Cheers Gary
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Post by creimes on Nov 13, 2017 23:00:16 GMT -5
The XMC-1 unit itself is very nice, Dirac makes it even better Chad
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Post by bolle on Nov 14, 2017 1:56:35 GMT -5
With that system stay with the UMC-200. It sounds really good already and your speakers aren´t so good that a better processor is a good investment imho. Rather invest in your speakers or save the money.
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Post by rbk123 on Nov 14, 2017 9:51:52 GMT -5
No argument here, but I did point out that the lack of 4K was going to be an issue if/when a new TV is required. FWIW, I believe even $800 for DIRAC is too much, get a professional to REW an MC-700 for way less and they can calibrate the TV while their there Semi-agree on the first point, only in that even if he buys a 4K TV in the future it won't be an issue if he never has a 4K source. Agree on the 2nd. Dirac-like benefits can be had without dropping $800+ clams (+$100 for the full license, and...).
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Post by greddy09sc on Nov 14, 2017 10:06:24 GMT -5
I'll go against the trend, I don't believe that DIRAC is worth the $2,000 premium. I'm very happy with my UMC-200 and would contemplate an MC-700 even if just for its 4K handling, which right now the XMC-1 does not match. Eventually everything will be 4K, buying a non UHD TV is getting hard already and 4K is mainstream in price these days. With my UMC-200 I set it up using a tape measure, a sound meter, my ears and then REW via the inbuilt parametric equalisers. If you don't want to REW the MC-700 yourself it will cost way less than $2,000 to get it done professionally. Cheers Gary XMC-1 doesn't support 4k out of the box?
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Post by greddy09sc on Nov 14, 2017 10:08:41 GMT -5
He never mentioned a need for the HDMI or the Atmos board. Not only did he not mention that, but his use case listed a DVD player (not even Bluray). $1500 - $700 = $800. Going to take a lot of rounding to get that to $2k. Don't confuse your use case with his use case. No argument here, but I did point out that the lack of 4K was going to be an issue if/when a new TV is required. FWIW, I believe even $800 for DIRAC is too much, get a professional to REW an MC-700 for way less and they can calibrate the TV while their there Cheers Gary What is a REW?
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Post by greddy09sc on Nov 14, 2017 10:11:49 GMT -5
He never mentioned a need for the HDMI or the Atmos board. Not only did he not mention that, but his use case listed a DVD player (not even Bluray). $1500 - $700 = $800. Going to take a lot of rounding to get that to $2k. Don't confuse your use case with his use case. No argument here, but I did point out that the lack of 4K was going to be an issue if/when a new TV is required. FWIW, I believe even $800 for DIRAC is too much, get a professional to REW an MC-700 for way less and they can calibrate the TV while their there Cheers Gary I guess I need to update my signature. But I have a Sony XBR 4K UHD TV and OPPO BDP-103D Blu-ray player.
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Post by rbk123 on Nov 14, 2017 10:20:25 GMT -5
I guess I need to update my signature. But I have a Sony XBR 4K UHD TV and OPPO BDP-103D Blu-ray player. Now you are getting closer to Gary being correct and the difference is going to be closer to $2k, if you plan to upgrade your OPPO to a 4K player. Used XMC's will most likely have the 1.4 board (non-4K), but some are being sold with the 2.0 board. Everyone is waiting on the 2.0b board to take full advantage of the current 4K greatness due to HDR. The MC-700 has HDMI 2.0a so it's a tweener.
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Post by thrillcat on Nov 14, 2017 10:49:47 GMT -5
I guess I need to update my signature. But I have a Sony XBR 4K UHD TV and OPPO BDP-103D Blu-ray player. Now you are getting closer to Gary being correct and the difference is going to be closer to $2k, if you plan to upgrade your OPPO to a 4K player. Used XMC's will most likely have the 1.4 board (non-4K), but some are being sold with the 2.0 board. Everyone is waiting on the 2.0b board to take full advantage of the current 4K greatness due to HDR. The MC-700 has HDMI 2.0a so it's a tweener. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a used XMC with the 1.4 board should still be eligible for the free upgrade to the 2.0b board, provided they didn't use a 40% off card when they purchased?
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Post by AudioHTIT on Nov 14, 2017 11:19:29 GMT -5
Now you are getting closer to Gary being correct and the difference is going to be closer to $2k, if you plan to upgrade your OPPO to a 4K player. Used XMC's will most likely have the 1.4 board (non-4K), but some are being sold with the 2.0 board. Everyone is waiting on the 2.0b board to take full advantage of the current 4K greatness due to HDR. The MC-700 has HDMI 2.0a so it's a tweener. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a used XMC with the 1.4 board should still be eligible for the free upgrade to the 2.0b board, provided they didn't use a 40% off card when they purchased? I only believe that’s true if they paid full boat of $2500 and didn’t take advantage of any discount (40% card, UFL, etc.), I would doubt many on the used market qualify for this. Just looked up the current offer: SPECIAL NOTE: The original HDMI (V2) enhancement upgrade was provided at no cost to XMC-1 owners who had purchased their XMC-1 from us at the full $2499 retail price. Many chose to take advantage of this offer, but some chose to wait. We are pleased to be able to offer the current new HDMI (V3) enhancement upgrade AT NO COST TO OWNERS OF AN ORIGINAL XMC-1 WITH HDMI 1.4b, WHO PURCHASED THEIR XMC-1 FROM US AT THE FULL $2499 RETAIL PRICE, AND DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY PREVIOUS HDMI (V2) UPGRADE OFFER.
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Post by thrillcat on Nov 14, 2017 11:22:32 GMT -5
Correct me if I'm wrong, but a used XMC with the 1.4 board should still be eligible for the free upgrade to the 2.0b board, provided they didn't use a 40% off card when they purchased? I only believe that’s true if they paid full boat of $2500 and didn’t take advantage of any discount (40% card, UFL, etc.), I would doubt many on the used market qualify for this. Just looked up the current offer: SPECIAL NOTE: The original HDMI (V2) enhancement upgrade was provided at no cost to XMC-1 owners who had purchased their XMC-1 from us at the full $2499 retail price. Many chose to take advantage of this offer, but some chose to wait. We are pleased to be able to offer the current new HDMI (V3) enhancement upgrade AT NO COST TO OWNERS OF AN ORIGINAL XMC-1 WITH HDMI 1.4b, WHO PURCHASED THEIR XMC-1 FROM US AT THE FULL $2499 RETAIL PRICE, AND DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY PREVIOUS HDMI (V2) UPGRADE OFFER. So, exactly what I said. True that many on the used market will have taken advantage of the 40% off card, but there will be some that did not. Good to keep in mind, however, to confirm whether or not a unit on the used market is eligible for the free HDMI 2.0b upgrade or not. Upgrade for Life does NOT disqualify from the free update to HDMI 2.0b. I know this because i confirmed it before I purchased this summer.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Nov 14, 2017 11:23:49 GMT -5
No argument here, but I did point out that the lack of 4K was going to be an issue if/when a new TV is required. FWIW, I believe even $800 for DIRAC is too much, get a professional to REW an MC-700 for way less and they can calibrate the TV while their there Cheers Gary What is a REW? REW stands for Room Eq Wizard, it’s a (free) tool for measuring and analyzing your speakers and room. www.roomeqwizard.com
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