Pre/pro with XPS-1 equivalent to PT-100 for music?

[teartags]

Hi all. Just joined and am looking for some advice.
The only piece of Emotiva gear I currently own is the XPS-1 phono preamp. I've got it connected to an older Denon AVR. I'm looking to get into the separates game now, and had been leaning toward just going with a 2 channel setup via the PT-100 (when they come back) and an A-300. However, I do watch a decent amount of movies and was playing around the other night switching between my current 3.1 setup and changing it to stereo. I discovered I really like having the center channel for dialogue in the movies. So, I'm now considering getting a MC-700 or even used UMC-200 and using one of the analogue inputs with the XPS-1 for my vinyl.
The quality of sound for my music is by far the most important to me. So, anyone have any opinions on whether the sound of the combo of the pre/pro with the XPS-1 will be up to the quality of the reportedly great sound of the PT-100 and its onboard phono stage?
A DAC is important too, but I have currently have a Squeezebox touch/ Rasberry Pi clunky system that I could hook up to the digital inputs on a pre/pro if needed.
Zone 2 would be nice, but could be worked around with an old Adcom speaker switch. That would save me from buying another amp to power my 2nd zone right away. I rarely need 2 different sources in the 2 zones. If so, it's my daughter watching TV and PJ Masks would sound fine to her coming from the TV speakers.
Thanks in advance for any and all opinions.

[edrummereasye]

May 3, 2018 17:49:54 GMT -5 teartags said:

Hi all. Just joined and am looking for some advice.
The only piece of Emotiva gear I currently own is the XPS-1 phono preamp. I've got it connected to an older Denon AVR. I'm looking to get into the separates game now, and had been leaning toward just going with a 2 channel setup via the PT-100 (when they come back) and an A-300. However, I do watch a decent amount of movies and was playing around the other night switching between my current 3.1 setup and changing it to stereo. I discovered I really like having the center channel for dialogue in the movies. So, I'm now considering getting a MC-700 or even used UMC-200 and using one of the analogue inputs with the XPS-1 for my vinyl.
The quality of sound for my music is by far the most important to me. So, anyone have any opinions on whether the sound of the combo of the pre/pro with the XPS-1 will be up to the quality of the reportedly great sound of the PT-100 and its onboard phono stage?
A DAC is important too, but I have currently have a Squeezebox touch/ Rasberry Pi clunky system that I could hook up to the digital inputs on a pre/pro if needed.
Zone 2 would be nice, but could be worked around with an old Adcom speaker switch. That would save me from buying another amp to power my 2nd zone right away. I rarely need 2 different sources in the 2 zones. If so, it's my daughter watching TV and PJ Masks would sound fine to her coming from the TV speakers.
Thanks in advance for any and all opinions.

Still putting the finishing touches on what will become my main vinyl rig (Marantz TT15-S1, which is a modded Clearaudio Emotion), so I have an XPS-1 but not using it. I have no experience with the MC-700, thinking about picking one up for the bedroom though. If you were asking about the XMC-1, I'd say hook the XPS-1 to one of its analog ins and no worries. I'm sure someone else can speak to the MC-700.  The UMC-200 is a good pre, again I have one but can't offer a comparison to the MC-700.

If you have the budget though, one thing you might want to consider is adding a pre and if you feel something is lacking, get an XSP-1 for two-channel. The XSP-1 is a brilliant, very neutral analog 2.1 pre with Home Theater Bypass. In bypass mode, the L/R and sub channels are pretty much a "straight wire" to the multi-channel pre-pro. And supposedly the built-in phono pre is equivalent to the XPS-1 (plus you have the option of keeping the XPS-1 and running it through one of the XSP-1's unbalanced inputs). I've had mine a long time, it's in my basement system now as I didn't feel it was necessary with the XMC-1; but when I first got it, I used it for a while in a 3.1 system with both a UMC-1 and later a UMC-200. The Gen2 is available new (and sometimes B-stock), Gen1 and Gen2 on the used market. At one time, Emotiva also sold a USP-1, which was set up pretty much exactly the same, but was aimed at a lower price point; IMO it was good, but the XSP-1 in any form is better. I had one prior to the XSP, and used it even longer in a 3.1 configuration.

Good luck, let us know what you decide and how it works out.