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Post by doc1963 on Apr 15, 2019 15:20:40 GMT -5
xmc-2 fully balanced front 3 and sub according to lonnie and dan this weekend. btw.... had a great time at axpona nick. thanks for the great time. Is the only difference between the RMC-1 and the XMC-2 the surround channels being fully balanced and the front of the unit using different inputs (rotary knob versus standard buttons/knob)? Considering the $2,000 difference in price, I doubt that these are the only differences. Expansion capabilities aside, we don't know exactly what's different under the hood. Hopefully, they'll share the same AKM AK4490 DACs, but they may possibly opt for the AK4458 as Anthem does in the AVM-60. If the latter is the case, I do hope to see them at least keep 4490's on the front channels. On the back panel, you can see fewer digital inputs and board mounted jacks for all RCA style inputs and outputs. Of course, the differences in price have to come from somewhere, so this doesn't surprise or bother me. More information is suppose to come this week, so stay tuned...  |
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Post by davidl81 on Apr 15, 2019 15:35:58 GMT -5
Is the only difference between the RMC-1 and the XMC-2 the surround channels being fully balanced and the front of the unit using different inputs (rotary knob versus standard buttons/knob)? Considering the $2,000 difference in price, I doubt that these are the only differences. Expansion capabilities aside, we don't know exactly what's different under the hood. Hopefully, they'll share the same AKM AK4490 DACs, but they may possibly opt for the AK4458 as Anthem does in the AVM-60. If the latter is the case, I do hope to see them at least keep 4490's on the front channels. On the back panel, you can see fewer digital inputs and board mounted jacks for all RCA style inputs and outputs. Of course, the differences in price have to come from somewhere, so this doesn't surprise or bother me. More information is suppose to come this week, so stay tuned... I should have clarified, I was asking about the RMC-1L versus the XMC-2, but your post Doc was still insightful. |
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Post by Percussionista on Apr 15, 2019 15:37:17 GMT -5
I’d have another look at your Mps-2. Mine had xlr inputs.
Oink, I be an eejit. Yes they're there. Black on black, I skipped over them when checking. Thanks!!
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Masif
Minor Hero
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Post by Masif on Apr 15, 2019 17:04:46 GMT -5
XMC-2 announcement: The existing upgrade Atmos board to the XMC-1 that was previously announced isn't happening. Having two separate OS paths with the different chips were going to be far too expensive and time consuming for the engineering team. Instead, we will offer an upgrade path to a brand new XMC-2 unit with a trade in program. For any person who owns an XMC-1 with the V3 board, you can upgrade to a brand new XMC-2 for $650. If you have an XMC-1 without the V3 board, it will be $1,050 to upgrade. Basically getting a brand new unit for the price of what the Atmos board upgrade was going to be. We will have an official announcement hitting the site soon but wanted to give you the heads up first. Thank you for the info. Do you have a tentative sale date for XMC2? |
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Lsc
Emo VIPs 
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Post by Lsc on Apr 15, 2019 17:31:40 GMT -5
The RMC-1L being fully balanced for all channels has been confirmed. The XMC-2 is fully balanced for the front 3 but it’s also 9.1.6. That was new info. Hopefully it’ll be released summer-fall 2019. So... something I hadn't considered. These puppies are XLR out only (at least the picture of the XMC-2 is). I have no desire to "upgrade" my venerable MPS-2 power amp (RCA inputs) to something newer that has XLR in, so I guess when I'm ready to try out Atmos in a new processor (5.1.2) I'll have to get one of those conversion cables, XLR to RCA. Not my favorite idea. And now we see why the T2's have dropped in price! Been on the fence for a long time, since my Vandersteen 3A sigs are still pumping fine after about 20 years. Having compared them to Stealth's when I got them, I can hear more clarity on the Emo's, and "presume" the similar folded ribbon tweeters of a T2 would perform similarly. I actually use a C1 as center now with the Vandy's I wonder how "subtle" the differences are between the T2 and T2+ ?
I use the XLR to RCA for my sub now. it’s actually the reverse but its solid and works well and minimal cost too. |
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Lsc
Emo VIPs
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Post by Lsc on Apr 15, 2019 17:35:23 GMT -5
Considering the $2,000 difference in price, I doubt that these are the only differences. Expansion capabilities aside, we don't know exactly what's different under the hood. Hopefully, they'll share the same AKM AK4490 DACs, but they may possibly opt for the AK4458 as Anthem does in the AVM-60. If the latter is the case, I do hope to see them at least keep 4490's on the front channels. On the back panel, you can see fewer digital inputs and board mounted jacks for all RCA style inputs and outputs. Of course, the differences in price have to come from somewhere, so this doesn't surprise or bother me. More information is suppose to come this week, so stay tuned... I should have clarified, I was asking about the RMC-1L versus the XMC-2, but your post Doc was still insightful. Yes those two are my choices as well. Unfortunately none of my amplifiers are balanced so I’m thinking the XMC-2 is better for me. |
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Post by davidl81 on Apr 15, 2019 19:43:09 GMT -5
I should have clarified, I was asking about the RMC-1L versus the XMC-2, but your post Doc was still insightful. Yes those two are my choices as well. Unfortunately none of my amplifiers are balanced so I’m thinking the XMC-2 is better for me. My DR-2 is fully balanced, but the rest of my amps are not (XPA-5 G2, A-700). I’m really thinking the XMC-2 would be the processor for me if I were to change from my Marantz. This assumes the differences between the XMC and the RMC are minimal. I do have hesitation getting away from my Marantz because frankly it does everything I ask it to do with no issues at all. If the XMC is stable and if they have an app that can remotely control it (it will run my patio setup) then I think I will buy it. |
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Post by emofrmcgy on Apr 15, 2019 19:49:20 GMT -5
So.... With the xmc-2 moving up to 16 channels. Is there another processor with 11-13 channels in the works ?
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Post by meldhache on Apr 15, 2019 21:14:54 GMT -5
Yes trillcat, my autocorrector is nuts, didn’t catch this , I meant xmc-2 obviously
Thanks mel
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Post by Casey Leedom on Apr 15, 2019 21:42:36 GMT -5
I’d have another look at your Mps-2. Mine had xlr inputs. Oink, I be an eejit. Yes they're there. Black on black, I skipped over them when checking. Thanks!!
Yeah I was going to point out that I've been using my XLR Inputs on my MPS-1 ever since I got it 11.5 years ago. I never looked at an MPS-2, but I would have been shocked if they had gone to an RCA-only design. As far as I know, the only real difference between the MPS-1 and the MPS-2 war the aesthetics of the Front Panel. Casey |
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Post by Casey Leedom on Apr 15, 2019 21:53:48 GMT -5
Is the only difference between the RMC-1 and the XMC-2 the surround channels being fully balanced and the front of the unit using different inputs (rotary knob versus standard buttons/knob)? Considering the $2,000 difference in price, I doubt that these are the only differences. Expansion capabilities aside, we don't know exactly what's different under the hood. Hopefully, they'll share the same AKM AK4490 DACs, but they may possibly opt for the AK4458 as Anthem does in the AVM-60. If the latter is the case, I do hope to see them at least keep 4490's on the front channels. On the back panel, you can see fewer digital inputs and board mounted jacks for all RCA style inputs and outputs. Of course, the differences in price have to come from somewhere, so this doesn't surprise or bother me. More information is suppose to come this week, so stay tuned... I'd be surprised if they dropped the AK4490ENs. They're only $2.50/each in lots of 1,000. But, they could run the AK4490ENs in Dual-Monaural Mode for the Front Three (Left, Center, Right) and then the remaining Left/Right pairs of Surround and Atmos through AK4490ENs, one channel per side. But the engineering code of the change and the software, etc. in order to save ~6*$2.50 probably wouldn't be worth the effort. What I'd like to see them do is move on the the AK4490's replacement, the AK4493. Unfortunately, it's not yet available in their "EN" (QFN) package, It's only available in their "EQ" (LQFP) package. I'm not sure how much that would affect Emotiva's design or cost. Casey |
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Post by Casey Leedom on Apr 15, 2019 22:08:29 GMT -5
It's hard to get exited about obtaining sound that is provably inaudible. Ultrasonics can induce instability in the playback system but will NEVER directly be heard. Just as ultra violet cannot be seen. This is undeniable. For HD Audio, it is possible to pass an ABX test comparing a 96kHz and 44 kHz version. For this to occur, science tells us that the sound must be different in the Audible range. Why, because it was heard!  The only thing that could account for this is that the playback system introduced audible artifacts, distortions into the audible range. Not good. ... [[ MQA stuff elided for brevity ... — Casey ]] There is some possibility that lower sampling frequencies could result in audible artifacts — even if the resulting Nyquist Reproduction Limit is putatively above normally accepted human hearing range. The problem occurs with closely space frequencies and beat frequencies. Essentially it's like the audio equivalent of Moire Patterns where fine grained details interfere to create much larger patterns. For instance, see this article on An Audiophile's Guide to Quantization Error, Dithering, and Noise Shaping in Digital Audio. There's an interesting analog in the Video Domain. See The Real Reason for 4K and 8K Image Resolution at SMPTE 2016I'm 100% with you on this. A. I want to reduce clutter and complexity and just get the darned Ethernet Packets into the beast and have it do its thing there. B. I don't want to have to worry about whether this transport or that (e.g. USB, HDMI, etc.) will handle DSD at what level or anything. Just take the darn bits and make Sweet Music! :-) Casey |
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Post by cwt on Apr 16, 2019 2:45:42 GMT -5
So.... With the xmc-2 moving up to 16 channels. Is there another processor with 11-13 channels in the works ? Maybe the less than 1k version Dan outlined at CES is coming - by the end of the year he mentioned[with the usual obligatory which year caveat  ] ? It would be a hit as its been asked for many times here.. |
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Post by seraphic on Apr 16, 2019 5:43:05 GMT -5
Any pictures/details about the ERC-4 from the show? Or comments on IMAX Enhanced coming to the RMC/XMC?
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Post by Hair Nick on Apr 16, 2019 8:52:11 GMT -5
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richb
Sensei
Oppo Beta Group - Audioholics Reviewer
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Post by richb on Apr 16, 2019 9:11:02 GMT -5
It's hard to get exited about obtaining sound that is provably inaudible. Ultrasonics can induce instability in the playback system but will NEVER directly be heard. Just as ultra violet cannot be seen. This is undeniable. For HD Audio, it is possible to pass an ABX test comparing a 96kHz and 44 kHz version. For this to occur, science tells us that the sound must be different in the Audible range. Why, because it was heard! The only thing that could account for this is that the playback system introduced audible artifacts, distortions into the audible range. Not good. ... [[ MQA stuff elided for brevity ... — Casey ]] There is some possibility that lower sampling frequencies could result in audible artifacts — even if the resulting Nyquist Reproduction Limit is putatively above normally accepted human hearing range. The problem occurs with closely space frequencies and beat frequencies. Essentially it's like the audio equivalent of Moire Patterns where fine grained details interfere to create much larger patterns. For instance, see this article on An Audiophile's Guide to Quantization Error, Dithering, and Noise Shaping in Digital Audio. There's an interesting analog in the Video Domain. See The Real Reason for 4K and 8K Image Resolution at SMPTE 2016I'm 100% with you on this. A. I want to reduce clutter and complexity and just get the darned Ethernet Packets into the beast and have it do its thing there. B. I don't want to have to worry about whether this transport or that (e.g. USB, HDMI, etc.) will handle DSD at what level or anything. Just take the darn bits and make Sweet Music! :-) Casey Thanks for the link. The case is definitely made for dithering and perhaps greater bit depth. This is interesting conclusion in the Home Theater Hifi Article: hometheaterhifi.com/technical/technical-reviews/audiophiles-guide-quantization-error-dithering-noise-shaping/This argues that ultrasonics are not required but bit-depth reduces quantization errors. MQA reduces bit-depth to add lossy ultrasonics, that is moving in the wrong direction. If folks have not seen Archimago's this is an interesting article and video from RMAF about MQA. archimago.blogspot.com/2018/10/musings-on-rmaf-2018-mqa-talk.htmlArchimago has posted measurements showing the a 2K hole around 22K in the MQA decoding:  Supporting MQA may be a good business decision, given the press-hype, even Oppo added it. Roon includes MQA decoding removing the need native support by the processor/DAC. There is even the all important Off switch  - Rich |
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Post by davidl81 on Apr 16, 2019 9:37:19 GMT -5
Nick, Any idea how one could get that Dolby Atmos demo disc? I would love to play with that in my theater. |
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Post by Hair Nick on Apr 16, 2019 9:40:11 GMT -5
Nick, Any idea how one could get that Dolby Atmos demo disc? I would love to play with that in my theater. Those Dolby discs are reserved for those in the industry directly from Dolby. They are pretty hard to come by unless you are a manufacturer. |
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Post by geebo on Apr 16, 2019 9:47:19 GMT -5
XMC-2 announcement: The existing upgrade Atmos board to the XMC-1 that was previously announced isn't happening. Having two separate OS paths with the different chips were going to be far too expensive and time consuming for the engineering team. Instead, we will offer an upgrade path to a brand new XMC-2 unit with a trade in program. For any person who owns an XMC-1 with the V3 board, you can upgrade to a brand new XMC-2 for $650. If you have an XMC-1 without the V3 board, it will be $1,050 to upgrade. Basically getting a brand new unit for the price of what the Atmos board upgrade was going to be. We will have an official announcement hitting the site soon but wanted to give you the heads up first. So any possibility of an upgrade path to an RMC-1L for something like $1,650 plus XMC-1 with V3 board? |
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Post by davidl81 on Apr 16, 2019 9:59:44 GMT -5
Nick, Any idea how one could get that Dolby Atmos demo disc? I would love to play with that in my theater. Those Dolby discs are reserved for those in the industry directly from Dolby. They are pretty hard to come by unless you are a manufacturer. Ebay it is then! LOL. They have the 2015 disc there, at a smooth $59 each.... |
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] ? It would be a hit as its been asked for many times here..
