The Official XMC-2 Owners Thread

[pjgregory]

Could anyone give me some help in understanding the HDMI outputs on the XMC-2? In particular, when you have two output devices, a TV and a Projector, how does it decide which to use at the HDMI master?

My home theatre is normally powered off completely, except for a router, an IR blaster and an Amazon 4K Firestick, that are powered on continuously. I use home automation software (CQC) to switch on the main power to the amplifiers, projector, TV, XMC-2 etc. I know from my experience with the XMC-1, that the HDMI chain was very sensitive to the order in which devices were powered on and started. I am having a lot more problems with the XMC-2.

This is the simplest case

1. The source (Firestick) is always on.
2. With only the TV plugged into HDMI Out1, apply power to the TV and the XMC-2
3. The XMC-2 goes to stand bye (orange front light) and the TV starts powering up.
4. After about 12 seconds, the TV displays a message saying there is no HDMI cable connected.
5. At this point, it is then safe to power on the XMC-2 either from the front switch, or the IR baster.
6. After the usual minute or so with the PLEASE WAIT message, XMC-2 finishes booting and I see the video from the Firestick, which is the default input.

This case works reliably, providing I pause to allow the TV to start.

Second case is exactly the same, except that the projector is plugged into HDMI Out2 before power is applied. The projector is powered up at the same time as the TV, but is left in stand bye. After the above procedure, the XMC-2 will boot up as previously and I get sound, but no TV picture.

Third case is to plug in projector to HDMI Out1 with no TV. The procedure is the same as above, except I have to send an IR power-on command to the projector, and then wait about 1 minute to see a screen image before I can start the XMC-2

I have not been able to find a way for both the projector and TV to be connected to the XMC-2 at power up reliably. Sometimes it works, otherwise just blanks screens. Needless to say, connecting or dis-connecting an HDMI cable once the XMC-2 is on, results in no video output at all.

I know that unlike the internet, HDMI is designed to fail if things are in anyway less than perfect. Don't forget it was forced through by rights holders, terrified of anyone trying to steal their content. Does the XMC-2 has any internal software that tries to re-start a connection if there is a problem. At the moment it seems that if anything it not right, it just shuts down the video and you have to physically power off all the devices to try again.

By the way, I am on Firmware 1.9 20/02/26 with HDMI 3.6 19/04/16. It looks as if the recent firmware updates have made no changes to the HDMI over the last year which may explain why problems are still persisting.

[AudioHTIT]

Apr 20, 2020 3:13:43 GMT -5 ttocs said:

Apr 20, 2020 2:56:45 GMT -5 markc said:

I have checked the latest download manual (It is version 1 dated August 2019) for the XMC-2 and it doesn't mention passive bi-amping configuration or internal channel reassignments.
There are just these two post about bi-amping in this thread.
In the RMC-1 thread there is a single post stating that it may have been a new feature in the 1.8 firmware's speaker configuration. If so, is it still there in 1.9 (and later!) and does it also appear in the XMC-2 too?

Can anyone please confirm that re-purposing the Front Width (or other) XLR outputs can be used to passively bi-amp, to avoid Y-cables, as above and that this is definitely a configurable option on the XMC-2.

Thanks

XMC-2 Menu
Setup:: Speakers:: Preset 1 or 2:: Size:: Front Width:: None/Lg Front Width/Sm Front Width/Bi Amp Front

Ha! Never saw that, nice!

[apoartar]

Here's an Atmos speaker setup question I have:

On the XMC-2, the manual (Page 56) says:

"Note: Certain speaker configuration options will only appear in the Menu under certain
conditions - when you are permitted to select or enable them. For example, the ability to
configure Center Height Speakers will be hidden unless you have already enabled Front Height
and Rear Height speakers. As a result, these options must be enabled or configured in a certain
order. I have two extra speakers that I'd like to setup as ceiling (height) speakers."

So if I have only two height speakers (two to start with - later I may buy two or four more and the extra amp, but right now I only have two extra amp channels and two extra speakers), so can I set them up as center Left and Right Height speakers? Or I guess I could set it up as rear heights, just for testing. But I figured that for the initial setup what would make most sense would be as center height speakers directly above the prime listening area (PLA). I currently have a 9.x speaker setup now, and with the two new speakers on the ceiling, that would be 11, which is the max that my current XPA-11 amp supports too.

Thanks for any insight! - Brian

[megash0n]

Apr 20, 2020 19:11:22 GMT -5 apoartar said:

Here's an Atmos speaker setup question I have:

On the XMC-2, the manual (Page 56) says:

"Note: Certain speaker configuration options will only appear in the Menu under certain
conditions - when you are permitted to select or enable them. For example, the ability to
configure Center Height Speakers will be hidden unless you have already enabled Front Height
and Rear Height speakers. As a result, these options must be enabled or configured in a certain
order. I have two extra speakers that I'd like to setup as ceiling (height) speakers."

So if I have only two height speakers (two to start with - later I may buy two or four more and the extra amp, but right now I only have two extra amp channels and two extra speakers), so can I set them up as center Left and Right Height speakers? Or I guess I could set it up as rear heights, just for testing. But I figured that for the initial setup what would make most sense would be as center height speakers directly above the prime listening area (PLA). I currently have a 9.x speaker setup now, and with the two new speakers on the ceiling, that would be 11, which is the max that my current XPA-11 amp supports too.

Thanks for any insight! - Brian

Pretty sure the proper config in this case would be front height or front top. Maybe someone else will have a better answer. All documentation I've viewed for X.1.2 has the .2 as the front.

[Lsc]

Apr 20, 2020 19:11:22 GMT -5 apoartar said:

Here's an Atmos speaker setup question I have:

On the XMC-2, the manual (Page 56) says:

"Note: Certain speaker configuration options will only appear in the Menu under certain
conditions - when you are permitted to select or enable them. For example, the ability to
configure Center Height Speakers will be hidden unless you have already enabled Front Height
and Rear Height speakers. As a result, these options must be enabled or configured in a certain
order. I have two extra speakers that I'd like to setup as ceiling (height) speakers."

So if I have only two height speakers (two to start with - later I may buy two or four more and the extra amp, but right now I only have two extra amp channels and two extra speakers), so can I set them up as center Left and Right Height speakers? Or I guess I could set it up as rear heights, just for testing. But I figured that for the initial setup what would make most sense would be as center height speakers directly above the prime listening area (PLA). I currently have a 9.x speaker setup now, and with the two new speakers on the ceiling, that would be 11, which is the max that my current XPA-11 amp supports too.

Thanks for any insight! - Brian

You can hook em up to the front height speakers and in the speaker configuration choose top middle.

[apoartar]

Apr 20, 2020 19:16:33 GMT -5 megash0n said:

Apr 20, 2020 19:11:22 GMT -5 apoartar said:

Here's an Atmos speaker setup question I have:

On the XMC-2, the manual (Page 56) says:

"Note: Certain speaker configuration options will only appear in the Menu under certain
conditions - when you are permitted to select or enable them. For example, the ability to
configure Center Height Speakers will be hidden unless you have already enabled Front Height
and Rear Height speakers. As a result, these options must be enabled or configured in a certain
order. I have two extra speakers that I'd like to setup as ceiling (height) speakers."

So if I have only two height speakers (two to start with - later I may buy two or four more and the extra amp, but right now I only have two extra amp channels and two extra speakers), so can I set them up as center Left and Right Height speakers? Or I guess I could set it up as rear heights, just for testing. But I figured that for the initial setup what would make most sense would be as center height speakers directly above the prime listening area (PLA). I currently have a 9.x speaker setup now, and with the two new speakers on the ceiling, that would be 11, which is the max that my current XPA-11 amp supports too.

Thanks for any insight! - Brian

Pretty sure the proper config in this case would be front height or front top. Maybe someone else will have a better answer. All documentation I've viewed for X.1.2 has the .2 as the front.

In the Dolby Atmos guide for 9.1.2 with ceiling speakers, they have it as middle height, although in the diagram they show the speakers slightly forward (speaker #8's in the diagram). But I guess the question is if it's possible on the XMC-2 to just configure the two ceiling speakers as middle height, instead of front or back? Or do I have to configure the XMC-2 as having fantom front and back height speakers first, then configure the middles?

[apoartar]

Apr 20, 2020 19:59:47 GMT -5 Lsc said:

Apr 20, 2020 19:11:22 GMT -5 apoartar said:

Here's an Atmos speaker setup question I have:

On the XMC-2, the manual (Page 56) says:

"Note: Certain speaker configuration options will only appear in the Menu under certain
conditions - when you are permitted to select or enable them. For example, the ability to
configure Center Height Speakers will be hidden unless you have already enabled Front Height
and Rear Height speakers. As a result, these options must be enabled or configured in a certain
order. I have two extra speakers that I'd like to setup as ceiling (height) speakers."

So if I have only two height speakers (two to start with - later I may buy two or four more and the extra amp, but right now I only have two extra amp channels and two extra speakers), so can I set them up as center Left and Right Height speakers? Or I guess I could set it up as rear heights, just for testing. But I figured that for the initial setup what would make most sense would be as center height speakers directly above the prime listening area (PLA). I currently have a 9.x speaker setup now, and with the two new speakers on the ceiling, that would be 11, which is the max that my current XPA-11 amp supports too.

Thanks for any insight! - Brian

You can hook em up to the front height speakers and in the speaker configuration choose top middle.

But I don't think the top middle option comes up on the menu unless you first configure top backs/fronts. But are you saying to physically locate the speakers at the front top, but configure as middles?

[apoartar]

Apr 20, 2020 21:34:03 GMT -5 apoartar said:

Apr 20, 2020 19:59:47 GMT -5 Lsc said:

You can hook em up to the front height speakers and in the speaker configuration choose top middle.

But I don't think the top middle option comes up on the menu unless you first configure top backs/fronts. But are you saying to physically locate the speakers at the front top, but configure as middles?

Sorry, OK, I see what you meant now. In looking more closely at the menu I guess you can either choose the front or back tops and configure either as the middle. Then also, if you actually have and then configure front and back tops, you can then add the middles on the left/right sub channel option. It's a bit confusing, but I'm going to test this out with my two speakers and see how the blu-ray of 1917 sounds. Thanks for your help.

[megash0n]

Apr 20, 2020 21:30:33 GMT -5 apoartar said:

Apr 20, 2020 19:16:33 GMT -5 megash0n said:

Pretty sure the proper config in this case would be front height or front top. Maybe someone else will have a better answer. All documentation I've viewed for X.1.2 has the .2 as the front.

In the Dolby Atmos guide for 9.1.2 with ceiling speakers, they have it as middle height, although in the diagram they show the speakers slightly forward (speaker #8's in the diagram). But I guess the question is if it's possible on the XMC-2 to just configure the two ceiling speakers as middle height, instead of front or back? Or do I have to configure the XMC-2 as having fantom front and back height speakers first, then configure the middles?

View Attachment

Gotcha. My demo tracks for 5.1.2 and 7.1.2 show them in the front. My bad. I would look into DTS:X and DTS up mixer to ensure it will behave properly with whatever you choose. This was a big issue for me. DTS claims they can work with any layout, but in practice, it doesn't appear that it will on the RMC. At least not well. It sounds much better using Front Heights. Dolby actually sounds better as well.
I'm not terribly educated on all the ins and outs of how immersive sound works, but in theory, I don't see why you goal wouldn't work.

[ttocs]

Apr 20, 2020 21:51:28 GMT -5 apoartar said:

Apr 20, 2020 21:34:03 GMT -5 apoartar said:

But I don't think the top middle option comes up on the menu unless you first configure top backs/fronts. But are you saying to physically locate the speakers at the front top, but configure as middles?

Sorry, OK, I see what you meant now. In looking more closely at the menu I guess you can either choose the front or back tops and configure either as the middle. Then also, if you actually have and then configure front and back tops, you can then add the middles on the left/right sub channel option. It's a bit confusing, but I'm going to test this out with my two speakers and see how the blu-ray of 1917 sounds. Thanks for your help.

With the aid of what you've written above, I'm taking the liberty to augment with the info below so others may benefit.

x.x.2
To get Top Middle, you can select this from either the Front Height or Rear Height menus. Easy.

x.x.6
IF, later, you want all six Tops, it's a little more interesting to setup. Do the following in the Setup Menu:
Front Height:: Sm Top Front
Rear Height:: Sm Top Rear
(After setting Front & Rear Height to Front & Rear Tops, this allows the Top Middle to become free and accessible via Left/Right Subs (Height))
Center Sub:: Mono
Left/Right Sub:: Sm Top Middle

Creative methods will need to be utilized for multiple subs with a x.x.6 setup, daisy chain, breakout box, wireless via VSUB-1 (up to 4 subs), etc.

[jonstatt]

Apr 20, 2020 4:14:55 GMT -5 pjgregory said:

Could anyone give me some help in understanding the HDMI outputs on the XMC-2? In particular, when you have two output devices, a TV and a Projector, how does it decide which to use at the HDMI master?

My home theatre is normally powered off completely, except for a router, an IR blaster and an Amazon 4K Firestick, that are powered on continuously. I use home automation software (CQC) to switch on the main power to the amplifiers, projector, TV, XMC-2 etc. I know from my experience with the XMC-1, that the HDMI chain was very sensitive to the order in which devices were powered on and started. I am having a lot more problems with the XMC-2.

This is the simplest case

1. The source (Firestick) is always on.
2. With only the TV plugged into HDMI Out1, apply power to the TV and the XMC-2
3. The XMC-2 goes to stand bye (orange front light) and the TV starts powering up.
4. After about 12 seconds, the TV displays a message saying there is no HDMI cable connected.
5. At this point, it is then safe to power on the XMC-2 either from the front switch, or the IR baster.
6. After the usual minute or so with the PLEASE WAIT message, XMC-2 finishes booting and I see the video from the Firestick, which is the default input.

This case works reliably, providing I pause to allow the TV to start.

Second case is exactly the same, except that the projector is plugged into HDMI Out2 before power is applied. The projector is powered up at the same time as the TV, but is left in stand bye. After the above procedure, the XMC-2 will boot up as previously and I get sound, but no TV picture.

Third case is to plug in projector to HDMI Out1 with no TV. The procedure is the same as above, except I have to send an IR power-on command to the projector, and then wait about 1 minute to see a screen image before I can start the XMC-2

I have not been able to find a way for both the projector and TV to be connected to the XMC-2 at power up reliably. Sometimes it works, otherwise just blanks screens. Needless to say, connecting or dis-connecting an HDMI cable once the XMC-2 is on, results in no video output at all.

I know that unlike the internet, HDMI is designed to fail if things are in anyway less than perfect. Don't forget it was forced through by rights holders, terrified of anyone trying to steal their content. Does the XMC-2 has any internal software that tries to re-start a connection if there is a problem. At the moment it seems that if anything it not right, it just shuts down the video and you have to physically power off all the devices to try again.

By the way, I am on Firmware 1.9 20/02/26 with HDMI 3.6 19/04/16. It looks as if the recent firmware updates have made no changes to the HDMI over the last year which may explain why problems are still persisting.

I have had all sorts of challenges with this too with the RMC-1L but not just at startup. I get no problems with a PS4 outputting to both screens but the FireTV or ATV will not show an image on the TV unless the projector is also powered up! Without that the signal goes on and off and on and off over and over for some reason.

HDMI 2 is meant to be the master but it doesn't seem to just use the EDID of the master which is why things are getting confused it seems.

[marcl]

Has anyone had success with one of these to solve HDMI issues? When I had my XMC-1 it was recommended and I have found it useful on my connection between my PC and the XMC-1/2.

www.amazon.com/HDfury-DrHDMI4K-18Gbps-600MHz-Manager/dp/B07VK2WSWN/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=dr+hdmi&qid=1587565301&sr=8-2

[ttocs]

Apr 22, 2020 9:23:53 GMT -5 marcl said:

Has anyone had success with one of these to solve HDMI issues? When I had my XMC-1 it was recommended and I have found it useful on my connection between my PC and the XMC-1/2.

www.amazon.com/HDfury-DrHDMI4K-18Gbps-600MHz-Manager/dp/B07VK2WSWN/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=dr+hdmi&qid=1587565301&sr=8-2

It's very telling that it has specific settings for certain brands right on it. It would seem to confirm some weakness in holding sync with some products.

[megash0n]

Apr 22, 2020 9:23:53 GMT -5 marcl said:

Has anyone had success with one of these to solve HDMI issues? When I had my XMC-1 it was recommended and I have found it useful on my connection between my PC and the XMC-1/2.

www.amazon.com/HDfury-DrHDMI4K-18Gbps-600MHz-Manager/dp/B07VK2WSWN/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=dr+hdmi&qid=1587565301&sr=8-2

I have a HDFury Integral 2. Pretty slick device. I still had a lot of issues with it as well, but later realized it was mostly my cables. I will say it is pretty cool if you need to support new TVs with older 1.4 hdmi AVRs, etc..

[megash0n]

Apr 22, 2020 12:41:18 GMT -5 megash0n said:

Apr 22, 2020 9:23:53 GMT -5 marcl said:

Has anyone had success with one of these to solve HDMI issues? When I had my XMC-1 it was recommended and I have found it useful on my connection between my PC and the XMC-1/2.

www.amazon.com/HDfury-DrHDMI4K-18Gbps-600MHz-Manager/dp/B07VK2WSWN/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=dr+hdmi&qid=1587565301&sr=8-2

I have a HDFury Integral 2. Pretty slick device. I still had a lot of issues with it as well, but later realized it was mostly my cables. I will say it is pretty cool if you need to support new TVs with older 1.4 hdmi AVRs, etc..

Edit.. It is also very cool if you need to strip HDCP out of the stream. Just saying.

[itphoenix]

Anyone else using (or trying to use) Volumio on a Raspberry Pi3 with USB on your XMC-2?

I had previously used RuneAudio with my XMC-1.  I had no problems whatsoever.

After getting my XMC-2, I was not able to get it to work.  So I switched to Volumio.  No problem.   It worked right away.

Then about 2 weeks ago I got this status when trying to play anything:


I updated Volumio.  I reflashed it again with the latest image.  Half of the time it does not see the 'Emotiva RMC-1' anymore.  If it does, I get the status in the pic above.  When I restart the Raspberry Pi, I here the relay in the XMC-2 click.

I'm running firmware 1.8 (because I'm afraid to goto 1.9).

The end result: I cannot listen to my FLAC files on my stereo. I thought maybe it was Volumio, but I am leaning on the XMC-2 since i still have other problems.  Anyone else have this issue?

[petes]

Apr 22, 2020 19:47:31 GMT -5 itphoenix said:

Anyone else using (or trying to use) Volumio on a Raspberry Pi3 with USB on your XMC-2?

I had previously used RuneAudio with my XMC-1.  I had no problems whatsoever.

After getting my XMC-2, I was not able to get it to work.  So I switched to Volumio.  No problem.   It worked right away.

Then about 2 weeks ago I got this status when trying to play anything:
View Attachment

I updated Volumio.  I reflashed it again with the latest image.  Half of the time it does not see the 'Emotiva RMC-1' anymore.  If it does, I get the status in the pic above.  When I restart the Raspberry Pi, I here the relay in the XMC-2 click.

I'm running firmware 1.8 (because I'm afraid to goto 1.9).

The end result: I cannot listen to my FLAC files on my stereo. I thought maybe it was Volumio, but I am leaning on the XMC-2 since i still have other problems.  Anyone else have this issue?

I'm not sure what the relay clicking implies, and it doesn't sound good, but I do know the USB ports on pi's are really problematic - there's hundreds of threads on the pi forums about problems. So, it could be a compatibility problems with the XMC-2, or a hardware problem on either side - pi or XMC. On the pi side, a simple test might be to try a different power supply - I have 6 pi's all running piCorePlayer and you get odd results if you under power them - they'll boot but things might not work reliably. Might be worth giving a different pi a test as well - just in case. Another route to get around this might be to ignore USB entirely and just use HDMI. There's lots of not very conclusive discussion about whether USB or HDMI audio is better (around jitter/clocks etc.), but I just find that HDMI audio is more reliable with pi's - into my XMC-1. piCorePlayer even has specific tweaks for the XMC1 chipset for USB but it's still a bit choppy at times. Of course, that's assuming volumeio has HDMI as audio output option.

[klinemj]

Apr 22, 2020 19:47:31 GMT -5 itphoenix said:

Anyone else using (or trying to use) Volumio on a Raspberry Pi3 with USB on your XMC-2?

I had previously used RuneAudio with my XMC-1.  I had no problems whatsoever.

After getting my XMC-2, I was not able to get it to work.  So I switched to Volumio.  No problem.   It worked right away.

Then about 2 weeks ago I got this status when trying to play anything:
View Attachment

I updated Volumio.  I reflashed it again with the latest image.  Half of the time it does not see the 'Emotiva RMC-1' anymore.  If it does, I get the status in the pic above.  When I restart the Raspberry Pi, I here the relay in the XMC-2 click.

I'm running firmware 1.8 (because I'm afraid to goto 1.9).

The end result: I cannot listen to my FLAC files on my stereo. I thought maybe it was Volumio, but I am leaning on the XMC-2 since i still have other problems.  Anyone else have this issue?

I searched your error on google, and it looks like the problem is the Pi...a lot of threads about that error dating back 8 years even.

Search on the various Pi boards for a clue. One I found did suggest power supply issues as was just noted by petes.

Mark

[scrawner]

Apr 22, 2020 19:47:31 GMT -5 itphoenix said:

I updated Volumio.  I reflashed it again with the latest image.  Half of the time it does not see the 'Emotiva RMC-1' anymore.  If it does, I get the status in the pic above.  When I restart the Raspberry Pi, I here the relay in the XMC-2 click.

I'm running firmware 1.8 (because I'm afraid to goto 1.9).

The end result: I cannot listen to my FLAC files on my stereo. I thought maybe it was Volumio, but I am leaning on the XMC-2 since i still have other problems.  Anyone else have this issue?

Along the lines of other good thoughts, I'd try plugging the same USB cable into a laptop if you have one handy, see if it recognizes the XMC consistently and can play through it OK.  I hear the faint relay clicks as well when USB connection transitions on/off, seems normal.  I also built a brand new Pi 4b with RoPieee (Roon Bridge) using USB a couple weeks ago and while it generally works, so far nearly each time I power on the XMC-2 (from low power mode) I have to then reboot the Pi or unplug/plug it back in for sound to play.  Haven't troubleshooted that too much yet. I didn't recall having that issue when initially using laptop USB so maybe it is something about the Pi (which is running latest USB firmware 000137ad for the 4b).  Still testing.  Good luck.

[KeithL]

I'm running a Pi v3 - with Volumio - and an RMC-1 - and it acts the same way.

If you power down the RMC-1, then restart it, the Pi no longer recognizes it as a valid USB device until you reboot the Pi.

(And I've noticed the same thing on a PC running Windows 7.)

It would seen that, somewhere along the line, the "USB hot plug capability" isn't doing its thing quite right.

I have discovered that you DO NOT have to reboot the Raspberry Pi.

If you PHYSICALLY unplug the USB cable between the Pi and the RMC-1, then plug it back in again, it works again WITHOUT rebooting the Pi.

(The USB interface knows the difference between a device that's turned off and a cable that's physically disconnected.)

Note:

There are companies who make a USB cable with a built-in switch for manually disabling connected devices like USB drives.

I tried one of these, made by someone called RiiTop... and it DID NOT work.

(I assume it disconnects the power but does not physically disconnect the data lines.)

Apr 23, 2020 9:09:38 GMT -5 scrawner said:

Apr 22, 2020 19:47:31 GMT -5 itphoenix said:

I updated Volumio.  I reflashed it again with the latest image.  Half of the time it does not see the 'Emotiva RMC-1' anymore.  If it does, I get the status in the pic above.  When I restart the Raspberry Pi, I here the relay in the XMC-2 click.

I'm running firmware 1.8 (because I'm afraid to goto 1.9).

The end result: I cannot listen to my FLAC files on my stereo. I thought maybe it was Volumio, but I am leaning on the XMC-2 since i still have other problems.  Anyone else have this issue?

Along the lines of other good thoughts, I'd try plugging the same USB cable into a laptop if you have one handy, see if it recognizes the XMC consistently and can play through it OK.  I hear the faint relay clicks as well when USB connection transitions on/off, seems normal.  I also built a brand new Pi 4b with RoPieee (Roon Bridge) using USB a couple weeks ago and while it generally works, so far nearly each time I power on the XMC-2 (from low power mode) I have to then reboot the Pi or unplug/plug it back in for sound to play.  Haven't troubleshooted that too much yet. I didn't recall having that issue when initially using laptop USB so maybe it is something about the Pi (which is running latest USB firmware 000137ad for the 4b).  Still testing.  Good luck.