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Post by daveczski65 on Apr 27, 2020 18:01:27 GMT -5
Ok guys,a faithful emotiva guy here for many yrs,Looking at finally redeeming my 40% off processor crd. My Needs: no more then 7.1,,no need for atmos,,need 4K, Great 2 channel and Dac.at least 2 subwoofer connections..xlr/rca.Dont want the headaches that i have been reading about XMC-2,,it looks and sounds like a great unit and for 1800. with my card is it a good deal. Or I looked at Outlaw 976 pro at 1000.00. Upgrading my front speakers to all Tekton Electron SE which will be powered by 3 PA-1s and my UPA-5 for surround duty...UMC-1 video board went,,so can only use it in zone 2..Right now using a refurbed Intergra 40.4 ,, Up in the air which will get me great 2 channel and HT sound?
Thanks guys
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Post by frenchyfranky on Apr 27, 2020 18:18:16 GMT -5
And what about a refurbished XMC-1 for 1200$ and keep your 40% card for future.
XMC-2 at 1800$ is good too.
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Post by daveczski65 on Apr 27, 2020 18:24:17 GMT -5
XMC-1 is possible,,but are all the bugs wrked out?
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Post by frenchyfranky on Apr 27, 2020 18:26:31 GMT -5
Actually the firmware is still in debugging but if you had an UMC-1 you would know what that mean.
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Post by ttocs on Apr 27, 2020 19:52:48 GMT -5
Firstly, when the XMC-1 is mentioned, it is important to define which version it is - with the original HDMI 1.4 outputs, or the HDMI 2.0 upgrade. I like to be exact when possible. The XMC-1 with the HDMI 2.0 upgrade board operates pretty similar to the XMC-2, but the XMC-2 sounds better, kinda freaky how much better it sounds, I wasn't expecting the difference to be as much as it is, and the XMC-2 switches faster now that the firmware has been tweaked.
The degree of success that can be achieved with the XMC-2 will be determined by "how" you integrate it within your system. My system has a very buggy TiVo EDGE that doesn't like my Sony tv when I use speed searching, a Sony blu-ray player which works great with the XMC-2 but sometimes can't make it through a long HDR movie without getting stuck and needing a reboot, an old OPPO and a AppleTV 4K that both work as intended now.
The XMC-2 works fine in general but has some issues that are supposed to be fixed with the next firmware. The most notable of the issues I encounter is an persistence with PCM-2.0 being reported but it is really surround 5.1, and while using optical for Reference Stereo out of the OPPO then switching to a 5.1 movie, the Reference Stereo is persistent and all the sound is coming from only the Left/Right Front speakers and nothing is coming from any other speaker - this requires a hard reset. I'm not as worried about the second version of the 2.0 issues because I've already abandoned optical for now, so that problem doesn't show up. These issues show up during a multi-format session, 2.0 to 5.1, and some folks have been able to make it repeatable so a fix can be found. I sent Emotiva my detailed expo for what I experienced.
Streaming from various sources in my system seems to be ok. Others have more complicated setups and encounter issues. You may also read about Trigger problems, but I don't have any of those with my components.
So, if you are someone who does not want to fiddle with anything, then stay with HDMI 1.4 non-4K. Every 4K HDMI 2.0 device I've purchased has needed work. At this point I don't expect TiVo to EVER care enough to make Dolby Vision to work with Sony televisions. They won't answer the simple question as to when they think they will fix the problem. I still like enough about the box to enjoy it for what it can do, even though I need to reboot my tv many times a week if I'm not "careful" about how I speed search through commercials because the Skip button doesn't work for most programs I record. The point of this is to say that it's not just the XMC-2, or RMC-1, others are out there . . . . . .
I love my XMC-2 and won't give it up! I have had listening sessions of 10 hours and more listening to fabulous sounding music without a glitch. I can stream movies without a glitch. Watching a 3 hour HDR disc on the Sony player is a crap shoot, but only because the player can goof, not the XMC-2 (lately I've found that "any" amount of moving air reduces the possibility greatly of the player freezing).
I never had these issues with my black and white 19" Magnavox tv, with the controls on top, while watching Creature Features on Saturday night (weekly broadcast of old horror movies). The biggest issue back then was adjusting the fine tuning when the signal drifted.
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Post by yeeeha17 on Apr 27, 2020 21:06:44 GMT -5
Actually the firmware is still in debugging but if you had an UMC-1 you would know what that mean. That’s what I’m afraid of!! They never finish debugging any of their processors. I have the UMC-1 still and had the MC-700 which sounded good but you had to do to many work around to get it play right. Went back to Yamaha and it just works. Still holding on to this card until the product is complete, might be never. |
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Post by frenchyfranky on Apr 27, 2020 21:33:29 GMT -5
Actually the firmware is still in debugging but if you had an UMC-1 you would know what that mean. That’s what I’m afraid of!! They never finish debugging any of their processors. I have the UMC-1 still and had the MC-700 which sounded good but you had to do to many work around to get it play right. Went back to Yamaha and it just works. Still holding on to this card until the product is complete, might be never. I had a UMC-1 also, and I must admit that it wasn't perfect but not so bad too, sometime glitching and need to reboot. After I upgraded it for the XMC-1 who was bugged for the debut but after the two first years of many firmware versions updates it became very stable an robust, I owned it for 6 years before upgraded for the XMC-2 and enjoyed it all the time. Now the XMC-2 is in his first year of life and I encounter a few bugs like many others but I'm pretty sure that it will become more and more reliable and robust with the further FW versions. Anyway I already enjoy it with the few bugs because every-time I listen it sounds amazingly good. |
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Post by daveczski65 on Apr 28, 2020 16:14:21 GMT -5
Firstly, when the XMC-1 is mentioned, it is important to define which version it is - with the original HDMI 1.4 outputs, or the HDMI 2.0 upgrade. I like to be exact when possible. The XMC-1 with the HDMI 2.0 upgrade board operates pretty similar to the XMC-2, but the XMC-2 sounds better, kinda freaky how much better it sounds, I wasn't expecting the difference to be as much as it is, and the XMC-2 switches faster now that the firmware has been tweaked. The degree of success that can be achieved with the XMC-2 will be determined by "how" you integrate it within your system. My system has a very buggy TiVo EDGE that doesn't like my Sony tv when I use speed searching, a Sony blu-ray player which works great with the XMC-2 but sometimes can't make it through a long HDR movie without getting stuck and needing a reboot, an old OPPO and a AppleTV 4K that both work as intended now. The XMC-2 works fine in general but has some issues that are supposed to be fixed with the next firmware. The most notable of the issues I encounter is an persistence with PCM-2.0 being reported but it is really surround 5.1, and while using optical for Reference Stereo out of the OPPO then switching to a 5.1 movie, the Reference Stereo is persistent and all the sound is coming from only the Left/Right Front speakers and nothing is coming from any other speaker - this requires a hard reset. I'm not as worried about the second version of the 2.0 issues because I've already abandoned optical for now, so that problem doesn't show up. These issues show up during a multi-format session, 2.0 to 5.1, and some folks have been able to make it repeatable so a fix can be found. I sent Emotiva my detailed expo for what I experienced. Streaming from various sources in my system seems to be ok. Others have more complicated setups and encounter issues. You may also read about Trigger problems, but I don't have any of those with my components. So, if you are someone who does not want to fiddle with anything, then stay with HDMI 1.4 non-4K. Every 4K HDMI 2.0 device I've purchased has needed work. At this point I don't expect TiVo to EVER care enough to make Dolby Vision to work with Sony televisions. They won't answer the simple question as to when they think they will fix the problem. I still like enough about the box to enjoy it for what it can do, even though I need to reboot my tv many times a week if I'm not "careful" about how I speed search through commercials because the Skip button doesn't work for most programs I record. The point of this is to say that it's not just the XMC-2, or RMC-1, others are out there . . . . . . I love my XMC-2 and won't give it up! I have had listening sessions of 10 hours and more listening to fabulous sounding music without a glitch. I can stream movies without a glitch. Watching a 3 hour HDR disc on the Sony player is a crap shoot, but only because the player can goof, not the XMC-2 (lately I've found that "any" amount of moving air reduces the possibility greatly of the player freezing). I never had these issues with my black and white 19" Magnavox tv, with the controls on top, while watching Creature Features on Saturday night (weekly broadcast of old horror movies). The biggest issue back then was adjusting the fine tuning when the signal drifted. Thank you for the insight,,i appreciate it..Def will want the 4k HDMI 2.0 board,,Never really had any issues with my UMC-1 ,,just slow handshaking,, |
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 9,938
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Post by KeithL on Apr 28, 2020 16:27:00 GMT -5
Just a detail note... The XMC-2, RMC-1, and RMC-1L use the new AKM 4490 DACs... which is why their analog audio output sounds somewhat better...  Firstly, when the XMC-1 is mentioned, it is important to define which version it is - with the original HDMI 1.4 outputs, or the HDMI 2.0 upgrade. I like to be exact when possible. The XMC-1 with the HDMI 2.0 upgrade board operates pretty similar to the XMC-2, but the XMC-2 sounds better, kinda freaky how much better it sounds, I wasn't expecting the difference to be as much as it is, and the XMC-2 switches faster now that the firmware has been tweaked. The degree of success that can be achieved with the XMC-2 will be determined by "how" you integrate it within your system. My system has a very buggy TiVo EDGE that doesn't like my Sony tv when I use speed searching, a Sony blu-ray player which works great with the XMC-2 but sometimes can't make it through a long HDR movie without getting stuck and needing a reboot, an old OPPO and a AppleTV 4K that both work as intended now. The XMC-2 works fine in general but has some issues that are supposed to be fixed with the next firmware. The most notable of the issues I encounter is an persistence with PCM-2.0 being reported but it is really surround 5.1, and while using optical for Reference Stereo out of the OPPO then switching to a 5.1 movie, the Reference Stereo is persistent and all the sound is coming from only the Left/Right Front speakers and nothing is coming from any other speaker - this requires a hard reset. I'm not as worried about the second version of the 2.0 issues because I've already abandoned optical for now, so that problem doesn't show up. These issues show up during a multi-format session, 2.0 to 5.1, and some folks have been able to make it repeatable so a fix can be found. I sent Emotiva my detailed expo for what I experienced. Streaming from various sources in my system seems to be ok. Others have more complicated setups and encounter issues. You may also read about Trigger problems, but I don't have any of those with my components. So, if you are someone who does not want to fiddle with anything, then stay with HDMI 1.4 non-4K. Every 4K HDMI 2.0 device I've purchased has needed work. At this point I don't expect TiVo to EVER care enough to make Dolby Vision to work with Sony televisions. They won't answer the simple question as to when they think they will fix the problem. I still like enough about the box to enjoy it for what it can do, even though I need to reboot my tv many times a week if I'm not "careful" about how I speed search through commercials because the Skip button doesn't work for most programs I record. The point of this is to say that it's not just the XMC-2, or RMC-1, others are out there . . . . . . I love my XMC-2 and won't give it up! I have had listening sessions of 10 hours and more listening to fabulous sounding music without a glitch. I can stream movies without a glitch. Watching a 3 hour HDR disc on the Sony player is a crap shoot, but only because the player can goof, not the XMC-2 (lately I've found that "any" amount of moving air reduces the possibility greatly of the player freezing). I never had these issues with my black and white 19" Magnavox tv, with the controls on top, while watching Creature Features on Saturday night (weekly broadcast of old horror movies). The biggest issue back then was adjusting the fine tuning when the signal drifted. Thank you for the insight,,i appreciate it..Def will want the 4k HDMI 2.0 board,,Never really had any issues with my UMC-1 ,,just slow handshaking,, |
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Post by daveczski65 on Apr 28, 2020 16:39:11 GMT -5
Just a detail note... The XMC-2, RMC-1, and RMC-1L use the new AKM 4490 DACs... which is why their analog audio output sounds somewhat better... Thank you for the insight,,i appreciate it..Def will want the 4k HDMI 2.0 board,,Never really had any issues with my UMC-1 ,,just slow handshaking,, Thank you for the info KeithL Def gonna give the XMC-2 a look ,, Is there another FW update coming soon? |
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Post by rbk123 on Apr 28, 2020 19:40:29 GMT -5
There's always another FW update coming soon.
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Post by jra on Apr 28, 2020 21:41:47 GMT -5
I have 3 XMC-1's, all with the HDMI 2.0 video update cards, all on the latest firmware 5.15 I think. I haven't heard the XMC-2 but for me Dirac made such a difference to the XMC-1 sound that I'm waiting out upgrading until I can get Dirac on the XMC-2. I don't need ATMOS (yet) so I'm not really concerned about the RMC's. The XMC-1's do sound really good with Dirac. I have Chord Hugo-2/Hugo/Mojo connected to the reference stereo inputs on the XMC's so if I really want pristine 2-channel that's what I use. The sound quality on the XMC-1 with Dirac is really good though, so I don't often fire up the Chord DACs.
If you need something *now*, a refurbished XMC-1 is probably golden. If you can wait for Dirac, I'd go XMC-2. Just my 2 cents. Not sure if I'll upgrade all my XMC-1 units but I'll probably do one or two.
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Post by bluescale on May 1, 2020 2:10:29 GMT -5
I'll throw another vote out for the XMC-1 if you don't need Atmos. I *think* the DAC in the XMC-2 might sound better than my XMC-1 did, but I can't say for sure. I definitely miss Dirac. Fortunately that should be coming soon. My XMC-1 was rock solid, aside from a brief few months after the HDMI board update. The XMC-2 has been mostly stable, but I've encountered a few weird glitches here and there. You'll love the XMC-2, but I think you'll love the XMC-1 just as much, and it'll cost you less money.
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