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Post by mickmagnus on May 10, 2022 15:32:02 GMT -5
Does anyone know if there is a difference between using HDMI audio VS USB audio on the XMC-2? I am using a PC and currently have the video set to HDMI and the audio set to USB. I know USB supports higher sample rates but is it using a different DAC internally?
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Post by AudioHTIT on May 10, 2022 15:40:32 GMT -5
Does anyone know if there is a difference between using HDMI audio VS USB audio on the XMC-2? I am using a PC and currently have the video set to HDMI and the audio set to USB. I know USB supports higher sample rates but is it using a different DAC internally? There isn't a different DAC, but certainly a difference in the way the bits get there, if you're asking if you can hear the difference I think there might be different opinions. There was a time when I felt USB sounded better, but I'm not sure I can hear that difference any more. Sometimes it's handy to be able to use USB audio with a different HDMI input, so there may be configuration advantages, and possibly a given system may be more stable with one or the other. Not sure what you're looking for. |
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Post by mickmagnus on May 10, 2022 15:45:32 GMT -5
Does anyone know if there is a difference between using HDMI audio VS USB audio on the XMC-2? I am using a PC and currently have the video set to HDMI and the audio set to USB. I know USB supports higher sample rates but is it using a different DAC internally? There isn't a different DAC, but certainly a difference in the way the bits get there, if you're asking if you can hear the difference I think there might be different opinions. There was a time when I felt USB sounded better, but I'm not sure I can hear that difference any more. Sometimes it's handy to be able to use USB audio with a different HDMI input, so there may be configuration advantages, and possibly a given system may be more stable with one or the other. Not sure what you're looking for. I'm just curious which is "better" I currently use the USB audio with an HDMI input but have to set my XMC-2 to power options to "video remains on" otherwise turning off the XMC-2 results in a loss of audio on USB, have to uninstall and reinstall USB drivers. Annoying. This doesn't happen when using HDMI audio. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on May 10, 2022 16:25:53 GMT -5
There isn't a different DAC, but certainly a difference in the way the bits get there, if you're asking if you can hear the difference I think there might be different opinions. There was a time when I felt USB sounded better, but I'm not sure I can hear that difference any more. Sometimes it's handy to be able to use USB audio with a different HDMI input, so there may be configuration advantages, and possibly a given system may be more stable with one or the other. Not sure what you're looking for. I'm just curious which is "better" I currently use the USB audio with an HDMI input but have to set my XMC-2 to power options to "video remains on" otherwise turning off the XMC-2 results in a loss of audio on USB, have to uninstall and reinstall USB drivers. Annoying. This doesn't happen when using HDMI audio. I think USB audio is considered the standard, but you are describing one of the 'stability' issues I mentioned above. I do not have that problem with my Mac, though with macOS, drivers are generally included with the OS and not added as part of an installation, I also don't use VRO and always shutdown to LPS. Maybe someone can suggest a solution to the driver issue (I assume Windows 10?), then you could keep USB audio as an option. In the mean time I wouldn't worry too much about the difference in audio quality with HDMI. |
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Post by jim80z on May 10, 2022 16:31:47 GMT -5
The only thing that affects me is the Dolby processing - pops, clicks, gaps etc. Everything else is OK for me. When are these noises occurring? During normal playback or during starting/stopping/changing input? Thanks much. Frederick For me they occur when the audio format changes eg 2.0 to 5.1 etc. The majority of my use is dolby but Im pretty sure its happened on a dis disk as well. For example Im watching something on a Nvidia shield (or Apple TV) and I go back to the user interface (or from user interface to media) a loud click or pop occurs (not always from the same speaker). Now I mute goining in or out of media etc. I only unmute when I see the RMC-1 onscreen display come up with the audio format. Cant be a difficult fix even a quick workaround might be if the RMC-1 detects a change in format then mute the sound until the new format locks in?? I tell you when I forget to mute and I have the volume up and a click occurs its the worst feeling. |
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Post by jim80z on May 10, 2022 16:52:20 GMT -5
Brent at Emotiva here. Glad to hear your RMC is back up and running! Don't get on the forum much, as there is enough work to do without going to look for more. But Keith let me know that you posted some kind words here, and we appreciate it. For anyone else with issues, please feel free to reach out, as we don't really monitor the forum for support reasons. If you can get ahold of me, I will do my best to stick with you until any issues are resolved or at least give you an honest assessment of what is going on with your processor or system. Regarding recent comments about the lack of firmware or progress updates with the processors, I understand why it may feel that way, but here is my take from the inside having handled much of the processor support for the past year. Component and chip shortages have contributed massively to delays in development, both regarding new features, like the HDMI 2.1 board, and existing features in the processors. Being a smaller company with more limited resources, when we have to pivot because a part is no longer available, not only do we not have as much clout with suppliers as the international conglomerates with whom we compete, but this simply drains our manpower resources having to redesign boards and/or code, be it for an existing processor component or a new board design. I have just seen that play out repeatedly behind the scenes in the year or so that I have been here, and it isn't an excuse, as we recognize areas that need improvement. But it is not all under our control by any means, especially over the past couple of years when we have needed things to move a little more quickly. I encourage you to reach out to Emotiva for support if you are having a specific issue with your processor, as we do not mine the forum for this data. But we are always willing to tackle an issue and provide suggestions from our experience. Thanks. Firstly its great to see this sort of followup for one of your customers Brent. Well done! Re problems brought up in this forum....no need to mine. Some have already responded to you. So here are mine 1. Loud click or pop occurs when a format changes audio eg 5.1 to 2.0 - any format change really (see my other post earlier this morning). I have to mute before doing something different eg credits of a film come up...mute the audio before exiting the movie and entering something else with a different audio format eg the GUI on the streamer etc. 2. Bass issues are well documented. I have had to artificially drop bass volume to make it close to ok.....levels all over the place and some odd behaviour between the setting 3. From time to time the RMC triggers robotic audio mode where the audio has an electronic robotic buzz to it. This is rare and a switch off and on fixes it 4. Upmixer fix - already posted to you earlier by ElectricKoolAid 5. I have extra channels (subs and atmos channels) that I would like to add so am hanging for the output expansion boards 6. Dirac Bass Mgmnt addition (but I need #5 for this first anyway) Now having written the above I am very happy with the RMCs audio performance/decoding and since I only have 1 projector plugged into it I am not having switching issues /ARC issues. However in order of importance #1 and #2 are a must fix for me and enhancement #5 is the one I really need to round things out. Im sure at some point Im going to blow a speaker with #1 if I forget to mute as I go in and out of different content and #2 well a home theatre without cracking bass isn't right is it :-) ? I am happy to test things for you guys and give you more info. Just yell! RE you comments around chipsets/logistics/supply chain. I get what your saying and that would hinder new releases eg HDMI 2.1 or option cards etc. As per above right now I would settle on #1 and #2 being sorted and they are on a known chipset footprint out in the wild so how about we fix that fast? |
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Lsc
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Post by Lsc on May 10, 2022 17:26:45 GMT -5
Does anyone know if there is a difference between using HDMI audio VS USB audio on the XMC-2? I am using a PC and currently have the video set to HDMI and the audio set to USB. I know USB supports higher sample rates but is it using a different DAC internally? I use HDMI and it sounds great. I thought HDMI was better than USB on the XMC1 so I just stuck with HDMI. I’m also using a Mac (iMac) btw but when I was using my laptop I used HDMI as well. |
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Post by autocrat on May 10, 2022 17:35:10 GMT -5
The only thing that affects me is the Dolby processing - pops, clicks, gaps etc. Everything else is OK for me. When are these noises occurring? During normal playback or during starting/stopping/changing input? Thanks much. Frederick FTA TV here has either PCM or Dolby audio tracks (sometimes both). PCM is fine, moving from PCM to Dolby pops, shouts, stops then begins to work. Moving from Dolby 2.0 to 5.1 does the same. Rewind/FF on a recorded Dolby stream is the same. Similar behaviour on Dolby streams from other devices (Bluray disks/ISO, mkv rips, whatever). It's all been documented/complained about by multiple people before but this thread is now War & Peace so can be hard to find. The problem IMO is the Dolby surround upmixer. |
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Post by thezone on May 11, 2022 1:49:46 GMT -5
Does anyone know if there is a difference between using HDMI audio VS USB audio on the XMC-2? I am using a PC and currently have the video set to HDMI and the audio set to USB. I know USB supports higher sample rates but is it using a different DAC internally? I use HDMI and it sounds great. I thought HDMI was better than USB on the XMC1 so I just stuck with HDMI. I’m also using a Mac (iMac) btw but when I was using my laptop I used HDMI as well. Keith provided a good explanation of this a while ago somewhere on here. From memory, the USB is asynchronous and therefore will result in less jitter than with HDMI. I think the USB only supports 2ch though, so if you have any 5ch audio files you'll have to use HDMI and deal with the jitter (TBH I cant tell the difference). . |
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Post by millst on May 11, 2022 12:57:38 GMT -5
Yes, USB vs HDMI has already been discussed [many times].
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Post by rudiedj23 on May 11, 2022 13:51:20 GMT -5
Hey everyone, new RMC-1L owner here (actually bought the unit used) and wondering what the suggestion would be prior to getting everything hooked up. Is there a reset option that I should use to clear out the system? I believe the seller mentioned it's running the latest firmware but of course I'll verify that. In any event I'm super excited to receive this processor and eventually get it up and running!!
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Post by doc1963 on May 11, 2022 14:08:55 GMT -5
Hey everyone, new RMC-1L owner here (actually bought the unit used) and wondering what the suggestion would be prior to getting everything hooked up. Is there a reset option that I should use to clear out the system? I believe the seller mentioned it's running the latest firmware but of course I'll verify that. In any event I'm super excited to receive this processor and eventually get it up and running!! Welcome...!!! When you get your unit, if you'd like to reset it to factory defaults, go to MENU > SETUP > ADVANCED > FACTORY RESET and then confirm. This will erase all of the prevoius owners settings and restore all of the original factory settings. The only thing that cannot be erased is the Dirac filters. Those are permanently stored until overwritten by your own calibrations. Not to worry, though, as the factory settings does not have Dirac enabled by default. Before you get your unit, I'd highly recommend downloading the User Manual and get familiar with the menu structure. After that, we're all here and happy to help you...  |
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Post by rudiedj23 on May 11, 2022 14:38:32 GMT -5
Hey everyone, new RMC-1L owner here (actually bought the unit used) and wondering what the suggestion would be prior to getting everything hooked up. Is there a reset option that I should use to clear out the system? I believe the seller mentioned it's running the latest firmware but of course I'll verify that. In any event I'm super excited to receive this processor and eventually get it up and running!! Welcome...!!! When you get your unit, if you'd like to reset it to factory defaults, go to MENU > SETUP > ADVANCED > FACTORY RESET and then confirm. This will erase all of the prevoius owners settings and restore all of the original factory settings. The only thing that cannot be erased is the Dirac filters. Those are permanently stored until overwritten by your own calibrations. Not to worry, though, as the factory settings does not have Dirac enabled by default. Before you get your unit, I'd highly recommend downloading the User Manual and get familiar with the menu structure. After that, we're all here and happy to help you... 
Thanks for these tips, funny as I had already downloaded everything related to the processor and have started to read the user manual to get prepared. |
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Post by mickmagnus on May 12, 2022 8:39:47 GMT -5
Does anyone know if there is a difference between using HDMI audio VS USB audio on the XMC-2? I am using a PC and currently have the video set to HDMI and the audio set to USB. I know USB supports higher sample rates but is it using a different DAC internally? I use HDMI and it sounds great. I thought HDMI was better than USB on the XMC1 so I just stuck with HDMI. I’m also using a Mac (iMac) btw but when I was using my laptop I used HDMI as well. I'll just have to switch to HDMI audio unless they can fix that USB issue. I don't accept leaving the unit in video remains on mode as a solution, I always used the rocker switch on my DC-1 to turn off when not in use and never had issues with the USB losing communication with my PC. |
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Lsc
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Post by Lsc on May 14, 2022 9:45:59 GMT -5
Do we have “center spread” controls for Dolby surround upmixer? I can’t seem to find it.
Just watched an audioholics YouTube video on upmixing.
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Post by marcl on May 14, 2022 9:57:58 GMT -5
Do we have “center spread” controls for Dolby surround upmixer? I can’t seem to find it. Just watched an audioholics YouTube video on upmixing. I wish! It should be possible for movies and music at 48KHz sample rate or below. I had this with my 2007 Outlaw 990 and spread the center a bit. But since the upmixers don't work with sample rates >48KHz (nor do DOWNmixers work if you turn off the center channel and want to go phantom) center spread probably would not be possible in that case. |
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ttocs
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Post by ttocs on May 14, 2022 10:13:42 GMT -5
Do we have “center spread” controls for Dolby surround upmixer? I can’t seem to find it. Just watched an audioholics YouTube video on upmixing. Main Zone:: Surround Mode:: DD Surround:: Center Spread:: On/Off |
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Post by marcl on May 14, 2022 10:16:36 GMT -5
Do we have “center spread” controls for Dolby surround upmixer? I can’t seem to find it. Just watched an audioholics YouTube video on upmixing. Main Zone:: Surround Mode:: DD Surround:: Center Spread:: On/Off Son uva gun ... I thought I remembered that being on DTS! But, it's on or off. The checkbox appeared a few FW's ago. But what does it do? On or off? 50%? 100%? |
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ttocs
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Post by ttocs on May 14, 2022 10:21:07 GMT -5
Main Zone:: Surround Mode:: DD Surround:: Center Spread:: On/Off Son uva gun ... I thought I remembered that being on DTS! But, it's on or off. The checkbox appeared a few FW's ago. But what does it do? On or off? 50%? 100%? No clue what it does. I've never even tried it. It can be turned on/off in Inputs as well, so it can be assigned per input. Setup:: Inputs:: HDMI-x:: 5.1 Mode:: DD Surround:: Center Spread:: On/Off |
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Lsc
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Post by Lsc on May 14, 2022 10:48:24 GMT -5
Main Zone:: Surround Mode:: DD Surround:: Center Spread:: On/Off Son uva gun ... I thought I remembered that being on DTS! But, it's on or off. The checkbox appeared a few FW's ago. But what does it do? On or off? 50%? 100%? According to Audioholics this setting helps the image not collapse so much on the center when upmixing 2 channel music. It essentially copies some of the center channel info to the mains. I’ll give it a try when I listen to music in a bit. |
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