wizard
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Post by wizard on Aug 12, 2020 4:49:49 GMT -5
Why the hell have you discontinued XSP -1 ? I was waiting to buy it!
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Aug 12, 2020 8:42:50 GMT -5
Give them a call.
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 12, 2020 9:52:02 GMT -5
If they've actually discontinued it, I'm hoping they replace it with a new model offering the following:
Calibrated crossover frequencies (both low & high pass)
Discreet R & L channels for the subwoofers
XLR outputs for the subwoofers
Built-in DAC with the usual inputs plus Ethernet & HDMI (this could be an optional module)
Roon and MQA ready DAC chip
Processor loops for equalizers and room correction devices
A silver faceplate option in addition to the usual butt-ugly black one
Better sound quality than the original XSP-1 that sounded kind of constipated compared to the best preamps on the market
Kick-Boo-Tay headphone amplifier built in
An XSP-2 "Special Edition" with better parts quality
But of course, everyone else wants something different...
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wizard
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Post by wizard on Aug 12, 2020 10:21:13 GMT -5
I wrote to Emo. Here their answer:
Danilo,
The unit was our longest running product and we thought it was time to end the life. We are working on a replacement unit but that won't be available for a while.
Nick Mandara
Content Manager
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wizard
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Post by wizard on Aug 12, 2020 10:25:33 GMT -5
I hope they will not include DAC (I prefere a stand alone one, due to continuous improvement).
I'd agree Dirac.
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Post by DavidR on Aug 12, 2020 10:27:54 GMT -5
XSP-2 ?
Wait for the G2 model.
Still waiting for the DC2 replacement.
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Post by tabbycph on Aug 12, 2020 10:41:44 GMT -5
If they've actually discontinued it, I'm hoping they replace it with a new model offering the following: Calibrated crossover frequencies (both low & high pass) Discreet R & L channels for the subwoofers XLR outputs for the subwoofers Built-in DAC with the usual inputs plus Ethernet & HDMI (this could be an optional module) Roon and MQA ready DAC chip Processor loops for equalizers and room correction devices A silver faceplate option in addition to the usual butt-ugly black one Better sound quality than the original XSP-1 that sounded kind of constipated compared to the best preamps on the market Kick-Boo-Tay headphone amplifier built in An XSP-2 "Special Edition" with better parts quality But of course, everyone else wants something different... There are a processor loop....."an external signal processor loop" and I have used it for a minidsp on mine |
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wizard
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Post by wizard on Aug 12, 2020 10:45:52 GMT -5
If they've actually discontinued it, I'm hoping they replace it with a new model offering the following: Calibrated crossover frequencies (both low & high pass) Discreet R & L channels for the subwoofers XLR outputs for the subwoofers Built-in DAC with the usual inputs plus Ethernet & HDMI (this could be an optional module) Roon and MQA ready DAC chip Processor loops for equalizers and room correction devices A silver faceplate option in addition to the usual butt-ugly black one Better sound quality than the original XSP-1 that sounded kind of constipated compared to the best preamps on the market Kick-Boo-Tay headphone amplifier built in An XSP-2 "Special Edition" with better parts quality But of course, everyone else wants something different... Which pre did you compared? |
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Post by novisnick on Aug 12, 2020 11:01:31 GMT -5
If they've actually discontinued it, I'm hoping they replace it with a new model offering the following: Calibrated crossover frequencies (both low & high pass) Discreet R & L channels for the subwoofers XLR outputs for the subwoofers Built-in DAC with the usual inputs plus Ethernet & HDMI (this could be an optional module) Roon and MQA ready DAC chip Processor loops for equalizers and room correction devices A silver faceplate option in addition to the usual butt-ugly black one Better sound quality than the original XSP-1 that sounded kind of constipated compared to the best preamps on the market Kick-Boo-Tay headphone amplifier built in An XSP-2 "Special Edition" with better parts quality But of course, everyone else wants something different... I have but one, not very significant question. 😏 At what price point were you calculating this unit to be? Faceplate may be a bit much but it is a wish list. HP amplifiers are usually best left to standalone units. I do like many of your thoughts as to what to include but at some point a unit such as this would/could end up as so many Also-Ran units. Do-it-all box. But we can dream! It’s one of the best parts of being human. |
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Post by DavidR on Aug 12, 2020 11:19:16 GMT -5
If they've actually discontinued it, I'm hoping they replace it with a new model offering the following: Calibrated crossover frequencies (both low & high pass) Discreet R & L channels for the subwoofers XLR outputs for the subwoofers Built-in DAC with the usual inputs plus Ethernet & HDMI (this could be an optional module) Roon and MQA ready DAC chip Processor loops for equalizers and room correction devices A silver faceplate option in addition to the usual butt-ugly black one Better sound quality than the original XSP-1 that sounded kind of constipated compared to the best preamps on the market Kick-Boo-Tay headphone amplifier built in An XSP-2 "Special Edition" with better parts quality But of course, everyone else wants something different... Many good upgrades and many would be useful BUT some on your wish list (near the end) are totally subjective. A PreAmp isn't really supposed to augment the sound. Its job is to convert a weak electrical signal into an output signal strong enough to be noise-tolerant and strong enough for further processing, or for sending to a power amplifier. I've been through many PreAmps, none really high quality but of very good quality, and I think with what Emotiva offers it's an excellent Pre at a great price point. I find it neutral and very quiet. Yes, this too is subjective. Would I like some of the 'goodies' on your list? You betcha. |
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Post by mgbpuff on Aug 12, 2020 11:24:23 GMT -5
I wrote to Emo. Here their answer: Danilo, The unit was our longest running product and we thought it was time to end the life. We are working on a replacement unit but that won't be available for a while. Nick Mandara Content Manager There's got to be a better reason than that! Pure serendipity? |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 12, 2020 11:33:42 GMT -5
I hope they will not include DAC (I prefere a stand alone one, due to continuous improvement). I'd agree Dirac. I’d agree on no DAC until you ask for Dirac, at that point you’ve put digital circuits inside and you might as well include a DAC. |
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wizard
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Post by wizard on Aug 12, 2020 11:45:10 GMT -5
I hope they will not include DAC (I prefere a stand alone one, due to continuous improvement). I'd agree Dirac. I’d agree on no DAC until you ask for Dirac, at that point you’ve put digital circuits inside and you might as well include a DAC. You're right! |
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Aug 12, 2020 11:45:13 GMT -5
I wrote to Emo. Here their answer: Danilo, The unit was our longest running product and we thought it was time to end the life. We are working on a replacement unit but that won't be available for a while. Nick Mandara Content Manager There's got to be a better reason than that! Pure serendipity? Most likely sales. All of these products have an initial high demand and when that is satisfied and sales drop off, it's time to create and release a new unit which generates interest and sales. |
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stiehl11
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Post by stiehl11 on Aug 12, 2020 12:35:57 GMT -5
There's got to be a better reason than that! Pure serendipity? Most likely sales. All of these products have an initial high demand and when that is satisfied and sales drop off, it's time to create and release a new unit which generates interest and sales. Adding to your thoughts... When it came out it sold for $999 with discounts that usually dropped the price up to 20%. Then the discounts went away. Then the price eventually went to $1,199. My thought is that based on units sold and their cost to produce their profit margin dipped below what was needed to keep the XSP-1 active. They could have raised the price to cover the margin but would have negatively affected sales and resulted in a price that would have put it closer to other units that had different/other attributes. With a new product coming in for $1,200~$1,500 they could offer a analog pre-amp that's significantly better in SQ to the XSP-1 or for $1,000~$1,200 offer similar SQ in a "new" product with better sales. |
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 12, 2020 12:46:08 GMT -5
Which pre did you compared? The ideal one I built in my head. And as I said - everyone's idea of an "ideal" preamplifier is different. But for those who "prefer an external DAC," may I suggest that by the time DAC technology has changed enough for you to want an upgrade, you may also want different features in your preamp. The Emotiva TA-100, for example, includes the DAC in the product, and the sum is greater than the parts. I happen to prefer the simplicity of having the DAC included in the preamp section, but to each his own... If I had to limit the features that I wanted in the XSP-1 replacement, at the top of my list would be the built-in DAC, and the ability of that DAC to accept data over Ethernet and HDMI in addition to the usual inputs, plus Roon compatibility. But YOUR choices are probably different, and there's nothing wrong with that. Besides, I've discovered that the black anodizing on aluminum parts (including faceplates) is EASY to remove! I plan to do some experimenting with this soon. Boom |
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 12, 2020 12:51:53 GMT -5
I have but one, not very significant question. 😏 At what price point were you calculating this unit to be? Hi novisnick - With increases in unit sales, and with decreases in parts cost, I would hope that the XSP-1 replacement would be somewhere between $1k and $1.5k. Price it any lower, and nobody will take it seriously; any higher, and there's too much competition. And DO NOT minimize the importance of your question - Pricing may be THE most critical factor in the success or failure of Emotiva's new preamp. Or not - I'm not a marketing analyst... |
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stiehl11
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Post by stiehl11 on Aug 12, 2020 12:53:09 GMT -5
If they've actually discontinued it, I'm hoping they replace it with a new model offering the following: Calibrated crossover frequencies (both low & high pass) Discreet R & L channels for the subwoofers XLR outputs for the subwoofers Built-in DAC with the usual inputs plus Ethernet & HDMI (this could be an optional module) Roon and MQA ready DAC chip Processor loops for equalizers and room correction devices A silver faceplate option in addition to the usual butt-ugly black one Better sound quality than the original XSP-1 that sounded kind of constipated compared to the best preamps on the market Kick-Boo-Tay headphone amplifier built in An XSP-2 "Special Edition" with better parts quality But of course, everyone else wants something different... I'm not a fan of a "one box" solution. That's why I went separates. That way when something new and "glitzy" comes out (was MQA even thought of when the XSP was released?) I can add it for less than replacing a "everything in one box" platform. For me, if I'm going to be spending money on separates, I would want my digital circuitry separate from my analog. Otherwise, why not just get a processor/AVR and call it a day? Give me a pure analog pre-amp that sounds no less as good as the Audio-GD HE1 and looks better for $1,200~$1,500 shipped to my door and call it a day. I'll buy a Raspberry Pi, stand-alone DAC, or a processor for the rest. |
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doc1963
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Post by doc1963 on Aug 12, 2020 13:06:57 GMT -5
I'm in the camp that wants the XSP to remain fully analog...  However, for the next generation (if there is to be one), I'd like to see multiple subwoofer inputs/outputs added to HT Bypass. My RMC-1L has three subwoofer outputs, but my XSP-1 can pass through only one. Right now, that's not a problem as I run mono out of my RMC-1L and use a MiniDSP to handle the rest downstream. But DLBC would never work for me in this situation. I'd also like to see more meaningful crossover frequency controls. Those (almost recessed) miniature knobs with no clear reference markings have always been a PITA. Something a bit more substantial would be nice. Other than that, I'm happy with it the way it's always been. I'd rather see all of the digital fluff remain "outboard" devices...  |
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Post by brutiarti on Aug 12, 2020 13:27:23 GMT -5
It looks like Emotiva is killing the “high end” 2ch part of the business.
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