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Post by gentlejax on Aug 21, 2020 9:29:22 GMT -5
I have had probably all of them wether they were stereo or ht or surround. just not 100% sure.
what were the stereo preamps they had prior to the PT-100 ? surround preamps ?
when I get on one of my emotiva kicks and start looking I find all different ones and then I look at it and then its like "oh yeah, I had that one already..but what else did I have and why didnt I keep it"
my regret is not keeping the xsp-1 when I had it lol..
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Post by garbulky on Aug 21, 2020 10:04:38 GMT -5
gentlejax No offense, but I doubt you've had all of them unless you were using emotiva long before you joined. Because there are a looooooooot.  Let me know if any of these are new to ya. Depends on what you consider as a stereo preamp. If you're talking anything that's stereo but could includes a dac, the list is long. If you're talking anything that's multichannel and includes a dac and at least stereo inputs, the list is even longer  If you're talking about stereo analog only preamps the list is short (and the PT-100 and DC-1 don't count as they have dacs as well). The only analog only stereo preamps were: the RSP-1  The RSP-2  USP-1  XSP-1 gen 1  and XSP-1 gen 2 (main change was that they switched to surface mount parts)  Surround preamps (which had dacs, and analog inputs with preamp) were the DMC-1  MMC-1  Around this period there may have actually been more of these. LMC-1  UMC-1  UMC-200  Fusion 8100 receiver  MC-700  Then you already know how the XMC-1, XMC-2, RMC-1, RMC-1L looks. Emotiva's sister company Sherbourn also had a bunch of really nice preamps the older ones which I'm not familiar about but there was a bunch. These were meant for "installer" markets and had a bit better build quality and a 10 year warranty. Some I remember are the Sherbourne 7030 which I think (no proof) was a spin off of the original prototype for the XMC-1 before it doubled in price.  Sherbourn Pt-7000  Sherbourn PT-7020A processor (similar to the UMC-1)  Sherbourn Pre-1 stereo analog preamp (it was sort of a USP-1 but with XLR inputs) (it's the one on top)  DAC preamps with no analog input XDA-1  XDA-2  Little ego  Big ego Anyone of these you don't recognize? I probably missed some of the older ones. Maybe others can help. Also things get really neat when you start researching emotiva's older amps because they had some cool ones. They had multichannel amps where each amp channel had its own power supply. SO you could have 5 power supplies in one amps. (Almost) like five monoblocks in one chassis.  You had the RPA-1 which was almost dual monoblock amp in one chassis (it had two power supplies).  The older amps also had real meters.  So neat stuff to find.
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Post by esquire on Aug 21, 2020 11:32:04 GMT -5
WOW! A stroll down memory lane. Well done.
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Post by gentlejax on Aug 21, 2020 14:00:34 GMT -5
well done garbunkle! but I could have had any of these regardless of when I joined silly!
but most of it I have had minus the MMC-1 which I saw for first time today on ebay.....now I havnt had any of the amps....or the Fusion stuff.
Seems like the older stuff was better..imo...was it less buggy than the last few years ??
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Post by garbulky on Aug 21, 2020 15:24:47 GMT -5
well done garbunkle! but I could have had any of these regardless of when I joined silly! but most of it I have had minus the MMC-1 which I saw for first time today on ebay.....now I havnt had any of the amps....or the Fusion stuff. Seems like the older stuff was better..imo...was it less buggy than the last few years ?? Aahhh cool. I didn't know you owned the old school Emo... So you've tried out their RSP-1/2 and DMC-1? I've always wanted to check them out. I owned an XDA-1. It doesn't compare well to the Pt-100 which is better, but I loved the sound. The fusion processor was kind of like a 2 channel receiver - was very shortlived. The amps I forgot to name but those were called the MPS-1 and MPS-2 (multichannel) and the RPA-1 and RPA-2. All those have had good positive reports. Is the old school stuff less buggy? Honestly I have no idea. Since I joined all the processors had some sort of issues though not necessarily bugs - more like annoyances or features promised not delivered. The UMC-1 for instance was promised to support 3d tv's but that never materialized. The XMC-1 didn't have DIRAC or HDMI 2.0 for the longest time, though they eventually received them. I would say the XMC-1 had bugs when it came out but it seems to have matured to a relatively stable platform. And unlike the MC-700, it sounds great! If I was ever going to buy a multichannel processor I would put the XMC-2 on the short list. But imo the very best quality DAC/preamp that Emotiva has made is the Emotiva DC-1. It's the clearest and best sounding for me. I also think it's the best measuring in terms of distortion. |
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Post by selind40 on Aug 21, 2020 16:42:05 GMT -5
Mr. Garbulky.....that was an awesome viewing. I love the meters on the power amps, that old school look is killer.
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Post by vcautokid on Aug 22, 2020 0:00:39 GMT -5
That's real easy. Get another XSP-1 if that is what made audio nirvana for you. Everything before is not full Differential Balanced, has optimized signal paths, and voicing. The XSP-1 gen 2 was Emotiva's best. Lonnie Vaughn shares why on this video.
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Post by chops on Oct 27, 2020 19:51:52 GMT -5
The one thing that always annoyed me about Emotiva gear (and still does) is the use of all of the blue LED lighting on every single little tiny button, dial, switch, etc, etc. It's just too much. They've toned it down lately since they don't have 50 million buttons all over the front panels anymore, but man... All of those little blue rings on everything just gives that older gear an err of cheesiness, which is precisely why I never bought any Emo gear, until my amp of course recently.
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Post by Gary Cook on Oct 28, 2020 0:23:45 GMT -5
The one thing that always annoyed me about Emotiva gear (and still does) is the use of all of the blue LED lighting on every single little tiny button, dial, switch, etc, etc. It's just too much. They've toned it down lately since they don't have 50 million buttons all over the front panels anymore, but man... All of those little blue rings on everything just gives that older gear an err of cheesiness, which is precisely why I never bought any Emo gear, until my amp of course recently. I actually like the blue highlights, in my set up only the 4 monoblocks are in line of sight to the TV, all of the other gear is not in vision unless I turn my head and look at them. If you want to dull them down then light dims are useful. www.sleepsolutions.com.au/light-reducing-stickers-for-electronic-displays?gclid=Cj0KCQjwit_8BRCoARIsAIx3Rj6Dv4r_qHdSMPFl2OL5OcmzYuRqd6M0ZWQEioKJ-PnW9nFKo02VGVwaAsA2EALw_wcB#633=1487Cheers Gary |
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Post by chops on Oct 28, 2020 7:29:05 GMT -5
The one thing that always annoyed me about Emotiva gear (and still does) is the use of all of the blue LED lighting on every single little tiny button, dial, switch, etc, etc. It's just too much. They've toned it down lately since they don't have 50 million buttons all over the front panels anymore, but man... All of those little blue rings on everything just gives that older gear an err of cheesiness, which is precisely why I never bought any Emo gear, until my amp of course recently. I actually like the blue highlights, in my set up only the 4 monoblocks are in line of sight to the TV, all of the other gear is not in vision unless I turn my head and look at them. If you want to dull them down then light dims are useful. www.sleepsolutions.com.au/light-reducing-stickers-for-electronic-displays?gclid=Cj0KCQjwit_8BRCoARIsAIx3Rj6Dv4r_qHdSMPFl2OL5OcmzYuRqd6M0ZWQEioKJ-PnW9nFKo02VGVwaAsA2EALw_wcB#633=1487Cheers Gary Well I don't have to worry about it since I only have the amp, and the meter on it can be defeated if I want, as well as the status LED's. Luckily, neither are bright and obnoxious, so it usually goes unnoticed anyway. It doesn't look like a pile of blue Christmas tree lights thrown on the floor. LOL |
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Post by leonski on Nov 9, 2020 0:05:55 GMT -5
gentlejax No offense, but I doubt you've had all of them unless you were using emotiva long before you joined. Because there are a looooooooot. Let me know if any of these are new to ya. Depends on what you consider as a stereo preamp. If you're talking anything that's stereo but could includes a dac, the list is long. If you're talking anything that's multichannel and includes a dac and at least stereo inputs, the list is even longer If you're talking about stereo analog only preamps the list is short (and the PT-100 and DC-1 don't count as they have dacs as well). The only analog only stereo preamps were: the RSP-1 The RSP-2 USP-1 XSP-1 gen 1 and XSP-1 gen 2 (main change was that they switched to surface mount parts) Surround preamps (which had dacs, and analog inputs with preamp) were the DMC-1 MMC-1 Around this period there may have actually been more of these. LMC-1 UMC-1 UMC-200 Fusion 8100 receiver MC-700 Then you already know how the XMC-1, XMC-2, RMC-1, RMC-1L looks. Emotiva's sister company Sherbourn also had a bunch of really nice preamps the older ones which I'm not familiar about but there was a bunch. These were meant for "installer" markets and had a bit better build quality and a 10 year warranty. Some I remember are the Sherbourne 7030 which I think (no proof) was a spin off of the original prototype for the XMC-1 before it doubled in price. Sherbourn Pt-7000 Sherbourn PT-7020A processor (similar to the UMC-1) Sherbourn Pre-1 stereo analog preamp (it was sort of a USP-1 but with XLR inputs) (it's the one on top) DAC preamps with no analog input XDA-1 XDA-2 Little ego Big ego Anyone of these you don't recognize? I probably missed some of the older ones. Maybe others can help. Also things get really neat when you start researching emotiva's older amps because they had some cool ones. They had multichannel amps where each amp channel had its own power supply. SO you could have 5 power supplies in one amps. (Almost) like five monoblocks in one chassis. You had the RPA-1 which was almost dual monoblock amp in one chassis (it had two power supplies). The older amps also had real meters. So neat stuff to find. You can define 'stereo preamp' to exclude DAC....but I disagree. What about tone controls? I've had prees with no tone controls. Just level and selector. What about obsolete stuff like Tape Monitor Circuits? My Kenwood KA7100 is sitting over in the corner. While originally an integrated, I installed jumpers and short RCA cables OUT to go to an amp and use JUST the 'pre' part of the device. Nope.....broadly a preamp is ANY device which takes either a line level or digital signal and prepares it for an amplifier. 'Stereo' is one subcat and 'HT' is another. Certainly 'hybrid' exists since as you note, some of the HT stuff ALSO has stereo inputs....maybe for phono or 'other'? You even have a special case of 'pre' called a Buffer. No gain, but may contain tubes for 'that special sound' or be able to interface gear which would ordinarily have an 'impedance mismatch'....like a very LOW input impedance amp with a very HIGH output impedance pre......generally not a good idea. |
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Post by garbulky on Nov 9, 2020 1:25:41 GMT -5
You can define 'stereo preamp' to exclude DAC....but I disagree. What about tone controls? I've had prees with no tone controls. Just level and selector. What about obsolete stuff like Tape Monitor Circuits? My Kenwood KA7100 is sitting over in the corner. While originally an integrated, I installed jumpers and short RCA cables OUT to go to an amp and use JUST the 'pre' part of the device. Nope.....broadly a preamp is ANY device which takes either a line level or digital signal and prepares it for an amplifier. 'Stereo' is one subcat and 'HT' is another. Certainly 'hybrid' exists since as you note, some of the HT stuff ALSO has stereo inputs....maybe for phono or 'other'? You even have a special case of 'pre' called a Buffer. No gain, but may contain tubes for 'that special sound' or be able to interface gear which would ordinarily have an 'impedance mismatch'....like a very LOW input impedance amp with a very HIGH output impedance pre......generally not a good idea. Yep. Preamp can be defined in a wide variety of ways. Nowadays though when people think "preamp" they don't usually include phono pre's or tube buffers in the mix though they do indeed amplify the sound and are preamps. People usually think of preamps as having a volume control on them at the very least. |
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Post by leonski on Nov 10, 2020 2:01:43 GMT -5
Tube 'buffer' is NOT a preamp....it has no GAIN....
Phono needs what might be called a PRE- Preamp.......to go from very low levels to something a preamp CAN handle.....This included MM and MC types.
Equalization is a seperate problem and issue.
It's really simple. It's the amplifier that goes IN Front of the amplifier.....Think of it has 'stages' of amplification.
It can even be MONO if you are stuck pre-stereo. On up to as many channels as you can cram into your listening space.
DAC? Phono? Tone Controls? even Obsolete stuff like a Tape Head circuit. All can be accomodated in a preamp.
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Let me know if any of these are new to ya.
