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Post by selind40 on Nov 27, 2020 10:59:29 GMT -5
I see the XMC-1 at a great price...... will it deliver as good 2 channel sound as my XSP-1 ? I'm getting frustrated with the power turn on issues of my XSP-1 and am leery of spending a thousand bucks on another Emotiva product.......but it's so damn tempting. It's too early to start drinking to help in my decision making....  |
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Post by creimes on Nov 27, 2020 11:40:48 GMT -5
I've owned both and in my system to my ears I could not tell them apart and I did a lot of A/B listening, ymmv but I do find the XMC-1 really great for 2ch use. Most of my testing was using an ERC-3 using the XLR connection to both the XMC-1 and XSP-1.
Cheers,
Chad
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Post by routlaw on Nov 27, 2020 12:03:21 GMT -5
This conversation has come up many times in the past and like creimes states most people claim they can hear no difference. I'm not one of those. I have gone back and forth many times and can readily hear a difference, its not huge night and day but enough for me to want keep the XSP-1. Briefly what I hear is the XMC-1 seems to be a bit more round or blunt, and less lively in its presentation than the XSP-1. This is not be confused with thinking the XSP-1 is brighter sounding just livelier. More importantly you may not sense this in your system.
However there are a few things I really don't like about the XSP-1, none of which have anything to do with its audio performance. The lights will NOT completely black out and the XMC-1 does, and the volume control is not as precise below -30 db as I would prefer. So if one has a source component with somewhat higher than normal RMS gain such as my Holo Spring DAC in balanced mode, volume at sensible listening levels in my system require turning the volume down well below -30 db but the increments are in 1.5 db steps rather than at . 5 db steps when at -30 db and above. I'll never understand why Emotiva programed with awesome pre-amp this way but its what it is and have been told no firmware update can change this.
Finally FWIW, knock on wood, I have yet to have any issues with my XSP-1 sorry you are. One obvious advantage of the XMC-1 is it can be used for HT as well as excellent two channel pre-amp, has a built in DAC, Dirac room correction (if needed), but you do give up some analog connectivity. Good luck with your decision.
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Nov 27, 2020 12:22:32 GMT -5
I see the XMC-1 at a great price...... will it deliver as good 2 channel sound as my XSP-1 ? I'm getting frustrated with the power turn on issues of my XSP-1 and am leery of spending a thousand bucks on another Emotiva product.......but it's so damn tempting. It's too early to start drinking to help in my decision making.... I found the XMC-1 to be as good in 2-channel as my XSP-1. And, I started off using the DC-1 to the XSP-1, then used the DC-1 with the XMC-1...then, I found the XMC-1's DAC's were are good as the DC-1. So, I re-purposed the DC-1. I eventually upgraded to a different external DAC (which I still use). But - to me, it said a lot that the XMC-1 could replace my XSP-1 and DC-1. And, I am picky on my 2-channel. Mark |
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Post by lhracing on Nov 28, 2020 17:16:16 GMT -5
I have both, they are in different rooms with different speakers, for me the the XMC-1 sounds great. I don't listen to 2 channel using DIRAC, I prefer no compensation and in Stereo mode.
Both of my systems are setup using subwoofers, the XMC-1 with Stereo subwoofers crossed at 40hz and the XSP-1 with dual mono set as low as it can be set about 50hz I think. I use the XMC-1's internal DAC and a DC-1 with the XSP-1 and sound wise I think the only difference that I hear is the speakers.
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