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Post by leonski on May 16, 2021 17:36:57 GMT -5
As Boomzilla said in another thread, Emotiva appears to be ignoring 2 channel audio and putting most their eggs in HT. Very disappointing. If I was going dedicated 2-ch system today- Musical Fidelity M5si Integrated Amplifier Beautiful audiophile sound. TT mm preamp. Asynchronous USB input with built-in DAC, 150w/ch into 8 ohms Emo could take the XMC-1 balanced and fully differential stereo signal path, add xps-1, and A-2 amp and have a wonderful 2-chan integrated unit MF is making good stuff......enjoy. I too am a 2ch guy. HT is ridiculous, with near-constant churning of 'stuff' and some meaningless 'certifications', like THX or whatever. And the 160+ pages of DIRAC makes me nuts. I'll bet that about 1/3 or more of the HT people would be as well served by a better 2ch system.....for the SAME $$ as invested in HT....but longer lasting and no planned obsolescence. |
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Post by audiobill on May 16, 2021 18:30:44 GMT -5
Amen.
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Post by markscho on May 17, 2021 13:29:57 GMT -5
Are we likely to see new Gen4 DR1s this year by chance - I know you cant really say, but a slight hint would work
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Post by davidl81 on May 17, 2021 13:36:55 GMT -5
Are we likely to see new Gen4 DR1s this year by chance - I know you cant really say, but a slight hint would work I would think you would see Gen 4 XPA amps before you see a new Version of the DR line of amps. |
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Post by housetech on May 17, 2021 19:15:04 GMT -5
I"m done with any 'new' surround system.
It's hard enough to get 5.1 dialed in correctly. The thought of trying to get 11.2 correct without a complete room rebuild with acoustic panels etc. is why I sold AVM60.
The past 20 yrs of frustration with surround and added cost is over for me. I wasted $THOUSANDS ($20k?) on a rabbit hole.
I did have 2 channel sounding good with just a few acoustic panels in my other house. I was satisfied with the 2ch electronics & speakers.
I've NEVER been satisfied with surround. If one can't get 2ch correct, why would anyone expect to get surround correct?!
To each their own...
The thought I of had a McIntosh system for less money makes my blood boil.
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Post by leonski on May 17, 2021 20:52:55 GMT -5
I"m done with any 'new' surround system. It's hard enough to get 5.1 dialed in correctly. The thought of trying to get 11.2 correct without a complete room rebuild with acoustic panels etc. is why I sold AVM60. The past 20 yrs of frustration with surround and added cost is over for me. I wasted $THOUSANDS ($20k?) on a rabbit hole. I did have 2 channel sounding good with just a few acoustic panels in my other house. I was satisfied with the 2ch electronics & speakers. I've NEVER been satisfied with surround. If one can't get 2ch correct, why would anyone expect to get surround correct?! To each their own... The thought I of had a McIntosh system for less money makes my blood boil.Glad someone with HT experience said it. If I said it, I'd be panned....and with some justification. My experience with HT? I made up a Dynaquad system Yes.....In the 70s I experimented with some success with surround sound. But STUDIO stuff lacked the out of phase / ambience needed while live music put you right in the MIDDLE of the audience. Spooky, even. This was PRE VHS so no movies available at all. Even laser disc (excellent picture) was in the future..... Later I bought an original Dolby system and it was awful The amp? NOISY in the extreme and unusable. Those speakers are in my GARAGE system now, driven by a 35$ amp from Parts Express..... When I see OVER 160 PAGES of comments, issues, problems and yes, some success stories about DIRAC, I about flip. I have come to 2 conclusions. Buy for VALUE to YOU. I'm thinking ONE AND DONE. Buy the best you can that satisfies the 'itch'. Truth is? Many, if not most setups are very sub-optimal for HT. Too small. Sofa against a wall. Speakers in poor locations. And than you try to 'tune' it with a computer program while not having good knowledge of how stuff is measured and some of the difficulties involved. Especially with the lowest frequencies. Now? A FEW of the setups I see here are nothing short of amazing. And I HATE that word! But these systems are the exception. And highly detailed. Good room setup. STABLE and with very smart people running the show AND having cooperative mates. I don't have the $$$ or urge to pursue HT in any format. But my 2.1 for the money is very good indeed. Great low extension, super imaging and loud enough to rumble stuff off the walls..... Just MY OPINION, but If I were on a budget? Spend the speaker portion on a PAIR of semi-premium speakers, not 5 or 7 'lesser' speakers. Get a GOOD sub. From one of the prime makers. And instead of 1500$ on a HT receiver which will be obsolete in 4 or 5 years? Buy a progressive 2 channel set of seperates. Nice..... |
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Post by davidl81 on May 18, 2021 7:35:24 GMT -5
I"m done with any 'new' surround system. It's hard enough to get 5.1 dialed in correctly. The thought of trying to get 11.2 correct without a complete room rebuild with acoustic panels etc. is why I sold AVM60. The past 20 yrs of frustration with surround and added cost is over for me. I wasted $THOUSANDS ($20k?) on a rabbit hole. I did have 2 channel sounding good with just a few acoustic panels in my other house. I was satisfied with the 2ch electronics & speakers. I've NEVER been satisfied with surround. If one can't get 2ch correct, why would anyone expect to get surround correct?! To each their own... The thought I of had a McIntosh system for less money makes my blood boil.Glad someone with HT experience said it. If I said it, I'd be panned....and with some justification. My experience with HT? I made up a Dynaquad system Yes.....In the 70s I experimented with some success with surround sound. But STUDIO stuff lacked the out of phase / ambience needed while live music put you right in the MIDDLE of the audience. Spooky, even. This was PRE VHS so no movies available at all. Even laser disc (excellent picture) was in the future..... Later I bought an original Dolby system and it was awful The amp? NOISY in the extreme and unusable. Those speakers are in my GARAGE system now, driven by a 35$ amp from Parts Express..... When I see OVER 160 PAGES of comments, issues, problems and yes, some success stories about DIRAC, I about flip. I have come to 2 conclusions. Buy for VALUE to YOU. I'm thinking ONE AND DONE. Buy the best you can that satisfies the 'itch'. Truth is? Many, if not most setups are very sub-optimal for HT. Too small. Sofa against a wall. Speakers in poor locations. And than you try to 'tune' it with a computer program while not having good knowledge of how stuff is measured and some of the difficulties involved. Especially with the lowest frequencies. Now? A FEW of the setups I see here are nothing short of amazing. And I HATE that word! But these systems are the exception. And highly detailed. Good room setup. STABLE and with very smart people running the show AND having cooperative mates. I don't have the $$$ or urge to pursue HT in any format. But my 2.1 for the money is very good indeed. Great low extension, super imaging and loud enough to rumble stuff off the walls..... Just MY OPINION, but If I were on a budget? Spend the speaker portion on a PAIR of semi-premium speakers, not 5 or 7 'lesser' speakers. Get a GOOD sub. From one of the prime makers. And instead of 1500$ on a HT receiver which will be obsolete in 4 or 5 years? Buy a progressive 2 channel set of seperates. Nice..... It's all relative for what the end goal is. We have to HT setups in the home that also are IMO really good for 2channel stereo when needed. Our living room setup is a 5.1 design all Martin Logan. The L/R speakers are the Theos and they are powered by the PA-1 amps (cabinet space is limited and these small amps work great). It does 2 channel very well, and HT ever better. Upstairs is the main HT setup with my RMC-1 running and Atmos 7.2.4 design. I've got it dialed in very well (well I did till Emo adjusted the sub output in FW 2.2 but its an easy fix). I've never been happier in a HT setup than what I have upstairs. It is exactly what I want, but that's just for me personally. |
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Post by Ex_Vintage on May 18, 2021 8:42:01 GMT -5
Well, not the best news I have heard today? I'm planning on putting the speakers/tv to one side of the long wall. So, listening area will be 15x20 with one side opening to the rest of the room. Not looking for a full blown live concert experience, but the best sound using the cards I have. Mike I have a situation very similar to yours, although it took me 5 years to build! The room is all open concept with laminate floors, milled log walls and T&G with 4x8 beams for a vaulted ceiling. I was advised not to use a too lively speaker in such a large hard surface area, but tried some Klipsch RP-600M's driven from Emo MC700 and an A500. The sound is not overly bright and can be cranked up to "fill the room". The system is configured as 3.1 which I find OK for very occasional movie watching. The main issue is the main sitting position is only about 10ft from the speakers and there are no side wall reflections, so for what you would call "critical listening" there is truly only one sweet spot.
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Post by pallpoul on May 18, 2021 8:53:40 GMT -5
Well, not the best news I have heard today? I'm planning on putting the speakers/tv to one side of the long wall. So, listening area will be 15x20 with one side opening to the rest of the room. Not looking for a full blown live concert experience, but the best sound using the cards I have. Mike I have a situation very similar to yours, although it took me 5 years to build! The room is all open concept with laminate floors, milled log walls and T&G with 4x8 beams for a vaulted ceiling. I was advised not to use a too lively speaker in such a large hard surface area, but tried some Klipsch RP-600M's driven from Emo MC700 and an A500. The sound is not overly bright and can be cranked up to "fill the room". The system is configured as 3.1 which I find OK for very occasional movie watching. The main issue is the main sitting position is only about 10ft from the speakers and there are no side wall reflections, so for what you would call "critical listening" there is truly only one sweet spot.
nice setup, but I thing your room is begging for some heresey's or forte's speakers. |
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Post by mauriceminor on May 18, 2021 9:59:49 GMT -5
Lenonski
Take a look at WATSON-SEL in the projects box linkwitzlab.com
I built a pair some years ago
MM
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Post by drtrey3 on May 18, 2021 10:38:11 GMT -5
I do miss surround music and the thought of setting things up again pops into my head about once a month. I would need to buy a pre, maybe a nice XMC-1 refurb, and I have the rest more or less. But then I turn up the stereo, pour a bourbon over ice and I think about the music more than I think about missing anything.
Trey
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Post by leonski on May 18, 2021 14:54:00 GMT -5
Glad someone with HT experience said it. If I said it, I'd be panned....and with some justification. My experience with HT? I made up a Dynaquad system Yes.....In the 70s I experimented with some success with surround sound. But STUDIO stuff lacked the out of phase / ambience needed while live music put you right in the MIDDLE of the audience. Spooky, even. This was PRE VHS so no movies available at all. Even laser disc (excellent picture) was in the future..... Later I bought an original Dolby system and it was awful The amp? NOISY in the extreme and unusable. Those speakers are in my GARAGE system now, driven by a 35$ amp from Parts Express..... When I see OVER 160 PAGES of comments, issues, problems and yes, some success stories about DIRAC, I about flip. I have come to 2 conclusions. Buy for VALUE to YOU. I'm thinking ONE AND DONE. Buy the best you can that satisfies the 'itch'. Truth is? Many, if not most setups are very sub-optimal for HT. Too small. Sofa against a wall. Speakers in poor locations. And than you try to 'tune' it with a computer program while not having good knowledge of how stuff is measured and some of the difficulties involved. Especially with the lowest frequencies. Now? A FEW of the setups I see here are nothing short of amazing. And I HATE that word! But these systems are the exception. And highly detailed. Good room setup. STABLE and with very smart people running the show AND having cooperative mates. I don't have the $$$ or urge to pursue HT in any format. But my 2.1 for the money is very good indeed. Great low extension, super imaging and loud enough to rumble stuff off the walls..... Just MY OPINION, but If I were on a budget? Spend the speaker portion on a PAIR of semi-premium speakers, not 5 or 7 'lesser' speakers. Get a GOOD sub. From one of the prime makers. And instead of 1500$ on a HT receiver which will be obsolete in 4 or 5 years? Buy a progressive 2 channel set of seperates. Nice..... It's all relative for what the end goal is. We have to HT setups in the home that also are IMO really good for 2channel stereo when needed. Our living room setup is a 5.1 design all Martin Logan. The L/R speakers are the Theos and they are powered by the PA-1 amps (cabinet space is limited and these small amps work great). It does 2 channel very well, and HT ever better. Upstairs is the main HT setup with my RMC-1 running and Atmos 7.2.4 design. I've got it dialed in very well (well I did till Emo adjusted the sub output in FW 2.2 but its an easy fix). I've never been happier in a HT setup than what I have upstairs. It is exactly what I want, but that's just for me personally. I'm GLAD someone is getting good HT results. And meeting expectations. YOU are in the upper 10% of the 'results'. Many people go into 'tail chase' mode and stay that way for a LONG time before making peace with the HT setup..... I'd like to take a SURVEY....but would need time to come up with the PROPER questions to get the information I'm after.... |
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Post by leonski on May 18, 2021 15:01:41 GMT -5
Lenonski Take a look at WATSON-SEL in the projects box linkwitzlab.com I built a pair some years ago MM What am I supposed to do with MORE speakers? If I had VERY VERY deep pockets? Some of the Linkwitz OPEN BAFFLE stuff would be attractive. And probably put me in my grave..... Are the ones you built MAIN speakers or add-ons or in a smaller, 2nd room system? www.firstwatt.com/pdf/art_elpipeo.pdfNelson Pass take on 'speaker in a tube'........IF you have 15 foot ceilings in a 4000 square foot room...... I'm going in a very different direction. I want some VERY high sensitivity speakers and maybe 20 watts per speaker......a DECWARE amp is being considered.... |
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Post by 405x5 on May 18, 2021 16:15:54 GMT -5
Buy this and don’t sweat it C 165BEE Stereo preamplifier  |
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Post by mauriceminor on May 18, 2021 17:58:06 GMT -5
Nelson Pass and Sigfried Linkwitz were neighbors and friends living in Sea Ranch California
My current Linkwitz system is in a former bedroom : LXMini / Watson SEL
The LXMini's replaced a pair of Plutos
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Post by leonski on May 18, 2021 18:09:11 GMT -5
Cool factoid about Pass and Linkwitz......
Lots of 'unknown' connections in this hobby which when down, kind of 'add' to the mix....
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Post by leonski on May 18, 2021 18:15:22 GMT -5
For a few !00$ more? Parasound P6 which has balanced I/O and bass management with high pass AND low pass settings..... I have the P5 which is the same...except for a few features and a DAC change in the P6. I find the sub out level control (front panel) to be useful as well as the 3.5mm input from my phone....for music FROM the phone. parasound.com/p6.phpI've owned NAD, many years ago and have no complaints. I had the 1700 Tuner / Preamp which was wonderful for its time. EITHER would serve well in a dedicated 2ch music / movie system..... |
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Post by rcheliguy on May 24, 2021 10:06:37 GMT -5
Can we assume that any new DAC in an Emotiva preamp would be MQA compatible ?
As much as I enjoy using my OPPO 105D DAC for streamed music it doesn't support MQA which love it or hate it appears to be gaining ground.
Spotify says they will go uncompressed CD quality streaming by the end of the year as well and I have no idea what they will use yet.
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 10,256
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Post by KeithL on May 24, 2021 12:28:12 GMT -5
We have no current plans to implement MQA decoding in our new preamp. To be quite candid, when we auditioned it MQA we were not especially impressed, and requests for it have actually dropped off. (And reviews have also been somewhat - mixed.)
Do note that even services that support MQA do NOT require YOU to support it. The fact that Tidal uses MQA as their transport CODEC does not mean that you need to support MQA to use it. The Tidal client will cheerfully output standard PCM audio - with only a slight loss in quality due to the MQA encoding process.
And, if you do wish to use MQA, the Tidal MQA computer client "performs the first MQA unfold" in software, and outputs a standard PCM signal which can be played on any standard DAC. And some other players can now do likewise.
(And, if you choose that route, all you don't get is the "special MQA filter" in the DAC.) Can we assume that any new DAC in an Emotiva preamp would be MQA compatible ? As much as I enjoy using my OPPO 105D DAC for streamed music it doesn't support MQA which love it or hate it appears to be gaining ground. Spotify says they will go uncompressed CD quality streaming by the end of the year as well and I have no idea what they will use yet. |
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Post by rcheliguy on May 25, 2021 11:32:14 GMT -5
Please don't take my comment as an endorsement of MQA. However it is still an option out there and I'm a bit surprised that you don't expect to support it even if it did not blow you away.
If I had gotten an OPPO 205D it would have had MQA decoding built in and I wouldn't even be asking this. I assumed my next pre-amp would have this capability just to be competitive in the market place.
If Spotify happens to go the MQA route, I think your decision will be a deficit. If Spotify goes another direction like streaming FLAC files than I think it will have less impact.
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