Greetings,
Sorry in advance for the long post!
I agree with Crock and many others who have posted about this! I have been looking over the many posts on this subject as well as the following sources.
*UMC-1 manual
*PT-7020A manual
*UMC-1 product page
I was trying to determine and figure out the root cause for the initial confusion, frustrations, opinions and expectations the lounge members have, including myself.
Lets start with the UMC-1 Product Page
*Independent 11-band graphic EQ with global bass and treble controls by channel groupings
*Emo-Q™ automatic multi-channel room correction and loudspeaker setup. Calibrated measurement microphone included.
*Quadruple bass manager with independently selectable high and low pass frequencies from 40hz – 250hz, in 5 or 10Hz increments (depending on frequency)
These features lead us to believe that we are going to have some amazing control over our system (expectations begin to grow). I don't see where it calls out specific exclusion center around SUB EQ.
UMC-1 Manual Page 11
All audio inputs on the UMC‐1 can be either Analog or Digital. Any audio input can be set to:
1. DSP (Digital Signal Processing) for surround modes, bass management, bass/treble treble control and the Emo‐Q™ multi‐channel room correction and automatic loudspeaker setup.
2. DIRECT, which bypasses all digital stages.
Again I find myself drooling over my keyboard with anticipation like my 13 month old who is teething
I see bass management, bass control, Emo-q room correction with automatic speaker setup. I as well as others I think start to make assumptions. My sub is part of my speaker setup (system).
UMC-1 Manual Page 19
•E/Q MODE This is where you select any of the three EQ’s or none. A calibrated measurement microphone is included. You can set this to NONE and you also have three Manual EQ settings. The EQ’s are setup in the SYSTEM SETUP menu. (When the Emo‐Q is engaged Manual EQ 1 is the default selection.)
Again nothing the explicitly states a limitation for subs. My appetite is growing and right now I am thinking wow can't wait for dessert, can this get any better?
UMC-1 Manual Page 20
•ADVANCED PLAYBACK This chooses the audio playback options for each input. This menu allows you to set each audio option for each audio stream source. For instance, if an analog audio source is recognized by the UMC‐1 you have five choices; Stereo, Direct, DSP, PLIIx and NEO:6. If you set this to Direct, every time you are on this input and the UMC‐1 recognizes an analog source the UMC‐1 will automatically be set to direct. Each audio mode can have different presets.
*Direct mode bypasses all DSP, Tone and Bass management circuits.
It is stereo only and offers the shortest signal path through the UMC‐1. Only the front left and right speakers are engaged. When using this mode it is recommended that your front right and left speakers be set to large.
Awesome, we have the option for a clean path 2 channel stereo with nothing throwing to much salt and pepper into the meal to ruin the flavor. This is very important for some and many may not care. But the option is there. Excellent! We have stereo options (don't want to open the can of worms of 5ch stereo, multi-channel stereo, party mode, trying to avoid that debate) for digital sources as well. Again, I am not seeing any limitations called out for sub/bass management. I could be very wrong in my understanding and love to learn from my mistakes. Moving along!
UMC-1 Manual Page 32
• SUBWOOFER LOCATION
2. You can then either run the calibration (noise) signal through it, or simply plug the analog outputs of a CD player directly into your subwoofer’s low‐level inputs. Turn down the subwoofer’s volume level before turning on the CD, then play the test tones or some music with heavy sustained bass passages.
Excellent! Usual advice given in manuals for sub placement. Maybe this should have been a flag, but I didn't register it, in all of my excitement above and I was getting really hungry and perhaps my blood sugar dropped and I lost focus. Sub placement is key but with the ability to EQ you can over some limitations of bad placement not all, but some. I think most people would agree with me on that statement, I hope. We all just want better (best possible) in room response and balance as we move about the room right?
UMC-1 Manual Page 33
• BASS MANAGEMENT
Unlike higher frequencies, it is difficult to discern exactly from which direction lower bass is coming. The UMC‐1 has a bass management system which takes advantage of this effect. It allows you to choose whether your speakers will play the full frequency range or if the bass will be redirected to the subwofer. The advantages of redirecting the bass to a subwoofer include the following:
*The overall bass of the system is improved as subwoofers are specially designed for this frequency range.
*The subwoofer can simultaneously play the bass from all the speakers, in addition to its own low frequency effects channel (LFE).
*There is no loss in perception of the position of movie or music sound effects, as the ear cannot easily locate the position of low frequency sources.
*Smaller speakers can be used for main front, center and surround, as they do not have to reproduce the low frequency range. This leads to a saving in speaker expense and room space.
*A subwoofer is required if the front speakers are set to SMALL.
*The Emo‐Q room correction and speaker setup system will set all your speaker sizes, distances and crossovers. These can also be set manually to tailor the settings to your specific needs.
Ahh, here we go. This might be a good place to let us know the limitations centered around sub EQ. Reading it back with the knowledge we have now I can understand that Bass management in the UMC-1 is all about setting the HP (unless its multi channel LFE) Even within Bass Management section Emo-Q is mentioned. I still want to draw the conclusion that we can EQ the sub outside the multichannel LFE with everything that I am reading. Carrying on my silly analogy, now I am being told that they have discontinued my favorite dessert.
UMC-1 Manual Page 34
• EMO-Q/EQ SYSTEM The Emo‐Q Auto Room Correction is able to correct deficiencies in your room acoustics by flattening the response. This does not necessarily mean that this correct, only your ears can tell you what sounds good to you. The Emo‐Q gives you a base starting point.
*You can also go into the Emo‐Q settings and adjust these manually to suit your specific needs after you have accepted and saved the settings. Each input can be set up independently with a different Eq.
Here is another section that should be clarified of what can and cannot be EQ'd. Which leads the next part. The troubleshooting section.
UMC-1 Manual Page 36
*The volume level is low for the channels concerned. Recheck the calibration procedure (page 54).
Yes could affect the sub.
*The channel has not been turned on in the Speaker Size Menu (pages 51‐52).
Yes could have the sub off
*Note: In Source Direct mode, only the front left and right speakers are engaged. They must also be set to Large.
Yes definitely affects the sub
This section is all about sub troubleshooting:
*No Subwoofer (or poor output).
The subwoofer’s amplifier is off or its controls are set low.
*Are all other speakers set to LARGE in the Speaker Size menus?
*SUB is not switched on in the Speaker Size Menu (page 52).
Umm we only currently go to page 46?
*Recheck the calibration procedure (page 54).
No page 54(easy fix)
Calibration procedure which sets distance and trim levels and if you used Emo-Q we thought we were led to believe it set a sub EQ
*Adjust the Crossover and check Bass Management (page 55).
No page 55(easy fix)
Crossover and Bass Management. Doesn't that sound like more than just speaker size and the crossover like an EQ? Does to me, but I can be wrong. My understanding now is that Crossover and Bass Management are the same and maybe should be printed like the following Bass Management(crossover settings)
If the bass is weak during Dolby Digital or DTS playback, check the correct audio output is selected in your DVD menu, otherwise it may just play stereo into your UMC‐1 and you won’t get the true LFE signal to the subwoofer.
Ok that make perfect sense.
For those of you still with me, I commend you! I may have this all wrong. I just wanted to point out what I think may be root cause for the thread. I know my opinions and expectations were skewed from my research and listening to others. I appreciate the responses from Lonnie (architecture), Markus (wonderful drawing) and the many other contributors that have commented in searching for an answer to what has been observed. I can definitely tell you my thoughts were skewed from the reading and personal previous experiences with other components.
I hope this was appropriate. My first post! I been lurking for a very long time and love this forum with its good and bad. I appreciate Emotiva, from its products, their interaction with the customers, etc.
Regards,
TheCrusherK
I see bass management, bass control, Emo-q room correction with automatic speaker setup. I as well as others I think start to make assumptions. My sub is part of my speaker setup (system).
