Post by Coach P on Mar 1, 2010 14:01:31 GMT -5
My UMC-1 arrived this past Friday and I had a chance to listen to Blu Ray, DVD, and CD over the weekend through HDMI.
To put this mini-review in context, my XPA-5 five arrived about two weeks earlier. My first home audio system started with an all Carver stereo system in the mid 80's (4.0 t amp and the CT-7 pre-amp) and then moved to a Yamaha 620 5.1 receiver in the early 2000's. For the past two weeks I have been playing Blu Ray, DVD, and CD listening to the XPA-5 as output through an Oppo BDP-83 in analog mode through its multi-channel outputs directly into the XPA-5. The XPA-5 is driving a vintage pair of Polk Audio SDA 2a's and B&W 600's for the surrounds (at one time I thought I would change over to an all B&W system). I have a phantom center channel due to the fantastic imaging and wide sound stage of the Polk's.
The XPA-5 is a vast improvement over my two previous systems. The SDA sound stage appears even larger (and it already extended well beyond the width of the speakers). The sound stage has much more body. The bass is tighter. Dynamics are incredible. Vocals are more detailed. Voices and instruments have more texture. Subtleties now exist such as breath sounds that are clearly audible before words are formed. Complex movie scores have distinct sound everywhere in the acoustic space. Sometimes its makes me dizzy trying to track everything as it moves through the room. Everything is clearer and better for music and movies.
Adding the UMC-1 did not bring about dramatic change to the mix but does adds subtle yet noticeable improvements. The phantom center channel has noticeably filled in bringing greater clarity and fullness to dialog and musical vocals. The wide soundstage has greater depth and clarity as well. The XPA-5 which is described as a "neutral"amp seemed somewhat harsh and bright by comparison without the UMC-1. The sound of the UMC-1 is natural yet transparent and detailed.
I couldn't be happier with my purchases. I am a proud and brand new Emotiva owner.
To put this mini-review in context, my XPA-5 five arrived about two weeks earlier. My first home audio system started with an all Carver stereo system in the mid 80's (4.0 t amp and the CT-7 pre-amp) and then moved to a Yamaha 620 5.1 receiver in the early 2000's. For the past two weeks I have been playing Blu Ray, DVD, and CD listening to the XPA-5 as output through an Oppo BDP-83 in analog mode through its multi-channel outputs directly into the XPA-5. The XPA-5 is driving a vintage pair of Polk Audio SDA 2a's and B&W 600's for the surrounds (at one time I thought I would change over to an all B&W system). I have a phantom center channel due to the fantastic imaging and wide sound stage of the Polk's.
The XPA-5 is a vast improvement over my two previous systems. The SDA sound stage appears even larger (and it already extended well beyond the width of the speakers). The sound stage has much more body. The bass is tighter. Dynamics are incredible. Vocals are more detailed. Voices and instruments have more texture. Subtleties now exist such as breath sounds that are clearly audible before words are formed. Complex movie scores have distinct sound everywhere in the acoustic space. Sometimes its makes me dizzy trying to track everything as it moves through the room. Everything is clearer and better for music and movies.
Adding the UMC-1 did not bring about dramatic change to the mix but does adds subtle yet noticeable improvements. The phantom center channel has noticeably filled in bringing greater clarity and fullness to dialog and musical vocals. The wide soundstage has greater depth and clarity as well. The XPA-5 which is described as a "neutral"amp seemed somewhat harsh and bright by comparison without the UMC-1. The sound of the UMC-1 is natural yet transparent and detailed.
I couldn't be happier with my purchases. I am a proud and brand new Emotiva owner.
