Emotiva UMC-1 & XPA-5 good match for 600/CM series speakers?

[nirvana_1911]

As title says, is the Emotiva UMC-1 & XPA-5 a good match for 600/CM series speakers for the price?
I have a Pioneer VSX-LX52, it was around $1,899AUD MSRP and considering upgrading to the Emotiva gear above, which will cost a similar price.
My thoughts are, is there any 7.1 pre-amp/processor and 5-channel amp that will give me noticeable improvement in sound for a similar or slightly more price?

My current gear is:

Pioneer VSX-LX52
Generic AWG14 bare speaker wire
685 - L/R
HTM61 - C
686 - RL/RR
Velodyne SPL-1200 Ultra


What I will be upgrading to by the end of 2011 (sooner rather than later):

Emotiva UMC-1
Emotiva XPA-5
Chord Carnival Silverscreen bi-wire
CM5 - L/R
CM Centre 2 - C
CM5 - RL/RR
Velodyne SPL-1200 Ultra

In Australia source voltage is 240VAC if that makes a difference.

[dukester]

As title says, is the Emotiva UMC-1 & XPA-5 a good match for 600/CM series speakers for the price?
I have a Pioneer VSX-LX52, it was around $1,899AUD MSRP and considering upgrading to the Emotiva gear above, which will cost a similar price.
My thoughts are, is there any 7.1 pre-amp/processor and 5-channel amp that will give me noticeable improvement in sound for a similar or slightly more price?

My current gear is:

Pioneer VSX-LX52
Generic AWG14 bare speaker wire
685 - L/R
HTM61 - C
686 - RL/RR
Velodyne SPL-1200 Ultra


What I will be upgrading to by the end of 2011 (sooner rather than later):

Emotiva UMC-1
Emotiva XPA-5
Chord Carnival Silverscreen bi-wire
CM5 - L/R
CM Centre 2 - C
CM5 - RL/RR
Velodyne SPL-1200 Ultra

In Australia source voltage is 240VAC if that makes a difference.

Can't speak to the Emotiva gear however have heard nothing but good. My comment is about your upgrade path; are you more HT than 2ch? If majority is HT then CM5s all around should suffice. But if more 2ch, I recommend sending your 685's to the rear and look at the CM 8/9s as your mains (CMC2 ctr). If I remember correctly, you can get the CM9s for the price of 4 CM5s. Further down the road maybe the CM5s to replace the 685s. Just a thought.

[nirvana_1911]

I could have sworn I made another post and it hasn't appeared here.
I want both 2-channel music and HT.
But I'm leaning more to HT at the moment.
I'm actually concerned about x4 CM5's versus x4 685's.
The 685's IMO have a fuller range from the mids down toward the bass, it has a big, round sound, if that makes any sense. They are good in that aspect for bookshelves.
Listening to the CM5 is a big difference to me, they both sound fantastic, just different sounding.
I do notice the only downside to the CM5 is that it is lacking a little in the bass area which the 685 has, but it has a tight and sweet upper-midrange and treble, the clarity and resolution is definitely there.
I'm worried I'll lose all the lower end if going from 685's to CM5's for L/R/RL/RR.
The retail pricing for the CM series in Australia is:
CM9 $4,199
CM8 $2,699
CM5 $1,699
CM1 $1,299
CMC $999
CMC2 $1,799
What do you think?

[leej]

The cost of 7.1 stand-alone processors might put them out of your budget, but would definitely be a plus to your system. Another thought is if you are somehwat satisfied with the Pioneer driving the 685’s, you might consider using it as your processor, driving the 685’s as surrounds with the internal amp. Then use an external 3-chanel amp, such as the XPA3, from your pre-amp output to drive your fronts and center. And like the Dukester said, put more into the fronts and center speakers. The CM9/CMC 2 would definitely benefit from the external amp and end your worries about the lack of bass, while maintaining the tight and sweet upper-midrange and treble, clarity and resolution that you liked. Your receiver’s amp would benefit by reducing the number of driven channels. This would allow using the 686’s as rear channel for 7.1, if that suits you.

[nirvana_1911]

Thanks leej, I appreciate your input.
I had to read your post a couple of times to make sure I understand your thoughts.
At the moment, I'm not really considering 7.1 in speakers, as a processor, yes, such as the Emotiva UMC-1.

I have a few concerns though.

For example, CM5's vs 685's for the lower end, if I will be satisfied with it.
I may need to go to the audio store and have a listen to them both again to gauge the differences between them in 2-channel stereo.

And also, wanting to use CM5's for rear-left and rear-right channel.
From my experience so far, with MKV's from my HTPC, the RL and RR channels don't seem to do much... They chime in from time to time with the surround effects but the work load/duty cycle of the LCR compared to RL/RR is a huge difference, so I wouldn't see a benefit in paying a significant more amount of money for floorstanders for the RL/RR channels at the moment.

[Kal Rubinson]

At the moment, I'm not really considering 7.1 in speakers, as a processor, yes, such as the Emotiva UMC-1.

The UMC-1 is a high-value product but it is substantially cheaper than any other prepro (new). However, it lacks a decent roomEQ facility and that is a very important factor, imho.

[nirvana_1911]

Having a decent roomEQ is very important for me.
What does it lack in the roomEQ area?
It has Emo-Q, which is their roomEQ.

[Kal Rubinson]

Having a decent roomEQ is very important for me.
What does it lack in the roomEQ area?
It has Emo-Q, which is their roomEQ.

Fairly useless. It comes with the DSP chip and Emotive puts their name on it.