Emotiva with CM8

[sonerin]

Hi all,

I am a newbie in HT. I currently have a pair of CM8 + CMC. This is currently being drive by a Pioneer 819-HK AVR. I am planning to invest on Emotiva. Intended to get the UMC-1 and XPA-5. Will this be a good choice ?

[htsteve]

sonerin,

First of all, welcome to the forum! :T

The answer to your question is: absolutely. Going from a reciever to separates almost always give give a significant boost in performance.

In your specific case, there will be quite an improvement. Better dynamics, soundstage, detail, lower noise floor and bass quality and depth (you CM8's will love the XPA-5).


Hope this helps.

[sgtjim57]

They are both on sale, now is the time to take the plunge. I was up there to Emotiva HQ once again yesterday picking up my new X-Ref 12, also on sale. Great stuff!!! Good people also!

[dukester]

Really like the CM8's; look and sound awesome. Have not heard the Emotiva gear but many in this forum have and post only good things (I've not read any bad)...can't go wrong With that set-up IMO. Just remember to get interconnects while your at it

Btw, welcome to the forum...many great folks here :T

[sonerin]

Thanks all with the warm welcome. It really makes me feel like home
I had read a lot of good things about Emotiva so far from this forum. Really can't wait to plunge into it with the sales on going right now.

Thanks again for all the input. Will get on with the purchase.

By the way, what interconnect will be recommended ? I had use monoprice cables before and they are quite good.

[htsteve]

sonerin,

Cat Cables makes quite good performing cables at affordable prices.
There is a link to the site at the top of the page.

[sgtjim57]

Mine are all emotivas. Well, almost. I do still have two Monster HDMI's in the mix, and Monster Speaker wire going to my surrounds with Emotiva connecters.

[sonerin]

Will check into the CAT cables. Thanks again.

[Dmantis]

I personally like the CM8's with a Pioneer Elite SC-57. Very good theater and very musical when you want to sit down and really listen.
Another choice for me would be NAD T785HD , killer musical performance and dynamic theater reproduction. With the Card base construction , it's a easy choice.
Rotel is a match made in heaven , these to companies go together very well. Sonically they sound like they where paired.

I have no Experience with Emotiva but their gear looks promising and everything I have read seems like it's stellar for the money.

Anything is going to do a better job then the receiver you currently own. It's a complete mismatch. That model will not show off how good your speakers are. it simply doesn't have enough current.

[Guest]

(sorry to piggy-back, but I think my question is related enough )

I have a Harman Kardon AVR-3600 (advertised at 80watts/channel) and just became a B&W owner. Bought a pair of CM5s for my fronts and a CM Centre 2. I'm using hand-me-downs for sides and rears: Infinity Entra towers and Mission 762s respectively...but plan to upgrade those eventually.

I have over 50hrs on the B&Ws and love their looks and build quality, but to be honest, I'm a little disappointed with the sound. They probably still need a bit more break in but I'm guessing the integrated amp in the HK 3600 is just not up to it. I demoed them with an Integra receiver that supposedly had similar wattage ratings...but those are hard to go by.

I'm wondering how much a difference would switching to a separate amp like the Emotiva XPA-5, make with the CM5s and CM Centre 2?

[emig5m]

They don't need anymore break in, lol...

(sorry to piggy-back, but I think my question is related enough )

I have a Harman Kardon AVR-3600 (advertised at 80watts/channel) and just became a B&W owner. Bought a pair of CM5s for my fronts and a CM Centre 2. I'm using hand-me-downs for sides and rears: Infinity Entra towers and Mission 762s respectively...but plan to upgrade those eventually.

I have over 50hrs on the B&Ws and love their looks and build quality, but to be honest, I'm a little disappointed with the sound. They probably still need a bit more break in but I'm guessing the integrated amp in the HK 3600 is just not up to it. I demoed them with an Integra receiver that supposedly had similar wattage ratings...but those are hard to go by.

I'm wondering how much a difference would switching to a separate amp like the Emotiva XPA-5, make with the CM5s and CM Centre 2?

Speaker/Listening position and acoustics are major! I made my fathers jaw drop when I using my 685's for stereo! Heck, I was taken by surprise by their capability! I was using a Yamaha RX-663 with a Emotiva XPA-5 at the time. CM5 is the same basic design as the 685 so if you're not downright impressed with them then something is surely holding them back! BTW, my friend once bought a HK AVR and I bought his old Sony and he hated the HK so much that he was trying to trade me his brand new HK for the six year old Sony which I thought was also crap compared to my Carver system...

But back to setting everything up, I had my 683's with the same Yamaha and Emotiva mentioned above outperforming the 803D's with Classe gear. The owner admitted he wasn't that impressed with the sound but also admitted it was the room/setup (nearly empty room in the basement of an unfinished theater project). Hell, when you get down to it, might as well count I had the 685's outperforming them as well. I wanted to move the speakers a little and the listening position but he didn't want to move the speakers around. I walked away from an amazing deal on a one year owned and mint barely used pair of 803D's for only $4800. Two weeks I haggled on the price just to be let down by the sound because the room and setup was severely holding them back. Yea, I could hang myself for not buying them to at least flip them for a profit.... :M

[Guest]

Speaker/Listening position and acoustics are major!

I probably should have mentioned that nothing else has changed. I only swapped out my fronts and center. All the other equipment is the same and it's all in the same room (16x15 with wall-to-wall carpeting and cloth covering 70% of rear wall). Listening position is the same and speaker placement is nearly the same as my previous ones.

Speaking of which, I am coming from a pair of Snell E IIs so I did lose a lot in the bass department with the switch. I'm working on getting a subwoofer, but even without one, I was expecting the CMs to sound better. Maybe it's just that the CMs are so revealing, that I'm finally noticing deficiencies in low-quality recordings and my HK amp? Just sounds kind of "harsh" in some pieces. Though when I play NuForce's high-quality demo files, I will admit, they sound good.

I also may just need some time for my ears to adjust...I've been listening to those Snells for 20 years!

[sonerin]

Finally I had made the order for XPA-5 and UMC-1. Waiting for delivery date.

[sonerin]

Had just receive my xpa-5 and umc-1. It is big. Will post some pic up later

[dukester]

Had just receive my xpa-5 and umc-1. It is big. Will post some pic up later

Sweet. Congrats!

[sonerin]

I have setup everything had tested it out. I will say the XPA-5 working very well with CM8. The sound is much better in dynamics and the soundstage is also wider.

Will like to ask, recommendation for a power cord for the XPA-5. Price range about 200.

[sonerin]

Just to share my setup pic. Apologies for the poor quality photo.


List of equipment:

Display: Panasonic P50S10K Plasma
Front Speaker: B&W CM8
Center Speaker: B&W CMC
Surround Speaker: Pioneer
Sub: SVS PC12-NSD
Processor: Emotiva UMC-1
Amp: Emotiva XPA-5
Player: Panasonic BD60
Game Console: PS3 slim (White)
Interconnect: XLO HT PRO
Speaker Cable: Monster XP

[sgtjim57]

Looks pretty cool to me.

[dukester]

Just to share my setup pic. Apologies for the poor quality photo.

Great gear and room. Have you tried placing your mains ground level and moving your amp astride your center ch? Maybe put your UMC1 on opposite side. Also, is that a white PS3?

Just noticed your drawers...if it were me I would trade sound quality over storage in a heart beat. Your sub might be too heavy for that shelf?

[stuofsci02]

Whoa... Nice gear, but you must have major room issues...

[sonerin]

Great gear and room. Have you tried placing your mains ground level and moving your amp astride your center ch? Maybe put your UMC1 on opposite side. Also, is that a white PS3?

Just noticed your drawers...if it were me I would trade sound quality over storage in a heart beat. Your sub might be too heavy for that shelf?

Never tried placing the mains on the ground levels. The main reasons are my dogs will be roaming around :lol: There is a mistake when I got the cabinets done. The shelf is not big enough for the XPA-5. Previously I had the pioneer AVR which fitted nicely but I should thought of future upgrade which what happen now. :B

You are right about the white PS3. Well the SVS is not too heavy for the shelf but is big enough to put it up.

[sonerin]

Whoa... Nice gear, but you must have major room issues...

I agree with you on the room issues. The room size is not big enough and placement of equipment is an issues. I guess I have to do with what I have at the moment :P

[dukester]

Never tried placing the mains on the ground levels. The main reasons are my dogs will be roaming around :lol: There is a mistake when I got the cabinets done. The shelf is not big enough for the XPA-5. Previously I had the pioneer AVR which fitted nicely but I should thought of future upgrade which what happen now. :B

You are right about the white PS3. Well the SVS is not too heavy for the shelf but is big enough to put it up.

I meant placing your amp/pre amp on top of shelf next to your center...Then bringing the CM8s down. The sub may fit directly behind the left front on the floor...might even blend better. Then you can remove your coffee table (using the shelf storage you gained by moving your umc1 to the top).

You are missing out on the sound quality of your CM8s placing them so high...Hope you resolve the dog issue soon (i know folks who put pet barriers in front of them).

[stuofsci02]

I agree with you on the room issues. The room size is not big enough and placement of equipment is an issues. I guess I have to do with what I have at the moment :P

It is more the reflective surfaces that are the problem...

[Tweir]

"I had my 683's with the same Yamaha and Emotiva mentioned above outperforming the 803D's with Classe gear."

Sorry this is simply impossible. Glad you like your Yamaha with Emotiva but 803d's with Classe is in another world to that setup.....

[stuofsci02]

"I had my 683's with the same Yamaha and Emotiva mentioned above outperforming the 803D's with Classe gear."

Sorry this is simply impossible. Glad you like your Yamaha with Emotiva but 803d's with Classe is in another world to that setup.....

I believe he was referring to an improper setup of 803D and Classe, making the point that room setup is paramount..

[Tweir]

I think he can answer on why he feels this way.....

[stuofsci02]

I think he can answer on why he feels this way.....

:clap: Well done....

I figured since you couldn't be bothered to read the whole thread I would help you out a little by putting things in context.

[Tweir]

Okay so the real statement should read like this. "If you have an unfinished room with 803d and Classe gear it will not sound as good as a yamaha and 685's in a semi treated room." The key word "UNFINISHED"