carbon summit

This in a nut shell is why I sold my UMC-1. It sounds great listening to music, and not as great for HT (in my opinion). For me the great deal was a used Onkyo pre/pro that I bought for UMC-1 money. I regretted selling my UMC-1 before the last firmware came out because I still had hope it would be the Holy Grail fix that the UMC-1 needs. But I know that Emo upgrades are never on time and I decided that since I had found something that worked why wait around and see if the next upgrade for the UMC-1 fixed what the last few didn't. But after reading the comments over at the Emo Forum its obvious the last firmware upgrade has worked great for some and caused problems for others. I said it at the Emo Lounge and I'll say it here. The UMC-1 is a YMMV pre/pro. Some people have great luck, others have problems. It seems to be based on what firmware you're using and what equipment you have hooked to it. Why play Russian roulette with the UMC-1 when you can buy a main stream used pre/pro for about the same money and know its been properly R&D'd. As far as the used the 886 I own, it was developed after the UMC-1 was. The UMC-1 should have been released when the 885 was so really I didn't take a step backwards at all. The positive is the UMC-1 is very musical. For what I sold it for I should have probably just kept it and hooked it up to my Cornwalls for a two channel receiver but for how seldom I use them I figured I'd sell it and let someone else enjoy it. Yes enjoy it, it is a great pre/pro but it only works for some well. Again YMMV!

I'd wait a good week. The common flow of things over there is a new update comes out and the same group of guys say its the greatest thing ever, then over time the bugs start to be mentioned by others. One nice thing is you can always go back to an older version if you decide the new one wasn't for you.

With the new firmware upgrade out time will tell if the issues of the UMC-1 have been addressed. On the Emotiva Lounge Lonnie posted the fixes of the new firmware are: DSP release 1.04.03 • New decoding architecture. • Improved bass management. • Last mode hold added. • Faster acquisition of audio lock. • Improved audio dynamic headroom. • Re-structured bass levels to meet current standards. Main Operation code 7.04.19 • Improved HDMI handling. • Accelerated lock. • Streamlined back end operations. I'll be curious to hear what they did to improve the bass management. For me the poor performance of EmoQ and the way the UMC-1 mishandles the bass were the two of the biggest things I didn't like. The weird quirks being the rest of my frustration. Hopefully they worked the rest of the bugs out so the quirky behavior disappears and EmoQ does a better job, but I got the impression that they didn't plan to change the way the UMC-1 handles the bass management.

The UMC-1 is a tweakers dream, but if you're not a tweaker then I thnk you'll be much happier with a Onkyo pre/pro. I had the flexibility of the UMC-1 but didn't pretend to know what to do with it. As a result I was happy to sell it and buy a more self automated set up that takes the burden off of my unexperienced shoulders. I am a 5.1 guy so I saw no reason to go above the pr-sc886, but if you're a looking for more then research the the newer 5507,5508 or the soon to be released in the US 5509. Any of them offer the set it and forget it level you're looking for. I've never been happier than with my Onkyo pre/pro.

Welcome to the Forum blargman. I wouldn't say that the UMC-1 has "great reviews" but definitely seems like a good bang-for-your-buck...That being said, everyone hears things differently but unless you are a pro mixer the science behind Audyssey and room correction has come along way to making end-user graphic equalizers obsolete, imo. One person might want more bass whereas another would find it offensive and the goal should be to experience what the artist wanted us to in the first place...With multichannel sources being more consistent ( I hardly ever have to adjust anything but the volume) it is easier to accomplish that goal. +1 again not being a tweaker, and not really believing that someone can set up a system "right" by ear I feel more comfortable using a good room correction program. When I say right I mean the way the director intended the movie to sound, not some sort of personal opinion of what sounds best. I do adjust the center channel to help me hear the dialog on some movies, but that might have more to do with my hearing than anything Audyssey has done wrong. I blame cheap headphones turned up way too loud when I was younger not Audyssey! Like was mentioned for the UMC-1 my Onkyo also lets me make changes like that to speakers on the fly and goes back to the original way it was before when powered back on.

I've only used Yamaha YPAO and EmoQ before using Audyssey MultiEQ XT and I was very impressed with how much better Audyssey MultiEQ XT was. It only makes sense that using a room correction that takes measurements from different places in the room instead of leaving the mic in one spot would provide better results. As far as price maybe the "Blue Friday" sale they are having tomorrow at 5am will have an even lower price than $499.99 close out price! I had the UMC-1 for around nine or ten months and decided to sell it and replace it with an Onkyo PR-SC886 and couldn't be happier. Fellow forum owner Brac bought it and is very happy with the UMC-1. The reality is some people love the UMC-1, some do not. I don't think you'll know unless you try it. I don't regret trying it and worry that someday Emotiva will get a firmware that works and I should have waited longer but life is too short to look back and live in regret so I just enjoy my system now and smile. For me the reason for selling it was just the weird quirky things that the UMC-1 does, and I got frustrated with it. As far as sound quality I loved it for music but now after having the Onkyo in my setup I see I didn't know what I had been missing when watching movies, the Onkyo is a much better HT experience. Does that mean that you should run out and buy a Onkyo? No, but for me it has worked much better, but I'm not much of a tweaker to use the term thats thrown around the Emo Forum a lot. I ran Audyssey and made a few minor changes and have enjoyed the results ever since without one bug ruining my movie watching experience. Its really a YMMV type of situation.

That looks great! It looks like it came from the factory that way. You'd never know it was custom which is an important factor to me when I put something in my set up.

I've owned a few pairs of Heresy and a few different Academy speakers but I've never A/B'd them to see which one out performed the other as a center channel. Acamemy with my Forte IIs and Heresy with my Cornwalls. I assumed (I know... never assume) the Heresy would be the better of the two. But I guess I've aways been impressed with the Academy so I'm not sure why I'm surprised the Academy was your choice. I'm thrilled you're happy with the UMC-1! As I use my Onkyo there are things I miss about the UMC-1, and things I like better about the 886. I doubt there is a perfect pre/pro so it sounds like we are now both happy so thats the best end of this story we could ask. Hopefully we both can fight off the upgrade bug for a a long time with our current pre/pros...

Hey Brac, Good to hear you're happy with the UMC-1! I noticed your HT set up in your signature, does the Academy keep up with your Klipschorns?

We watched a movie via Vudu tonight streamed through my BD player, to my 886, to my Sony TV. The picture and sound was awesome considering the source. I bought the movie on the cheapest SD level they rent and I was surprised how great it looked and sounded. If you're in to HT and don't want to fine tune your set up I think there are better options than the UMC-1, but if you're primarily a music listener and a tweeker then the UMC-1 is a great choice.

Sorry Fish....I must have missed your post due to that long winded guy. Yes....there are just sooooo many varying opinions regarding the UMC-1. Some say it's awesome for HT, some say it doesn't compare to Onkyo. Some say they have absolutely no problems, while others were a nightmare. Frankly, part of me wants to be optimistic and at least give it a try to see if it is worth the hype. You are correct in that I would lose probably $150 on the deal if I had to sell it but maybe that's what I need to ease my curiosity. I could at least say I had experienced the UMC-1. Not sure how much it would affect me either since my setup is super simple with only the PS3 and a wii connected. No cable box lock up issues to worry about. That is just not good advice at all. LOL Just kidding. I realize it's a bit of a gamble. I have two problems: 1) I'm not a gambler at all, 2) I can't make a decision when it comes to things like this. I tend to overanalyze and probably over-research things instead of doing diligent research and just making a decision. Funny thing is the money isn't really the issue. I'm not wealthy at all but if I lose $150, it's not that big of a deal (thanks to Dave Ramsey). I'm just afraid I'll end up with "Rocky Road". OK, long winded guy once again... If losing $150 isn't a big deal I'd wait until the next firmware and see what is said about it on the Emo forum. If it cures some of the woes people are having then jump on it. If I still had a UMC-1 I'd offer to let you borrow it if you paid the shipping to you and back. But then again that would be $70+ total shipping and your time so maybe that wouldn't be that great an offer either. If you lived across town I'd let you borrow it for free. For $499 plus the chance to upgrade to another pre/pro in the future with a 40% discount card is hard to beat. But you've probably spent some time over at the Emotiva Lounge researching this and noticed a lot of guys tried it and sent it back when there was a 30 day policy. A lot of guys tried it and sold it (myself included). A lot of guys just love it. If $150 is the most costly mistake you ever make you are way a head of me! Including the UMC-1, among many many many other mistakes. I'll let Brac share what he paid if he wants to but I will openly admit I lost a lot more than $150. But I got to try it in my home and decide for myself if it was for me. Thats the only way to know. I did notice on the Emo Lounge that the Onkyo guys seem to return the UMC-1 and keeping their Onkyo, probably what lead me to trying an Onkyo next. So my unscientific theory is that the UMC-1 might not be as strong as an Onkyo for HT. That is what I found myself to be true. So if you're a big HT guy and not a tweeker the UMC-1 might not be for you. Thats my theory, but if you don't mind losing a little money to know for yourself then there really is no harm in trying the UMC-1. I lost money on mine, more than you will since I bought mine at $699 but don't regret trying. Better to have loved and lost they say...

Hi Xki! Sounds like things are going well with your UMC-1. Glad to hear it. One thing I want to stress is that the UMC-1 wasn't a terrible piece of equipment, it offered a lot regardless of cost and ran with pre/pros that cost a lot more. It was a huge bargain for the money. It just wasn't a good fit for me since I'm not a tweeker. On one of the pod casts Emotive put out Big Dan said of the UMC-1 "It just works". Thats how I feel about my Onkyo. It really does just work, and it works well, without much input from me. Onkyo supplied the painting that I hung on the wall, Emotiva supplied the paint and brush and I had no idea what to do with it. Best explanation I can give you. If you think you're a artist buy the UMC-1 and never look back because I never had that level of control before, but if you just want to sit down and enjoy the painting then the UMC-1 might not be for you.

Who is this Carbon Summit guy that writes these long winded posts?

We do agree, when it comes to messing with the EQ frequencies I have no clue where to start, and I really don't think anyone can tune it "right" by ear. I know the arguement is right is what you like it to sound like but I disagree. Right is how the director intended it to sound (HT focus coming through) and I think getting a pro to come into your house with a computer is probably the only way that will happen! Well I'm not willing to pay for that so I'm going to have to trust whichever auto correct system my pre/pro has to get me close to what it should sound like. I too check and see if I need change the things you mention like small to large, check the distance measurements and use my trusty Radio Shack spl meter to check the levels but I have to trust the EQ settings because I have no idea whats going on there. One thing that hasn't come up yet that always concerned me was the way the UMC-1 handled the bass from each of the speakers. It never made sense to me. I do think the UMC-1 has better menus, a better on screen display, a lot of other things actually, it was really a cool piece of equipment to play with but in the in end I was not a tweeker and felt I was missing something. I put the 886 in its place and ran Audyssey with the max mic positions and put in a few of my favorite demo movie scenes and was instantly impressed! I think the surround sound effects are much better with Audyssey than the EmoQ results but in all fairness with a little work maybe the UMC-1 would have been better for HT then I give it credit for. I just didn't know what I was doing and probably left things alone that needed to be fixed. I do have sellers remorse, wishing I had waited to sell the UMC-1 after the next promised firmware update and see what improvements are made with it.

I agree with dad311 in principle thinking you wouldn't take a big hit if you don't like it but I don't think the sell it for a $50 loss and keep the card or selling the card and the UMC-1 and making money is realistic. I'd have to guess you will never sell it for $450 + shipping without the card when someone could buy it right from Emo for $499 with free shipping and a card. You need to be cheap enough that someone would give up the card and pay shipping. My guess is you probably can't sell the UMC-1 for $450 with the card and only lose $50 when its all said and done. If you buy a new UMC-1 for $499 and don't like it you won't take a big loss ( I guess what is a big loss? Big is relative term) compaired to if you bought a new Onkyo 5509 when its released in the states. Looking at it in terms of total dollars lost, not on a percentage. Percentage wise you'd lose more but thats because the UMC-1 was so cheap to start with. If you bought a new 5509 and tried to turn it in a few months you'd probably lose what the UMC-1 cost! If you do $450 with free shipping you'll be eating the shipping cost +ebay fees+paypal fees which comes off the amount they paid you. So in the end if shipping is around $35, paypal fees are around 4% I think so well say $18 on a $450 payment. Thats if you sell it here, do it on eBay and they'll want their piece of the pie too. I used the eBay fee calculator guessing it sold for $450 and they guessed their cut at over $40! So to end up losing $50, ending with $450 in your pocket to cover all the fees you'd have to sell your used UMC-1 for around $545 on eBay. Which actually is too low a guess since I figured the Paypal fees on $450 but you get the point. I probably could have sold my UMC-1 for more than I sold it to Brac, but in the end it went to a fellow forum member, he was great to work with and I hope he enjoys it for a long time. You can work really hard to make an extra few dollars selling stuff over just finding a buyer and moving on to enjoying more important things. If I listened to my Cornwalls more I wouldn't have sold the UMC-1. For music it is awesome. But when the Corns are used next to never it seemed a waste to put a current piece of hardware there to sit instead of passing it on to someone that could put it to use. I don't feel guilty never turning on my old Yamaha 1400, its worth nothing and I don't feel its being wasted. When I first got my Cornwalls I listened to them a lot and considered setting up an all Heritage HT but because of the size I decided against it, and they took the center stage again when I put new caps in the crossovers but after the new toy thing wore off they got moved again to the second system. I'm probably 90% + HT and less than 10% music so for me the Onkyo was a better choice. If music was my first choice and HT was a once in a while use of the system then I'd have kept the UMC-1. Sorry for the long response, slow day at work... []

I've never had Audyssey before. My previous Yamaha had YPAO, the Onkyo TX-SR703 didn't have any room correction. My receiver before the UMC-1 was a Yamaha 663 and I have an old 1400 in my second setup so I'm familar with YPAO. The 663 was the one I used YPAO the most with and since it was a cheaper receiver in Yamaha's family tree maybe it got a more scaled down verson of YPAO than the 1800 you had came with, I'm not sure. I bought the 663 as my first step into HT and didn't want to invest a lot until I figured out what direction I was going. It was the cheapest Yamaha that has pre amp outs to add an amp later. Then after adding the amp I wanted to add a true pre/pro and the UMC-1 was on my short list because I loved my XPA-5 amp. I bought my Onkyo PR-SC886P for kind of the same reason I bought the 663. I'm not sure what direction I'm going next and for the money I think I got one heck of a pre/pro that is very stable and bug free. Comparing YPAO that the 663 had to Audyssey MultEQ XT that the 886 had I think that Audyssey does a better job, but again that may not be an apples to apples comparision as far as the level of YPAO vs the level of Audyssey involved. I'm sure its true that any sound correction program is just a starting point but Audyssey started me a a point I'm very happy with. I noticed that on a few different forums there were a bunch of guys still very happy with the 886, where as some guys with 885s were wishing they had a newer pre/pro to get some of the new bells and whistles so I decided that the 886 was the oldest I'd go back until I decide to move forward. At this point I'm happy with what I have and don't see a need for a 5507, 5508 or 5509, etc. As far as why Onkyo? Every brand has its followers and after being on a few different forums for a few years it seems that a lot of the HT guys really loved their Onkyo pre/pros so I thought I'd give Onkyo a try. You never know until its in your house if its right for you, and so far this is! I need to get a new Dish Network receiver I know, but I just don't watch much TV and I don't want to be commited to them since I'm out of contract so I plug along with my old 625 DVR that is only SD. The 886 does a much better job than the UMC-1 did with upscaling the signal when I'm watching dish so the HQV Reon-VX must be a better chip than the Genesis/ST® Torino used in the UMC-1. At least to my eyes, YMMV.

Hi Brac, I'm glad the UMC-1 made it to you safely. I worked at UPS in college and saw enough to know I should worry when I ship something electronic! I'm sure FedEx isn't much different. Like I told you in PM or an email I already miss the UMC-1 for music. It sounds much better than my Onkyo for music. I think I like the Onkyo better for movies but if music is your thing, or if manual setting up is your thing the UMC-1 is hard to bet. I like the sound of Audyssey better than Emo-Q, but if you know what you're doing (I don't!!!) I think that Emo-Q for a starting point and then the flexibility that the UMC-1 gives you in adjustments will probably be more of a tool to sculpt your systems sound than Audyssey would ever be. I struggle with manual set ups because I second guess myself a lot. I prefer an auto set up that gets me close and then I can relax. As a kid I never put the decals on my model cars and planes because I thought if I waited until I was older I'd be able to do a better job... Not much has changed as an adult... counseling would probably help but it would cut into my A/V budget so I just live with my self doubts! My only complaint about the remote was you had to point it right at the UMC-1 for good response. I only used the remote for set up stuff and my Harmony One for day to day operations. Like I said before feel free to contact me with any questions, and there are plenty of UMC-1 owners here as well. You got a great pre/pro for a great price. Enjoy it and don't be afraid to mess with the settings because that is what that unit is all about. (advice I can give but wasn't able to follow!) Thanks, Jeff

Got a picture of them over at the Emo Lounge so I now know which ones go with the UMC-1

OK UMC-1 owners I need your help so I can make sure Brac gets the right antennas for the UMC-1. I remember it came with an AM and a FM antenna but don't remember which of the antennas in my box of stuff I never use they are. I never really listen to the radio so the antennas ended up in the box, and I've owned a few receivers over the years so there are a few antennas to choose from. Those of you that used the antennas could you post a picture of them?

My son still talks about the "Time's Up" Scene 24 (0:51:55) in Independence Day. Thats the day I fear he became an HT system addict. He's only 9 now but I'm sure down the road he'll have a great setup of his own!

I rented Battle Los Angeles last night instead of waiting for it from Netflix. I thought it was a good movie with great sound effects. Agree with the Blackhawk Down comparisons but no where near the movie Blackhawk Down was. Over all I found it to be another movie that makes me glad I've got a home theater system. It really makes the movie watching experience so much better. I'll never understand the people that think their TV speakers are good enough for a movie like this!

My SVS PB12-Plus/2 is over due for a good ulf work out. The thing is amazing!!! Better take the pictures off the wall for this one...

Looking for some surround sound reviews for Battle: Los Angeles. The previews look good and like it may have potential to be an awesome surround sound experience! Netflix won't have it availble until 7/12 and will probably take weeks after that for it to make it to me so I figured I'd ask before I waited forever only to be let down if it sucks.

Not a reason to get a UMC-1 for sure but kde is absolutely right!!! I've got a UMC-1, ERC-1 and a XPA-5 all in line (up and down) on the right side of my HT rack and it looks awesome in a dim lit room watching a movie.

This made me laugh. I got my XPA-5 a few years ago and my bottom glass shelf was rated for around 70 lbs but already had my Panamax on the spot beside where it was going. The shelf deep enough for the XPA-5 to fit so I painted a piece of wood black to hide it and put it between the shelf and the floor to support the beast from underneath! Funny hearing someone else using the same basic ghetto fabulous way to make it work! I've got the UMC-1 and over all for the price I'm very happy. I've had a few WTF moments where it has done something odd but for the most part I've had no problems with it. It is a great sounding pre/pro and most of the replacements people suggest for it over on the Emo site cost twice as much so I think that says something!!!