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New Emotiva XMC-2+ and RMC-1+: What is the difference, and what do you think?

Fredygump

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As you may be aware, Emotiva has just published product pages for their new "plus" versions of their HT processors. They have been bragging that the interface is responsive, and they seem to have all the "things" we'd expect. But details are a bit few and far between, and the launch is delayed.

Given that there are now published product pages, my first question is, what is the difference? The RMC 1+ has a panel for adding optional balanced inputs, but is that the only difference? The listings are not exactly copy and pasted, because formatting is slightly different. But otherwise they are nearly word for word. It's strange given that there is a $1,000 price difference, but same channel count, nearly the same inputs, same software features....

Truth is I am rooting for them! I feel like they are the underdogs and are due to catch a big break. But I know the previous models were a bit lackluster. So what do you think? Worth it, or wait for Amir to do his work?


XMC2__FRONT.jpg
RMC1_FRONT_0_1500x_1500x_c96c7708-fc69-4e20-a5cf-50ce6b9b80fe.jpg

(Images pulled from the new product listings posted today, but they look to be the old models? There is no "+" on the front panels! And why does the link for the RMC-1 say "copy"?)

 
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As you may be aware, Emotiva has just published product pages for their new "plus" versions of their HT processors. They have been bragging that the interface is responsive, and they seem to have all the "things" we'd expect. But details are a bit few and far between, and the launch is delayed.

Given that there are now published product pages, my first question is, what is the difference? The RMC 1+ has a panel for adding optional balanced inputs, but is that the only difference? The listings are not exactly copy and pasted, because formatting is slightly different. But otherwise they are nearly word for word. It's strange given that there is a $1,000 price difference, but same channel count, nearly the same inputs, same software features....

Truth is I am rooting for them! I feel like they are the underdogs and are due to catch a big break. But I know the previous models were a bit lackluster. So what do you think? Worth it, or wait for Amir to do his work?


View attachment 416096View attachment 416097
(Images pulled from the new product listings posted today, but they look to be the old models? There is no "+" on the front panels! And why does the link for the RMC-1 say "copy"?)

Didn’t they have a really buggy launch with poor customer service response? Past behavior is best predictor of future behavior.
 
Didn’t they have a really buggy launch with poor customer service response? Past behavior is best predictor of future behavior.
Looking at the company as a whole, I think they've done well. They have a good reputation for their amplifiers specifically. Over the years I have purchased 2 xpa amps (gen 1 and gen 3) and a DAC from them. Those products have been problem free, so no support needed.

But yes, it is true that they have struggled with the processors specifically. I've chalked it up to being an issue of biting off more than they can chew, rather than being a company that doesn't care about their customers.

So far they have promoted the new models by saying, "Look how fast it switches between inputs!" To me it sounds like they are saying, "Hey guys, we fixed it!"

Did they just fix the slow interface? Or did they also improve the SINAD and other performance metrics? That is what I want to know.
 
Is this the big difference between the two models? Or rather, is it enough of a difference to explain the price difference?

RMC-1+: AKM4490 DACs (All channels. Individual chip per output channel? Mono, balanced mode.)
AKM4490 DAC on Zone 2

XMC-2+: AKM4490 DACs (Only Left, Center, and Right. No mention of what DACs are used on the other 13 outputs.)

I'm curious if anyone is knowledgeable about these specific chips and if there is anything meaningful we can glean from this information? My brief "research" reveals a lot of people are asking for other people's opinions about these DACs. I found a data sheet for them, but I'd have to do weeks of research before I learn enough to draw a meaningful conclusion from a data sheet!

I previously started a conversation asking about what is holding HT Processors back, and everyone seemed to think that the DACs were not the problem. Does that opinion hold?
 
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