2. home-theater
  3. 1385734106

Which one Emotiva or Outlaw for HT

Looking at the Emotiva UMC200 pre/pro with Emotiva XPA 5 channel amp or the Outlaw 975 pre/pro with the Outlaw 7125 amp to replace an Onkyo NR809 HT receiver. Since there is no way to audition either one of these other than the 30 day home trial. I would appreciate any feed back from current owners or anyone who had the opportunity to hear these. I know auditioning is the way to do this but, for me and my work schedule, 30 days is not enough. Trying to decide which combo would be a better match for my speakers. Main use is for HT. Both of these fall within my budget. Thanks for any feed back.

System:
Speakers: Dynaudio Focus 140's with CC200 center
Integrated amp: Plinius 9200
DAC: Bryston Dac 2
CD/Blu Ray player: Cambridge Audio 752 BD
Wadia: 171i for ipod classic 160
Cables: combo of DNM, FMS & Analysis Plus digital crystal
brian27b
yakbob
473 posts
 
I'm not sure how you feel about used equipment, but it might be worth a look in the listings here. There's some decent processor deals in the $550 price point. Cambridge Audio 551, Anthem AVM 2, Denon 4308.

It seems many processor owners are looking to the latest codec for sound improvements rather than buying a processor that sounds great in the first place, even with legacy formats.
ak247
8 posts
 
I had both the UMC-1, UMC-200 and Outlaw 975 all paired with an Outlaw 7075 multi channel amp and Rega RS-1 speakers. Emotiva had the edge in sound quality but Outlaw had the edge when it came to lack of bugs and easier operation. The Outlaw 975 sounded a little smoother to me but had less dynamics. It also suffered from not quite enough gain, you really had to crank the volume to get decent output. I also think the UMC-1 had a slight edge in sound quality over the UMC-200 actually but of course the UMC-200 had all the latest bells and whistles such as 3D support. In regards to the Outlaw amp I feel the sound is clean, non offensive and well suited for home theatre duty but really nothing special for music.
treysdad85
5 posts
 
Bought a UMC200 in July of '13,and has been bug-free. No probs of any kind. has turned into hub for both stereo and surround. Have Parasound A23s as front monoblocks, and xpa3 for other 3 channels(5.0). Pleased with SQ, Like too use prologic 2 for cd playback, somethings sound incredible in surround that software is not available.
thotdoc's avatar
thotdoc
22 posts
 
I just took delivery of an Emotiva UMC-200 and an UPA-500. Coming from Marantz 6005. The sound is OK, but the UMC-200 is giving me fits as it will not consistently handshake with my HMDI cables, which the Marantz worked with.

Now, it is not working...blue screen of death...no video or audio.

I'll call in the AM...for the second time to discuss and perhaps send back. It is necessary to get Kieth, who knows what he is doing. I'd had less luck with others on their help line.

Final comment: The owners manual could be written more clearly, or with better examples.
thotdoc's avatar
thotdoc
22 posts
 
Ok. The emotiva equipment is working and burned in. It creates excellent reproduction of what instruments sound like through my MMG speakers wall mounted.

My main audio system is atmosphere ma1s and mp 1 with Maggie 3.7s

I'm complimenting the emotiva. Pre and amp. It is clean. Very clear. Good sound stage. Good separation between people/instruments. It's not the atma sound. But my interconnects cost more than the emotiva. I am happily listening to them now
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