The Official Emotiva Q&A thread

[jlafrenz]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Is there an Emotiva speaker thread active? I didn't see any so I figure I'd ask here. What center speaker goes well with the Airmotiv 6 speakers? It looks like they only sell them in pairs and don't sell center speakers that go with them.

None. They are actually pro monitors and are designed to be used in a studio to mix music, not as part of an HT setup. There have been several people pleased with them for 2 channel audio, myself included. There has also some that have considered them as use for surrounds, but I don't find that they would be best suited for this.

[rpatt]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Is there an Emotiva speaker thread active? I didn't see any so I figure I'd ask here. What center speaker goes well with the Airmotiv 6 speakers? It looks like they only sell them in pairs and don't sell center speakers that go with them.

Hasn't had a post since April but there is one.

http://forum.blu-ray.com/speakers/11...rs-thread.html

[Zman2k2]

Originally Posted by cam555

ok. sorry to bother you but if its the same sound we are talking about, switch to the old dolby digital 5.1 with the ps3 bitstreaming and that sound should be totally gone. thats what worries me. because the same thing happens in super 8. the loud static sounds are there in true hd but not the old dolby digital 5.1 when bitstreaming. I appreciate you taking the time to check this out. I was worried I was the only one having this problem.

Sorry for the late reply, did a little shopping this afternoon. Anyways, I went back and changed settings to play the DD track. I still notice the sound. It's like a high-pitched burst of what sounds like scraping, at least to me it does. It's not as pronounced as it is with the bitstreamed TrueHD track, but it's still there. I also picked up Super 8 today, so if you could give me a time to listen to in that movie, I'll check it out for you. I honestly think you're okay though. With what I'm hearing from the Transformers movie, I think the sound is supposed to be there. But I don't mind trying out another flick for you.

[ACMutd]

Random question, does anybody know where Emotiva speakers, amps, etc... are made?

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by ACMutd

Random question, does anybody know where Emotiva speakers, amps, etc... are made?

The amps & processors are made in China. Not sure where the speakers are produced.

[jlafrenz]

Originally Posted by ACMutd

Random question, does anybody know where Emotiva speakers, amps, etc... are made?

China

[ACMutd]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

The amps & processors are made in China. Not sure where the speakers are produced.

Originally Posted by jlafrenz

China

Thanks for the replies guys. My Dad was just curious.

[cam555]

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

Sorry for the late reply, did a little shopping this afternoon. Anyways, I went back and changed settings to play the DD track. I still notice the sound. It's like a high-pitched burst of what sounds like scraping, at least to me it does. It's not as pronounced as it is with the bitstreamed TrueHD track, but it's still there. I also picked up Super 8 today, so if you could give me a time to listen to in that movie, I'll check it out for you. I honestly think you're okay though. With what I'm hearing from the Transformers movie, I think the sound is supposed to be there. But I don't mind trying out another flick for you.

Hey thanks a lot! BTW there are a lot more of the static sounds on the train wreck scene in super 8.

[Zman2k2]

Originally Posted by cam555

Hey thanks a lot! BTW there are a lot more of the static sounds on the train wreck scene in super 8.

Well, I gave that scene a listen a few times, and all I hear is the ripping and tearing of metal. It's more of a screach than a static pop or crackle. You're right, there's quite a few of them. My only assumption, if we are indeed hearing the same things, is that your speakers are extremely sensitive to high frequency sounds. I don't think that there's a problem with your UMC-1, but you might want to confirm with Emotiva with a phone call Monday. In all honesty, I think the horn tweeters on your Klipsch speakers are really letting you hear the peaks of the soundtrack, maybe moreso than my Focals. I wonder, do you have any DSP settings or extra processing set up on your UMC-1? All I use for processing is Emo-Q. Everything is set to direct with my system. Because really, other than settings, speakers are the only difference in our systems, and I think that's what you're hearing, the sensitivity of your speakers. Not a bad thing, as I think that Klipsch speakers are known to really put out the highs. I know that Super 8 is supposed to be a reference disc, when it comes to audio demo material, so the sound designers really did their work in trying to replicate some serious carnage in that scene. I think you have very revealing speakers.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by jlafrenz

None. They are actually pro monitors and are designed to be used in a studio to mix music, not as part of an HT setup. There have been several people pleased with them for 2 channel audio, myself included. There has also some that have considered them as use for surrounds, but I don't find that they would be best suited for this.

Thanks for the info. Any idea what's in the works for the Emotiva Pro line? I know they've been planning a higher end amp line for a long time. Not sure what speakers, if any are in the works.

[jlafrenz]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Thanks for the info. Any idea what's in the works for the Emotiva Pro line? I know they've been planning a higher end amp line for a long time. Not sure what speakers, if any are in the works.

A lot has changed as far as Emotiva Pro. What was originally the pro line for custom installers is now just Sherborn since they bought that company. Emotiva Pro is now a pro audio company for studio work. They have the monitors and are working on some mics and a DAC. The XPR line will be launched under the regular Emotiva consumer product category as far as I know. The only exception to this is what was going to be the XPR-7. It will be a Sherborn amp and can't remember what it is now named. With all the changes, the "Pro" line gets a little confusing.

For consumer products, the new X-Ref line of speakers just launched. There are some more new speakers in the works that will use the folded ribbon tweeter like the current pro series monitors.

[cam555]

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

Well, I gave that scene a listen a few times, and all I hear is the ripping and tearing of metal. It's more of a screach than a static pop or crackle. You're right, there's quite a few of them. My only assumption, if we are indeed hearing the same things, is that your speakers are extremely sensitive to high frequency sounds. I don't think that there's a problem with your UMC-1, but you might want to confirm with Emotiva with a phone call Monday. In all honesty, I think the horn tweeters on your Klipsch speakers are really letting you hear the peaks of the soundtrack, maybe moreso than my Focals. I wonder, do you have any DSP settings or extra processing set up on your UMC-1? All I use for processing is Emo-Q. Everything is set to direct with my system. Because really, other than settings, speakers are the only difference in our systems, and I think that's what you're hearing, the sensitivity of your speakers. Not a bad thing, as I think that Klipsch speakers are known to really put out the highs. I know that Super 8 is supposed to be a reference disc, when it comes to audio demo material, so the sound designers really did their work in trying to replicate some serious carnage in that scene. I think you have very revealing speakers.

Did super 8 make the same sounds in just Dd 5.1? Because it didn't on mine. Also my UMC1 is using the default eq. Also I have never had this problem with any other of my 200 bluray collection lol.

[Zman2k2]

Originally Posted by cam555

Did super 8 make the same sounds in just Dd 5.1? Because it didn't on mine. Also my UMC1 is using the default eq. Also I have never had this problem with any other of my 200 bluray collection lol.

So I re-ran the scene with my PS3 and my BDP-51FD. On DD with either player, the sounds were still there, but were much more muted, almost to the point of not being there. The funny thing is, with TrueHD, my 51FD had those sounds much more pronounced. But I really think those sounds are supposed to be there, in the mix. It's instances of metal crashing into metal, and tearing, and crashing into the ground and such. I think the sound designers may have gone a little overboard, but they should be there.

Another question for you, what volume are you listening at? My reference, in my house, is between 35.0 and 37.5, depending on the master mix. For Super 8, I would listen at 35.0. You may indeed be hearing distortion, if you're pushing your speakers past their limits, which is possible.

[cam555]

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

So I re-ran the scene with my PS3 and my BDP-51FD. On DD with either player, the sounds were still there, but were much more muted, almost to the point of not being there. The funny thing is, with TrueHD, my 51FD had those sounds much more pronounced. But I really think those sounds are supposed to be there, in the mix. It's instances of metal crashing into metal, and tearing, and crashing into the ground and such. I think the sound designers may have gone a little overboard, but they should be there.

Another question for you, what volume are you listening at? My reference, in my house, is between 35.0 and 37.5, depending on the master mix. For Super 8, I would listen at 35.0. You may indeed be hearing distortion, if you're pushing your speakers past their limits, which is possible.

I was listening at about 34. But even when i turn it down I can hear it. I guess I will just leave the ps3 set to pcm lol. Thanks a lot for the help!

[Zman2k2]

Originally Posted by cam555

I was listening at about 34. But even when i turn it down I can hear it. I guess I will just leave the ps3 set to pcm lol. Thanks a lot for the help!

Sorry, I tried. Good luck with figuring it out.

[Graytwhyte]

So I've had the Emo for nearly two weeks and I finally got around to doing some comparison testing against the Integra alone. Maybe I was putting it off because I had such high expectations and was kind of worried that the Emo wouldn't make enough of a difference for me to discern. In all fairness, my expectations were unrealistically high, but it's better to try and not like it than to always wonder.

Having said all that, I couldn't be happier with the XPA-5. I did a few hours of listening (movies and music) using the Integra alone, and then hooked up the Emo and listened to everything in reverse order. My wife was listening with me for the entire session, and was equally impressed. I heard things that I haven't heard before, but it wasn't just that, the overall sound was fuller and more balanced. I could also hear dialog much clearer, and cleaner.

My biggest complaint with my system, once I brought it home, was that I felt I was missing the clarity and spaciousness that I heard in the shop. I am happy to say that I finally got that back using the Emo. Aside from what I heard in my local shop 4 years ago, I haven't done any other external amp testing, so I can't say the Emo is better or worse than a different brand, but it was well worth the purchase, especially at the holiday sale price.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Graytwhyte

So I've had the Emo for nearly two weeks and I finally got around to doing some comparison testing against the Integra alone. Maybe I was putting it off because I had such high expectations and was kind of worried that the Emo wouldn't make enough of a difference for me to discern. In all fairness, my expectations were unrealistically high, but it's better to try and not like it than to always wonder.

Having said all that, I couldn't be happier with the XPA-5. I did a few hours of listening (movies and music) using the Integra alone, and then hooked up the Emo and listened to everything in reverse order. My wife was listening with me for the entire session, and was equally impressed. I heard things that I haven't heard before, but it wasn't just that, the overall sound was fuller and more balanced. I could also hear dialog much clearer, and cleaner.

My biggest complaint with my system, once I brought it home, was that I felt I was missing the clarity and spaciousness that I heard in the shop. I am happy to say that I finally got that back using the Emo. Aside from what I heard in my local shop 4 years ago, I haven't done any other external amp testing, so I can't say the Emo is better or worse than a different brand, but it was well worth the purchase, especially at the holiday sale price.

Glad you heard the difference an external amplifier will make. My first one turned me & now I have three. Congrats on the new sound

[B.Hulk]

Originally Posted by Graytwhyte

So I've had the Emo for nearly two weeks and I finally got around to doing some comparison testing against the Integra alone. Maybe I was putting it off because I had such high expectations and was kind of worried that the Emo wouldn't make enough of a difference for me to discern. In all fairness, my expectations were unrealistically high, but it's better to try and not like it than to always wonder.

Having said all that, I couldn't be happier with the XPA-5. I did a few hours of listening (movies and music) using the Integra alone, and then hooked up the Emo and listened to everything in reverse order. My wife was listening with me for the entire session, and was equally impressed. I heard things that I haven't heard before, but it wasn't just that, the overall sound was fuller and more balanced. I could also hear dialog much clearer, and cleaner.

My biggest complaint with my system, once I brought it home, was that I felt I was missing the clarity and spaciousness that I heard in the shop. I am happy to say that I finally got that back using the Emo. Aside from what I heard in my local shop 4 years ago, I haven't done any other external amp testing, so I can't say the Emo is better or worse than a different brand, but it was well worth the purchase, especially at the holiday sale price.

I share your phelosophy on trying new things (A/V gear) and not have to wonder or live with the Question! You know the Question Neo! "...What...If..." Congrats on the the new XPA-5 and enjoy!!!

[erict]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Glad you heard the difference an external amplifier will make. My first one turned me & now I have three. Congrats on the new sound

................

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by erict

................

Yep ~ I should just get (15) XPA-1's & have them fall through the floor