Emotiva UMC-1 Upgrade?

[Xenomorph]

Hey all.. Right now I have an AVR (Pioneer VSX-92TXH) hooked up to an Emo XPA-5 amp. Sounds really nice but the upgrade bug is chewing on me bad.
I've always been a big fan of separates and would like opinions on wether it would make any sense to sell off the Pioneer and replace it with the UMC-1?

I realize that I'd be losing the internal amps of the AVR but with the XPA-5 I think I'll still have more than enough headroom.
Or would the "upgrade" be a step backwards?

[Spurrier Sucks]

Originally Posted by Xenomorph

Hey all.. Right now I have an AVR (Pioneer VSX-92TXH) hooked up to an Emo XPA-5 amp. Sounds really nice but the upgrade bug is chewing on me bad.
I've always been a big fan of separates and would like opinions on wether it would make any sense to sell off the Pioneer and replace it with the UMC-1?

I realize that I'd be losing the internal amps of the AVR but with the XPA-5 I think I'll still have more than enough headroom.
Or would the "upgrade" be a step backwards?

Check into the "bugs" that are found with this unit. Some have no problems some do.

[jlafrenz]

If you have the Pioneer connected to the XPA-5 then you are bypassing the internal amps. You are not really loosing them since you are not using them. What are you looking to gain from the upgrade?

The latest firmware upgrade seems to have taken card of the majority of issues.

[Xenomorph]

Yes, I've read about the problems and that the new fw seems to have fixed them. Just wondering if it would even be considered an upgrade at all.
Plus it looks cool.

[Johk]

Generally speaking going with a separate pre-pro should be an upgrade.

I was really considering the UMC-1 at one point (the unit is beautiful, the specs were great and the price was awesome for a separate pre-pro) but even after all the firmware updates I wouldn't feel confident with it...

I would say to stick with your Pioneer for now and wait until the XMC-1 is released (and proved to be a great stable unit) if you want to go with Emotiva.

Also, checkout the Integra (DHC-40.2 or DHC-80.3), they are stable units from a manufacturer with a long experience in that domain. The look might not be as attractive as the emotiva but they get the job done... If you can find a dealer that would lend you one and let it try it out in your setup, then you'll be able to really determine if it's worth it to go with a separate pre-pro.