Sell my Pioneer Elite VSX-82TXV for Emotiva Ultra Theater LMC-1/LPA-1 combo??

[sbpolk]

Well guys, I have been interested in going the PRE/PRO and Amp separates route for some time. My budget held me back though, so the Ultra Theater LMC-1/LPA-1 combo is very interesting to me!

Here is my hitch:

I just bought a Pioneer Elite VSX-82txv and a PS3 for Blu-Ray. I have been stoked about the whole LPCM thing.

My thoughts are that Emotiva combo would likely sound better. I have a 7.1 setup, Polk RTi70's, CSi40, RTi28's, and FXi30's. May be going to LSi series in the near future, so in that case, separates are almost necessary.

I suspect I would get better sound from the Emotiva Combo, especially with the 4ohm LSi's, but am I going to be giving up ALOT in terms of LPCM?? The futre 40% off deal is great so I could get the newer processor in the future, but right now, is the loss of LPCM a killer?

Oh, I will have the PS3 and either my HD Cable box or a Dish VIP622DVR hooked up to it. Nothing else to speak of, so the HDMI pass through switch will work.

My projector (Optoma HD70) has the Faroudja DCDi scaler, which I would lose form the ELITE. Should the scaler in the projector do the same thing for me interms of UPSCALING an upconverted signal from the Emotiva pre/pro via component?

Thanks in advance!

[sbpolk]

Oh ye electronic gods of the polk forum, please opine! ;)

[tonyb]

If nobody responds,maybe nobody has experience with Emotiva gear.
Just a thought.

[sbpolk]

UPDATE:

I bought LSi's, a full 7.1 setup, LSi15's, LSiC, and LC65i's. It is clear that the Elite is laboring with these speakers. It runs REALLY hot, and I think the sound is a bit veiled compared to the RTi system I had. I get glimpses of greatness with really nice musical passages in movies, and know that there is much more to be had! I definately feel hamstrung with the AVR, as nice as it is, and think I am going to go with the Emotiva Combo. Hopefully that will open them up a bit in the dynamic passages. I know that 225WPC @4ohms isn't huge in terms of what the LSi's like, but I would think it should be worlds better than what I am giving them now.

I was hesitant to lose the LPCM lossless ability of the Pioneer, but in reality, if I don't have a SOLID foundation to work from, of what benefit is lossless?

Emotiva will give you a $500 credit on their new processor when it comes out, which is rumored to be able to receive the lossless formats.

Any thoughts now?

[MikeC78]

Don't know much about Emotiva? I've heard some members here talking about them, hopefully they will chime in. If you'd like more opinions from alot more members, check out AVSforum.

However, that Pioneer you have is one heck of an AVR! If I were you, I'd add an amplifer and use the Pio as a pre/pro. I'm using the older model 74TXVi as a pre/pro with spectacular results.

BTW, my speaker setup consists of 4 LSi15's and a LSiC.

[JimBRICK]

I was seriously looking at the emotiva ultra before too, why not 899 shipped. the reviews have been good but bringing it over the border would cost me too much

[krabby5]

Don't know much about Emotiva? I've heard some members here talking about them, hopefully they will chime in. If you'd like more opinions from alot more members, check out AVSforum.

However, that Pioneer you have is one heck of an AVR! If I were you, I'd add an amplifer and use the Pio as a pre/pro. I'm using the older model 74TXVi as a pre/pro with spectacular results.

BTW, my speaker setup consists of 4 LSi15's and a LSiC.

ditto on that...and you wouldn't be losing any functionality that you like with the Pio

[cfrizz]

Agree with the others. Keep the Pioneer as a prepro & just get a beefy 7 channel amp.

Look on Audiogon for a used one. More bang for the buck that way.

[Bill Ayotte]

Did someone say Sunfire 400/7?

[WilliamM2]

Skip the LMC-1, it is a very buggy unit. And after months, Emotiva has yet to fix it. The MMC-1 looks very good though.

[sbpolk]

Unfortunately I will need to sell the Pioneer to be able to afford the Emotiva setup. I could do an older Pio 72 or something along those lines, and buy a budget, used 7 channel. I can just sell the Pio and go straight across to the Emotiva combo.

I thought many of the Bugs were ironed out on the LMC-1?

[dragon1952]

I just don't see the advantage. The power is actually less. The only difference is the Emotiva specifically says in their ad "stable into 4 ohms". Just because the Pioneer doesn't come out and say that specifically doesn't necessarily mean that it's any less stable, all it means is that they didn't specifically state it. If you ask Pioneer and they tell you 'no this reciever does not handle 4 ohm loads' then OK, but I just wouldn't make too many assumptions with what you're giving up. Also, not saying that price is always indicative, but at that price point I just can't see how they (Emotiva) can offer a top quality separate pre-pro and amp.

[brijenjas]

I thought many of the Bugs were ironed out on the LMC-1?

Not quite, see this thread over at av123.com forum.
http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?t=19727


Since my wife nixed my plans for the Onix Sp3 tube amp(she hates the look) I will have the LMC-1/LPA-1 combo buy the end of May. This will replace my HK 340 and Adcom GFA 6000, just have to sell some stuff first.

If you happen to get this combo before I do, please post your impressions, thanks.

[WilliamM2]

According to posters over at AV123 and AVS forums, most of the bugs still exist, and many units also seem to have a high level of hiss. Too bad, I was seriously looking to try one out.

[krabby5]

Unfortunately I will need to sell the Pioneer to be able to afford the Emotiva setup. I could do an older Pio 72 or something along those lines, and buy a budget, used 7 channel. I can just sell the Pio and go straight across to the Emotiva combo.

I thought many of the Bugs were ironed out on the LMC-1?

I'll trade you my 72 for your 82..:D

[sbpolk]

I just don't see the advantage. The power is actually less. The only difference is the Emotiva specifically says in their ad "stable into 4 ohms". Just because the Pioneer doesn't come out and say that specifically doesn't necessarily mean that it's any less stable, all it means is that they didn't specifically state it. If you ask Pioneer and they tell you 'no this reciever does not handle 4 ohm loads' then OK, but I just wouldn't make too many assumptions with what you're giving up. Also, not saying that price is always indicative, but at that price point I just can't see how they (Emotiva) can offer a top quality separate pre-pro and amp.

The power is actually less? Please explain. Pioneer specifically says the receiver is 6 ohm stable, but you have to select that in a menu which I think actually lowers output. I am using it in 8 ohm mode, it gets hot, and I think I am losing some sound. You definately have to crank the volume to acheive the sound level of my old RTi's.

I may try to do a nice avr as a pre, maybe a pio 72, sell the 82 and get just the amp...

[Sherardp]

Keep the pio and get a used amp on Audiogon, look at other amps other than emotiva. Adcoms are fairly cheap, sunfire, parasound, earthquake and of course Outlaw. 200 wpc is more than enough.

This may even work http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ult&1181682176 or

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ult&1183645598

[dragon1952]

The power is actually less? Please explain.

Typically receivers are rated at about double their 8ohm ratings into 4ohms. Evidently that isn't so with the Pioneer. That really surprises me, especially in their higher end Elite. Even my lower end, lower powered Yamaha is rated into 4ohms.
If that Pioneer is not capable of handling 4ohm loads, no wonder it's sweating.
BTW, evidently that Emotive has 2 of the channels recserved for 2-channel listening but the power rating is only 50wpc into 8ohms/95wpc into 4ohms. What's up with that?