Marantz Gold Classic System Needs A New 5.1 Processor.

[Mark R]

I have an 5.1 set up composed of a Model 500 power amp ...3300 Preamp....and some Model 250 Power amps plus other Marantz equipment. They are fed a 5.1 signal via an Old Panasonic SH-AC500D Surround Processor.

I am limited on what I can use when I watch TV from Directv which feeds the processor 5.1. My 5.1 Video Audio comes from a Blue Ray Player for DVD.

Now since I have a Fire Stick their is no place to thru put the HDMI cable from the Fire Stick to the Processor since it has no 5.1 HDMI input which should thru put to an HDMI Output to the TV for Video.

So I have been looking at an "Emotiva Bas X MC700 Processor. Anyway. Take a look at this device and give me your opinion on this unit and or ...maybe suggest something else.

Thanks Very Much In Advance...Mark R

Here's a Link to their site...https://emotiva.com/products/mc-700

 

[JoeESP9]

I have an Emotiva UMC-200. It works perfectly and sounds (IMO) quite good. I have my eye on a MC700 as my Blu-ray player and TV are 4K capable. I like the Silver end pieces rather than the Black ones. I could always swap them for the ones on the UMC-200.

FWIW: I have other gear from Emotiva that I'm very happy with. I order direct from Emotiva. They're very nice to deal with whether buying or troubleshooting a problem.

 

[Mark R]

Thanks Joe for the reply,

I haven't had to deal with what's new in the world of Processors for a long long time. Not being familiar with what's out there to me it was a crap shoot. Emotiva is new to me and I didn't know their products were only available thru them. I have been on their site and it looks like a solid company.

I'll be calling them today to talk with a sales engineer. Also I have an older Samsung 53 inch TV that is over 10 years old. It has a great Picture after all these years. But I should update it to 4K. Don't know how much programing is out there in 4K but I'm sure their are many more features built in like wifi Streaming channels and more na better connectivity.

 

[JoeESP9]

AFAIK 4K programming is only available via selected Netflix stuff, some Amazon videos and on 4K Blu-ray disks. Don't expect to see any 4K programing via over the air (it requires a new/different tuner) or on most cable systems anytime soon.

Some cable channels and many broadcasters seem to have a problem re-scaling a lot of old movies and network TV shows. Am I the only one who has noticed oval wheels on cars in those old shows and films? I'm quite certain the originals display wheels that are round.

That re-scaling makes actors appear taller and slimmer than they really are. Hooray! Audio Murphy is really 5'10".

Emotiva and Outlaw Audio both have 4K HDR pre/pro's that are IMO reasonably priced. However the Outlaw is $300 more. Sooner or later I'll spring for the Emotiva MC700. The 200 will get moved to my bedroom. With a few small inexpensive Class D amplifiers (2 stereo, 1 mono) it will replace the Yamaha HT receiver that's doing the job for now.

 

[Mark R]

Yeah Joe,
I kind of figured that 4K was kinda here but not. Mfg's are pushing 4K TV's. I would assume that type would do both 4K and what we have now. Anyway..I will be in the market soon for a new 53" which is only size that will fit in my living room setup. You can see by this older Picture I'm limited on space due to the 4 E/V Sentry III's .

Also just got off the phone with Emotiva and have ordered a MC 700. Should have it next week. They gave me a Great price along with my Vietnam Veterans discount. Nice people. Spent about 15 min with the sales engineer to confirm a few things . They they switched me over to a nice sales person. Good experience.

 

[JoeESP9]

4K TV's are backwards/downwards compatible with all ATSC TV signals. The built in tuners on TV's don't know what to do with 4K signals anyway. Only an HDMI connection will pass 4K signals.

I had no idea Emotiva offers a Viet Nam veterans discount. I shall remember to ask about that next time I talk to them. Cam Rahn Bay in 1968.

 

[damacman]

Yeah Joe,
I kind of figured that 4K was kinda here but not. Mfg's are pushing 4K TV's. I would assume that type would do both 4K and what we have now. Anyway..I will be in the market soon for a new 53" which is only size that will fit in my living room setup. You can see by this older Picture I'm limited on space due to the 4 E/V Sentry III's .

Also just got off the phone with Emotiva and have ordered a MC 700. Should have it next week. They gave me a Great price along with my Vietnam Veterans discount. Nice people. Spent about 15 min with the sales engineer to confirm a few things . They they switched me over to a nice sales person. Good experience. View attachment 1940165

Crown electrostatics?

 

[whoaru99]

4K TV's are backwards/downwards compatible with all ATSC TV signals. The built in tuners on TV's don't know what to do with 4K signals anyway. Only an HDMI connection will pass 4K signals.

I had no idea Emotiva offers a Viet Nam veterans discount. I shall remember to ask about that next time I talk to them. Cam Rahn Bay in 1968.

FWIW, ATSC 3.0 is coming, perhaps yet this year, which will facilitate 4K OTA.

To your point though, the ATSC tuner presently in most TVs won't work for that. It'll have to be a ATSC 3.0 compatible tuner/TV. Allegedly there are a few around now but I'm not in the market enough to pursue more details.

 

[Mark R]

4K TV's are backwards/downwards compatible with all ATSC TV signals. The built in tuners on TV's don't know what to do with 4K signals anyway. Only an HDMI connection will pass 4K signals.

I had no idea Emotiva offers a Viet Nam veterans discount. I shall remember to ask about that next time I talk to them. Cam Rahn Bay in 1968.

Welcome Home Brother:
66-67 South Vietnam....( Combat Engineers).. Long Binh..Tay Ninh..and other S...t Holes. If you scroll down on their Page for the MC-700 or it might be on all pages.. You will see a list of items ..one of them says Veterans Discounts. You have to log in and fill out a form. But since I was on with the salesman, he just put it thru. It was a great price. I think the discount was 20%.

 

[Mark R]

So.. Should I invest in a 4K TV?? Or should I wait till these Mfg's Battle it out with the Fed's... I could be in the market for a New Samsung as this one has be excellent.

Opinions Welcome....


BTW.... Nice Avatar Damacman. I like that scope sting out of the Hood..

 

[JoeESP9]

So.. Should I invest in a 4K TV?? Or should I wait till these Mfg's Battle it out with the Fed's... I could be in the market for a New Samsung as this one has be excellent.

Opinions Welcome....


BTW.... Nice Avatar Damacman. I like that scope sting out of the Hood..

In my case, I already have a 4K Blu-ray player and a 4K TV. When you include 4K content from Netflix and Amazon IMO that makes it worth it. Just about all the 65" TV's I looked at were 4k and HDR capable.

Welcome Home Brother:
66-67 South Vietnam....( Combat Engineers).. Long Binh..Tay Ninh..and other S...t Holes. If you scroll down on their Page for the MC-700 or it might be on all pages.. You will see a list of items ..one of them says Veterans Discounts. You have to log in and fill out a form. But since I was on with the salesman, he just put it thru. It was a great price. I think the discount was 20%.

Thanks for that tip. I intend using that discount sooner than later.

 

[whoaru99]

So.. Should I invest in a 4K TV?? Or should I wait till these Mfg's Battle it out with the Fed's... I could be in the market for a New Samsung as this one has be excellent.

Opinions Welcome....


BTW.... Nice Avatar Damacman. I like that scope sting out of the Hood..

My opinion is if you want/need a new TV today then buy one today. There will always be something newer, better (and probably cheaper for the level of performance) tomorrow, so to speak.

 

[jonnyz123]

I have an Emotiva UMC-200. It works perfectly and sounds (IMO) quite good.

Hey Joe. Will the Emotiva UMC-200 work with a four or five channel setup? I have Klipsch Forte II's as mains that have excellent bass, so I don't feel I need a sub. And I'm not sure I'll have a center channel. I'm wondering if its built-in EmoQ will be able to sense what speakers I have connected, and adjust accordingly?

 

[JoeESP9]

The UMC-200 will do up to 7.1. EmoQ works like any other automatic calibration utility. It listens to the way speakers reproduce the test tones. If it doesn't hear a speaker it will register it as not being there.

My mains are bi-amped using an electronic crossover. EmoQ sees me as having a pair of full range front speakers with no subwoofer. The only reason I'm thinking of the MC-700 is because my TV and Blu-ray are 4K capable. I could connect the Blu-ray player directly to the TV. However, I prefer all video switching be done by the pre/pro.