Featured Reviews

The new Emotiva XMC-1 is, according to the company, the "first product in a new generation of high performance digital audio products". Emotiva has been promising a new processor for years, and this is their fulfillment of that promise. Frankly, with the level of technology we're seeing in the Emotiva XMC-1 Processor, we're surprised such a small company can put develop such a product. But such technology comes at a cost. The new XMC-1 doubles the price of the older, UMC-1 Processor (on sale for $500 from Emotiva). But to say the XMC-1 Processor is an "upgrade" from the UMC-1 is a huge understatement. With tons of improvements and a new TACT room correction system, anyone looking for a processor should take a look at the new Emotiva XMC-1. Emotiva is offering a 40% discount for current UMC-1 owners wanting to upgrade to this new baby. If that provide enough incentive to upgrade your system, we don't know what will.

The Mark Levinson No. 52 Reference Dual-Monaural Preamplifier has just about every available technology to ensure an uncorrupted sonic experience. This fully analogue preamp has separated the audio and control portions into two distinct chassis connected by two separate DC power cords and a dedicated control cable. While you won't find Internet streaming, iDevice support, or any feature released in the last five years, what you will find is a dedication to signal purity that boarders on the insane. The question is, are you willing to pay $25,000 for that level of insanity?

The Integra DHC-80.3 has just about everything you might want in a processor - 9.2 channels, Audyssey MultEQ XT32, XLR outputs, ISFccc calibration options, DTS Neo:X processing, THX Ultra2+ certification, three zones with video out to zone 2, HDMI 1.4a with 3D, ARC, Standby Pass-thru...the list goes on. What is most impressive, however, is that they aren't charging you a premium for all these features in an ampless box. Instead, they are giving you $400 off the price of the receiver. While this won't buy you all the amps you'll need, it is better than what most of the rest of the manufactures.

Harman has decided to put out a new high-end pre/pro through their Lexicon brand dubbed the MP-20. The MP-20, Lexicon's first product labeled a "Media" Processor, is the follow-up to the MC-12 Cinema Processor. Sporting the Sigma Designs VXP GF9452 chipset for 1080p upscaling, the 12.4 channel MP-20 will have Lexicon's new QLS 3D processing which adds three height/width channels up front and two in the rear. Four independent subwoofer outputs and Zone 2 HDMI output with OSD rounds out this offering which promises to be the go-to solution for those with huge home theaters.

Can you get a $2000 processor for just $700? Emotiva is betting you can. It's new UMC-1 7.1 processor combines some of the more advanced A/V processing you'll find into a package that is hard to beat. Let's start with the hardware. The UMC-1 utilizes Emotiva's signature aluminum faceplate design and LED backlit controls that give it a warm, minimalistic look. They're going to audiophile appeal and I think they nailed it. The UMC-1 looks like the love child offspring of a McIntosh and Anthem processor. We're just saying... This is a very compelling buy from a company that has been producing value-priced products that consistently outperform their higher-priced counterparts. You owe it to yourself to at least check out the UMC-1, especially since they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. Pair the UMC-1 with one of Emotiva's hefty multi channel amps and you’ve got a separates solution with more power at your command than a flagship A/V receiver - and for much less…

The Crestron PSPHD PROCISE Surround Processor is just what it says it is - a surround processor. It is really more about giving custom installers a very easy way to create a high end sound in a home theater with all the little things that discerning audiophiles want paired with features that will make installations easier. The price tag is definitely high but that is to be expected with this sort of product. We're sure that installers are drooling as they wait to get their hands on one. With a custom installer name like Crestron behind it, you can bet it is also not going to be cheap. You'd be right but we'll leave that to the end. Hopefully you didn't see it above and spoil the surprise. The last thing the Crestron PSPHD is not is 3D capable. What this means is that you'll have to find a way to get the 3D picture to your screen but not through the Crestron.

Marantz has released a solid feature packed product with their new AV7005 Networking A/V Processor. It doesn’t quite go the extra mile in terms of features but its audio and video performance are top notch. The AV7005 really delivers; I just couldn’t fault its sonic performance. Channel separation abilities are much better from what I’ve heard with the Marantz SR6003 A/V receiver which was not quite in the same league. The Anchor Bay video-processing chip offers excellent upscaling performance, while High Definition performance is equally impressive. Marantz’s approach to hide the main display behind a front plate gives the unit a clean look. It can be matched with the new MM7055 or MM7025 multichannel amplifiers that also come with their new “port view” design. Highly recommended to the discriminating Audioholic wanting a high performance separates solution at a reasonable price.

What happens when the manufacturer of budget products decides to pull out all the stops? The Emotiva PMC-1 Media Processor/Controller has a lot of features that dealers and custom installers will find attractive. With seven HDMI 1.4 inputs (with Audio Return Channel) and two outputs, RCA and balanced outputs for 7.2 channels, 7.1 channel analogue inputs, and a host of installer-friendly features, the PMC-1 is sure to get a lot of attention. A lack of specifics about the feature set and a complete lack of analogue video inputs or outputs has us concerned. We'll keep you posted as more details are released.

As we'd expect from Onkyo, they've managed to shoehorn just about every feature on the market into this their new PR-SC5508 pre/pro. Onkyo's budget offerings have been impressing us lately with the number and quality of the features and the PR-SC5508 is no different. To start with, it has THX-Ultra 2 Plus certification, it is network-capable, and supports 9.2 channels of audio through either RCA or XLR outputs. The HDMI 1.4a inputs means you won't have to worry about 3D integration, the multiple zone support including video output for Zone 2 means the processor can grow with you, and the Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction means you'll get the best sound you can from your speakers and room.