Emotiva’s Top Secret XMR-1 AVR Makes an Appearance at CES 2018

Emotiva’s Top Secret XMR-1 AVR Makes an Appearance at CES 2018​

(AV NIRVANA)(January 9, 2018) The cat’s out of the bag! Now that Emotiva is just months away from officially launching its RMC-1 Processor – one of the industry’s most highly anticipated audio products of 2018 – the company has decided to publicly show a prototype mock-up of a new AV receiver. The XMR-1 is still in its development stage, but could potentially make its way to market within the next year.

Details about the XMR-1 are sparse at this point, but the receiver’s internal processing takes its cues from the RMC-1. That means it will offer both Atmos and DTS:X decoding, along with room correction courtesy of Dirac Live. According to one Emotiva representative, the XMR-1 is projected to offer a beefy 250 Watts of output across 11 channels. It will also carry dual subwoofer outputs.

Connectivity-wise, the XMR-1 is loaded with eight HDMI outputs, two HDMI inputs, 22 speaker posts, and five balanced outputs (three for front channels, two for subwoofers), and a variety of digital and analog inputs. I asked Emotiva president Dan Laufman about the new HDMI 2.1 specification, and he assured me that 2.1 upgrade kits would be made available (for both the XMR-1 and XMC-1) once the new chips come to market. According to Laufman, any HDMI upgrades would be offered at customer friendly price points and easy to install.

Pricing for the new XMR-1 is expected to land around $4,999, however there are plans to release a less expensive model devoid of balanced inputs and outputs at an unspecified date.

 

[Todd Anderson]

 

[Talley]

Don't you mean RMC-1?

I think for $5k this thing will be an absolute monster and a wonderful solution for those who want an all in one combo. NICE!

 

[Todd Anderson]

LOL... too many X's!

RMC-1 = Processor
XMR-1 - AVR

 

[Matthew J Poes]

This looks awesome. Very impressive. I wonder how they pack 11 channels at 250 watts each into this. That's 2750 watts if all channels driven!

 

[Todd Anderson]

While they’re preliminary output numbers, my guess is 250x7 with less output for Presence channels. Purely a guess.

 

[ShpongleDMT]

 

[Tony V.]

Maybe some class D amplification? Nice looking unit.

 

[Asere]

She's attractive! Love the lights and the buttons.

 

[AudioThesis]

I couldn't get over the 250 WPC spec's thrown out here as its just TOO much for a 15 amp line... even pushing it for a 20 amp line. I found this:

http://www.avsforum.com/emotiva-rmc-1-av-processor-demoed-at-cedia-2017/

Of course Emotiva is known for its amps, and the solution it chose for the CEDIA demo it was pretty cool too. Inside one single XPA Gen3 Chassis, they put three 200-watt mono modules plus four 75 watt/channel stereo modules, which created an 11-channel single-chassis amp perfectly suited for a 7.1.4 (multi-subwoofer) system.

That is 1200 watts total claimed RMS.

 

[AudioThesis]

I like this unit, but I'm not sure how much market there is for it. High dollar receivers don't exactly sell like hotcakes anymore. I hope Emotiva can ride on their previous success in this market and make this a profitable product that fills a niche that died out over a decade ago.

 

[Talley]

Their PS is rated for 3kw... Doesn't mean it can sustain that.

Most likely it uses 250wpc modules for each channel but all channels driven is more like 150w. Thats something I could believe.

I couldn't get over the 250 WPC spec's thrown out here as its just TOO much for a 15 amp line... even pushing it for a 20 amp line. I found this:

http://www.avsforum.com/emotiva-rmc-1-av-processor-demoed-at-cedia-2017/

Of course Emotiva is known for its amps, and the solution it chose for the CEDIA demo it was pretty cool too. Inside one single XPA Gen3 Chassis, they put three 200-watt mono modules plus four 75 watt/channel stereo modules, which created an 11-channel single-chassis amp perfectly suited for a 7.1.4 (multi-subwoofer) system.

That is 1200 watts total claimed RMS.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Emotiva is making strong inroads into the custom install market. When compared to some of the higher end multichannel options sold to custom install, the price of this unit looks pretty good. So, while the average buyer might not look at this kind of price point, mega-enthusiasts and custom installers will.

As I said, there's plans for a step-down model at a lower price point. And who knows... perhaps the BasX line will start to see some action in this larger processor arena. It's going to be interesting to see where Emotiva takes this.

 

[Talley]

Processor
MC-700 = 7.1
XMC-1 (gen 3) = 11.2
RMC-1 - 13.3

Receiver
XMR-1 = 11.2

I think they did a heck of a job really at their product margins. It's taken them some time to do this but now it all makes sense. For those who want ultimate the RMC-1 will be it. Those that want the next ultimate will be the XMC-1 Gen 3 and seperate amp. The 3rd ultimate will be XMR-1 + 3 channel amp for front 3. Then XMR-1 to handle all 11 channels. Makes complete sense on $ side look:

MC700 + A700 = $1200
XMC-1 + A700 = $4000?
XMC-1 + XPA-7 = $5,000?
XMR-1 = $5000?
XMR-1 + XPA-3 = $6200?
RMC-1 + XPA-7 + XPA7 = $8,000?

I mean... we don't know all of the pricing yet... but there is a huge gap in the middle of the MC700/A700 combo. I think a BasX version of the XMR-1 needs to be released at the 2k-2500 price range.

I really like this XMR-1 though. Something I could sell my 7 channel amp and xmc-1 for and buy the XMR-1 and a XPA-3 or even DR-3 and have only two units instead of 3 to handle 11 channels. It is a space saving setup. If it has fully differential 3 mains (xlr outputs on front 3) then I could see this being a pretty good setup.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Most likely it uses 250wpc modules for each channel but all channels driven is more like 150w. Thats something I could believe.

Emotiva is VERY proud of the fact that any specs they publish are always ALL CHANNELS DRIVEN, otherwise I'd agree with this. I'd probably lean more toward the 7@250wpc and 4@125wpc theory.

 

[AudioThesis]

Emotiva is VERY proud of the fact that any specs they publish are always ALL CHANNELS DRIVEN, otherwise I'd agree with this. I'd probably lean more toward the 7@250wpc and 4@125wpc theory.

Not on a 15 amp breaker. I'm not sure how many people will want to buy a receiver that requires a 20 amp or larger line. Even at that quoted spec, at full load, you are going to need more than a 20 amp line to cover it.

 

[Zworkz]

When purchasing such a product as the XMR-1, I'm sure that integrating a 20 amp circuit would not be of concern.

I have 2 system set ups. One is my 2 channel system comprised of 2 XPA-1 Mono blocks. Each one of these amps are connected to hospital grade plugs, 12 gauge wiring and their own individual 20 amp circuit, a 3rd independent 20 amp circuit runs the DA converter and CD player.

For the Theatre room it is exactly the same set up.
One 20amp line handles the XPA-2, another 20 amp line handles the XPA-5, and a 3rd 20amp line handles the Processor, Blu-ray, and LD player.. 400 Watt sub is hooked up to yet another breaker.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

I'm not an electrician, but it was just mentioned that it will be Class D amplification, which should make it more efficient, no?