What do you think? Do you use it for decoding Atmos and DTS:X. Have you used it's HDMI ARC option from a TV?
I don't use ARC. I don't use DTS-X. I use it only to decode Atmos vis disc, Apple, and .m4a rips. Search the Emotiva site and AVS forum for info on how it handles ARC. I think some buyers had complaints, others didn't. Seems gear dependant.
Things I like about it:
Great price. Mine was only $750 with emo bucks and the introductory price.
No HDMI issues except it's slow to switch inputs.
Nice slim-line profile
Nice backlit remote
No issues with the audio quality.
For what I use it for it performs flawlessly.
Things I don't like about it:
The room correction routine is total rubbish. The saving grace is it does have manual PEQ, but the number of bands is limited on the surrounds and height channels.
No MCH analog in.
USB input is limited to 16 bit stereo.
It down samples everything to 48 kHz, regardless if room correction is used or not.
No way to play Atmos in 5.1/7.1. The Atmos decoder takes control whenever it detects an Atmos signal.
There is no pure analog mode. All analog inputs get digitized.
No AM/FM. Tuner.
Other things you may like or that may or may not bother you:
Sourced from Tonewinner
No balanced outputs, except for the two sub outputs.
Does allow for front wides, but does not engage them on upmix.
I also own an Emotiva UMC 200. It does not digitize analog, does have 7.1 analog in, does have a pure analog mode. Amazingly, it will also provide bass management at full 96kHz. Does have an AM/FM tuner. Better room correction algorithm with 10 independent PEQ bands for every channel. For playback of all my ripped MCH files, it is the better performer, at least on paper. I can't really discern the difference going from from 96 to 48kHz, with RC off. Its also the better performer when using analog sources, like a turntable. I can detect that difference, but barely.
I use them both regularly via a 6 channel switch. I only use the MC-1 for Atmos playback.
This all works well for me. YMMV. Audio Science Review tested it. It did poorly as most AV products do at ASR. Emotiva calls it a "Cinema" processor for a reason. It is not geared toward the purist.
Would I buy it again? Used in the way I use it, yes.