Emotiva Emersa EMP-1 Preamp/Processor & EDA Power Amplifiers Preview

[gene]

Emotiva has unveiled a brand new line of audio gear dubbed Emersa. With the Emersa, Emotiva is targeting home users who want to balance elegant design, performance, and lifestyle options.

The EMP-1 pre-pro and matching high efficient power amplifiers are built in the USA have OLED, slim chassis and modular architecture. Read on and be sure to also check out our YouTube Video Interview with Emotiva President Dan Laufman to get all of the details.

Read: Emotiva Announces Emersa Line of Preamps and Power Amplifiers

 

[ncampbel]

Was hoping the announcement was going to be a new pre that incorporates Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. I really like what the XMC-1 has to offer but I'm unwilling to take the plunge without 7.1.4 support for these new Bluray releases that are already out.

 

[Ismael Betancourt]

I can't wait, I am definitely looking for their new line of speakers and pre/pro and amps. Cant wait until lunch date. Have you heard anything on specific lunching date?

 

[wilejoe]

Wow Made in the USA
You got my attention

 

[HipSonic]

Was hoping the announcement was going to be a new pre that incorporates Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. I really like what the XMC-1 has to offer but I'm unwilling to take the plunge without 7.1.4 support for these new Bluray releases that are already out.

I totally agree. I too am patiently holding out for the upgrades to XMC-1, as well the Oppo UHD 4K Blue ray players. I don't want to take the plunge on some of these components without ensuring that I've some how future proof myself for a few years.

 

[KEW]

Regarding teh amps:

Emo's own UPA series or the Outlaw 5000 provide better value. But, the pricing seems pretty decent if a slim profile is important! Squeezing 7 125 watt channels with cooling (or eliminating the need for cooling) in that slim cabinet doesn't come cheap.

Gene,
Any idea how deep the unit will be? That has always been a problem with people wanting to install in a cabinet of some sort - most of Emo's amps in the past have been almost 20" deep which doesn't always fit or look right! I'm hoping the ICE module gains benefit in the depth as well as height.
I know it is early for all the data to be out there, but how well do ICE modules generally handle 4 ohm loads?
I'm not used to seeing Emo power specs without 4 ohm load included (Emo is always great that way!).

 

[Steve81]

Any idea how deep the unit will be?...
I know it is early for all the data to be out there, but how well do ICE modules generally handle 4 ohm loads?

I would hazard a guess that the Emo 7 channel unit will be based on this:
http://www.icepower.dk/en/solutions/theater/
If that's the case, the unit could be significantly shallower than Emotiva's usual offerings. Re: 4 ohm performance, the data-sheet has this graph for power into the load at a few frequencies:


FR appears only marginally impacted by switching from 8 ohms to a 4 ohm load.

 

[KEW]

I would hazard a guess that the Emo 7 channel unit will be based on this:
http://www.icepower.dk/en/solutions/theater/
If that's the case, the unit could be significantly shallower than Emotiva's usual offerings. Re: 4 ohm performance, the data-sheet has this graph for power into the load at a few frequencies:
View attachment 17614

FR appears only marginally impacted by switching from 8 ohms to a 4 ohm load.

Thanks Steve!
I hope you are right (and you probably are), these are going to be hard to beat! That module looks like a great platform.

 

[davecraze]

Any idea of the s/n ratio on these emersa amps or the icetheater module they use? I would like to power 100db high efficiency JBL or Klipsch pro speakers with this amp, but I am nervous about hiss (vs something like an outlaw amp with 119+ db s/n ratio).

 

[Steve81]

Any idea of the s/n ratio on these emersa amps or the icetheater module they use? I would like to power 100db high efficiency JBL or Klipsch pro speakers with this amp, but I am nervous about hiss (vs something like an outlaw amp with 119+ db s/n ratio).

Idle noise of the ICE module is specified as less than 150 microvolts. Into an 8 ohm load, that translates into a couple billionths of a watt. Through a 105dB sensitive loudspeaker ala the Klipschorn, you'd get 19.5dB at 1m.

 

[davecraze]

Thanks. The reason I asked is that I was considering a Rotel 1077 (class D), which was measured at ~107dB by sound and vision and that seemed low compared to the 120dB plus choices out there. Maybe it was different modules and the Emersa is much cheaper, regardless.

 

[Steve81]

Thanks. The reason I asked is that I was considering a Rotel 1077 (class D), which was measured at ~107dB by sound and vision and that seemed low compared to the 120dB plus choices out there. Maybe it was different modules and the Emersa is much cheaper, regardless.

I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over it either way. One should note that SNR numbers will vary a bit depending on how they're measured (full power vs 1W, weighted vs unweighted, etc.). You can check out the reviews here to see some of the more realistic 1W figures, like these:

http://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/outlaw-5000/measurements
http://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/marantz-pm-11s3/measurements
http://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/iq-audio-m300/measurements
http://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/emotiva-xpr1-amplifier/emotiva-xpr1-amplifier-measurements

 

[KEW]

I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over it either way. One should note that SNR numbers will vary a bit depending on how they're measured (full power vs 1W, weighted vs unweighted, etc.). You can check out the reviews here to see some of the more realistic 1W figures, like these:

http://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/outlaw-5000/measurements
http://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/marantz-pm-11s3/measurements
http://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/iq-audio-m300/measurements
http://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/emotiva-xpr1-amplifier/emotiva-xpr1-amplifier-measurements

... and it doesn't have to cost you!
Unfortunately Emotive decided to pull these amps not long after they introduced them, but nice S/N for a $700 7 channel amp!
http://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/emotiva-upa-7/upa7-measurements

 

[Alexandre]

So, any update anywhere from Emotiva as far as availability for these? The EMP-1 seems pretty neat and while it's a bit more expensive than the Outlaw 975, it seems to have a few extra features that I might be interested in (Dirac, USB input).

Cheers!
Alex.

UPDATE: I pinged emotiva's sales team just after I posted this – yeah, I should probably have started at the source – and they said they planned to release the embers line by end of year. I guess I should wait a bit.