I just read your post and quite frankly was not really sure who Emotiva even was. After checking the UMC-1 out, this pre amp you mention looks just like what I was looking for, I think. I mentioned a few days ago that I was looking for a pre-amp/receiver for the many amplifiers I own. Anyway, sorry for the lack of knowledge about this company, just if nothing else wanted to find out from folks such as yourself about this company and perhaps this product when it comes available. Is Emotiva decent quality?
You can see what I own of their products. I'm a bit disappointed in the speakers - however the UPA-7 and UPA-2 amps are great. The speakers leave something to be desired. The ERD-1 surrounds are the best of the speakers and I recommend them to anyone looking for wall-mount surrounds under $300 - I've owned all of their speakers now so I know of what I speak. The 6.3 is a tad better than the 6.2 but for the money the 6.2 is the much better buy -- if you can get them for less than retail.
I had the ERT 8.3s also and sold them when the opportunity presented itself. As for the ERM-6.2s - well they are sonically identical to the smaller ERM-1s I use in the bedroom and in my book aren't worth paying more for than the ERM-1s. Probably this realization settled into their thinking and the decision was made to ax the ERM-1s and go with the 6.2 as their smallest speaker offering - profit being the motive I'm guessing.
As for customer service I've read about a few people having problems with them - however they have been very helpful when I needed them.
My opinion is they are reaching by quite a stretch in attempting to bring a prepro to market with such heavyweights as Integra offering the 40.1 for a few hundred more and having proven technology like Audyssey and excellent DACs. And that Integra will likely see it's price lowered once the UMC does make it to market - although looking at the 40.1 specs I can't imagine anyone choosing the UMC over the 40.1 at close prices.
As for the delays in bringing the UMC to market its been a painful process for them and isn't likely to 'cut a fat hog in the ***' as they once might have thought. There are some excellent AVRs with preamp outs that serve as a prepro for those who have external amps - AVRs such as the Onkyo 707 that has been given 'hand me down' features from the bigger brothers in the lineup such as Burr-Brown DACs and Audyssey Multi EQ and Dynamic Volume for well under the price of the UMC have me thinking I'll pass when my time comes up in the waiting list.
Maybe I'll buy a used one in a few months or a year from now but it seems time is creeping up on the UMC. Having no internet radio - no iPod connection and many other features that $400 AVRs have has put it in its place - history.
This is just one man's opinion of course - I could be wrong.
