Emotiva’s 16-Channel XMC-2 AV Pre-Pro Has Arrived

Emotiva Audio today announced that the 16-channel XMC-2 AV preamp/processor it previewed in January at CES 2019 is now shipping.

At $,2,999, the XMC-2 is a more affordable follow-up to the RMC-1 flagship that costs $2,000 more. Even though it has fewer features and extras, it was designed from the ground up to offer performance that approaches its pricier sibling through the use of “powerful new DSP technology,” audiophile-grade analog circuitry, and “bit-perfect video switching.”

Like the RMC-1, the XMC-2 incorporates object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround-sound processing for up to 16 channels, the same intuitive Live AV menu/control system and large OLED display, and supports 4K passthrough and Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR).

The XMC-2 also provides fully balanced audio output and employs the same audiophile-grade AKM AK4490 32-bit DACs as it’s big brother, which delivers refined sound by employing a “super-high-quality” mono mode for each of the front three channels and main low-frequency effects (LFE) outputs, while the remaining channels operate in stereo differential mode.

“If the RMC-1 was our most anticipated product in recent years, the XMC-2 was right behind it,” said Emotiva president and CEO Dan Laufman. “Out of the gate, it’s the one that longtime customers have been drooling over, especially after word got out that performance is very similar to that of the our flagship RMC-1.

For more information, visit emotiva.com.

brenro's picture

Not even eARC. Hard pass.

jeffhenning's picture

I'm really looking forward to the RMC-1 being reviewed and tested on Stereophile. It would be OK here, but you don't really do much on the test bench.

Emotiva's pre/pro's seem to be one of the few audio computer products (everything is a computer anymore) that actually adhere to Moore's Law.

Owning a XMC-1, I'm very familiar with how well there equipment works and sounds. It's really good.

The RMC-1 may be a Trinnov Altitude or Datasat killer. If it's performance as on par with processors that are 4 times the price, how could it not be? They seem to have eclipsed the competition that is priced around $5K.

Hopefully, we'll see in great detail.

trynberg's picture

There aren't any professional reviews of the RMC-1 because it's been nothing but a buggy disaster that still doesn't have key features activated.

jeffhenning's picture

I figured they'd have gotten those issues smoothed out after the XMC-1 took so long to get released. That's what happens when you off-shore most of your code writing.

I, though, have not kept up with the RMC-1 forum at Emotiva's site after seeing a few glowing reviews by people that loved it initially. Perhaps they didn't own them long enough.

They will resolve those issues. They are good that way.

They're not like Oppo Digital who really never resolved all the issued I have with my BDP-103 Blu-ray.