XMC-2

16 Channel Dolby Atmos & DTS:X Home Theater Processor

The XMC-2 is a state-of-the-art surround sound processor - designed from the ground up to serve as the nerve center of a modern home theater or surround sound music system. The bit-perfect video switches in the XMC-2 ensure that you’ll get the best possible image quality from the latest HDR and Dolby Vision 4k UHD discs, and the advanced audio decoding engine, audio processing hardware, and room correction options guarantee you true audiophile sound quality and performance

XMC-2 is a state-of-the-art surround sound processor - designed from the ground up to serve as the nerve center of a modern home theater or surround sound music system. The bit-perfect video switches in the XMC-2 ensure that you’ll get the best possible image quality from the latest HDR and Dolby Vision 4k UHD discs, and the advanced audio decoding engine, audio processing hardware, and room correction options guarantee you true audiophile sound quality and performance. Unlike other surround sound processors, the XMC-2 is not only a superb home theater processor, but also a true audiophile stereo component. When we set out to design the XMC-2 we had some relatively lofty goals. We wanted to design a processor that would support the latest Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object oriented surround sound formats, with plenty of channels to fulfill the needs of our most demanding customers, and sound quality and performance equal to or better than the best stereo equipment currently on the market. And, along with that, it had to deliver superb bit-perfect picture quality, and support the latest HDR and Dolby Vision 4k UHD video content. And, finally, it had to be relatively simple to configure and operate, so that our customers would actually be able to take full advantage of its advanced performance and capabilities.

Designing a surround sound processor that includes all of the features you need in a modern home theater system, while still delivering superb sound quality, is a truly formidable undertaking. Most AV receivers and pre/pros offer plenty of features, but include serious compromises in sound quality. And most audio gear that offers true audiophile sound quality is limited to stereo, and offers very few features. Our plans called for a platform that could deliver both.

To make all this possible, we started by developing a whole new hardware platform, which combines powerful new cutting-edge processor technology with painstaking analog circuit design to deliver the best possible audio performance. Running on this hardware platform, our proprietary operating system powers the menu system and all of the advanced control logic. This new platform was first introduced to the public in our highly successful XMC-1. The XMC-2 takes this technological innovation to the next level, with the latest 4k HDR and Dolby Vision UHD video switching capabilities, improved audio decoding and processing, the latest digital to analog conversion hardware, more channels to fully support the latest object oriented surround sound formats, and even more room for future expansion and upgrades. The XMC-2, the ultimate expression of our new design philosophy, is finally ready to be unveiled.

The XMC-1 eliminated many of the compromises and expanded the boundaries around what was possible for home theater and surround sound. The XMC-2 takes it to the next level… and is the perfect way to start building a truly state of the art home theater, surround sound, and audiophile stereo music system.

Perfect For Both Home Theater And and Audiophiles

The XMC-2 delivers the level of audio performance and features you would expect from separate high-end audiophile components, combined with precise bit-perfect video switching of the latest HDR and Dolby Vision 4k UHD video content, and plenty of channels to support the latest object-oriented home theater surround sound formats (including Dolby Atmos up to 9.1.6 and DTS:X up to 7.1.4). The XMC-2 offers the full range of audio options, from native playback of DSD audio, to pure analog playback in our audiophile Reference Stereo mode, to full decoding of the latest object oriented sound tracks. With the XMC-2 you really can have it all….. without compromise.

Operating Modes For The Discerning Listener

When used as a fully featured home theater processor, the XMC-2 starts by decoding the audio from your movie soundtracks and surround sound discs with the best possible sound quality. Sophisticated bass management directs the low-frequency components of the audio spectrum to your subwoofer. This finely tuned digital audio is then converted into high-quality analog audio by precision DACs and sent to your amplifiers - via a high-quality analog ladder network volume control and audiophile grade analog circuitry.

If you listen to high-resolution audio downloads or other high-quality music sources which don't require all of that advanced processing, the XMC-2 offers several purist audiophile modes. High-quality digital sources, both PCM and DSD, can be converted directly to analog by the precision high-performance DACs, bypassing all of the more advanced processing. And, if you have analog sources which don't require any processing at all, they can be routed directly to the superb quality fully balanced analog signal path, bypassing all digital processing. 

Support For The Latest Audio and Video Formats

Home theater video is continually evolving to deliver a sharper picture, more colors, and more advanced features - which can make it difficult to keep track of what you actually need to take advantage of the latest video content and this year's 4k displays. The XMC-2 has eight HDMI video inputs and two HDMI video outputs, all of which support HDMI 2.0b and HDCP 2.2. The XMC-2 supports the full HDMI 2.0b 18 gBps video data rate, so it supports full 4k UHD video, at frame rates up to 4k/60, with full 12-bit color, and 4.4.4 chroma subsampling. It also supports static and dynamic HDR, including Dolby Vision, for a brilliant picture, with pure, intense colors, and remarkable contrast. The XMC-2 provides everything you need to get the most from the latest streaming content and 4k UHD Blu-Ray discs.

The XMC-2 supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the latest object oriented surround sound formats, and Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio, the current high-quality regular surround sound formats. Of course, the XMC-2 also provides full support for all the usual analog and digital audio formats, including PCM and DSD digital audio, vie both HDMI and USB.

Advanced Menu System and Configuration Options

Modern home theater systems can be very complex. To make the XMC-2 powerful and flexible, yet simple to configure and operate, we developed our own custom menu and control system. Frequently used options are easy to find and access, more in-depth options are arranged logically, and the current status is always clearly displayed on the dual informative front panel OLED displays and the highly configurable on-screen display. The XMC-2 can be controlled from the front panel buttons, from its iconic solid metal remote control, or using the handy remote control app, which is available for Apple and Windows computers, and Android phones. The XMC-2 can also be integrated into most universal remote and whole-home control systems.

Because the XMC-2 is all about power and control, it gives you unprecedented flexibility to configure your system to sound just the way you want it to. Advanced bass management supports up to three subwoofers, and lets you set independent crossover points for each set of speakers. Two entirely separate sets of manual parametric equalizers let you create custom response curves, and can import settings directly from the popular Room EQ Wizard (REW). Settings can be saved as files, exported to a computer, and saved settings can be modified using a simple XML or text editor. Precision bass and treble controls, separate from the more advanced EQ settings, make simple response adjustments easy, and true Fletcher-Munson loudness compensation keeps your music sounding good, even at very low listening levels.

The World's Most Advanced Automatic Room Correction System

One of the main upcoming features of the XMC-2 is the advanced Dirac Live automatic room correction system, which operates across both the time and frequency domains, taking you dramatically closer to the action in today's blockbuster movies, and lifting the veil between you and your high-resolution music files. Dirac Live is widely considered to be the most advanced room correction system available today. The powerful Dirac Live engine is built into the XMC-2 itself, while the calibration software is installed and run on your computer when it's time to calibrate your system. Each XMC-2 includes its own calibrated measurement microphone and Dirac Interface Kit.

Designed and Assembled in The USA WITH Globally Sourced Components

Assembling products here in the USA gives us exceptional control over every facet of the design and production process, which helps us build the highest quality products for our customers while minimizing unnecessary complications and production delays. As with many of our current products, the XMC-2 is assembled in our production center here in Franklin, Tennessee - just south of Nashville…

The Path to The Future

Home theater technology has made rapid strides since we first introduced our XMC-1, and continues to advance at a rapid pace. The main circuitry in the XMC-2 is fully modular, so it be upgraded to keep up with the latest and greatest options as they become available.

Features

True Audiophile Sound Quality

• Designed first and foremost to deliver superb sound quality.
• Fully balanced Reference Stereo signal path.
• Highest quality audio decoding for the latest Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object oriented surround sound formats.
• Highest quality audio decoding for high resolution surround sound formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.
• Support for stereo and surround sound PCM digital audio via HDMI.
• Native support for stereo and surround sound DSD digital audio via HDMI, and for both single-rate and double rate stereo DSD audio via USB.
• Audiophile grade AKM4490 Verita DACs (operating in fully balanced Mono mode for the three front main channels)
• AKM5572 Verita ADCs on analog inputs.
• Hardware based ASRCs (asynchronous sample rate converters) between DSP stages for extremely high jitter immunity with digital audio sources.
• Digitally controlled precision analog ladder network volume controls. (Cirrus CS3318 resistor ladder network volume controls on main zone; Cirrus CS3310 resistor ladder network volume control on secondary zones.)
• High performance digital AM/FM tuner.

Flexible Audio Input and Output Options

• Supports an extremely wide variety of audio sources, including HDMI audio, analog audio, AM and FM radio, digital S/PDIF and USB PCM audio, and both single and double-rate DSD digital audio.
• Independent audio input selection for each video input. (The user can associate any audio source with any video input. In addition, the user may temporarily choose to listen to any audio-only source while watching any video input.)
• Second audio zone with separate DACs and source selection. (Second Zone can track Main Zone or be set to use separate digital or analog audio input.)

Flexible Audio Control Options

• Support for up to three separate subwoofers, with independent level, distance, room correction, and EQ settings for each.
• Advanced bass management with fully independent crossover settings for each speaker group.
• Our exclusive Live AV™ menu feature, which allows you to hear the changes you make to most menu settings, including levels and crossover frequencies, in real time.
• Two sets of fully independent 11-band manual parametric speaker EQ settings.
• Global Bass and Treble controls with user-selectable turnover points (independent from more complex EQ settings).
• User selectable true Fletcher-Munson loudness compensation.
• Selectable dynamic range control.

Support For The Latest Surround Sound Audio Modes

• The XMC-2 will automatically detect how the audio on each source you play is encoded and select the optimum mode to use to decode it. Decoded audio will then be optimized for your unique system configuration. All automatic processing modes can be manually overridden temporarily, and default modes can be reconfigured to suit your listening preferences.

Support for the latest surround sound audio decoding options:

• Dolby Atmos (up to 9.1.6).
• Dolby TrueHD (up to 7.2).
• Dolby Digital Plus.
• Dolby Digital. - DTS:X (up to 7.1.4)
• DTS-HD Master Audio.
• DTS-HD High Resolution Audio.
• DTS 5.1.
• Stereo and Multi-Channel PCM.
• Stereo and Multi-Channel DSD.

Support for the latest digital post processing modes:

• Dolby Surround.
• DTS Neural:X.

Cutting Edge Video Switching

• 18 Gbps video bandwidth with bit-perfect signal switching on all HDMI inputs and outputs. Supports formats up to 4k UHD 50/60Hz 4.4.4 with HDR, HDR10, and Dolby Vision
• ARC (Audio Return Channel) and CEC support on primary output.
• The XMC-2 is a pure video switch; video inputs are routed directly to the appropriate output without any unnecessary processing. Video switching is provided by three Panasonic MN864788 High Speed LSI 4k UHD Video Switches.
• Unique Video On Standby option allows both audio and video to be routed directly to your display when the XMC-2 is turned off. This allows you or other family members to use your monitor to watch cable or TV shows while your main home theatre system is turned off.

Powerful Display and Control Options

• Full sized machined aluminium infrared remote control with discrete buttons for HDMI input selection, trim adjustments, and other major functions.
• Remote control apps - available for Apple and Windows computers and Android phones.
• Integration with universal infrared remote controls and popular infrared and network operated whole-home control systems.
• Four flexible Trigger Outputs can be independently configured to activate amplifiers or other trigger-enabled equipment.

SPECIFICATIONS