Surround Processor Reviews

NuForce AVP-18 Surround Processor Specs

Specs
Auto Setup/Room EQ: Proprietary
Video Processing: Passthrough
Dimensions (W x H x D, Inches): 17 x 3.1 x 13.4
Weight (Pounds): 10.12
Video Inputs: HDMI 1.4a (4), MHL-enabled HDMI
Audio Inputs: Coaxial digital (2), optical digital (2)
Accessory: Bluetooth (future)
Video Outputs: HDMI 1.4a
Audio Outputs: Optical digital, 7.2-channel preout
Additional: RS-232, 12-volt trigger, USB non-audio Price: $1,095

Company Info
NuForce
(408) 890-6840
nuforce.com

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COMPANY INFO
NuForce
(408) 890-6840
nuforce.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
LordoftheRings's picture
Submitted by LordoftheRings on February 6, 2014 - 9:34pm

It fails that one and yet it receives five stars!

Rob Sabin's picture
Submitted by Rob Sabin on March 3, 2014 - 11:19am
Our 5-Star Video rating was reflective of what ran in our magazine print version of this review, which was contingent on Nuforce resolving the clipping issue with a pending firmware update. Unfortunately, that clarification appeared in print but not here. The clipping issue has now been fully resolved in AVP-18 firmware version "AVP-18_Firmware_02172014" or later, available at the Nuforce Web site. See our Test Bench page for more information.
TimmyS's picture
Submitted by TimmyS on February 7, 2014 - 6:27am

I was looking at the circuit board for this unit and it looks in many areas suspiciously like some other "direct to consumer" brands unit that sells for much less and even has more inputs.

Could someone address this?

samchitwood's picture
Submitted by samchitwood on February 7, 2014 - 9:42am

They're also suspiciously similar...

I'm very disappointed at S&V for not mentioning the similarities to the other company's product. That product was also reviewed here months ago, so it's not like they can claim they didn't know about it.

Why I should pay nearly double for this unit? That should have been the core of this review. But this smells of product placement. That makes some people specifically choose another vendor.

givmedew's picture
Submitted by givmedew on December 30, 2015 - 10:42pm

this thing is too too much like the emotivia umc-200 that was sold for under $600. The display, the way the Bluetooth works, the dsp, the HDMI and more. It seems like a cheaper umc-200 that costs more.

LordoftheRings's picture
Submitted by LordoftheRings on February 7, 2014 - 4:59pm

Emotiva UMC-200
and
Outlaw Model 975

LordoftheRings's picture
Submitted by LordoftheRings on February 7, 2014 - 5:04pm

Sorry, I don't know how to give direct links here.

Anyhow:

1. Emotiva UMC-200
2. Outlaw Model 975

* Perhaps it's up to the readers to compare, and not up to the reviewers?

hoffdano@gmail.com's picture
Submitted by hoffdano@gmail.com on March 11, 2014 - 2:32pm

As exposed in other forums, the Nuforce unit appears to be an Emotive UMC200 in a different case with fewer inputs at about twice the price. Exact same remote, same front panel display, and other pics of the internals are nearly identical. The EQ behaves the same. Hard to see why the Nuforce is worth the price.

JAC's picture
Submitted by JAC on March 18, 2014 - 10:16am

This has been covered in other forums as it pops up, but this "clone" concept is put forth by those who don't know that many companies use OEM contractors to build their designs based on a pre-existing foundation.

The above mentioned companies are no different. The OEM offers a Chassis, and various foundational circuitry and or firmware, and the company then "SPECIFIES" what components/parts quality, functions, performance specifications, feature sets, and materials are to be used.

There are at least 4-5, if not more companies using this same chassis, and ALL of them offer different inputs/outputs, component parts, functions, and other features at various price ranges.

So these units may share "some" features that work the same, and some that work differently based on the firmware menus the Company selected. For example Processing Firmwares are ALL the same since Dolby Labs, DTS, etc require a strict adherence to performance parameters using specific processors.

For example the $9400 Bryston uses the same Processor chipset as some far less expensive Harman Kardon Receivers, because they work and function the same.

This practice is common, but making the assumption that the units are clones, displays only the ability to recognize the chassis size and "look". Upon closer inspection the differences and designs show clear differences.

It is up to you, to evaluate and figure out which best fits your needs, system quality, and budget.

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