I would still connect the XPA-1 monoblocks the way I described previously, now the problem would be you will have 2 sets of main speaker cables to the summits, one from the 5 channel amp and the other from the monoblocks. You would have to disconnect one depending on which source you were listening too. A Hassle...
Hmm, I don't think you would ever want two sets of speaker cables from two different amps going to the Summits, unless you were trying some crazy bi-amping scheme, which ML clearly states NOT to do with the Summits because of the internal amp already there for the woofer.
The other option would be to connect the monoblocks with the front amp outputs from the 7.1 connections on the preamp and not to the 5 channel amp for only one set of speaker wires.
The only problem as mentioned by another post is whether you can totally bypass all of the digital processing in the front channel outputs from your preamp in the 7.1 connections. You would have to Y the outputs from the 7.1 outputs in this case to connect the descent for stereo listening.
Yes. I would install Y adapters to connect the L/R from the 7.1 output to each of your monoblocks and the L/R inputs of Descet. Then I would connect the Center, Surround L/R, and Surround Back L/R to the XPA5. Finally, connect the LFE/Sub out to the LFE in of the Descent. Let me tell you my reasoning for the suggestion:
The dedicated 2 channel outputs on the UMC-1 look to be labeled Zone, Mix, and Rec (Recorder). Zone is for an independent output zone--you would always have to keep the Zone 2 in sync with main zone, and it's likely that Zone 2 doesn't output from digital sources connected to the UMC-1, Mix is going to be a 2 channel down-mix used when a multichannel source is selected. Rec may work, but like Zone might only be active for analog sources connected to the UMC-1.
Now lets talk DSP. DSP is, dare I say, never going to be applied to outputs, it's going to be applied to inputs, whether it be HDMI, 7.1 input, 2 channel input, Toslink input, etc. The 7.1 outputs simply put out the analog signal coming from the DAC (Digital-to-analog) converters or from a direct analog bypass route on the preamp. When you select a surround sound effect (DSP), if the source input is analog, it has to be converted to digital using onboard A/D, have DSP applied, and then be converted back to analog to pass out via the 7.1 outputs. So by definition, pure analog bypass can ONLY be applied to an analog source and what it does is pass the analog signal from the source component directly (usually via dedicated circuitry) to the 7.1 analog outputs with no digital (DAC) processing or mucking with the signal (including bass management). There may also be a "Direct Mode" which takes any input, and just applies D/A conversion if necessary.
The ability to apply DSP to various inputs can be a benefit and is a limitation for some surround processors due to insufficient DSP horsepower. For example, if you are watching a movie only recorded in 5.1, you can select Dolby PLiix to mix the 5.1 into 7.1. Don't forget DSP is also necessary to implement bass management and any room correction (which I believe Emotiva calls Emo-Q) You might want to experiment with different surround modes for 2 channel audio as well. If analog bypass is important to you (if you have a high quality analog source that you want to have untouched by the UMC-1), the question to find out from Emotiva, is if the UMC-1 has a "Direct Mode" or "pure analog bypass" and if so, what inputs can it be used for.
I probably got a little off topic there, but hope that helps!
