Frank,
Using the Elrod EPS-2S on the dac. I haven't tried playing with it but it is so much better than anything else I have used. The EMM does have better detail & bass. Just misses the Audio Aero presentation on CD. Interconnect are transparent ref w. mm. In SACD it is incredible. I would be done with the chase if SACD was the end. It is that good. CD is good sometimes better than the Audio Aero but more often not. I will be listening again tonight or tomorrow.
I am getting curious about the Reimyo. At least for the sake of comparison. I can't imagine it being better then the EMM in SACD vs CD. But it might better it in CD. It might be the tube output stage that is making the difference as well. That is what a lot of the new items hitting the market include if I am right. Aren't the APL, Remiyo & a few others are using tube output stages?
I will try to reach you today on the phone. I just ordered 100 SACDs |
I forgot to ask about your ic's. I don't know what you're using. Just seemes that something in your system isn't matching well with the EMM gear. |
Darren: Sorry I missed your call this evening. Got in late. Something seems amiss in your system. I would guess the p/c's on the dac and transport. I never even tried the supplied Kimber that came with the dac. I had good success with silent source and pure notes (older copper version). JTinn would probably recommend the Shunyata Anaconda VX and that might be best for what I think you're looking for. (Big bucks though). First why don't you put the Kimber back on the dac since it came with it and put the elrod on the Philips. Let it run for 2 or 3 hours and then see if that changed anything. If you have other cables try experimenting. Quite a few EMM owners are ex Audio Aero owners and the ones I know of, all like pcm better on the EMM gear. Also check all your connections (glass cables) and toggles to make sure your running it corectly. |
Here it goes. I have been doing a lot of listening. Hands down a great SACD is much better than any CD on the EMM or on my Audio Aero. But here is the twist, I find that on 60% of CDs the Audio Aero sounds better (or different) than the EMM. I want to listen more, but so far in my system that is what me & a few musician friends have found. It is confusing me. Also I don't want to keep the Audio Aero. This hobby is already too expensive, but after listening to SACD I can't live without it.
Yes the EMM is more detailed with better bass, but the midrange is missing something compared to the Audio Aero. Maybe it is the tube coloration or something else that I like but it is definitely better with the 4 CDs I used for comparison purposes. More to follow. |
whoa - sorry, frank! i am very impressed by the mods done by alex. i was afraid that it would alter the sound of an already incredible-sounding combo, but it just improved upon what it already did amazingly well. i did a comparison with my un-modded EMM Philips after the new one broke in and was really impressed by the improvements Alex's mods made. i haven't heard a CDSD, so i can't compare to that, but i'd be surprised if the CDSD were much of an improvement over this transport.
it's just too damn bad that i had %95 of my cds and one of my guitars stolen from my car a few weeks ago. it's kind of killed my desire to listen to music as of late. i know it sounds silly, but its really just temporarily destroyed my will. i've borrowed a few of my favorite cds from my brother, but just have no motivation. thieves suck, and their timing is amazing. right as i get the most satisfying cd-combo i've ever heard, they come. |
Thanks for all the advise.
I have been keeping the transport off as it gets hot as well although I didn't mention it. In fact the cds/ sacds get hot. The DAC I leave on & it gets hotter than the transport when just left on. It also is much hotter than the transport while everything is on & running. I am thinking of placing a fan next to everything & turning it on when not home. Leaving the a/c on when not at home will cost too much.
I still can't get over Mingus AH Um on SACD. Just listening again & again.
Anyone compare the APL modified SACD 1000 to the DCSD transport for sound quality? I am using the included Kimber for the transport & the Elrod 2 Signature for the 6e. Any alternate recommendations.
I am about to go back to my Audio Aero for comparison soon, but would just rather listen. Great sign.
As everything it needed to settle in.
Been busy ordering music. Using the rule that major equipment purchases must include major music purchases.
Also, SACD itself is the biggest improvement of all equipment changes. Well recorded CDs do well, but SACD is in the next league. |
I thought dgad said his DAC was heating, not his transport. |
I thought I bought his first one but only Mike knows that for sure. I didn't know that you got your's from Mike also. You never told me how you liked it after the APL repairs/mods.
Frank |
hey - i thought *i* had mikelavigne's old philips . . .
unless he had multiples. |
This is getting interesting since Dgad has Mike Lavigne's Philips that he bought from me.
Darren: If the heat bothers you just turn it off when not in use. Since it doesen't get cold where you live it should sound good with a 30 minute or so warm up. |
i would trade my DAC6 with fan for a DAC6e without the fan.
i live in Seattle and have air conditioning. |
The fan w. a switch sounds like a great idea. Less expensive than a/c. Considering I am in the Caribbean, maybe I should get a fan to blow on the equipment when not in use during the day. I wonder if it is necessary? |
my early DAC6 has a fan and runs luke warm.....the noise bugs me in my new 'quiet-as-a-tomb' room......but it has it's benefits.....i never turn it off (except when playing vinyl). |
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I just find it runs very hot. Do you find it hot to the touch? It is not as hot as my Krell amplifier, but still hot. Sound is amazing. I don't know how anyone can listen to CDs after listening to SACD. The improvement is incredible. CD is very good but SACD is in another league. At least on the few SACDs I have. Vinyl is still as good as SACD but different. It depends on the recording. I wonder how anything can get much better. |
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I leave all my gear on all the time, including my Dac 6. |
The EMM Labs gear is designed to work for the pro world. Although it should be properly ventilated, leaving it on all the time is fine.
It will definitely take some time for the units to achieve their best after being turned off. |
