My EMC-1 24 192 experience


After reading the Stereo Times review of this player against the SCD-1, I got goose bumps. This reviwer said the emc-1 made redbook cd's sound better than SACD on the SCD-1. I own the SCD-1, and on SACD it is wonderfull, but on redbook one knows that he is missing something. I tried the MF DAC w/ zero success. Last week I purchased a EMC-1 and immediately it was much better than the SCD-1 for redbook. There was more detail, warmth, air, and the sound stage was deeper and wider. I then played Take 5 on both players since I have them both on sacd and redbook. The sound is close, but the edge goes to the SCD-1. The sound is sweeter on the SCD-1, no doubt about that. With that being said, Is the EMC-1 worth the extra coin for listening to redbook CD's? Without a shadow of a doubt. Does it beat SACD? No, but it is close.

P.S. I forgot to mention how warm sounding this player is, all the harshness and rough edges of digital are history.
hughes12

Showing 3 responses by subaruguru

I must say that after a year I'm still enthralled by my EMC-1 MkII's performance. A Discovery Essence slightly sweetened the presentation over previous Siltech and Nordost XLRs, BTW. Have fun. Ernie
Judit...you melt me heart! Yup, I'm using a Pass Labs Aleph P (predecessor to the X-1), and know what you mean. Even those bright-stringed early DGs sound great, eh?
I bought it to properly match my Aleph 2 monos, and am so glad I didn't screw around with other pre's. Cheers.
Judit, FYI the balance of my system is a pair of Verity Audio Parsifal Encores, set up in a 7.5' equi-triangle in a well-damped room. I sit on-axis with the toe'd-in drivers, so I suspect that I needed a bit of softening, as Redbook, even with the EMC-1 MkII, has only 16 bit rez, and in the top octaves that's not enough!