Review: Emm Labs DCC2 DA converter


Category: Digital

Initial impressions:
I have had the Emm labs DCC2 in my system for a little over 75 hours- break in time- so far and am in awe of its performance(I have about 12 hours listening time so far). I will post a follow up this weekend at some point, but I know many inquiring minds want to know if this piece is the "real deal" or not. Let me say this IT IS!

Upon installing this component in my system I noticed an immediate improvement- more so then ANY other product I have tried. The first note I heard played was unlike any reproduced sound I have ever had in my system. It was closer to the original performance then I have ever been. I've used the term "palpable" in the past to describe the sound of various systems or upgrades, but only now do I truly understand the meaning of it. Strings have texture and body that jump out at you, voices have a presence I can not put into words, percussion has weight and speed unlike anything I have heard before. The soundstage is DEEP and WIDE, with so much resolution I find myself hearing things I have never heard before on recordings I have listened to literally hundreds of times in the past. Detail and resolution so overwhelming that I get confused about everything that I am hearing- the best way I can describe it is: imagine you were deaf and never heard music before and for the first time you hear a song. That is the overwhelming that I am talking about, its down right scary sometime, but a real good scary. Keep in mind this unit is still breaking in and will get- I am told- a lot better.

The one thing I can not stand about a system is a fatigueing sound, this is a big problem with most digital sources. The sure fire way to test this is to listen...... a lot, do you get bored? lose interest in the music? if so its fatigueing. Up until I had the Audio Aero Capitole mkII in my system that had been the case for me, I just could never get into long listening sessions. Upon installing the Cap. I found myself listening and listening and staying up WAY to late rediscovering all of my music- I felt I had finally "arrived"- well I was wrong. However good I thought the Cap. was/is it can't keep up with the DCC2- its not as resolving, detailed........ you know all of the audiophile goodies. Compared it sounds dull and lifeless, and that is an accomplishment because I LOVE(d) the Audio Aero Capitole MkII because it allowed me to enjoy digital for the first time. But like all things something better came along, and this plays SACD's too!

I have been listening to way to many discs the last few days to list them all, however it is clear that SACD is MUCH more resolute, dynamic, faster, more defined soundstage and palpablity(is that even a word!) is increased yet further. This is really clear on Ryan Adams "Gold", James Taylor "Hourglass", Roxy Music "Avalon", Muddy Waters "Folk Singer", Beck "Sea Change", The Soprano's "Pepper's & Eggs"(one of my favorites right now), Szell- The Cleveland Orchesta Grieg*Bizet*Mussorgsky. As the unit breaks in further and I have more time to listen I will compare more of the Redbooks Vs. SACD's- I have around 200 SACD's and have listened to maybe 50 of them on this unit so far- so I have a long joyful road ahead of me.

The bar is raised. Redbook disc's have been brought to the next level. Greg Brown's "The Poet Game"(one of my favorite discs of all time), is even BIGGER then before, the soundstage has become much wider and more defined. I can almost feel the growl of his voice as he is telling me about his "'64 dodge". The bass is more articulate and detailed and slightly faster, with NO sluggishness or coloration. Just accurate, tight bass with a natural harmonic feeling which I have never heard from digital before. Aimee Mann's vocal's on "Bacholer no. 2 or the last remains of dodo" her voice is so fragile and delicate, yet smooth and refined with not even a hiccup of sibilance. This disc is due out as a MoFi hybrid soon, so I wanted to pay attention to the differences from the original to the remaster/sacd.

So far I have not explored much of my classical collection, I am not sure where or when to start but I have to start soon. My collection is probably about ½ classical so it will take some time to go through it accurately. So far what I have heard LAGQ "Latin" is snappy fast, dynamics galore, very well defined stage for the four musicians and a very natural sense of decay as the guitars are playing independently together- if you have this disc you will understand that, if not you'll think I am even weirder. I have listened to some of the Szell discs that I have and they seem to be hit and miss, some are FANTASTIC recordings, some are just fair- but the performances are all really quite good.

At this point the only flaw I can find with this piece was the delay to get it, but after waiting for nearly a year in only three days it seems like a moot point. After the few days of living with this piece I can not think of a single piece I would rather have at ANY price to replace it- maybe the Emm Labs DAC6e if I wanted multichannel. The conclusion I have so far about Emm labs is that Ed Meitner(the man behind Emm labs) has an understanding of digital that NO one else has- his digital front ends are amazing, something is turning in his mind that makes sense to him but baffles everyone else.

With the 3+ days of use on it, the sound has smoothed out even more, more detail is coming out, it seems like resolution is a little better(didn't think that was possible!). Out of the box it sounded fantastic, now it is just settling in and perhaps the sound is a little more laid back, its hard to tell going from one recording to another it could just be the mastering of the various discs. In the next few days if anything is to change a lot I will be sure to post it other wise expect the second part of this review on Sunday when I have more listening time and the unit is a lot closer to being broke in. If your thinking about purchasing this unit, do NOT listen to it if you are not prepared to buy it, because you will do what EVER it takes to get it when you hear it.

Associated gear
Click to view my Virtual System

Similar products
Have used in my system:
Accuphase DC-300 + DP-90 combo
Accuphase DP-75v
Audio Aero Capitole MkII
Philips SACD1000
Sony 9000es

Have heard:
Pretty much EVERYTHING at various shows- dCS, Burmester, Audio Mecca, Electrocompaniet, Wadia, Resolution Audio and Ayre to name a few.
tireguy

Showing 13 responses by tireguy

Gregm- I wish I had a case of these to give to my friends! But I do not- sorry :o)

Timo- The unit retails for $9995(I know I had to include that when making the review but I don't know where it got placed). It has multiple inputs:
• AES/EBU (2 connectors and 1 connector)
• SPDIF (Coax)
• Optical TOSLink
• PCM over optical ST glass (AES formatted)
• RAW DSD
• SDIF-3 (DSD)
• EMM OptiLink
There are digital outputs.

Dolphin-
1. That is a very hard question to answer, I am a form over function sort of person. That being said this piece is fairly small(its actually smaller then the Philips SACD1000 on all measurements) but it feels quite dense. The face plate is a high quality brushed aluminum panel, its not the quality of a Rowland front plate(but then again what is!). The rest of the chassis is rigid, sturdy and finished in an anti-reflective black paint or poweder coating. The display is unique(as the picture shows)the numeric LCD display is for the volume, the LED's are actually buttons as well. When you change settings or switch inputs the corresponding LED/button will light up. Built like a tank- sure, solid feel- absolutely, does it look like it belongs in a jewelry store- not quite.

2. The only testing I have tried was with a placette passive line stage and the results were inconclusive due to me not having enough interconnects to make a fair comparison. So far I am hearing more body, texture and dynamics then I have from any digital source and transparency is also the finest I have listened to. There may be a benefit to using an external high quality preamp, but I don't feel that there is a reason to even think about at this time.

3. Its been so long since I have listened to the DAC6e/switchman combo that I could not answer that with any accuracy. I can tell you the "magic" that I heard from the multichannel combo is here- which is better?? I could not tell you. The DCC2 makes a much cleaner looking and simpler system, by both components and accessories needed and the compact size of the DCC2.

Frankg- I would love to have a remote! At this time the remotes are not ready yet, so I don't have one, major bummer. I am told they should be ready in a month or so. I am glad I have the unit and am not waiting for a remote to be produced- it keeps me fit getting up to change the volume!

Mejames- The volume control works very good- while going up and down at certain levels I get a barely audible tick coming through the speakers- the placette passives are the same way. Its not enough of a problem to even bother me, the same thing also happens when tracking up or down on a cd, I am told it is the clocks relinking with one another. Again this is a minimal tick and it doesn't always do it. The volume ranges from 00-99(99 being the highest) I have listened as high as 35 and it was around 90dB with my 84dB speakers! It has plenty of gain available that's for sure! The magnepan speakers I am using are not known for there low level resolution and even at 05 I have audible high quality sound. I typically listen in the mid to high twenties.

Fmpnd- I know its nothing special but its gotta hold me over till you return my Bose system! :^)

Sbank- You must have me confused with someone else, I have never had an analog rig. I have thought about it many times, but I am to young for LP's- I just can't get into it like a lot of you guys do.
Linc- direct from the manual(which happens to be a cd you pop into your computer- pretty neat!):

Analog Inputs

• Balanced on XLR (switchable to be unbalanced)
• Unbalanced on RCA

Analog outputs

• Balanced on XLR for signals after pre-amp
• Unbalanced on RCA for signals after pre-amp
• Balanced on XLR for signals bypassing pre-amp
• Unbalanced on RC for signals byappsed pre-amp

You should try to arrange an audition on this piece I don't think you will believe what you hear. I'm going to have to listen to The Ric Sanders Group live in Lincoln Cathedral this weekend and I'll let you know how much better it gets!

Rob, Brian and Michael- Thanks for the comments and help through out this whole project!

Frank- I am shaking my head in disbelief, I know I sent you a copy of my boxed set but I didn't think you would try to "live the life". Just make sure you monitor your heart at your age, it would be quite a shame to have an "incedent" with a fluffer........... again- she's nearly recovered. And I thought this was an audio review! WTF happened?!?!?!
Gerry- Better start saving them pennies! This just keeps getting better and better. I hear you about the money thing though, my financial advisor really dislikes me having this audio habbit :o) as if he isn't getting enough of my money already!!

Roxy Music "Avalon" is spectacular on this remaster. I must admit I have never heard of Roxy music prior to getting into SACD- give me a break I was born in 1981- and am not only blown away by the sonics on this disc, but the music is very very good. I want to get the Brian Ferry "Frantic" disc as well, I suspect it will be very similar. "Avalon" even on two channel does some amazing imaging(including from behind and along side the listener) they must have took some lessons from Roger Waters("Amused to Death" has a similar effect).

You CAN NOT use a Sony as a transport so DO NOT buy one of them. The only player they modify is the SACD1000, talk to Jtinn and get the scoop, I ordered/paid for mine so long ago I don't know what the scoop is currently. If available the Philips is the easy way to save bit of money, comparing it to the Emm labs transport. FWIW I bought my Philips from Emm labs, I am not sure if they still offer this service or not, but it made my life easier. Mejames is correct in stating that the "magic" lies in the Emm opti-link that is employed by the both the DAC and Transport from Emm labs. I am not sure about not modifying SACD1000's though, the reason they were going to stop was because they were going to have there own out- as we can see there transport is still not available. Best bet is to contact Jtinn and get the current information.

Rgd- Thanks for the comments!

As for the follow up I told you I was going to post up yesterday, well it didn't happen! I had time allocated in my schedule to do it, however I spent that time listening instead. Things changed for the better over the last week, I want to listen to every disc I have over and over and hear all of the subtle details(in some cases not so subtle) I was missing. SACD is inspiring to say the least, it reproduces some of the finest sound I have ever heard period. And SACD disc's that are mastered very good will leave you speachless, there's just so much information coming at you its hard to believe its digital.

Now Redbook has become MUCH better, I didn't think Redbook CD was capable of this much resolution and detail. Images have become more focused, the stage is more detailed. As good as SACD is, Redbook is still VERY enjoyable. My 2000 cd collection has had a new light shed upon it!

Discs such as Counting Crows "Hard Candy", Patty Griffin "Flaming Red" and La Rondinella "Songs of the Sephardim" have all became HUGE, they sound so much bigger then ever before. They have a relaxed/in your face sound which I have never experience before- it seems almost offensive and edgy but then you realize that THIS IS WHAT REAL MUSIC SOUNDS LIKE! Real music is not sugar coated and tuned on an RTA, it can be in your face and rough- this dac captures that feeling, but at the same time is not fatigueing at all to listen to. On some smaller and lighter arrangements detail and refinement has become paramount. This was VERY aparent with Buddy Guy "Blues Singer" and Jennifer Warnes "The Hunter". "The Hunter" has long been one of my favorite female vocals to demo with, it has a warm euphonic sound with almost a glow surrounding her singing- of course there was no exception here. The most improved area on these discs would be the extreme detail on the vocals and the texture/body of the instruments that brought new life to these recordings.

So I had a friend visiting the other day and we were just listening to music at random and a disc I had just purchased ended up being played, this disc was Jason Mraz "Waiting for my Rocket to Come", the first track is called "you and i both", this song has seen a fair amount of radio air play. Well we were listening and he asked me when the live recording of this came out, he had never heard it before- I double checked and we were listening to the studio recording! He could not believe how different it sounded and how BIG the sound was. He is a mildly enthusiastic audiophile, but he had never heard detail like this before from a regular "pop" recording.

I have yet to find any real flaws from the sonics of this, there is nothing wrong! Trust me I would love to find something to complain about, but I can't. I find myself paying less and less attention to the audiophile goodies and paying more and more attention to the music- does this mean I am happy with my system now???????? Lets see if it can keep my interest for months to come.
Ral- Having had the DCC2 now for over a month I am even more impressed then I was initially. I had a DP-75v 2-3 years ago when it was the "hot" player to have, having heard/owned quite a few players since then I became aware of how flawed the 75v really is. First of all the 75v is DIGITAL there is no getting around it and you can tell as soon as you listen to it, this player suffers from what a lot of us call "digititus". It just has an unnatural way of presenting the music, the soundstage sounds artificial and if you use the digital volume control you end up losing bits of information. Don't get me wrong the 75v was a great player for its time, however technology has changed and the flaws that it has are more noticeable. At the time I thought Accuphase was amazing, but there is simply no comparing the Emm labs with it today. Every single day I listen to my system I am amazed at what I am hearing- there is so much resolution paired no distortion makes for a listening experience that is unlike ANYTHING out there today. Where ever you live try and find someone who has this unit and listen for yourself it has to be heard to be believed.

I had a friend up visiting a few weeks ago and he had heard my system prior and was not really that impressed, when he heard it this time he was literally blown away- he could not believe what he was hearing. It took him a few hours of listening to realize what was going on, at first it is almost overbearing and confusing but that is how music sounds! I also find myself posting here very little if at all these days, I used to contribute a lot but now I would rather be selfish and enjoy the music- which is what I am going to do right now :o)

If you have any specefic questions Ral let me know and I will do my best to help you out.
Gerry- I hate to do this to you, but your system will thank you :o) As much as I liked the Cap. II and as good as I still think it is- there is a new king of the hill and it bears the name Emm Labs. Don't get me wrong in its respected price range I still think the Cap. II is hard to best, however, when you spend a bit more you get a lot more. The Cap. II was/is very easy to listen to its not fatigueing in the least and as I am sure you know, you can listen all day and night long and lose track of the time in a hurry listening to every CD in your collection over and over again. This is where the differences start(in particular with SACD) with the Emm labs gear your not so much listening as experiencing music- its an all out assault on your aural senses! There is so much more resolution and detail then the Cap. II its hard to believe understand with out hearing it. The soundstage is so huge its almost sureal, instruments have a real sense of size to them, an upright bass sounds like its 6 feet tall- percussion is so accurate, fast and detailed. Voices are so uncolored and natural it can be a little unsettling. I had a friend up a few weeks ago who had heard the system before and after and I was telling him what I was experiencing and he didn't believe me- not a single word! He was shocked to say the least, I told him you can hear imageing from behind and along side you very vividly, the first time he heard it, he was at a loss for words- he simply could not believe that a 2 channel system could image behind and along side the listener.

As I type this I am listening to Alison Krauss' Live SACD and it sounds like they are playing in the room next to me its amazing! In particular because I don't consider myself a blue-grass fan, it just sounds SOOOOOO good. If you have the money to invest in your system find a way to audition this gear, but be prepared to have a new digital front end in your system ASAP- it is probably better then I am saying. For once I am at a loss trying to describe something so that it makes sense to others- I hear things that I have heard NO other system do in my life(and I've been around the block a time or two).

I wish I had better news for you Gerry, I real do :^)
Joey- Instead of trying to troll, take a listen yourself. I am so happy with the sound I am hearing I have no desire to argue with you.

....in other words, it really is THAT good.
Wellfed- A few more years at the rate we're going and then we'll have something :)

I do hope you know I feel its fine for us to disagree on everything else ;) I still appreciate your responses and respect YOUR opinions, even if they run contrary to my own.
Robm321- I have read plenty of your posts to know that there is NO way I am going to change your mind. So I am going to waste no effort trying, that being said... If I didn't feel this unit was in fact as good as I am saying I would simply sell it and get something I felt was better. Pride of ownership? Justifying my purchase? Couldn't be further from the truth but believe what you will.

Its interesting you say
That's why I take the review section with a grain of salt.
yet you spent time out of your life to reply. That's kind of ironic, wouldn't you say?
Rob- I agree completely, if anyone bought this piece solely on my recommendation I would be flattered though dissapointed. I have been saying this for years, but please listen for yourself, make your decision based on your experience/prefference.

I may be young, however, I have been around the block more then a time or two with this hobby and can tell what I like and what I don't. I have been surounded with music my entire life and can vividly remember being in an orchestra for the first time and the power the music had when I heard it in its entirety the first time- its an evanescent experience that's impossible to bring to words. But me being young and foolish I try :) and well this particular unit has brought me closer to that experience then anything else I have ever heard, there is something to be said about that.

Enjoy the music!
Brian- Yes sir :^)

Frank- I hate to bring this up, really I do, but I have to say he is YOUR friend- 'nuff said :o)
You think that's an accident Stuart huh huh huh huh ;) {tireguy picks up phone calls Mes and flushes toilet then promptly hangs up}{tireguy giggling to himself for hours}
Unclejeff- As you should, the capitole II is an outstanding player but at about twice the cost(with the Emm labs transport I have on the way) of the capitole II there is something that I feel is better. Had I not heard this digital front end I have no doubts that I could still be happily listening to my audio aero- I really enjoyed listening to music when I had it in my system. But if you ever sell a kidney and want to spend that money on your system, I recommend auditioning this DAC/transport :o)
First of all I am glad you are enjoying your Emm labs gear, I know you've been waiting a long time. It really is quite enjoyable!

I have found the Machina Dynamica Nimbus under the transport yields a large improvement across the board, blacker back ground, a much bigger and well defined soundstage, the palpability is really creepy. And its really pretty cool looking and the "science" behind it can be measured, and just plain makes sense. When I installed the Nimbus and promethean stands in my system PRaT went through the roof and a system I thought was non-fatigueing before is even better. I am using a promethean under my DCC2 and am thinking of upgrading it to a Nirvana base(also from Machina Dynamica) which will lower the resonant freq. to 0.35Hz. An added benefit is that my transport is now about 30 inches in the air and not sitting on the ground.