Sim Eclipse cd or Emc1.cd player which one

Hi Waltersalas - I did favor the Mephisto over the others however I am not sure everyone would come to the same conclusion. The EMC-1, Audio Aero and Mephisto are all very good but none of these could be considered a silver bullet. Results depend on your listening preference associated components/speakers and of course your interconnects (especially interconnects & power cords). The EMC-1 MkII is very similar to the Audio Aero in the way it is very lively but... it is not as life-like - if that makes sense.

Grange - what are you looking for from your system?

I own Wilson-Benesch speakers - perhaps I can help.

Hi Grange - If I understand what you mean by "bite and clout", then I seriously doubt any CD player will have as much of it as the EMC-1. The EMC-1 is very good in terms of its dynamics and lively presentation. Rock music sounds better on the EMC-1 than it does on other high end players. Slam and detail are all there!

I know absolutely nothing about the Eclipse player.

To build an involving system, you'll need ot look at more than just the CD player.

What model of NBS cables are you using? How about power cords? How are you wiring your speakers - Single cable and jumpers? Bi-Wire with jumper or Tri-Wire? What kind of speaker cables?

The Tabu is 100 Watts right?

Grange - the system as you've mentioned - is difficult for me to understand.

Are you saying you have Transparent Reference XL power Cables? NBS Signature Speaker cables? NBS doesn't make bi-wire cable (they do have jumpers which connect to the single run of cables though.

Further Exlaination is needed.

Grange - Okay.. that helps. The speaker cables are very tough to get right for the WB's. I am trying to imagine the sound you are getting from your system.... let me think.

The BOW isn't a very involving CD player and quite likely very similar to the Sim Audio Moon Eclipse in that regard. The EMC-1 will have better pace, slam and even be more involving than the BOW. But... If you are open to suggestions, If *I* were you, I would simply get a Sony XA777ES SACD/CD player which can be modified to have a tube output and tube power supply. The XA777ES is a superb player stock - it is different sounding than previous Sony players and definately right up there with some of the best players (for a lot less money). Once modified, I would expect the Sony to be on a whole new level. I know - it's a Sony and most high end audiophiles do not like having a mainstream product in their system. I am currently using a Sony XA777ES and I will NOT go back to high end redbook only players. Not yet anyway... Right now is a risky time for redbook only. Yes, there is a significant amount of material and I'm sure you have a huge collection but truth is - SACD is far superior - and the redbook performance of the Sony is good enough to justify spending more money to upgrade its performance vs. spending 3 ---> 5K on a used high end redbook only player. A new Sony XA777ES can be purchased for 2K.

As for your system - Now that I have had a chance to think about your system. You might try the following some day:

Speaker Cables - Audio Note KSL-SPc (copper) available for $50 per linear foot (new). These cables are very neutral and clean sounding. Never harsh or bright - liquid and pure, they allow your system to breath and convey the colors and emotion of the components vs. just the speaker cables. They work well with both tubes and solid state.

Power Cord for the Tabu - Electraglide FatMan 2000 K. This will make your 100 watts seem like much more. Good detail power and a fantastic imaging. Expensive but worth it. Your WB's will thank you!!

Power Cord for source - Shunyata King Cobra V1 - smooth and analog sounding. It will strip all the harshness from digital and give you a nice, polite presentation allowing you to slip deeper into the music - regardless of which CD player you choose. They Shunyata helps take digital closer to the sound of vinyl.

Interconnects - this is where you will need to spend some time auditioning. Fortunately for you, you have an integrated which makes the process easier (only one pair of interconnects required). Once you decide on the CD player you feel good about. It is important to consider the performance today and tomorrow as well (which is why I recommended the Sony). Then you can buy/sell used interconnects on Audiogon without much risk of loosing money.

Hi Grange - Wow! The 777 was laid back. I agree with you about the "Sony" thing... In MY system, the Sony sticks out like a sore thumb. Makes my system look cheap. For a while I had a tough time with that. Going from a AudioMeca Mephisto II to a Sony is quite a shift in appearance. The XA777ES is a warmer sounding player than the 777ES and totally different.

Okay. Well in that case I would check your power cords. I've never used anything from Transparent because I haven't accepted the feasibility of the network boxes I guess.

Knowing your speakers, do you mean "thin" sounding when you say laid back? You would like to add more weight and body to the music. You have a dished midrange? Is that an accurate description of what you hear?
If that is the case, Either the EMC-1 or XA777ES would work.

Except if your system is laid back now, you might try the Shunyata Python power cord on the CD player instead of the Transparent (or the previously recommended King Cobra). The Python will push the mids giving you a more forward sound. In laid back systems, I think this helps to equalize everything.

Hi Grange, The Gryphon CD player is one I have never listened to. Gryphon is tough to find in the US.

How is the BOW?