The current SOTA SACD player

Oneobgyn,

I won't ever change

But you already thought it can not get any better than your non-Sig EMM combo, right? Now with the EMM Sig you're saying it's a lot better. How is that possible? If tomorrow there is a Signature-Plus which clearly sounds better, wouldn't you change?

Hearing is believing.

Regards,
Alex

Oneobgyn,

IMO it just doesn't get any better than the EMM Labs.

It is great you feel this way! EMM Signature is really good indeed, but when you say "IMO", what is the "O" based on? Belief? Friendship? Loyalty? If this is the case then GREAT, it is perfectly understandable and respectable, however, I’d personally prefer "IMO" based on actual experience.

Regards,
Alex

Oneobgyn, I asked a very simple question regarding the bases of your statement that "It does not get better than EMM Labs". Since you live in my area, I've offered you (in the past) an actual experience by bringing my NWO for you to try in your own system so that you could validate your claim "IMO it does not get better than EMM Labs". But you refused saying you don't want to discharge your interconnect cables by unplugging them. This is the reason to ask you where your "IMO" comes from.

Ed Meitner has an army of people who are watching his back on all online forums. I hope someday I will have the same luxury myself.

Regards,
Alex

Oneobgyn,

Over the past year he has sent me unsolicited e-mail with an attempt to sell me his gear

I can forward back to you the email you've sent me on 12/28/2004 where you though it would be fun to meet with your friend Ron in your house and audition one of my Denon players against your older EMM Labs combo. You were changing audio gear at that time so this never happened. This is the reason I've sent you email earlier this year and also posted on your EMM Labs Signature Review thread proposing audition, NOT sale! I have always respected EMM Labs products. I have defended EMM Labs products online on many occasions saying that EMM is the best “stock” digital I have heard, so it is always nice if I can hear my products against it. Luckily, there was another local EMM Labs Signature owner who recently invited me over his house with my NWO-2.5 player. So now I know. Sorry for the inconvenience contacting you earlier!

Regards,
Alex

Hello Mike,

You make some valid points. Thank you for your concern and friendly advice, I appreciate it!

The fact that many posters online are predetermined about the products they own without having any solid bases is at times overwhelming for me, sorry to say. This was the reason to challenge Oneobgyn’s “IMO it does not get better than EMM Labs”.

You know well that I respect Ed, Andreas and all the rest from EMM Labs. I have defended EMM Labs on many occasions here and on the Audioasylum. Since many consider EMM Labs (and especially the new Signature) being the World’s best SOTA digital, it is always a good challenge and fun to audition alternative digital solutions against it. What is wrong with that? Blind and hollow claims that “It does not get better than this” do not really make any justice until there is an A-B test, right? After all, isn’t this Audiophile hobby all about challenge? Why do you own EMM Labs? Why don’t you have Zanden, dCS, Goldmund or Esoteric separates for example? You have provided the answer yourself – “I want to buy it if (and that’s a big IF) I prefer it to my EMM Labs.” That’s it! You’ve challenged everything on your list and made the EMM choice. This is what every Audiophile who is after SOTA audio gear would do.

EMM Labs as well as ANY digital front-end owners are more than welcome to challenge APL customers or me directly. I’d be VERY happy to see that. I have always welcomed the so called “System Hopping” events organized by the Bay Area Audiophile Society where several members would open their doors so other interested members can audition variety of well regarded gear without any sales pressure and also bring their own audio components for A-B test. It’s a lot of fun but it also provides “IMO” based on actual experience. This is the right place to mention that I really respect your open minded willingness to experience alternative solutions in your own system which puts you in the right position to provide meaningful “IMO” to those who are interested to know the result.

We may not agree on everything in Audio but I also consider you a friend. It makes me very happy that you are considering auditioning the NWO-2.5 in your system. I hope you will not reconsider and I can’t wait to hear your conclusion!

Regards,

Alex

Oneobgyn, it is sad indeed that you feel this way! All I did is proposing you audition in your own system based on previous email correspondence. Just like every designer, I am very confident in my products but this is strictly what I believe. Everyone has the right to have specific preferences so I have never forced anyone to believe the same things I do. What do you mean by "No-win situation"? It is your house, your system, your rules. You are well respected here on Audiogon so whatever your conclusion from the A-B test would have been I am sure that many would be very interested to read it and will trust your experienced “IMO”. Unfortunately, you claim you were turned off by the fact that I believe in the superiority of my products, just like every designer does. If I knew about your close friendship with EMM Labs, I would have never contacted you. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience!

To all on this thread:

I rest my case. Please contact me by email for any further discussion.

Regards,
Alex