About the EMM Labs DAC

Rcprince is correct regarding the interface. That being said, any transport that outputs via an AES/EBU connection, would greatly benefit from the use of an EMM Labs DAC. Conversion from PCM to DSD still occurs, but, as Rcprince says, the benefits of the DAC master clocking would not be acheived.

If you want to be able to play SACD software, the Meitnerized Philips or the upcoming EMM Labs Transport are the way to go.

Jonathan Tinn
Distributor of EMM Labs

I don't own EMM, but there are some very wise folks (tireguy included) hereabouts that are going in that direction and this must mean something.

The Meitner modification of the Philips SACD-1000 involves the installation of a circuit card in an unused space on the left side of the player. It is (primarily) an optical interface, with individual AT glass fiber outputs for encoded DSD digital data, and also input/output for digital clock. As noted, the Meitner board also provides an AES/EBU (balanced) digital output, for unmodified PCM digital 16/44 only, and the Meitner-modified SACD-1000 could be used as the transport for any DAC accepting a balanced digital input.

The magic happens via the AT glass outputs, when partnered with the Meitner DAC 6, or new DCC-2 DAC/preamp. Together they are absolutely the best digital source I have ever heard, whether playing SACDs, or PCM discs upsampled to DSD. It does not sound remotely "digital" as we have come to use the term, but (at least) an "order of magnitude" better. There is a complete absence of artifact, edginess, irritation, glaze, congestion, harshness, grit, or however you may characterize the entire catalog of unnatural and fatiguing digital distortions, however subtle; they are simply GONE.

If forced to use a single term to describe what most impresses, it would be the overall smoothness of the presentation. To my ear nothing is lost, and the reproduction of nearly everything is improved: air, ambience, space, soundstage depth & width, natural detail, dynamic range, micro and macrodynamics, truth, beauty; I'm sure you get the idea. I am confident that anyone listening to the Meitner gear will recognize the "rightness" of the sound at once. IMO, it is as true to the "Real Thing" as anyone has yet approached in the digital reproduction of music.

With the propietary connection between the Emm Labs/Philips transport and the EMM Labs DAC, Meitner is able to completely eliminate jitter and
it allows redbood CD's [PCM] to be converted to DSD. Of course, I love
the SACD playback on my Emm Labs Dac6, but you also want that poprietary connection so you can hear what this player does for redbook
CD's. As a person who owns over 1,000 redbook CD's, the EMM Labs
transport and DAC is a gift sent by the audio gods. And, as great as it sounds on redbook, SACD is even better. Quite an amazing player!

Any DAC/transport combo that is clock-linked (master/slave) will eliminate jitter in the same manner, AFAIK.

He certainly *can* enable DSD outputs on other players - the SCD-1 being one of them... but clearly he chose the SACD-1000 for the aforementioned reasons (space inside, availability) and probably also due to the fact it's fairly cheap (inexpensive) and easy to come by at the time, plus it being a 6-channel machine too of course. Had to standardize on something -that was probably the best compromise @ the time. Good to hear they are OEM'ing something new though - SACD-1000 even at its best is a mediocre transport from a build quality standpoint. Combine that with the common congenital defect(s) known to exist with it (which are supposedly sorted out and fixable now...) and a new Meitner transport is almost a must, to continue selling DACs.

-Ed