Comparison Cary 306, Wadia 581, EMM Labs CDSA


Hi all,

it's time to get a new (used) CD / SACD player and I reduced the possibilities to the following 3 candidates:
Cary SACD 306 (PRO)
Wadia 581 (SE)
EMM Labs CDSA (SE)
(Volume control and/or digital inputs NOT a requirement but SACD playback a MUST)
Had anyone the possibility to compare these players? I think they are (used) in more or less the same price range and I've not the possibility to listen to all of them so I am really curious and can't wait to hear your opinions.
Listen a lot to (female) voices (Jazz, Rock, Singer/Songwriter), Classic and also Rock and Electronic.

Thanks a lot
Peter
bauerp
The false accusation/assumption that all CDSA SEs are defective and being recalled needs to be addressed. This is simply, completely untrue. There is no such recall (visit EMM Labs.com). The truth is much less hyperbolic. There have been some issues with noisy and temperamental transports, but it is not a problem with all the units--just some. (A second generation CDSA SE is being introduced later this year that includes a revised, custom-designed and built transport. This is a good example of Mr. Meitner's constant quest for perfection.) The company is very customer responsive and will fix the problem under the warranty's terms and conditions. To claim that EMM Labs' quality control is less than Cary's or Krell's is not only false, it is hurtful. Carelessly disparaging a company's reputation through a post here is bad behavior. Having an opinion is one thing, but throwing out untruths that can cripple sales and damage reputation is reprehensible.

While I agree that anytime you're spending obscene amounts of money for audiophile equipment, it should be absolutely bullet proof and last eleventy billion years with never a problem. Unfortunately, that's a fantasy. Virtually every high-end manufacturer, especially those on the leading edge, experiences design or operating flaws from time to time. What counts is how quickly and easily they respond to problems or issues. (I am a Mac addict, but have learned to suffer through the company's reflex denial of problems with their products, knowing they come around eventually.) I have found EMM Labs--like Pass, Aesthetix, Legacy, Martin Logan, and others--is fantastic when it comes to offering help.

BTW, I own a CDSA SE and have had no issues with the transport.
Megan, Then you don't own an original, ALL of which were recalled. You don't own a version two either. You may be lucky, that's all. Yeah, in less than a year we've seen four iterations of this player? Lets see how the new drive works. They had to give up on the original, it just would not run. There were other problems as well, but we can save that for another forum. Yes, they have been great about fixing it. NO, THEY WILL NEVER ADMIT IT. Are you serious? Nobody ever said their QC was lacking, as ALL the mfgrs mentioned have had SACD player problems. I am a Krell owner and I am the first to admit the problems persist. Cary seems to be the only one with a solution, so far. I challenged another poster who claimed friendship with Mr Al Rashid to "put it to him piont blank". To date, SILENCE from this member. High end audio is not required as auto mfgrs to broadcast recalls, so they do as auto mfgrs did before they were forced to come clean. They "continually strive for perfection" "R&D never sleeps" Yeah right! Hey dude, I got a bridge I want to sell you! Z.
first, i never claimed friendship w/ shahin al rashid. i have exchaned about 5 emails w/ him.

2nd, Z, your agenda grows painfully obvious: your position "they have QC problems, but they'll never admit it, and there's no one else that will" seems like you have a very convenient argument that wouldn't stand up to the most rudimentary of counterpoints, such as: name a few. describe the problem. what serial #s involved. ---you know, these little details someone as knolwedgeable as you should know. i posted an open ? on this thread for EMM owners to (publicly or privately) post their QC problems...i got ZERO replies...other than 1 guy who gushed how good his EMM was, and another about his Wadia. ---two fine machines, no doubt about it.

all you have done is wildly thrown accusations at more than 1 good mfg (EMM & Cary) without substantiating any of them. hopefully people will put all the trust & credibility into your comments as is warranted.
Rhyno, Just go back and read my contrbutions to this thread. Please. Call the folks at MD, they might have the serials for all the units in the first batch on the RA. You need to be very careful who you BS in these forums, you never know who might be reading them. You brag about your relationship with Shahin, I KNEW you had none, so I called you on the carpet. Now you come clean... Thank You. I can understand you not wanting to accept the truth about something you spent so much money on, too bad, it is what it is... I TRULY hope it does not stay that way...Z.
z, i don't care to argue w/ self-promoting sorts, so i'll be brief:
1) i never said i was friends w/ shahin. you were the one saying you had all this access---dinners, contacts at various companies, etc. i always said i only corresponded w/ him a few times. so, you should know better what happened than i.
2) if you know so much better, YOU provide evidence. (i asked the entire forum to provide it, and got ZERO replies from anyone). it is not my job to prove a negative---the companies in question should be assumed to provide a quality product unless proven otherwise....so, prove it! all you've done is lob accusations, w/ nothing more than hyperbole and volume. if you're so smart, and so knowledgeable, you should be able to prove your own accusations. give serial #s. owners. proof. (also, notice how no one else is substantiating ANY of your accusations?)

instead, i'll probably get insults and more volume from you. so don't be surprised when i opt out of going back & forth with a hyperbolic fraudulent knucklehead like you.

please go and argue w/ the tide rolling in. my guess is it will give you daily enjoyment when it rolls out, no doubt due to your persuasiveness & cajoling.