Tweaks for EMM CDSA SE ... ?

A good mains filter made a significant difference to mine.

A friend swears by Acouctic Revive's Grounding Conditioner. I've not heard it yet hope to try one myself shortly.

Rgs92, I'm already using XLR -- I took Shahin's advice. I'm also using the Totem beaks in diamond configuration on top of the EMM and a silk-covered cushion under the EMM. Much more effective than the four expensive Harmonix Synergy Points on the bottom. They have gone on top of my Marantz PM-15 with an unexpectedly wonderful improvement in sonics. The sonic results with my 2 EMM tweaks are not subtle.

Thanks for all that good info Sabai.
I can't find the Beaks.
That's interesting about the silk cushion.
I have not heard about using cloth under a component,
but whatever works!

Rgs92, raw silk is known as one of the best natural absorbers of unwanted frequencies because of its irregular fiber structure. If you dig a bit on the internet you will find people selling raw silk to put around speaker binding posts, etc. I have known about "audio silk" for a long time. I had a couple of silk-covered cushions lying around the house and one day it came to me -- "why not"? I put a silk cushion under my CDP -- BINGO !! An immediate and not subtle improvement in the sonics. I'm sure the high quality of the material in the cushion helps, as well. Until I get my Synergistic Research MiGs the cushion stays put under my CDP. I will compare the MiGs to the cushion and report back here next month when I pick them up from an authorized dealer overseas where I live. Regarding the Totem beaks, all you need to do is get on the Totem Acoustic site and find a dealer near you. Or call Totem and they will help you out. I am picking up a few sets of Totem beaks next month from an overseas dealer so if I can locate them overseas without a problem you'll certainly be able to find the beaks quickly in your location. I see that EMM has just introduced an X upgrade -- a hardware upgrade, not a software upgrade -- for $5,000. This puts the retail price of the EMM CDSA SE at a hefty $16,500. It doesn't look like EMM will be offering any free software upgrades -- anytime soon. Apparently the X upgrade delivers about 90% of the new EMM XDS1 that retails for $25,000. I am choosing to go a different route -- one that reportedly gives better results than the X upgrade and is more versatile because it can be used with any CDP -- the Synergistic Research PowerCell 10SE -- the latest version that includes a free Tesla Plex -- an upgraded model (I have the original Tesla Plex in my system) and also an upgraded Precision Reference power cord. I am picking up the PowerCell next month and will report back on the sonic results with the EMM. Both the new EMM X upgrade and the PowerCell are supposed to produce 3D sonics. I will not be able to provide an A/B report but I will be able to report my impressions. I know you own the EMM CDSA SE. Are you contemplating the X upgrade? By the way have you tried Schumann resonance devices? I have two SW1 units in my system and they do a nice job of sound stage enhancement.

Sabai--great post. Lots of info I have never seen, especially in terms of the CDSA. Thanks! I am mulling over the X-upgrade idea. So far, I just use Hydra-8 and a Telwire powercord (some more expensive cords slowed the bass or introduced some hyper-highs/nervousness). Stealth Indra XLRs also seem to bring out the best, most natural sound, especially in the frequency extremes: the controlled unmuddy low bass and upper highs that have a touch of warmth that is really nice.

My one concern is that upgrades that affect soundstaging often add some high-frequency prominence along with that.
In my experience, Wilson and Kharma speakers have done that,
where some awesome staging was accompanied by some TMI/listening-fatigue as the price.

Right now, the CDSA-se just seems to get the right combination of reach and truth w/o any cold or steeliness, even on
analytically-recorded CDs (or at least CDs that sound that way on other players).

Most who have commented on the the big EMM XDS1 or the X-upgrade mention the "3D"-ness. That's a kind of nice-to-have thing, but not a necessity IMO, where tonality is king for me.