Electrocompaniet EMC II CD Player

Just saw an ad for the clamp for $350..........
The "focus" issue is perhaps related to the lack of the latest "UP"status. There's no question that the more-detailed top octave helps solidify soundstage artifacts.
The balanced connections on the analogue output board are soldered right at the outputs! The RCA's are connected almost as an afterthought with a few inches of cheap hook-up wire. I haven't bothered to compare, but wouldn't doubt the widespread comments (inc from EC!) that balanced performance is better. I would doubt that it's just the +6dB, but then again, more headroom and S/N can't hurt! Maybe the lower noisefloor allows perception of smaller dynamic shadings as well top octave air....

Subaruguru: My EMC-1 is the latest "UP" version. Still, I think focus is not the best I've heard. As far as the RCA v balanced connection thing goes. If indeed the RCAs are wired with cheap hook-up wire as you say, it does not speak well of EC considering the price of the machine IMO. Your statement brings another point to mind. Perhaps the differences we attribute to wire are not as significant as we like to think. Why? Well, I heard my EMC-1 through its balanced connections and in the same system (not mine), through its RCA connectors. There certainly was more headroom through the balanced. More punch, which I liked. Perhaps a smidge more direct sounding. Aside from that, I sure wouldn't go crazy looking for a new preamp for my own system to accomdate the EMC-1's balanced topology. Detail, soundstaging, frequency extention, etc.. It was all there through the "cheaply wired" RCAs.

Of course. I'm not suggesting that the tail wag the dog here, but it's clear that the RCA's wiring was considered secondary when it came to board design and connection layout. If one DOES have the option to use a balanced pre, all other things equal, indeed use it, as the EMC-1 UP is designed for it. For users of great single-ended pres who have a bit of skill I might try replacing the 4 short single-ended output wires with solid silver, using a strong crimp (there is none now) and a better silver-loaded solder.
No big deal, but given what attention we spend on interconnects, it certainly makes sense to treat the final 4" as well. Happy Easter and Passover to all. Ern

That's an excellent suggestion and one I will look into. I don't mind doing a bit of Electrocompaniet's work for them if it will improve sonics. Now, if only the elusive Spider Clamp would emerge from its cacoon.

Interestingly I bought a beautiful, very lightweight aluminum crank pulley for Subaru engines recently. A gorgeous, single-billet, finely machined work of art that results in a much lower inertia at the crank, thus improving quick-starts. This pulley sells for a hefty (so I thought!) $90. I guess if it were marketed to us audiophools, relative to this skimpy CD clamp I suppose it should be priced over $1k. Maybe that California machine-shop that makes these pulleys can be convinced to knock out a 100-lot of the CD clamps for $50 each? Anybody have any leads to precision aluminum (or brass) machine-shops? Just a thought....