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EMM Labs vs. Esoteric X-01

Hi All,
I have had the EMM Labs CDSD and Dac6e for about a year. I've been really intrigued by all the press about the X-01, so I bought a used unit off Audiogon. I'm beginning the process of comparing the two units in SACD and Redbook playback. For now, it will all be 2 channel, until I get my multichannel back up and running.
As I realize that this is an issue of taste more than anything else, I will try to avoid hyberbole. My quick, initial impressions is that they are more alike than different, particularly in SACD mode. In Redbook, it's a somewhat different story. The Esoteric is a superlative Redbook player, with rock-solid imaging and a real sense of space. The Meitner, while it sounds very good, isn't nearly as detailed. One of my favorite tracks is on Emmylou Harris' Spyboy album, "The Maker". On the Esoteric, one can sense and even feel Emmylou in the middle, with the percussion section just behind her. There are 2 musicians on either side of her, playing guitar and Banjo (i believe). You can feel all the percussion that goes on. The Meitner doesn't have nearly the defined sense of space that the Teac presents, but Emmylou's voice sounds just great. It also doesn't present that deep percussion that one can feel in your chest.
FWIW, the rest of my system is an ARC Ref3 preamp, a Boulder 2060 stereo amp and Dynaudio Evidence Temptations, backed up by a REL Studio 3 subwoofer. All the cabling is Nordost Valhalla. The room is heavily treated.

More to come later.

David Shapiro
deshapiro
deshapiro OP
177 posts
 
Just spent a lot of time with SACD of Jennifer Warnes "The Well" , one of my favorite albums. Both players sounded very similar in timbre, with the imaging and staging nod going, ever so slightly to the Teac. OTOH, the EMM portrayed the beautiful richness of her voice in a a way that the Teac couldn't quite match. The Redbook of Bonnie Koloc on the Naim label was no contest. The Meitner imaging wnadered all over the place. On the Teac, Bonnie was in my room, rock solid between the speakers. Contrary to one of the posters, neither player is cold. Both have a beautiful harmonic richness that is far superior to the other players that I have had, tha Sony SCD-1 and the Accuphase DP-85.
I think that Fred 's comment about the bass on the Teac is an important one. As I've learned from my sub, bass response seems to somehow affect all frequencies, giving a certain weight and solidity to the sound. Perhaps the Teac overplays the bass and the EMM is more accurate, or perhaps the EMM is bass-shy, who knows.

More to come (not only female vocalists, I promise).

David
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
David, if you want to hear that X-01 bass performing a feat of magic on stage, presence, authority, pitch, image delicacy, harmonic richness and complexity, and just sheer musicality, , try the redbook of Edgar Meyer playing Bach's cello suite No. 5 on double bass (SONY Classical SK 89183 . Please let us know the difference -- if any -- on EMM.
).
kana813
956 posts
 
Best combo I've heard was a P-0/G-0 driving a EMM DCC2. Never thought Redbook CDs could reproduce so much air/space and inner detail.
muratc
58 posts
 
Hmm, interesting combination. How was the connections for these 3 pieces, which type of cables used? Glass, AES/EBU, etc.

I'd really like to hear the details of this setup.

Thanks
kana813
956 posts
 
"Hmm, interesting combination. How was the connections for these 3 pieces, which type of cables used? Glass, AES/EBU, etc.I'd really like to hear the details of this setup."

Muratc- I know the P0/G0 connection is BNC, but I have no idea what format was used between the PO and DCC2 or the brand of the cables used.
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