Any experience with the new EMM CDSA SE ?

bump...

I do not see any need to give up my CDSA indefinitely. If something isn't broke, I won't fix it (especially in the audio arena). The CDSA is so articulate, I can understand lyrics I never could on recordings I've heard for decades.
But still the CDSA is natural. The strange digital artifacts on other players that I didn't know were there are gone on the CDSA. I have the metal-tray version, which is much quieter then earlier EMM transports. I do however, think the EMM SE separates (DCC2 + CDSD) are a little better, with an even more defined bass and slightly more forgiving in the highs of poor recordings. Both versions are wonderful.

I went through other players trying to save some money; I tried some Sonys, Accuphases, Meridians, some Mods, Playback Designs, old Calif. Audio Labs, and I just keep coming back to the EMMs. Nothing gives my the satisfaction of EMM, as it just gets to the heart of things for me. I've been playing with CD players since 1986.

The original DCC2/CDSD in 2004 had a special magic that finally convinced me digital had arrived and stopped my nostalgia for my old Vinyl days, but it still had some annoying glare. The SE versions fixed that and then I was hooked on EMM.

Is there a sonic advantage to using the low gain setting assuming it is sufficiently loud? Better S/N, etc.

Hello Pubul57,

I'm not aware of the technical differences but I do get better sound with my EMM Dac-2 gain setting set to the lower position.

best,
Tom

I do too, but I wasn't sure if that had to do with the position of my attenuator being further advance to the 12-2 position, or if the lower gain setting had inherently lower S/N, as would be the case with a preamplifier (I think).