AMR / EMM / PLAYBACK Designs

Just a correction, I am the Dagogo reviewer who reviewed the Playback Designs. I did not purchase the unit. I returned it to the manufacturer with all shipping charges paid by me. The manufacturer in question was a perfect gentleman and put absolutely no pressure on me to buy the unit or to write a favorable review. The PD is an excellent unit, particularly at its price point, but it will not suit every taste or even every system. I should also say that my editor did not pressure me to write a favorable review, only one that was balanced and honest.

For what it is worth, I am out of the country but EMM Labs has shipped an XDS1 for review. I will certainly comment after I have had the chance to break the unit in.

Hi Fred,

Look forward to your impressions!

Vbr,
Sam

I will say from the start that I am biased towards EMM Labs as I represent them in New Zealand & Australia (but I can also choose any CD player manufacturer to use for my reference playback) & I can cannot wait to get my EMM Labs XDS1 and look forward to comparing with the EMM Labs CDSA player that I am using now for reference playback in my own audio system.

The EMM Labs CDSA player keeps impressing me still to how good it actually is and it is only the digital recordings which let this player down in my experience.
It is a pity that more CD/SACD are not produced to the best quality that is now available, Direct CD/SACD pressings from masters would be wonderful but then that would be the end of sales for that album with people copying to hard drives.

Great review on the EMM Labs XDS1 By Phil Gold in Enjoy The Music, well worth a read.
enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/

Keep up the excellent work ED.
Cheers Jason.

Jason,
If you read my review of the Playback Designs at www.Dagogo.com you will have noted that I sold my existing Esoteric X01-D2 after many years of enjoyment and am currently borrowing a CDSA from a good friend. This has given me a golden opportunity to understand what each unit does well and how they differ. I find the CDSA to be an exceptional unit with many strengths, particularly used with the Halcyonics isolation base. I will, however, be very surprised if the XDS1 is not in a different class.