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Electrocompaniet EMC-1: let's talk?

"The history of the player is:
24/96 (original)
24/192 (upgraded DAC)
24/192 UP (upgraded DAC plus various internal component upgrades).

The "SE" and "MKII" designations refer to the 24/192 UP and 24/192 players. Neither of these are actually official names given by Electrocompaniet. Someone (dealer or customer) referred to the EMC-1 players as "SE" and "MKII" some months back and the names just kinda' stuck."
The above from the horse's mouth, an authorized dealer. After having gone through hell selling my Dodson 217 MK II D, competing w/guys mistakenly advertising their units w/out mentioning they were upgraded and not the latest model, I'm a bit sensitive to mis-categorizations, no matter how innocent. (Anyone playing these games should be pilloried in front of an array of Bose speakers).
128x128jayme
fs_audio
148 posts
 
Streetdaddy...The easiest way is just to look at the gold plate on top of the player. It will clearly state 24/192 on the plate and there will also be a "UP" designation on the back of the player. Unfortunately, this is not a sure thing, as it is possible for a less than honest seller to somehow obtain a 24/192 designated gold plate or even the "UP" designation and place it on a player that is only 24/96. I have not heard of this happening, but just wanted to mention it as I would hate for someone to get burned.

The SURE way to tell is to remove the left side cover (if you are facing the front of the player). Look at the DAC card (located to the front of the player). The following will be easily visible on the DAC upgrade card if the unit is truly 24/192:

1) 16-24 bit upsampler
2) UPCC-1

Best Regards...Mike - Father & Son Audio
fs_audio
148 posts
 
Dave1117...Yes, any older EMC-1 can be upgraded. The associated upgrade costs are as follows (retail):

24/96 -> 24/192 $1000
24/192 -> Latest Upgrade $800
24/96 -> 24/192 PLUS Latest Upgrade $1800

There are a few authorized dealers (myself included) that can do the 24/96 to 24/192 upgrade for a customer. The latest upgrade however MUST be done by the US distributor.

Best Regards...Mike - Father & Son Audio
jayme's avatar
jayme OP
52 posts
 
special circle for those who purposefully mislead buyers (especially audio guys trying to "drink champagne on a beer budget". It's a jungle out there: the Dodson dac and the Merlin VSM series loudspeakers are two other products I know of (these from personal experience) whose descriptions are regularly smeared by sellers. Another current example: the Reference 3A De Capo loudspeaker. There now is a De Capo "i," though advertisers of the superceded model often leave that tidbit out.
Upgradability is a great convenience and cost-saving benefit to audio consumers, but it has become a quagmire. I know Audiogon doesn't need more rules, but one that mandates a seller to identify his product as upgraded, and not being the same as the newer, factory-produced "original," would be a good step. As usual, caveat emptor!
9rw's avatar
9rw
318 posts
 
Jayme: I know your post is several weeks old, but I didn't see it till today and I'd like to respond. In many (but not all) cases, an "upgraded" unit is indeed absolutely identical to one that was manufactured as that particular model. Customer service folks at Audio Research (the king of the upgrade game), Mark Levinson and others will verify this and they'll tell you whether they have to make any compromises when upgrading a component.

Still, I think a prospective buyer should be told that the unit in question did not begin its life in its present form, but a lot of people have a mistaken notion that an upgraded unit is somehow not as good.
jayme's avatar
jayme OP
52 posts
 
Hi "9": I believe quality itself is not the issue, but rather the age of the unit, and also disclosure integrity.
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