EMM Labs DAC 2 presentation


Hi All:

I'm using the highly respected Emm Labs DAC 2 in my PC Audio set up. In spite of USB cables, tweaking of the FUBAR settings etc, I find the sound dry and mechanical. I'm asking for suggestions on a warmer, more lush sounding DAC as my primary source of listening is vinyl. Perhaps something that employs tubes in its design. Maybe Audio Research, Wavelength?
frontier1
We have the EMM Labs DAC, the Digital Audio Denmark AX24 and the Playback Designs MPS-5. The Playback Designs is our new reference DAC. It will even accept the ST-optical connection of the EMM labs transport if you have one. They also make a seperate DAC without the transport.
Crna39, how would you characterize the sonic differences between the PD DAC and the EMM DAC?
Yes, the EMM Labs is very transparent and clinical. It's what recording and mastering engineers want. The Playback is more "musical", allowing the harmonics to come though and is just a tad punchier on bass transients.
I'd suggest the Positive Feedback article written comparing the EMM labs to the Playback. Too bad the Playback isn't an A to D converter...
I'm curious what you guys have the EMM Labs DAC2 paired with.

Right now I am running it through a Krell Evo 707 and Evo 403 and the bass is very tight and punchy and I would never call the sound I have from the TSD1/DAC2 analytical, quite the contrary, it is extremely detailed while remaining musical.
Thank you Crna39, I will read the PF article. By the way, CDSTEP has used his Playback Designs MPS-5 successfully as a DAC. I believe that PD has introduced a DAC-only version of the same, although this is not reflected on Chambers Audio web site as yet.