Post by Accurus on Jun 2, 2009 19:05:19 GMT -5
Background:
Well I know I said I would have this review/comparison up sooner, but this quarter of my Masters degree has been difficult due to me trying to finish up my thesis. I have listened to the Oppo BDP-83, Acurus ACD-11, and Emotiva ERC-1 on and off for the last week or so and have really gotten to know each player. Each player has proven that for their price they are good sounding players and the Acurus has impressed me more in that it has been able to maintain its own for as long as it has (1997).
To begin with the listening was all done in 2 channel mode with no pro logic or surround modes.
I do use my AudioControl C-101 Series II equalizer to flatten out some weird frequency response issues in my room. The comparison will be between the Acurus ACD-11 and the Emotiva ERC-1. The Oppo BDP-83 fits in between the Acurus and Emotiva in terms of sound quality. In a sense it is like a turbo charged ACD-11. The Oppo has a laid back sound that is more detailed than the Acurus, both in the highs and lows. However the Oppo can at seems seem fatiguing with some songs. Overall though I would have no problem recommending the Oppo BDP-83 as a 2 channel CD player for someone who isn’t looking to invest in dedicated CD player. I want to make clear that all of my praise for the Acurus or the Oppo shouldn’t leave the reader feeling that I am disappointed or not impressed with the Emotiva ERC-1. In fact that opposite is true. However I want to give credit where credit is due and that is to Oppo and Mondial Designs (they designed the Acurus and Aragon lines before Klipsch bought and killed the lines). Both Mondial has shown that if built right a player can sound great and be trouble free for many years, well over ten in this case. Oppo has also has a real winner on its hands with a reference level blu-ray player that I would say it atleast a good mid-fi CD palyer that would probably be somewhere in the $600-$1000 range. For many people this is perfect and fits the ticket. They Acurus and Oppo are a league above many other CD players out there that cost more. However the Emotiva ERC-1 is on another plane.
Unpacking, Build Quality, and Ergonomics:
The Emotiva ERC-1 was well packed as double boxed. The build quality of the unit was solid and was heavy considering the size. It is clearly visibly but also in terms of weight where the power supply is in the player as it weighs a ton. The remote is a monster and even for my big 6’5” hands is quite big. The remote will probably work beyond my life expectancy the way that it is built. It definitely doesn’t feel like a cheap toy and neither does the remote. Unfortunately I did received the “Do not try these at home” batteries. Luckily the Acurus remote had AAA batteries that I swapped out for the dud Emotiva ones.
The faceplate is a beautiful design that is easy to use and figure out. In terms of ergonomics my biggest complaint with the unit is that when ejecting a disc the player says ready rather than saying ejecting. It is a small but odd quirk which should in no way detract anyone from buying the unit.
Sound Quality:
This is where I am sure this is what most people want to read when they read any review on audio equipment. After the months of and months or waiting I can say that the wait for the ERC-1 was worth it. Below are three albums that I have been listening to lately between all three players that really showed off the differences between the Emotiva and the other players.
Sheryl Crow/Sheryl Crow:
The Acurus really disappointed me on this album compared to the Emotiva. In particular the track “A Change Would Do You Good” sticks out in my mind as one of those points where the Acurus sounded good, but then switching back to the Emotiva I actually began to tap my foot and bop my head back and forth. This track is very fast and I was unaware just how much detail was in the recording of the guitars. The beat of the track was conveyed with speed and accuracy that made me sit in my chair and smile at times. The Acurus sounded almost lifeless in this track in comparison. The sense of dynamics was not there in the instruments and the weight or authority of Sheryl Crow’s voice wasn’t there with the Acurus. It almost blended in with the rest of the track. The Emotiva’s ability to pull out the detail and dynamics of a track along with really doing justice to the vocals in terms of making you feel that the person was there was a characteristic repeated throughout every track I listened to on this player.
Live/Throwing Copper:
This album really seemed to exemplify the sound characteristics of the Emotiva unit. In comparison to the Acurus the Emotiva conveyed that the singer was yelling and at some points quietly singing. The album itself is quite dynamic in terms of its quite passages mixed with hard bass drum and cymbal slams. The Emotiva not only portrayed the dynamics of these instruments and vocals in a way that was believable and had some authority behind it, but also conveyed the soundstage much more clearly in terms of placing those instruments in terms of the room depth, height and width. “Lightening crashes” was probably one of the most impressive tracks on this album that showed how the Emotiva was able to not only best the Acurus in terms of dynamic slam, but also the detail of the bass which on the Acurus sounded lifeless and rounded.
Neko Case/ Fox and the Confessor:
“Neko Case has a powerful voice that the Acurus just isn’t doing justice to.” That was the first thought I had when I switched to the Emotiva. Her voice in the album has a lot of ambiance and echo to it that really gives you a sense of her being far removed from your listening position. In a track called “Star Witness” the Acurus did this in terms of being laid back and the sound stage being far back. However the Emotiva did this better by making her voice more pronounced and soundstage wider so that her voice was back and center of a wider and more detailed soundstage the sounded like everything else had added echo that made it more convincing that you were listening to this song in a much larger area than my room. As well the bass in this album felt muddy or rounded with the Acurus. Often times I was astounded by how much the Acurus blended together the low notes of a bass guitar with the kick drum. The Emotiva depicted these as being separate entities both in sound and in how it was imaged.
The General Characteristics:
The ERC-1 really is a wonderful player and I am not sure if I have heard a better one even compared to some expensive Musical Fidelity players which I would consider top of the line, but cannot be found for $399 anywhere in new condition. This player like the XPA series seems to be a giant killer and should serve as a reminder as it did to me of the value of a good CD player. It is one thing to know this and another to hear it for yourself when a good player is in your system. Before Emotiva I believed that I that the Acurus was the best I could get for the money. However the Emotiva made me disappointed with the Acurus in many cases. This is saying something because like the Anthem amps that the XPA series replaced the Acurus had bested many players I compared it to at dealers. Often the Acurus had a refined and non-fatiguing sound.
The general characteristics of the ERC-1 if summed up for me would be dynamic, detailed, airy, and articulate. The Emotiva time and time again impressed me with its punchy, but not bloated sound whether with bass or voices. In terms of detail it pulled out some very nuanced background noise on albums that surprised me to no end to hear. However it was able to articulate this detail in a way that had a clear soundstage where every sound had it neat place that convinced me that it was real. Lastly this player is airy. Sometimes I have found what some people would call airy in a piece of equipment I felt was airy at the expensive of being fatiguing or bright. The Oppo has done this one occasion and so have other players. However the Emotiva does this without ever being edgy or feeling digital. In many ways this player convinces me that if done right CD players don’t need to ever sound harsh to convey detail and there is no need to compromise between detailed and pleasant sound.
Overall Emotiva has managed to squeeze more money out of me and another loved component out of my system. So far this has entailed 1 Anthem A2, 1 Acurus A100x3, and Acurus ACD-11. I am sure once the UMC comes out and the subwoofer I will be yet convinced of another component that needs to be replaced. However I am sure that until Emotiva produces planar speakers that the Magnepans will remain a firm piece to built a system of Emotiva gear around. Do not be fooled by the $399 price. This player sounds like it would cost $2500+ if I weren’t aware of who made the product. The Emotiva really is a reference grade amplifier that should please even the most critical listeners.
Well I know I said I would have this review/comparison up sooner, but this quarter of my Masters degree has been difficult due to me trying to finish up my thesis. I have listened to the Oppo BDP-83, Acurus ACD-11, and Emotiva ERC-1 on and off for the last week or so and have really gotten to know each player. Each player has proven that for their price they are good sounding players and the Acurus has impressed me more in that it has been able to maintain its own for as long as it has (1997).
To begin with the listening was all done in 2 channel mode with no pro logic or surround modes.
I do use my AudioControl C-101 Series II equalizer to flatten out some weird frequency response issues in my room. The comparison will be between the Acurus ACD-11 and the Emotiva ERC-1. The Oppo BDP-83 fits in between the Acurus and Emotiva in terms of sound quality. In a sense it is like a turbo charged ACD-11. The Oppo has a laid back sound that is more detailed than the Acurus, both in the highs and lows. However the Oppo can at seems seem fatiguing with some songs. Overall though I would have no problem recommending the Oppo BDP-83 as a 2 channel CD player for someone who isn’t looking to invest in dedicated CD player. I want to make clear that all of my praise for the Acurus or the Oppo shouldn’t leave the reader feeling that I am disappointed or not impressed with the Emotiva ERC-1. In fact that opposite is true. However I want to give credit where credit is due and that is to Oppo and Mondial Designs (they designed the Acurus and Aragon lines before Klipsch bought and killed the lines). Both Mondial has shown that if built right a player can sound great and be trouble free for many years, well over ten in this case. Oppo has also has a real winner on its hands with a reference level blu-ray player that I would say it atleast a good mid-fi CD palyer that would probably be somewhere in the $600-$1000 range. For many people this is perfect and fits the ticket. They Acurus and Oppo are a league above many other CD players out there that cost more. However the Emotiva ERC-1 is on another plane.
Unpacking, Build Quality, and Ergonomics:
The Emotiva ERC-1 was well packed as double boxed. The build quality of the unit was solid and was heavy considering the size. It is clearly visibly but also in terms of weight where the power supply is in the player as it weighs a ton. The remote is a monster and even for my big 6’5” hands is quite big. The remote will probably work beyond my life expectancy the way that it is built. It definitely doesn’t feel like a cheap toy and neither does the remote. Unfortunately I did received the “Do not try these at home” batteries. Luckily the Acurus remote had AAA batteries that I swapped out for the dud Emotiva ones.
The faceplate is a beautiful design that is easy to use and figure out. In terms of ergonomics my biggest complaint with the unit is that when ejecting a disc the player says ready rather than saying ejecting. It is a small but odd quirk which should in no way detract anyone from buying the unit.
Sound Quality:
This is where I am sure this is what most people want to read when they read any review on audio equipment. After the months of and months or waiting I can say that the wait for the ERC-1 was worth it. Below are three albums that I have been listening to lately between all three players that really showed off the differences between the Emotiva and the other players.
Sheryl Crow/Sheryl Crow:
The Acurus really disappointed me on this album compared to the Emotiva. In particular the track “A Change Would Do You Good” sticks out in my mind as one of those points where the Acurus sounded good, but then switching back to the Emotiva I actually began to tap my foot and bop my head back and forth. This track is very fast and I was unaware just how much detail was in the recording of the guitars. The beat of the track was conveyed with speed and accuracy that made me sit in my chair and smile at times. The Acurus sounded almost lifeless in this track in comparison. The sense of dynamics was not there in the instruments and the weight or authority of Sheryl Crow’s voice wasn’t there with the Acurus. It almost blended in with the rest of the track. The Emotiva’s ability to pull out the detail and dynamics of a track along with really doing justice to the vocals in terms of making you feel that the person was there was a characteristic repeated throughout every track I listened to on this player.
Live/Throwing Copper:
This album really seemed to exemplify the sound characteristics of the Emotiva unit. In comparison to the Acurus the Emotiva conveyed that the singer was yelling and at some points quietly singing. The album itself is quite dynamic in terms of its quite passages mixed with hard bass drum and cymbal slams. The Emotiva not only portrayed the dynamics of these instruments and vocals in a way that was believable and had some authority behind it, but also conveyed the soundstage much more clearly in terms of placing those instruments in terms of the room depth, height and width. “Lightening crashes” was probably one of the most impressive tracks on this album that showed how the Emotiva was able to not only best the Acurus in terms of dynamic slam, but also the detail of the bass which on the Acurus sounded lifeless and rounded.
Neko Case/ Fox and the Confessor:
“Neko Case has a powerful voice that the Acurus just isn’t doing justice to.” That was the first thought I had when I switched to the Emotiva. Her voice in the album has a lot of ambiance and echo to it that really gives you a sense of her being far removed from your listening position. In a track called “Star Witness” the Acurus did this in terms of being laid back and the sound stage being far back. However the Emotiva did this better by making her voice more pronounced and soundstage wider so that her voice was back and center of a wider and more detailed soundstage the sounded like everything else had added echo that made it more convincing that you were listening to this song in a much larger area than my room. As well the bass in this album felt muddy or rounded with the Acurus. Often times I was astounded by how much the Acurus blended together the low notes of a bass guitar with the kick drum. The Emotiva depicted these as being separate entities both in sound and in how it was imaged.
The General Characteristics:
The ERC-1 really is a wonderful player and I am not sure if I have heard a better one even compared to some expensive Musical Fidelity players which I would consider top of the line, but cannot be found for $399 anywhere in new condition. This player like the XPA series seems to be a giant killer and should serve as a reminder as it did to me of the value of a good CD player. It is one thing to know this and another to hear it for yourself when a good player is in your system. Before Emotiva I believed that I that the Acurus was the best I could get for the money. However the Emotiva made me disappointed with the Acurus in many cases. This is saying something because like the Anthem amps that the XPA series replaced the Acurus had bested many players I compared it to at dealers. Often the Acurus had a refined and non-fatiguing sound.
The general characteristics of the ERC-1 if summed up for me would be dynamic, detailed, airy, and articulate. The Emotiva time and time again impressed me with its punchy, but not bloated sound whether with bass or voices. In terms of detail it pulled out some very nuanced background noise on albums that surprised me to no end to hear. However it was able to articulate this detail in a way that had a clear soundstage where every sound had it neat place that convinced me that it was real. Lastly this player is airy. Sometimes I have found what some people would call airy in a piece of equipment I felt was airy at the expensive of being fatiguing or bright. The Oppo has done this one occasion and so have other players. However the Emotiva does this without ever being edgy or feeling digital. In many ways this player convinces me that if done right CD players don’t need to ever sound harsh to convey detail and there is no need to compromise between detailed and pleasant sound.
Overall Emotiva has managed to squeeze more money out of me and another loved component out of my system. So far this has entailed 1 Anthem A2, 1 Acurus A100x3, and Acurus ACD-11. I am sure once the UMC comes out and the subwoofer I will be yet convinced of another component that needs to be replaced. However I am sure that until Emotiva produces planar speakers that the Magnepans will remain a firm piece to built a system of Emotiva gear around. Do not be fooled by the $399 price. This player sounds like it would cost $2500+ if I weren’t aware of who made the product. The Emotiva really is a reference grade amplifier that should please even the most critical listeners.
