ERC1 CONCLUSION

[ddan6815]

First I would like to thank everyone that replied to my post, and the much needed advice, regarding me considering returning my ERC1. I've come to the conclusion that although the player itself is a little on the bright side, not to mention a little edgy and forward on certain tracks. The player is very accurate and detailed, which is very hard to find in the ERC1 price range. I've also come to the conclusion that the recording itself, along with the unfavorable room acoustics plays a major role in the way the ERC1 comes off. Therefore against the advice of some of the respected forumers here, I've decide to keep the usp1 as well as the erc1 and add my ADC room spatializer, which is another name for the dreaded EQUALIZER. and maybe at a later time add a outboard dac, and use the ERC1 as a transport only....... although I'll have to live with the choice I made, still curious as to what you think about my decision?

[Animo]

Nothing wrong with your decision.

[Mr. Ben]

I'm with Animo - there's no need to defend your decision. We're all looking for what sounds the best to our own ears, and it's important to do what sounds the best to you. If adding an equalizer makes you enjoy listening to music more, then what's wrong with that?

[RPA-1 man]

I totally agree with the 2 previous posts.

[roadrunner]

Apr 18, 2010 20:40:50 GMT -5 ddan6815 said:

First I would like to thank everyone that replied to my post, and the much needed advice, regarding me considering returning my ERC1. I've come to the conclusion that although the player itself is a little on the bright side, not to mention a little edgy and forward on certain tracks. The player is very accurate and detailed, which is very hard to find in the ERC1 price range. I've also come to the conclusion that the recording itself, along with the unfavorable room acoustics plays a major role in the way the ERC1 comes off. Therefore against the advice of some of the respected forumers here, I've decide to keep the usp1 as well as the erc1 and add my ADC room spatializer, which is another name for the dreaded EQUALIZER. and maybe at a later time add a outboard dac, and use the ERC1 as a transport only....... although I'll have to live with the choice I made, still curious as to what you think about my decision?

ddan6815

Sometimes making a decision can leave your head spinning. I am happy to see that you made you decision. Feel good about it. The ERC-1 is an exceptional CD Player that will make you love the high quality media that you purchase. As some pointed out, the ERC-1 will not mask poorly recorded material, but it makes up for it with the pure bliss you experience when listening to well engineered media. My purchases of HDCD encoded media has risen sharply since buying my ERC-1 and USP-1.

I too am a LP lover and have found that playing HDCD recordings from Reference Recordings and Linn sound as close to vinyl as I have ever heard from a CD Player. It reminds me of when I first heard the Sheffield Labs Direct to Disc recordings on LPs. I had the same feeling I felt when listening to the Thelma Houston Album, I've Got the Music in Me... it was overwhelming.

While you were opening this thread on your decision I was searching for a number of previous posts made on the Lounge to help you out. Since I have already found the links, I will included them below in case you would like to read them:

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=mediareviews&thread=6999&page=1#102538

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=media&thread=6093&page=1#87340

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=media&thread=5259&page=3#75944

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=media&thread=5253&page=1#73619

[ddan6815]

Apr 18, 2010 21:50:07 GMT -5 roadrunner said:

Apr 18, 2010 20:40:50 GMT -5 ddan6815 said:

First I would like to thank everyone that replied to my post, and the much needed advice, regarding me considering returning my ERC1. I've come to the conclusion that although the player itself is a little on the bright side, not to mention a little edgy and forward on certain tracks. The player is very accurate and detailed, which is very hard to find in the ERC1 price range. I've also come to the conclusion that the recording itself, along with the unfavorable room acoustics plays a major role in the way the ERC1 comes off. Therefore against the advice of some of the respected forumers here, I've decide to keep the usp1 as well as the erc1 and add my ADC room spatializer, which is another name for the dreaded EQUALIZER. and maybe at a later time add a outboard dac, and use the ERC1 as a transport only....... although I'll have to live with the choice I made, still curious as to what you think about my decision?

ddan6815

Sometimes making a decision can leave your head spinning. I am happy to see that you made you decision. Feel good about it. The ERC-1 is an exceptional CD Player that will make you love the high quality media that you purchase. As some pointed out, the ERC-1 will not mask poorly recorded material, but it makes up for it with the pure bliss you experience when listening to well engineered media. My purchases of HDCD encoded media has risen sharply since buying my ERC-1 and USP-1.

I too am a LP lover and have found that playing HDCD recordings from Reference Recordings and Linn sound as close to vinyl as I have ever heard from a CD Player. It reminds me of when I first heard the Sheffield Labs Direct to Disc recordings on LPs. I had the same feeling I felt when listening to the Thelma Houston Album, I've Got the Music in Me... it was overwhelming.

While you were opening this thread on your decision I was searching for a number of previous posts made on the Lounge to help you out. Since I have already found the links, I will included them below in case you would like to read them:

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=mediareviews&thread=6999&page=1#102538

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=media&thread=6093&page=1#87340

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=media&thread=5259&page=3#75944

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=media&thread=5253&page=1#73619

Thanks Roadrunner, since joining this forum, its nice to know I have people that I can turn to for advice, and who's opinion I trust. With some of the things I've learned about the making of a good cdp, and how a good cd player will reveal what the artist intended to be heard, I'll probably end up spending more money on good quality recordings, and utilizing the Erc1 for what it was intended to achieve, than listening to those poorly recorded cds that have caused me to have the doubts that I have about the player...........thanks again

[NorthStar]

Dan,

You just said it yourself in your post just above, the quality of the recordings is the big slice of bread indeed.

Me too, I am totally convince that you will learn to love your ERC-1 more & more as time and music goes by.
I spent my entire life in this passion of trying to be pleased auditory, and I found it.
It's right there in the recording pits of the CDs (for a CD player).
Bad CDs abound by the zillions and will sound exactly as they were recorded, BAD! So, just don't put any of those in it (I got tons of them at home, obsolete vestige from the past).
And the flip side of the coin is equally true; Well recorded CDs will make you want to play them more, and will inspire you to search for the quality record labels with the best recording sound engineers: ECM Records GmbH, Reference Recordings, Telarc, Premonition Records, Blue Note Records, Chesky Records, APO (Analog Productions Originals), AQ (AudioQuest Music), Alert Music, DMP, Wildchild, Mapleshade, Hearts of Space, WLA (Water Lily Acoustics), Sheffield Lab, Columbia Legacy, Delos, Groove Note, Concord Jazz, Harmonia Mundi, Deutsche Grammophon, Opus 3, Audio Fidelity, Sony Classical, Channel Classics, Rykodisc, GRP Records, MFSL (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab), DCC Compact Classics, Fantasy, Jazzland, Impulse, Verve, BIS, Rounder, Lost Highway, Heads Up, Justin Time, Reprise (HDCD), Vertigo (HDCD), Elektra (HDCD), Mercury (HDCD), Nonesuch (HDCD), Clarity Recordings, Imaginary Road, Rising Tide, Pointblank Records, OKeh/550 Music, RRH (Red House Records), Evidence, HOBD (House Of Blues) Music Company, Blind Pig Records, Auvidis, Analekta, Proprius, Silence Records, Imago/Warner Bros. (HDCD), Anti/Epitaph, Island Records, Chess records, Capitol/Pacific Jazz, Atlantic Records, Milestone, Riverside, Prestige, and much much more great record labels...
These are the ones I play in my Rotel CD player with HDCD decoder.
I never heard the ERC-1 of my entire life, but I read enough and I'm smart enough to know that you pick the right player. This is called Accurate Auditory Intuition. It's a Gift that few people have by learning over the years. Anyway, it's my way of thinking and I generally think straight, just like an arrow.

...Then your Emotiva ERC-1 will be just singing along in perfect synchronicity of harmonies (with quality CD recordings).
Dan, if I could give you my list of best recordings I would, but it's a HUGE list.
But what I could do once in a while (you already told me you love Piano, so I presume you love also Classical and Jazz music), is to enumerate few titles that you might really like.

You know Dan, I already mentioned here at the Lounge and all the other Forums that I frequented and some that I still; my biggest investment in life is in the MUSIC. And you simply cannot put a dollar value to this, it's just inestimable.
Your ERC-1 will sound like a million buck machine, just feed him only the best you can get your hands on.

Night for now,
Bob

[Pauly]

Well put, Bob. I love your passion for music, as I have become much more passionate for all types of music over the last few years or so. I must say, that products like the ERC have fed this passion more and more. It's made me realize that I need to get more serious about a dedicated 2 channel system, and stop investing in HT gear for a little while.

[ntrain42]

Apr 18, 2010 20:40:50 GMT -5 ddan6815 said:

First I would like to thank everyone that replied to my post, and the much needed advice, regarding me considering returning my ERC1. I've come to the conclusion that although the player itself is a little on the bright side, not to mention a little edgy and forward on certain tracks. The player is very accurate and detailed, which is very hard to find in the ERC1 price range. I've also come to the conclusion that the recording itself, along with the unfavorable room acoustics plays a major role in the way the ERC1 comes off. Therefore against the advice of some of the respected forumers here, I've decide to keep the usp1 as well as the erc1 and add my ADC room spatializer, which is another name for the dreaded EQUALIZER. and maybe at a later time add a outboard dac, and use the ERC1 as a transport only....... although I'll have to live with the choice I made, still curious as to what you think about my decision?

An EQ isnt a bad thing if its a good unit and used properly. That means breaking out some type of RTA software and mic the room using pink noise to smooth out the in room response. As for ADC, alot of them will induce noise and distortion into the signal path.......

[ddan6815]

Apr 19, 2010 9:42:57 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

Apr 18, 2010 20:40:50 GMT -5 ddan6815 said:

First I would like to thank everyone that replied to my post, and the much needed advice, regarding me considering returning my ERC1. I've come to the conclusion that although the player itself is a little on the bright side, not to mention a little edgy and forward on certain tracks. The player is very accurate and detailed, which is very hard to find in the ERC1 price range. I've also come to the conclusion that the recording itself, along with the unfavorable room acoustics plays a major role in the way the ERC1 comes off. Therefore against the advice of some of the respected forumers here, I've decide to keep the usp1 as well as the erc1 and add my ADC room spatializer, which is another name for the dreaded EQUALIZER. and maybe at a later time add a outboard dac, and use the ERC1 as a transport only....... although I'll have to live with the choice I made, still curious as to what you think about my decision?

An EQ isnt a bad thing if its a good unit and used properly. That means breaking out some type of RTA software and mic the room using pink noise to smooth out the in room response. As for ADC, alot of them will induce noise and distortion into the signal path.......

Thank for your opinion Train, I actually decided against it anyway. seems like the more I listen to the unit, the better it sounds. So to answer one of my previous postings , a break in period is necessary for a honest evaluation.

[Erwin.BE]

Apr 18, 2010 20:40:50 GMT -5 ddan6815 said:

First I would like to thank everyone that replied to my post, and the much needed advice, regarding me considering returning my ERC1. I've come to the conclusion that although the player itself is a little on the bright side, not to mention a little edgy and forward on certain tracks. The player is very accurate and detailed, which is very hard to find in the ERC1 price range. I've also come to the conclusion that the recording itself, along with the unfavorable room acoustics plays a major role in the way the ERC1 comes off. Therefore against the advice of some of the respected forumers here, I've decide to keep the usp1 as well as the erc1 and add my ADC room spatializer, which is another name for the dreaded EQUALIZER. and maybe at a later time add a outboard dac, and use the ERC1 as a transport only....... although I'll have to live with the choice I made, still curious as to what you think about my decision?

Before you do any more spending, try to audition other speakers! Wharfedale has some great-value speakers, but from what I read, they're not always the best. Speakers are the weakest link in the audio chain and by a large margin. I can assure you the ERC-1 is worthy of my pair of Jamo's. These cost 30 x more than the ERC-1 over there in the USA, but I was lucky enough to grab them used. I recommend selling your kidney for good speakers, and get the other components with pocket money!

These Scandinavians got my attention recently, though I think only for sale in EU:
www.xtz.se/uk/products/speakers/divine
4000€/pair, but probably worth the money. High quality Seas drivers. At least partly made in China of-course. Sale structure much like Emotiva.
BTW! tri-amping for these, yes, yes! So you need 6 UPA-1 for stereo (or 42 UPA-1 for 7.0....)

[artiek]

Good luck Dan, you're on a good path.

[NorthStar]

^ The two posts just above; ;D

* Seriously though, Erwin is right, about speakers First. But I'm just not familiar at all with that speaker's particular model from Dan, the Wharfedale Diamond 9.6. But from the specs they seem quite reasonable, and I think that Erwin is just exaggerating a little bit too much perhaps!

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2010 20:54:01 GMT -5 Animo said:

Nothing wrong with your decision.

+1

[ddan6815]

Apr 19, 2010 11:50:26 GMT -5 Erwin.BE said:

Apr 18, 2010 20:40:50 GMT -5 ddan6815 said:

First I would like to thank everyone that replied to my post, and the much needed advice, regarding me considering returning my ERC1. I've come to the conclusion that although the player itself is a little on the bright side, not to mention a little edgy and forward on certain tracks. The player is very accurate and detailed, which is very hard to find in the ERC1 price range. I've also come to the conclusion that the recording itself, along with the unfavorable room acoustics plays a major role in the way the ERC1 comes off. Therefore against the advice of some of the respected forumers here, I've decide to keep the usp1 as well as the erc1 and add my ADC room spatializer, which is another name for the dreaded EQUALIZER. and maybe at a later time add a outboard dac, and use the ERC1 as a transport only....... although I'll have to live with the choice I made, still curious as to what you think about my decision?

Before you do any more spending, try to audition other speakers! Wharfedale has some great-value speakers, but from what I read, they're not always the best. Speakers are the weakest link in the audio chain and by a large margin. I can assure you the ERC-1 is worthy of my pair of Jamo's. These cost 30 x more than the ERC-1 over there in the USA, but I was lucky enough to grab them used. I recommend selling your kidney for good speakers, and get the other components with pocket money!

These Scandinavians got my attention recently, though I think only for sale in EU:
www.xtz.se/uk/products/speakers/divine
4000€/pair, but probably worth the money. High quality Seas drivers. At least partly made in China of-course. Sale structure much like Emotiva.
BTW! tri-amping for these, yes, yes! So you need 6 UPA-1 for stereo (or 42 UPA-1 for 7.0....)

Thanks for your advice, Just thought I'd let you know it was my speakers. I switched to a pair Apogee, that I had in my closet, and it wa a night and day difference

[Erwin.BE]

Apr 21, 2010 8:58:22 GMT -5 ddan6815 said:

Apr 19, 2010 11:50:26 GMT -5 Erwin.BE said:

Before you do any more spending, try to audition other speakers! Wharfedale has some great-value speakers, but from what I read, they're not always the best. Speakers are the weakest link in the audio chain and by a large margin. I can assure you the ERC-1 is worthy of my pair of Jamo's. These cost 30 x more than the ERC-1 over there in the USA, but I was lucky enough to grab them used. I recommend selling your kidney for good speakers, and get the other components with pocket money!

These Scandinavians got my attention recently, though I think only for sale in EU:
www.xtz.se/uk/products/speakers/divine
4000€/pair, but probably worth the money. High quality Seas drivers. At least partly made in China of-course. Sale structure much like Emotiva.
BTW! tri-amping for these, yes, yes! So you need 6 UPA-1 for stereo (or 42 UPA-1 for 7.0....)

Thanks for your advice, Just thought I'd let you know it was my speakers. I switched to a pair Apogee, that I had in my closet, and it wa a night and day difference

Really?
I was just pulling your leg! ;D
Just kidding, describe the Apogee's?

I don't know the Wharfedales either to be honoust, but I have read reviews on them with "OK for the money, but..." comments. A standmount can't be very cheap. I will try building a few myself, because I can't afford the ones I would like to have for our HT. The ones I would build cost like 1100€ for 3 drivers (TMW) and the crossover parts per speaker, not including the boxes and the damping material. Ouch!

[BillBauman]

This is a great, healthy exchange. I can attest to the recording quality of anything, CD, Vinyl, Tape, is of tantamount importance. On my high end systems, there is a ton of music I like that I just can't stand listening to. It's a blessing and a curse, really. It sort of pushed me into expanding my musical horizons over the years, but at the same time, it's a shame to swear off certain recordings simply because their production quality is so bad.