Yet Another ERC-1 Review

[Kidchewie]

Overall I like the ERC as a player but I'm just not getting that audio nirvana that everyone seems to talk about. I am running it through the Sony STR-DG720 receiver via Emotiva RCA cables. The receiver does have a analog direct function/switch that I use. I A/B'd it with Nirvana's Bleach remastered, which comes with 2 of the same disks (for whatever reason), so I had both disks playing the same song and then just switched between the PS3 and ERC through the receiver remote. I did, or think I did, notice a slight difference in the sound but there was no night and day WOW.

So since I have a good player and I assume good speakers, Def Tech Mythos Tens, I can only assume I'm not getting that effect due to the lack of amps and USP/UMC. Do the amps and USP/UMC make up the difference? I HOPE it is not the speakers, anyone else have experience with the Mythos Tens?

I guess I was hoping for more of a difference between the PS3 and ERC, especially based on other reviews. But it is a good solid CD player regardless, which I did not have. And I like the remote, however I find the fact that you have to remove 6 screws to change the batteries very annoying. I wish they would have made that a little more user friendly, maybe half the back panel or something but that's not really an issue or anything just a personal preference.

Overall I am very pleased with it, especially for the price, and look forward to finishing up the system with the XSP/XMC and amps. In the meantime, if anyone has any ideas on how to get more of an audible difference between the ERC and PS3 suggestions are welcome.

[briank]

You didn't mention which Emo RCA's you're using, so if you're using the Ultras then I would suggest going with their X-series cables instead. The Ultra RCA's are the only EMO product that I haven't been happy with. Their X-series RCA and Speaker cables are both excellent. I ended up giving my Ultra RCA's away. I don't know that I yet believe in "burn in" of cables and electronics, but my ERC-1 with new RCA's did seem to smooth out a little after a couple of weeks. Also, I think if you listen to nothing but the ERC-1 for a couple of weeks and then go back to the Sony, I think the differences between players will become more obvious. Just my .02 worth from my experience with ERC-1.

[Kidchewie]

Aug 8, 2010 10:04:07 GMT -5 briank said:

You didn't mention which Emo RCA's you're using, so if you're using the Ultras then I would suggest going with their X-series cables instead. The Ultra RCA's are the only EMO product that I haven't been happy with. Their X-series RCA and Speaker cables are both excellent. I ended up giving my Ultra RCA's away. I don't know that I yet believe in "burn in" of cables and electronics, but my ERC-1 with new RCA's did seem to smooth out a little after a couple of weeks. Also, I think if you listen to nothing but the ERC-1 for a couple of weeks and then go back to the Sony, I think the differences between players will become more obvious. Just my .02 worth from my experience with ERC-1.

Sorry, yes I am using the x-series (0.5m cable to reduce the signal path, if it matters). And I realize Nirvana's Bleach (remastered) probably isn't the best audition CD, but it's the only one I have two of that wouldn't require me to actually switch the CD between players. For the last few weeks I've been playing through The Beatles Box (remastered) but haven't gone back to A/B'ing yet.

I have the PS3 set up for bitstream through HDMI. Like I mentioned before, the receiver was only a $200-$300 Sony to get me by, so I hope running the ERC and PS3 through a better pre-amp/pre-pro will make the difference. I'm happy with the unit just a little "disappointed" I didn't hear more of a difference. When I get around to A/B'ing again I'll be sure to post any differences.

Thank you for your suggestions though.

[stiehl11]

As a former Sony ES receiver owner I will say this... while waiting for my UMC-1 to come in I ran my ES as a pre-amp to the XPA-5 that I got 3 months prior. When I switched there was a definite and noticeable difference in the sound.

So, it is my opinion that if there was a noticeable difference in my sound and all I changed was the pre-amp package, and that the ES is Sony's Elevated Standard (which is a higher quality than their normal stock) and that you notice little to no change between the PS3 and ERC while going through your Sony I'm going to say that the fault lies with the internals of the Sony that you're using.

I know that back in February when I added the XPA-5 and just used my ES as a pre the sound that came from my speakers was amazing. It gave a new sound/life to my speakers that I never heard for the 10 years that I had them. I'm considering getting the ERC-1 at Emofest this year just to get that next little bit out of my CDs.

[Erwin.BE]

Jul 8, 2010 22:45:39 GMT -5 Kidchewie said:

Overall I like the ERC as a player but I'm just not getting that audio nirvana that everyone seems to talk about. I am running it through the Sony STR-DG720 receiver via Emotiva RCA cables. The receiver does have a analog direct function/switch that I use. I A/B'd it with Nirvana's Bleach remastered, which comes with 2 of the same disks (for whatever reason), so I had both disks playing the same song and then just switched between the PS3 and ERC through the receiver remote. I did, or think I did, notice a slight difference in the sound but there was no night and day WOW.

I have no knowledge about the Sony's internals, but my Yamaha AVR also has a "pure direct" button that switches off the display and shuts down video, but if my understanding is correct, it still does the ADC+DAC thing. It's not printed in the manual which says "to listen to the pure and unchanged playback". When I started to use the DacMagic instead of the internal DAC of the AVR for audio streaming via AE, the SQ was identical.

So you are surrendered to the Sony for SQ. If you rip a remastered Beatles CD (gorgeous box! Only now discovered the legendary White Album, my favorite) in a lossless format before you burn a CDR, the SQ is the same BTW.

It's just very difficult to obtain reference SQ with a surround system. As Lonnie suggested regarding the XDA-1, leave out the pre-amp (USP) and go straight to the amp (ERC>XDA>amp), but that's only stereo ofcourse. I have read other tests with very high-end gear that came to a similar conclusion. Digital volume control (in the DAC) is not worse than analogue volume control (in a pre-amp) these days.

I think for a substantial step up, the XSP+XMC+XPA (or UPA-1) will be very good.
As suggested in another thread, an even bigger improvement would be to use a double set-up with shared amps/speakers. This means that you have to use the switch between XLR & RCA to toggle between:
1/ ERC>XDA>XLR>XPA-2 for stereo
2/ PS3/SAT/CBL>UMC>RCA>XPA-2+UPA-5 for AV 7.1 surround (no real need for XMC here IMO)
This inconvenience should get you very deep into audio nirvana...

[Kidchewie]

Aug 11, 2010 22:56:10 GMT -5 stiehl11 said:

As a former Sony ES receiver owner I will say this... while waiting for my UMC-1 to come in I ran my ES as a pre-amp to the XPA-5 that I got 3 months prior. When I switched there was a definite and noticeable difference in the sound.

So, it is my opinion that if there was a noticeable difference in my sound and all I changed was the pre-amp package, and that the ES is Sony's Elevated Standard (which is a higher quality than their normal stock) and that you notice little to no change between the PS3 and ERC while going through your Sony I'm going to say that the fault lies with the internals of the Sony that you're using.

I know that back in February when I added the XPA-5 and just used my ES as a pre the sound that came from my speakers was amazing. It gave a new sound/life to my speakers that I never heard for the 10 years that I had them. I'm considering getting the ERC-1 at Emofest this year just to get that next little bit out of my CDs.

Thank you for that bit of knowledge. That's what I am assuming and hoping as well. You may want to look into the XDA-1 as well to go along with the ERC.

[Kidchewie]

Aug 12, 2010 5:17:51 GMT -5 Erwin.BE said:

Jul 8, 2010 22:45:39 GMT -5 Kidchewie said:

Overall I like the ERC as a player but I'm just not getting that audio nirvana that everyone seems to talk about. I am running it through the Sony STR-DG720 receiver via Emotiva RCA cables. The receiver does have a analog direct function/switch that I use. I A/B'd it with Nirvana's Bleach remastered, which comes with 2 of the same disks (for whatever reason), so I had both disks playing the same song and then just switched between the PS3 and ERC through the receiver remote. I did, or think I did, notice a slight difference in the sound but there was no night and day WOW.

I have no knowledge about the Sony's internals, but my Yamaha AVR also has a "pure direct" button that switches off the display and shuts down video, but if my understanding is correct, it still does the ADC+DAC thing. It's not printed in the manual which says "to listen to the pure and unchanged playback". When I started to use the DacMagic instead of the internal DAC of the AVR for audio streaming via AE, the SQ was identical.

So you are surrendered to the Sony for SQ. If you rip a remastered Beatles CD (gorgeous box! Only now discovered the legendary White Album, my favorite) in a lossless format before you burn a CDR, the SQ is the same BTW.

It's just very difficult to obtain reference SQ with a surround system. As Lonnie suggested regarding the XDA-1, leave out the pre-amp (USP) and go straight to the amp (ERC>XDA>amp), but that's only stereo ofcourse. I have read other tests with very high-end gear that came to a similar conclusion. Digital volume control (in the DAC) is not worse than analogue volume control (in a pre-amp) these days.

I think for a substantial step up, the XSP+XMC+XPA (or UPA-1) will be very good.
As suggested in another thread, an even bigger improvement would be to use a double set-up with shared amps/speakers. This means that you have to use the switch between XLR & RCA to toggle between:
1/ ERC>XDA>XLR>XPA-2 for stereo
2/ PS3/SAT/CBL>UMC>RCA>XPA-2+UPA-5 for AV 7.1 surround (no real need for XMC here IMO)
This inconvenience should get you very deep into audio nirvana...

Thanks on the advice on ripping, I did not know that. I'm an Abbey Road fan, White is probably second for me though.

I was thinking one setup for stereo and surround but now am leaning toward two separate setups. Probably:
PS3>XMC>7UPA-1s>7DefTech Mythos10's and
ERC>XDA>XSP>2???Speakers

[Erwin.BE]

Aug 12, 2010 20:46:04 GMT -5 Kidchewie said:

Aug 12, 2010 5:17:51 GMT -5 Erwin.BE said:

I have no knowledge about the Sony's internals, but my Yamaha AVR also has a "pure direct" button that switches off the display and shuts down video, but if my understanding is correct, it still does the ADC+DAC thing. It's not printed in the manual which says "to listen to the pure and unchanged playback". When I started to use the DacMagic instead of the internal DAC of the AVR for audio streaming via AE, the SQ was identical.

So you are surrendered to the Sony for SQ. If you rip a remastered Beatles CD (gorgeous box! Only now discovered the legendary White Album, my favorite) in a lossless format before you burn a CDR, the SQ is the same BTW.

It's just very difficult to obtain reference SQ with a surround system. As Lonnie suggested regarding the XDA-1, leave out the pre-amp (USP) and go straight to the amp (ERC>XDA>amp), but that's only stereo ofcourse. I have read other tests with very high-end gear that came to a similar conclusion. Digital volume control (in the DAC) is not worse than analogue volume control (in a pre-amp) these days.

I think for a substantial step up, the XSP+XMC+XPA (or UPA-1) will be very good.
As suggested in another thread, an even bigger improvement would be to use a double set-up with shared amps/speakers. This means that you have to use the switch between XLR & RCA to toggle between:
1/ ERC>XDA>XLR>XPA-2 for stereo
2/ PS3/SAT/CBL>UMC>RCA>XPA-2+UPA-5 for AV 7.1 surround (no real need for XMC here IMO)
This inconvenience should get you very deep into audio nirvana...

Thanks on the advice on ripping, I did not know that. I'm an Abbey Road fan, White is probably second for me though.

I was thinking one setup for stereo and surround but now am leaning toward two separate setups. Probably:
PS3>XMC>7UPA-1s>7DefTech Mythos10's and
ERC>XDA>XSP>2???Speakers

For HT, I lean towards the big shared transformer camp (XPR-7 will cost less than 7 UPA-1 also)
For 2 channel audio: give me the mono-blocks, UPA-1 for monitors, XPA-1 for big speakers. Something like the B&W 802D might benefit from the XPR-2.
Leave out the XSP unless you need a TT.

If you are serious about computer audio, you need to check out:
www.computeraudiophile.com/
Warning: geek alert!