New ERC-3!!

[Bonzo]

Well crap is that thing slow. You've been gone MINUTES now!!!! What a POS the ERC-3 is.

Or did you have to take a bathroom break on the way there?

[Deleted]

Hitting close on the tray to the first note of music is 9 seconds. When moving from track to track it takes less than a sec. It is pretty quick. When going from any track back to 1 then it takes around one second before the first note is played.

[Gary Cook]

I'm back, sorry for the delay, breakfast called and it's a beautiful summer morning out on the verandah. The track selection, skip forward and backward multiple tracks, change mind, just flick the track FWD or REV buttons and the ERC-3 responds. No hesitation, no delay, no confused silence, just click and it plays. Vet impressive, maybe the initial load time is used to identify track positioning, whatever it is it sure works. Enough testing, time for a listen.

Happy New Year
Gary

[chicagorspec]

Jan 3, 2014 18:20:50 GMT -5 Gary Cook said:

I'm back, sorry for the delay, breakfast called and it's a beautiful summer morning out on the verandah. The track selection, skip forward and backward multiple tracks, change mind, just flick the track FWD or REV buttons and the ERC-3 responds. No hesitation, no delay, no confused silence, just click and it plays. Vet impressive, maybe the initial load time is used to identify track positioning, whatever it is it sure works. Enough testing, time for a listen.

Happy New Year
Gary

What a difference a hemisphere makes! 8 inches of snow here yesterday, I go back to work and my daughter to school on Monday, and predicted high temp is -14 degrees F. Enjoy that summer day on the verandah for me!

[Gary Cook]

Jan 3, 2014 20:53:55 GMT -5 chicagorspec said:

What a difference a hemisphere makes! 8 inches of snow here yesterday, I go back to work and my daughter to school on Monday, and predicted high temp is -14 degrees F. Enjoy that summer day on the verandah for me!

I like Chicago in spring/summer but not in winter thanks. Last trip I did the Niagara Falls to Chicago drive around the Lakes then went to Vegas for the SEMA Show and even then (October) it was getting chilly in Chicago. Min 18 and max 28 here today, very comfortable.

Happy New Year
Gary

[deltadube]

Jan 3, 2014 21:48:40 GMT -5 Gary Cook said:

Jan 3, 2014 20:53:55 GMT -5 chicagorspec said:

What a difference a hemisphere makes! 8 inches of snow here yesterday, I go back to work and my daughter to school on Monday, and predicted high temp is -14 degrees F. Enjoy that summer day on the verandah for me!

I like Chicago in spring/summer but not in winter thanks. Last trip I did the Niagara Falls to Chicago drive around the Lakes then went to Vegas for the SEMA Show and even then (October) it was getting chilly in Chicago. Min 18 and max 28 here today, very comfortable.

Happy New Year
Gary

my high today was -18 c and a low of -28c 18 28 looks pretty good lol

cheers

[theebs]

Hi, I am thinking of ordering the erc-3 today. I mostly listen to vinyl and currently use a Sony cdp-cx 400 changer into a entech number cruncher 203.2.

My setup is this

Emotiva usp-1 preamp
Emotiva xpa-200
Magnepan mmg
Vpi traveler turntable
Sony cdp-cx400 changer
Entrech number cruncher 203.2

Vinyl seems laid back and warm, I can actually turn the volume up in the system but cd's seem bright and harsh at times, even one's that have not been mastered to be overcompressed. I am not sure what causes this. Could be my room, the Maggie's, the cables or the changer.

The thing is the same changer and dac sounded fine in my old b&w mcintosh setup. So I imagine its the room.

Anyway, I am building a new shelf in April and need to buy a smaller CD player, the Sony is over 19 inches deep. It appears the erc-3 is he same as the usp-1 which is perfect. So do you guys think the CD player would warm up the cd's at all? is it worth the 450? How does it compare to the marantz 6004 CD player?

I am in the middle of making some changes and need to sell my Maggie's and buy bookshelves and a smaller cd so I thought I would ask here. Any recommendations on bookshelves with the USp-1, xpa-200 setup? I am currently deciding between the paradigm studio 20v5, focal chorus 807v, sonus Fabre venere 1.5 or older b&w nautilus 805?

One more thing would the xsp-1 be an upgrade of any kind with the nary level type stuff I have?

Here is a video of my small room and setup
m.youtube.com/watch?v=qkVeMKaIvmo

[trinhsman]

USP1 to XSP1 is not much of a sonic upgrade. I asked last year and was told with my system to stay put with the USP1. Ultimately changed to an Audible Illusions Modulus 3A, which is in another league. I have the ERC-3. Best CD player I have ever heard. As for warming up the sound, hard to say without knowing your current cartridge on your turntable. I have an Ortofon 2M Black on my Music Hall 7.1 and the comparisons between CD player and vinyl are subtle at best.

As to speakers, I own vintage Snells. I used to own Maggie Tympani 1C's. Both my wife and daughter say the Snells blow the Maggie's out of the water. I have Type C's and C IV's. I also own E II's. Bang for the buck, a mint set of E II's are really good, just not quite to the level of the big Snells. I do not know much about the newer speakers because the price point to get to the sound I have already is above my budget.

I wish you well.

[stiehl11]

Jan 4, 2014 9:21:16 GMT -5 theebs said:

Hi, I am thinking of ordering the erc-3 today. I mostly listen to vinyl and currently use a Sony cdp-cx 400 changer into a entech number cruncher 203.2.

My setup is this

Emotiva usp-1 preamp
Emotiva xpa-200
Magnepan mmg
Vpi traveler turntable
Sony cdp-cx400 changer
Entrech number cruncher 203.2

Any recommendations on bookshelves with the USp-1, xpa-200 setup? I am currently deciding between the paradigm studio 20v5, focal chorus 807v, sonus Fabre venere 1.5 or older b&w nautilus 805?

One more thing would the xsp-1 be an upgrade of any kind with the nary level type stuff I have?

Here is a video of my small room and setup
m.youtube.com/watch?v=qkVeMKaIvmo

For the best bookshelf speakers, hands down, I recommend the PC-1.5 from Phase Technology. I use them both in my HT and bedroom set up and they're phenomenal. My bedroom set up is very similar to what you've already got; The Pre-1 is the USP-1 with tone controls and the UPA-2 is the XPA-200 without the XLR inputs. The sound that I get out of them is beyond what most would imagine for a bookshelf system. If you have enough space, the PC-3.5 is even better than the PC-1.5 and are considered bookshelf as well.

If you don't like having tone controls and don't need bass management then I would recommend that you stay with the USP-1. You can get the phono pre-amp that's in the XSP-1 a la carte with the XPS-1 (not to be confused with the XSP-1). I have heard, however, that the volume is less touchy on the XSP-1 than the USP-1 as well.

[Deleted]

So far I'm enjoying the ERC-3. It has a little wider soundstage, and depth to the sound in the mid range. The highs are smooth, mid range clarity, and tighter low end. It is not a big difference over the Sherbourn CD-1. The ERC-3 is a little more refined in the depth, and clarity of the music's nuances. I still like the slot loader better than the tray loader. The button to open and close the tray doesn't work all the time. There has been a few times I had to hit it twice. The remote works great so no issues there. The improvement is small but it does enhance upon the great sound to bring it out a little more into focus. I have two more weeks to decide on my final verdict to keep it or send it back.

[theebs]

Thanks I can't imagine the xsp-1 would do much for me that the usp-1 isn't already doing. Vinyl sounds great.

I have an ortofon 2m blue Btw. Forgot to add that earlier.

I think I am going to pull the trigger on the erc-3. I like the idea of all the components being the same.

It's going to take me forever to find a pair of bookshelves, though everyone saying the sonus Faber veneer 1.5 are warm is pretty appealing to me.

[porcubunny]

I pulled the trigger on the ERC-3 this morning. It goes off sale tomorrow (5 Jan 2014) and
it was just killing me. BTW, my very first post here. Hi every buddy!

I also purchased and received my new XPA-2. Lots of folks said it was heavy.
Wow... it is VERY heavy. Almost as though there are nothing but bricks in the case.

[stiehl11]

Jan 4, 2014 19:15:37 GMT -5 porcubunny said:

I pulled the trigger on the ERC-3 this morning. It goes off sale tomorrow (5 Jan 2014) and
it was just killing me. BTW, my very first post here. Hi every buddy!

I also purchased and received my new XPA-2. Lots of folks said it was heavy.
Wow... it is VERY heavy. Almost as though there are nothing but bricks in the case.

Congratulations and welcome to the Lounge. The XPA-2 is a very fine amp and will do you well. Just don't hurt yourself getting in the door and into your system.

[Deleted]

Hi porcubunny, and welcome to the board. I hope you enjoy your new toys. Please give us a review once the equipment is broken in for your setup, and you've spent come time with the critical listening.

[Gary Cook]

I'm sure you guys will like your ERC-3's a great sounding CD player. On the tray open/close what I've found is the button needs a definite push, until I feel the click. I can think I have pushed it, but when I really have I can definitely feel the click through the finger tip. Think of it as a manly button, to be used accordingly.

Cheers
Gary

[dmraupp]

I actually just returned my ERC-3.I just sold my ERC-2 and purchased a Sherbourn CD-1 on the emporium for $175.00.I did feel there was a slight edge in refinement compared to the ERC-2.I just didn't feel it justified the upgrade cost.I certainly don't think it justified $274.00 more compared to the deal I got on the CD-1.

[roadrunner]

Jan 4, 2014 16:32:17 GMT -5 theebs said:

Thanks I can't imagine the xsp-1 would do much for me that the usp-1 isn't already doing. Vinyl sounds great.

I have an ortofon 2m blue Btw. Forgot to add that earlier.

I think I am going to pull the trigger on the erc-3. I like the idea of all the components being the same.

It's going to take me forever to find a pair of bookshelves, though everyone saying the sonus Faber veneer 1.5 are warm is pretty appealing to me.

I think you might find the Emotiva Stealth 6 Speakers are going to be hard to beat for a bookshelf speaker. Have you seen Andrew Robinson's review of the Stealth 6's in his personal system? It is an excellent review and I just happen to agree with everything Andrew had to say about them. I only had a couple of hours of listening to them during Emofest 2013, but I was very impressed with them. The link to the Product Page is shown below. The sale ends tomorrow.

shop.emotiva.com/collections/speakers/products/stealth-6

[klinemj]

I personally found the XSP-1 to be a big jump in sound over the USP-1, and the XSP's phono stage is better also.

Mark

[miata57]

Hi Guys ( and thx for all the interesting info)

Just wanted to mention that I received my ERC-3 today and it sounds amazing. I have the ERC-1 and the first thing I noticed when listening to the ERC-3 is that familiar "Emotiva" sound, they both share. It does everything the ERC-1 does but at a new level. Don't want to get too technical but for me I noticed extreme detail with increased soundstage.

For me this was an expensive upgrade, but well worth it. (mind you, it is difficult to listen to poorly recorded CDs now)

Highly recommended.

One Question..............

Does a CD player really have a break-in time, perhaps 50 or so hours?

Thx

Howie

 

[stiehl11]

The only thing I've noticed on CD players is that the longer you play them, the more forgiving the laser is of surface defects. It seems to penetrate them better.