Going More 2 Channel - ERC-3 To Replace An Oppo 105

[corgidog59]

Good morning team,

I am moving more in a two channel direction with my audio/home theater system. I have the Oppo 105 as my primary CD payer. It is a lovely machine but it has more capability than I could ever possibly use. I have not watch a Blu Ray disk in nearly 2 years. I really only use it for CD play back. Thus, why I am here today. I think I may move the 105 to the family TV room and out of my listening room. If I do that than I need to find a replacement. Having been the previous owner of an XDA-1 Dac and an Ultra 10 sub, I am well aware of the great products produced by Emotiva. I have since sold them both. So today I am considering the ERC-3. Two things bother me. One is the apparent noise the trasport makes and the fact that it does not play SACD - except Redbook layer. I have about 50 SACD titles in my CD collection. Anyone on this board own the ERC-3 and can comment on the ERC-3 performance? Has anyone replaced an Oppo 105 with the ERC-3 or other "high-end" CD player? Clearly, the 105 is a great performer so I kinda need a sound rationale for replacing it. Thank you!

[garbulky]

I've heard both the DC-1, XDA-1, XDA-2 and the oppo 105. The oppo 105 coupled to an XSP-1 coupled to a set of XPA-1 L's produced the best sound I have ever heard by a signficant margin. Outstanding stuff. The oppo 105 by itself without a pre-amp isn't quite as amazing - namely it sounds a little strained mainly in dynamics. So I would reccomend going with an XSP-1 instead and holding onto the 105 to couple to it.

I too thought going to a dedicated unit would provide way better results than the all in one oppo. But I couldn't argue with the results of that oppo was able to provide. And the XSP-1 was a very good partner for it....especially with emotiva amps.

[corgidog59]

I am using a Yamaha Rx-v1030 as my pre-amp as I still watch TV (movies on demand, sports etc.) in surround sound. I use a Parasound A-21 Amp for my Front L/R speakers.

[Poodleluvr]

Jan 6, 2015 12:03:42 GMT -5 corgidog59 said:

Good morning team,

I am moving more in a two channel direction with my audio/home theater system. I have the Oppo 105 as my primary CD payer. It is a lovely machine but it has more capability than I could ever possibly use. I have not watch a Blu Ray disk in nearly 2 years. I really only use it for CD play back. Thus, why I am here today. I think I may move the 105 to the family TV room and out of my listening room. If I do that than I need to find a replacement. Having been the previous owner of an XDA-1 Dac and an Ultra 10 sub, I am well aware of the great products produced by Emotiva. I have since sold them both. So today I am considering the ERC-3. Two things bother me. One is the apparent noise the trasport makes and the fact that it does not play SACD - except Redbook layer. I have about 50 SACD titles in my CD collection. Anyone on this board own the ERC-3 and can comment on the ERC-3 performance? Has anyone replaced an Oppo 105 with the ERC-3 or other "high-end" CD player? Clearly, the 105 is a great performer so I kinda need a sound rationale for replacing it. Thank you!

I don't own an ERC-3 yet, although I do own a Stealth DC-1 DAC, of which to my understanding, the ERC-3 was engineered from the sound quality platform attributed from the DC-1.

First, here is what the ERC-3 is capable of supporting:

"Amazing Versatility and Control Do you have MP3 CDs, HDCDs, or Hybrid SACDs? The ERC-3 plays them all. Sit back and use the included solid machined aluminum remote control to stage a command performance you’ll remember!"

You said that own about 50 SACD titles. Sorry, the ERC-3 won't support that format, but your Oppo 105 will....

I believe your question of issue is, which DAC would you actually prefer for Redbook CDs, the DAC in the ERC-3 or the Oppo 105?

Only you can decide that through listening and your own personal preference.

The ERC-3 is on sale until the 12th. You would have a trial period to make the determination toward sound quality preference and build quality. The only risk, is a maybe, out-of-pocket return shipping.

Good Luck!

[Gary Cook]

For stereo 2.1 music from CD's using a USP-1 as a pre amp I definitely prefer the sound from the ERC-3 over the 103. Compared to the 105 it's not so clear cut, they certainly sound different, but it's not that one sounds better than the other, just mildly but noticeably different. I chose the ERC-3 over the 105 because I preferred it's sound, with the bonus that a 103 plus an ERC-3 cost way less than a 105. A good CD player lasts a long time, doesn't really get out of date, so I'm not looking at the cost of 105 replacements every time video or audio standards change ie; every 3 years or so. Picking between an ERC -3 and a 105 is really going to be a matter of personal preference as to which sound appeals. I'd certainly suggest a back to back comparison since you already have a 105, taking advantage if you can of the 30 day trial period.

Happy New Year
Gary

[teaman]

I own an ERC-1, ERC-2 and ERC-3. The ERC-3 is the one that produces in my opinion the best sound stage and is the most musical. The transport is somewhat noisy though. Since I play most music loudly enough this is a minor inconvenience. Glad I got one.

[flatpicker]

Jan 6, 2015 15:51:53 GMT -5 teaman said:

I own an ERC-1, ERC-2 and ERC-3. The ERC-3 is the one that produces in my opinion the best sound stage and is the most musical. The transport is somewhat noisy though. Since I play most music loudly enough this is a minor inconvenience. Glad I got one.

I've got an ERC-3 from the same noisy batch!  :-)  Some folks have quiet ones... some folks suggest it's just in our imagination...

[vneal]

OPPO 103

[routlaw]

I will go along with what Gary and Poodleluvr suggest, for what little out of pocket expense you would incur to trial the ERC-3 at home for almost but not quite a month this is the only real way to determine which works best for you in your system.

To that allow me to also muddy up the waters and include my own anecdotal experience. The DACS in the Oppo 105 and 103 are very different and as such sound different. I have owned the ESS Sabre 9018 in another outboard DAC in the past and quite frankly preferred the sound of my Oppo 103 to this outboard DAC which was highly regarded I should add. Its important to point out some people like Sabre DACS others don't. Initially I did but tired of their sonic signature. More importantly neither of them are any match for my computer based music server comprised of a Mac Mini feeding the Stealth DC-1 DAC (same as the ERC-3 internal dacs) which is output to my XSP-1 Gen 2 preamp. The 103 sounds good, and honestly I could probably live with it for sometime feeding the XSP-1, and directly driving the amps is taking it down a notch. I do use the 103 for HT in this manner, but movie soundtracks quality don't means as much to me as music fidelity. I will at some point belly up to the bar for the XCM-1 though just to simplify my setup.

Ok thats my 2¢ worth.

[corgidog59]

Thank you all for your comments. I will give a bit more thought. Sale goes on for a few more days. So, I have some time. I am also exploring Arcam's new cd player, the CDS-27 which does SACD. The darkside of me wants me to go big and buy an Esoteric K-05. :-)

[restless]

I have an ERC-3 attached with balanced connects to a XSP-1 Gen 2 Pre, driving 2 XPA-1 Gen 1 amps to my B&W 704.

I also have the older OPPO 93 attached to the XMC-1, which connects to the XSP-1 Gen 2 for the front speakers.

With this arrangement I can play the same CD via the OPPO to XMC-1 to the XPS-1 to the amps and speakers. I can also force 7 channel stereo to all 7 channels (but there is a minor problem with the XMC-1 not delivering the same volume to the 7CH Stereo as the 2 CHannel/Direct mode. There are days when the 7CH sound is great, but is normally background noise while doing other work.

I will say that Dirac does a wonderful job on 2 CH Direct/Stereo play with the OPPO as source. BUT, I prefer the sound of the ERC-3 directly to the XPS-1 and simple 2CH sound. This is with the same amps driving the same speakers. When I want to concentrate on just 2 Channel listening, it is the ERC-3/XPS-1 that satisfies ME the most.


It would be worth the trial to experiment with the ERC-3 in your environment. If you want to splurge, the XPS-1 has two balanced inputs for compares, one for the ERC-3 and one for the OPPO-105.

Also, I was tempted to try an OPPO 105 in my system, but decided to wait until the current TV/movie encoding settles down a bit more. While 2 CH may or may not be better with a 105, the unit will always need replacing due to changes in TV/Movie industry, as they try to convince everyone they need new stuff and new features (Atmos/4k/etc).

[corgidog59]

I called Audio Advisors yesterday and placed an order for the ARCAM player. It is still on some container ship heading to the US. I will in fact move the 105 to the family TV room. The next possible change will be to buy a second set of front speakers (bookshelf size... my mains are Monitor Audio Silver 10s) for home theater use and buy a dedicated pre-amp for 2 channel use (my AVR would be dedicated to the home theater). I have enough rack space to accomodate the addition of pre-amp. If I go this route then I will consider XSP-1, Parasound, Cambridge, and Simaudio pre-amps. I want to be able to use my subwoofer with both systems. But I am in no rush at the moment. I will continue to think through these changes.

[lowepat]

I have both OPPO-105 as well as ERC-3 which I purchased few months ago. Prior that, I used my old OPPO 95 as for my CD playing and use my OPPO-105 for CD and SACD mainly for multi channels. After having the ERC-3, I don't use OPPO-105 for CD any more since I found my ERC-3 is better perform in many ways. I don't hear any noise from my ERC-3 as some others. Instead using RCA and I use Balance cable to hook up my Marantz processor (8801) and the sound stage is big and the voice is warm and I can hear more details than my OPPO-105. Make sure you use a good power cable. I think the ERC-3 is worth to own and although it only plays CD but since I have more CD than SACD and it is OK for me. One more thing, I don't like the remote since it is too heavy but I like the construction and not necessary in metal.

[vcautokid]

The ERC-3 has some great DNA from the DC-1. If I get back into CDs again, the ERC-3 be a player for me. Nothing out there that gives so much, for so little.

[flamingeye]

I'm wondering if you ever considered using the Blu-ray high fidelity pure audio disc before giving up on Blu-ray and your oppo . I find that it's quit superior to CD and it's getting more titles as we speak and if it can become more popular it my even come down in price , but as it is it's $20 - $29 right now , which to me is worth it

[Deleted]

Jan 23, 2015 12:56:54 GMT -5 flamingeye said:

I'm wondering if you ever considered using the Blu-ray high fidelity pure audio disc before giving up on Blu-ray and your oppo . I find that it's quit superior to CD and it's getting more titles as we speak and if it can become more popular it my even come down in price , but as it is it's $20 - $29 right now , which to me is worth it

Jeff, great suggestion! I don't have many multi-channel discs but I think they are great. I wish more emphasis was on multi-channel sound. I actually prefer multi-channel playback (even from 2 channel sources) versus most 2 channel sound. When properly done the extra surround ambient sound makes for a much more natural effect in many performances.   Many of the HD audio soundtracks in movies are marvelous. Long live multi-channel music on CD's and BR-DVD's!

Nice to see you around the Lounge as you have been absent a lot recently!    

[lowepat]

I have seven blue ray audio disc and I think while their sound is good compare to red book Cds or even SACD, but not in sound depth since I have two of their which I have both Blue Ray audio and normal CD and even the normal CD gives me a very good depth but not blue ray audio disc. Considering every one of us who plays the blue ray audio disc using cheap blue ray player even mine (OPPO 105) but some SACD or CD player costs hundred of dollar or more, I think the blue ray disc will not easily overpass them. Talking about multi channel music and I like it and that's why I like SACD multi channel music. There not all blue ray audio are multi channels and some of them converting from a normal CD recordings just like some SACDs. Although most blue ray audio has three different format, they are just the same and you don't have to choose any format just play it. If any music disc I want to buy and they have both SACD and blue ray audio, I prefer SACD.

[flamingeye]

Jan 24, 2015 0:42:58 GMT -5 @chuckienut said:

Jan 23, 2015 12:56:54 GMT -5 flamingeye said:

I'm wondering if you ever considered using the Blu-ray high fidelity pure audio disc before giving up on Blu-ray and your oppo . I find that it's quit superior to CD and it's getting more titles as we speak and if it can become more popular it my even come down in price , but as it is it's $20 - $29 right now , which to me is worth it

Jeff, great suggestion! I don't have many multi-channel discs but I think they are great. I wish more emphasis was on multi-channel sound. I actually prefer multi-channel playback (even from 2 channel sources) versus most 2 channel sound. When properly done the extra surround ambient sound makes for a much more natural effect in many performances.   Many of the HD audio soundtracks in movies are marvelous. Long live multi-channel music on CD's and BR-DVD's!

Nice to see you around the Lounge as you have been absent a lot recently!     Yes I prefer multi-channel as well and for me Blu-ray audio has more depth, imaging, clarity and dynamic range then anything else- two channel or multi . I've been working outdoors on a entertainment system/area for several months and that's why I've been absent.

[thompson12]

How would you guys recommend connecting the ERC-3 to a XMC-1 which connections would give the best sound reproduction? Sorry for asking here but I don't have link to start a new thread for some reason

[mfeust]

Six one half dozen the other. If I were you I would connect both digital and analog and listen to find which I preferred.

Mark