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Post by Chuck Elliot on Jan 10, 2017 10:54:41 GMT -5
I decided to take advantage of the sale and add a CD player to my 2-channel system. The main reason for doing so was to make the system easier to use for my wife. The use of Volumio is just a little too complex for her. With a CD it’s just pop and go.
At 21 lbs this is the most solidly built CD player I have ever used. This includes the toe-breaking remote.
Sound quality is top notch. I am playing around with the differences between using the balanced analog outputs and the SPDIF to my XDA-2. Too early to say much for now.
Bottom line, another great quality Emotiva product.
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Post by audiophill on Jan 10, 2017 13:10:08 GMT -5
I tried with the xda-2 and prefer the balanced from the erc-3 to my xmc-1.
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Post by Axis on Jan 10, 2017 13:18:37 GMT -5
I prefer the sound of my Emotiva ERC-1 over my PC FLAC files thru the DC-1. I tried them both in my two channel and taking digital directly from a CD thru a ERC sounds amazing to me. Not saying PC files do not sound good but the Emotiva CD players just shine.
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Post by clearear on Jan 10, 2017 15:46:22 GMT -5
I've got my ERC-1 running through the DC-1 optical input. Sounds great!
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Post by Axis on Jan 10, 2017 15:56:04 GMT -5
I've got my ERC-1 running through the DC-1 optical input. Sounds great! My ECR-1 does not need a DC-1. It performs admirably on its own.
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Post by teaman on Jan 10, 2017 16:22:38 GMT -5
I run both my ERC-2 and ERC-3 through the XDA-2 via AES/EBU. Sounds fantastic
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Post by Axis on Jan 10, 2017 16:55:46 GMT -5
I run both my ERC-2 and ERC-3 through the XDA-2 via AES/EBU. Sounds fantastic Why not use the DAC in the ERC's ?
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Post by teaman on Jan 10, 2017 17:09:24 GMT -5
I run both my ERC-2 and ERC-3 through the XDA-2 via AES/EBU. Sounds fantastic Why not use the DAC in the ERC's ? To me both the XDA-2 and the ERC players sound similar regardless of which way I have them hooked up. I would bet the DAC chip in one is similar to the other since the sound signature is pretty much the same
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Jan 10, 2017 20:55:28 GMT -5
Why not use the DAC in the ERC's ? To me both the XDA-2 and the ERC players sound similar regardless of which way I have them hooked up. I would bet the DAC chip in one is similar to the other since the sound signature is pretty much the same After switching between for several hours, I tend to agree. I can detect no difference. One case of interest is if the pre/pro is a XMC-1. If doing any DSP processing Dirac or otherwise, it makes no sense to use the analog outs of the ERC-3 as the XMC-1 will just do another conversion back to digital to do the DSP processing.
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Post by clearear on Jan 11, 2017 14:39:43 GMT -5
I've got my ERC-1 running through the DC-1 optical input. Sounds great! My ECR-1 does not need a DC-1. It performs admirably on its own. I agree and I did that for years but with the arrival of the DC-1 the combo sounds a tad better to my ears. Why not use it if it's there?
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Post by Axis on Jan 11, 2017 14:56:52 GMT -5
My ECR-1 does not need a DC-1. It performs admirably on its own. I agree and I did that for years but with the arrival of the DC-1 the combo sounds a tad better to my ears. Why not use it if it's there? If you like it better using the DC-1, absolutely.
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Post by Gary Cook on Jan 11, 2017 15:19:23 GMT -5
Hi Chuck Elliot I noticed from your profile that your system has quite some similarities to mine so I thought I might mention, after much listening and swapping, the best sounding combination I have found for stereo 2.1 music. I have the ERC-3 connected to the XSP-1 using very short XLR cables (ie; 50 cm). With the main speaker pair output switch in the full range position, the XSP-1 is connected to a pair of XPA-1L's using long Emotiva XLR cables (ie; 5 metres). The XPA-1L's are located beside their respective speakers and use very short Emotiva speaker cables (ie; 1 metre). The XPA-1L's switches are in the Class A position. The sub woofer output from the XSP-1 is also connected via a long Emotiva XLR (also 5 metres) to the XPA-100 which is connected to the subwoofer via short Emotiva speaker cables (again 1metre). The XSP-1 bass management for the sub woofer is set to 60 Hz with a 24 db slope. This gives me a fully balanced discrete system all the way from the ERC-3 to the XPA-1L output. The result is the quietest (noise wise) system I have ever had, it's dead silent, so all I hear is the music. Without any processing, just the single D to A conversion in the ERC-3, from there on it's 100% analogue. Get the dictionary out and pick any of the audio reviewer's adjectives, it's all there, sound quality, staging, imaging, veil lifting, engaging, etc. Try it Chuck, I'm sure you'll like it. Cheers Gary
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Post by Axis on Jan 11, 2017 15:31:50 GMT -5
Hi Chuck Elliot I noticed from your profile that your system has quite some similarities to mine so I thought I might mention, after much listening and swapping, the best sounding combination I have found for stereo 2.1 music. I have the ERC-3 connected to the XSP-1 using very short XLR cables (ie; 50 cm). With the main speaker pair output switch in the full range position, the XSP-1 is connected to a pair of XPA-1L's using long Emotiva XLR cables (ie; 5 metres). The XPA-1L's are located beside their respective speakers and use very short Emotiva speaker cables (ie; 1 metre). The XPA-1L's switches are in the Class A position. The sub woofer output from the XSP-1 is also connected via a long Emotiva XLR (also 5 metres) to the XPA-100 which is connected to the subwoofer via short Emotiva speaker cables (again 1metre). The XSP-1 bass management for the sub woofer is set to 60 Hz with a 24 db slope. This gives me a fully balanced discrete system all the way from the ERC-3 to the XPA-1L output. The result is the quietest (noise wise) system I have ever had, it's dead silent, so all I hear is the music. Without any processing, just the single D to A conversion in the ERC-3, from there on it's 100% analogue. Get the dictionary out and pick any of the audio reviewer's adjectives, it's all there, sound quality, staging, imaging, veil lifting, engaging, etc. Try it Chuck, I'm sure you'll like it. Cheers Gary I would suggest and I think most that have time with this gear, know that the Emotiva CD player DAC is a excellent performer. I could not tell you hardly anything about the DAC in an ERC CD player. It was listening alone that told me that this is where I want to do my critical listening. There are some DAC's out there that are a couple thousand and more that if you have the rest of the system up to par will tickle your fancy but for me the Emotiva CD players do all I need when it comes to sound quality. Sometimes when I am using my ERC-1 the sound freaks me out how real things sound. I bet you have been there before and know what I am talking about.
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Post by vcautokid on Jan 11, 2017 15:49:34 GMT -5
Well the ERC-3 gets allot of the good stuff from the DC-1, another top performer. So it really makes sense the ERC-3 would be a contender for some great music playback.
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Post by Axis on Jan 11, 2017 15:51:22 GMT -5
Well the ERC-3 gets allot of the good stuff from the DC-1, another top performer. So it really makes sense the ERC-3 would be a contender for some great music playback. View Attachment Don't get me wrong, I love my DC-1 !
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Post by wilburthegoose on Jan 11, 2017 16:56:36 GMT -5
How does the DAC in the ERC-3 compare to the XMC-1's DAC?
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Post by routlaw on Jan 11, 2017 18:57:13 GMT -5
I prefer the ERC-3 with balanced outputs significantly over the digital outputs to the XMC-1. In my system this preference is not a close call, however I've never tried the AES/EBU I/O's which may or may not make the all the difference, but coax/optical was a no brainer. Over the years I've owned some very expensive digital front ends that cost many times more than the ERC-3, as in thousands more and some of them were extensively modified by companies like Great Northern Sound (no longer in business). In addition a couple of friends loaned me for a period of time their top of the line Wadia's, i.e. 7 & 9, and 27xi again all of them extensively modified. It would be unfair to make any absolute comparisons from memory, but if I'm missing something with the ERC-3 compared to those lofty pieces it isn't much, if anything at all.
Put another way, honestly in most cases (probably all) lately I prefer to down sample my high res downloads to 16/44 using the highest quality conversion possible, burn the files to Mitsui Gold Audio Master disc and play them through the ERC-3 vs using my Mac Mini dedicated music server with Audirvana as the jukebox feeding USB into the XMC-1. I fully expect to get flamed for this comment but its my story and I'm sticking with it for now. This is not meant as a disparaging comment toward the XMC-1, I love mine, but prefer the ERC-3 with analog outs much more for redbook cd's. I will admit to occasionally sending a coax signal to the XMC-1, and using it to manufacture surround sound from 2 channel source. Its sort of fun, but still prefer 2 channel for music.
Is it the best redbook player on the market? Probably not, but I suspect you're going to need to spend a whole lot more cabbage to do better.
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Post by Jim on Jan 11, 2017 19:29:01 GMT -5
How does the DAC in the ERC-3 compare to the XMC-1's DAC? I've always thought of the ERC-3 and DC-1 having a lot of the same guts. So I wonder if comparing the DC-1 to the XMC-1 is any easier? I have an ERC-3 and XDA-1 but no XMC-1 or DC-1..
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,213
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Post by novisnick on Jan 11, 2017 20:25:24 GMT -5
How does the DAC in the ERC-3 compare to the XMC-1's DAC? I've always thought of the ERC-3 and DC-1 having a lot of the same guts. So I wonder if comparing the DC-1 to the XMC-1 is any easier? I have an ERC-3 and XDA-1 but no XMC-1 or DC-1.. I've owned all three units, still have the XMC-1 and DC-1. They are all so similar in sound that I run my ERC-2 through the DC-1 or XMC-1 when I want to play CDs. Only because I prefer the slot loader vs the drawer of the ERC-3. The ERC-3 has since been sold. At this point in development of the Emotiva DAC, I truely think the implementation makes for a singular sound, ie; house sound of the Emo DAC. I now have the ERC-2 connected to the TA-100, DC-1 in my dedicated two channel tube system and the XMC-1 for most everything else. I very much like the house sound of the Emotiva DACs no matter what they're in. I have never heard either the XDA-1 or 2,
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Jan 12, 2017 8:46:58 GMT -5
Hi Chuck Elliot I noticed from your profile that your system has quite some similarities to mine so I thought I might mention, after much listening and swapping, the best sounding combination I have found for stereo 2.1 music. I have the ERC-3 connected to the XSP-1 using very short XLR cables (ie; 50 cm). With the main speaker pair output switch in the full range position, the XSP-1 is connected to a pair of XPA-1L's using long Emotiva XLR cables (ie; 5 metres). The XPA-1L's are located beside their respective speakers and use very short Emotiva speaker cables (ie; 1 metre). The XPA-1L's switches are in the Class A position. The sub woofer output from the XSP-1 is also connected via a long Emotiva XLR (also 5 metres) to the XPA-100 which is connected to the subwoofer via short Emotiva speaker cables (again 1metre). The XSP-1 bass management for the sub woofer is set to 60 Hz with a 24 db slope. This gives me a fully balanced discrete system all the way from the ERC-3 to the XPA-1L output. The result is the quietest (noise wise) system I have ever had, it's dead silent, so all I hear is the music. Without any processing, just the single D to A conversion in the ERC-3, from there on it's 100% analogue. Get the dictionary out and pick any of the audio reviewer's adjectives, it's all there, sound quality, staging, imaging, veil lifting, engaging, etc. Try it Chuck, I'm sure you'll like it. Cheers Gary Minor differences in how we're setup: I running 2.2 with dual Rythmik F15HP Subs. The mains are set to crossover at the same slope as the natural roll-off of the main speakers on the XSP-1. Around 65Hz. The mains roll-off this high by design. This gives a 24db roll-off (12dB speaker + 12dB crossover). The Rythmik F15HP Subs control the low-pass crossover at 24 dB to match the above frequency. Currently the ERC-3 is connected via analog XLR cables. XPA-1Ls are in the rack. I too am dead silent and trust me the FaitalPRO horns would make noise if it wasn't.
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