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Post by hikinokie on Jul 8, 2009 10:41:01 GMT -5
An interesting stance to take? Why would I want to pay more if I can get a good DAC for a good price?If EMO wants to do a DAC based on the same DAC as the ERC-1, then EMO might as well incorporate the access to DAC on the ERC-1, everything that is needed for a DAC is already there. The additional cost would be minor, this will allow the owner to be able to just throw in a CD instead of firing up his/her computer to play some music. There are times when I just play one CD through my CDP because I may only half an hour to kill. A combo CDP/DAC would accomplish both at a reasonable additional cost to the ERC-1 (just like the Cambridge A - 840C). I believe the new McIntosh MCD 500 uses the Sabre chip, however, the design and the implementation of the MCD 500 is their own design. I am with you on the EMO's philosophy of good value for $$$ that is why I think that EMO can design and build a medium/high quality DAC to compete with Benchmark/Del Canto at a much more competitive price. EMO may have the economy of scale that other niches players do not have (Neko, Stello). Why would I want to pay more if I can get a good DAC for a good price?There already are tons of good to excellent (for this price point) sub $500 DACs out there . I am not sure if we need another one. I am not sure if EMO will be able to attract the crowd that are in this target market. What I think is an opportunity for EMO is to produce the Benchmark USB quality or higher (both the built and sound) and priced it very very competitively to attract a mid level DAC buyers. Since DAC is still a hot product and assuming that EMO can succeed in its new DAC, it will be a proof of its "best bang for the buck" philisophy to the general public, leverage this to the rest of the product lines and ........there is not limit to future success. mP It is a very interesting argument you make, but I believe we can build a fully differential 192 DAC with selectable inputs, discrete output stage, remote, etc, for around 300.00 and meet or exceed the quality of the Benchmark. I could be wrong here, so don't hold me to it, but it really shoudn't cost anything close to what others are asking. ;D Optional sub out? Pretty please? ;D |
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ratmice
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Post by ratmice on Jul 8, 2009 10:45:52 GMT -5
I'm gonna butt in again, 'cuz my question got waylayed.
Do these type units typically have a bypass to let the digital stream pass through? Or if not, could it? :-)
I have a Airport Express that only has one output available and would like to use the DAC for stereo stuff and passthrough for 5.1.
If not, does anyone have experience with optical splitters, are they reliable?
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akai
Minor Hero
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Post by akai on Jul 8, 2009 11:06:48 GMT -5
An interesting stance to take? Why would I want to pay more if I can get a good DAC for a good price?If EMO wants to do a DAC based on the same DAC as the ERC-1, then EMO might as well incorporate the access to DAC on the ERC-1, everything that is needed for a DAC is already there. The additional cost would be minor, this will allow the owner to be able to just throw in a CD instead of firing up his/her computer to play some music. There are times when I just play one CD through my CDP because I may only half an hour to kill. A combo CDP/DAC would accomplish both at a reasonable additional cost to the ERC-1 (just like the Cambridge A - 840C). I believe the new McIntosh MCD 500 uses the Sabre chip, however, the design and the implementation of the MCD 500 is their own design. I am with you on the EMO's philosophy of good value for $$$ that is why I think that EMO can design and build a medium/high quality DAC to compete with Benchmark/Del Canto at a much more competitive price. EMO may have the economy of scale that other niches players do not have (Neko, Stello). Why would I want to pay more if I can get a good DAC for a good price?There already are tons of good to excellent (for this price point) sub $500 DACs out there . I am not sure if we need another one. I am not sure if EMO will be able to attract the crowd that are in this target market. What I think is an opportunity for EMO is to produce the Benchmark USB quality or higher (both the built and sound) and priced it very very competitively to attract a mid level DAC buyers. Since DAC is still a hot product and assuming that EMO can succeed in its new DAC, it will be a proof of its "best bang for the buck" philisophy to the general public, leverage this to the rest of the product lines and ........there is not limit to future success. mP It is a very interesting argument you make, but I believe we can build a fully differential 192 DAC with selectable inputs, discrete output stage, remote, etc, for around 300.00 and meet or exceed the quality of the Benchmark. I could be wrong here, so don't hold me to it, but it really shoudn't cost anything close to what others are asking. ;D Thanks Lonnie. I look forward to this new product. I agree that the cost for building a good DAC is modest as evidenced by the Chinese products in the market place (please see the link below - sub $400 DACs). forums.audioreview.com/showthread.php?t=22028I am just coming from both a consumer's and a marketer's points of view. I just see this as a tremendous opportunity for EMO to shine and grow way beyond the existing customer base. Actually I am quite excited for EMO as far as the prospect of this upcoming DAC. I also vote for volume control so the unit can be directly connected to the amp. mP |
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darkvisions
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Post by darkvisions on Jul 8, 2009 11:16:20 GMT -5
I work on a computer for my day job 45 hours a week and my side work at night (another 15-20 hours ) and am pretty burnt out on computers by Friday afternoon.
The last thing I want to do on the weekend is boot up my computer to listen to music. I can have my stereo playing music long before my computer boots up.
For now, I am sticking with my ERC-1 / Oppo-83 for my music. Plus I enjoy the act of standing in front of my collection, picking and choosing what I want to here at that given time. Part of the process of listening that I love. Of course I was brought up on albums.
Nothing at all wrong with a media PC, but it's just not for me at this time.
When I change (I know it is inevitable) I will rip to strictly lossless format, no compressed MP3 for this kid.
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akai
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Post by akai on Jul 8, 2009 11:17:21 GMT -5
Forgot to mention that I envision EMO doing the same thing to the audio industry as what Vizeo is doing in the Flat Panel TV industry. Marketing, marketing, and more marketing.
mP
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 8, 2009 11:20:09 GMT -5
Optional sub out? Pretty please? ;D Please don't! A multi-input 2-channel high quality DAC is what the market needs. Leave the crossovers to the preamp, please! |
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TJHUB
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Post by TJHUB on Jul 8, 2009 11:52:56 GMT -5
Optional sub out? Pretty please? ;D Please don't! A multi-input 2-channel high quality DAC is what the market needs. Leave the crossovers to the preamp, please! +1 For me, the volume control crossed the line, but crossovers for sub output? NO WAY!  |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 8, 2009 12:00:01 GMT -5
Please don't! A multi-input 2-channel high quality DAC is what the market needs. Leave the crossovers to the preamp, please! +1 For me, the volume control crossed the line, but crossovers for sub output? NO WAY! Yes, I see no need for a volume control in a DAC, although an output trim control on the back might be nice for initial setup. |
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Post by littlesaint on Jul 8, 2009 12:30:28 GMT -5
I see this DAC being a nice pairing with the USP-1, so I'd leave out any crossovers, and make sure volume control is can be bypassed. I could see a lot of combo sales. I know I would buy one. I was looking at a DACMagic or V-DAC with the USP-1, but this could be a much better option.
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lonnie
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Post by lonnie on Jul 8, 2009 13:24:25 GMT -5
Don't worry, no crossovers in the DAC. I believe this is best handled in the Pre-amp. Now the DACs themselves have a level attentuator built into the chips, so all we would be doing is giving you access to the attenuators. If you you wanted to "Bypass" the internal volume control, you would just turn it up all the way and forget it. If we were to take out the volume control, we would just be pre-setting the attenuators.  |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 8, 2009 13:38:19 GMT -5
Don't worry, no crossovers in the DAC. I believe this is best handled in the Pre-amp. Now the DACs themselves have a level attentuator built into the chips, so all we would be doing is giving you access to the attenuators. If you you wanted to "Bypass" the internal volume control, you would just turn it up all the way and forget it. If we were to take out the volume control, we would just be pre-setting the attenuators. Good to know, and sounds good. Hey you could also put in a voltage driver to force the ICs to the threshold of saturation and call it a "tube effect" circuit.  |
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Post by sanjaygolf on Jul 8, 2009 13:46:58 GMT -5
What does the ERC-1 offer that say a run of the mill transport (like an Oppo dvd player) and this DAC wouldnt? I love the ERC but cant help feel a little short changed by the news of this DAC.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 8, 2009 14:08:50 GMT -5
What does the ERC-1 offer that say a run of the mill transport (like an Oppo dvd player) and this DAC wouldnt? I love the ERC but cant help feel a little short changed by the news of this DAC. A better transport mechanism, less flutter and read errors, a more stable power supply, nicer looking design... |
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Post by jibara on Jul 8, 2009 14:26:32 GMT -5
I'll take one to use with my active Mackie SRM 450s and remove the Peavy mixer. The xlr outs and the volume control are perfect for this.
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Post by flamingeye on Jul 9, 2009 14:38:28 GMT -5
Is it possible to make it wifi or is that a bad idea ,the reason I ask is because my PC which is the reason I would get something like this is in another room and wiring it up would be a problem/make things difficult ,also I would prefer the rack mountable
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 9, 2009 15:22:54 GMT -5
Is it possible to make it wifi or is that a bad idea ,the reason I ask is because my PC which is the reason I would get something like this is in another room and wiring it up would be a problem/make things difficult ,also I would prefer the rack mountable Get a set of wireless USB adapters. |
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Post by flamingeye on Jul 9, 2009 15:30:46 GMT -5
That`s it - cool, next question will audio still be good going that rout ?
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Post by jlafrenz on Jul 9, 2009 15:44:47 GMT -5
You would probably be better off getting a device that is designed for streaming music and then connect that unit to the DAC.
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Post by flamingeye on Jul 9, 2009 15:53:58 GMT -5
So get a squeezebox or similar and connect to the emo dac , have everything in lossless and I should have good/high quality sound right ?
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Post by rockguitar on Jul 9, 2009 16:19:13 GMT -5
My wishlist would be
1. Selectable oversampling rates or filters
2. Non-oversampling option. As far as I know, I don't think there's a single chip that can works great at both non-oversampling and oversampling, so maybe this could be done as two different dacs.
3. Selectable volume control with high quality volume pot but implemented analog not digitally.
4. balanced outputs, with true balanced dual differential signal path
5. digital passthrough outputs
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