erc-1 comparison to cd5003

[lynxo]

Hi,

I thought I was locked in the erc-1 until I read some reviews
for the Marantz CD5003. Has anyone heard or have a marantz
cd player in the past?

I wish I could get both but it's going to one or the other.

some reviews mention the erc-1 is a tad forward and bright.

would appreciate your thoughts.

thanks.

[sanjaygolf]

Try out the ERC-1, I'm sure you'll be amazed. Previously I owned a Cambridge 640C which is comparable to the Marantz and the ERC blows it away.

[jedinite24]

I have a Marantz CD-5003 and I love it. I got it for $300 even. I have not had an issue with it and I really like the look of it and that it has this Audio EX function when you connect via the analog outputs. The Digital Outputs Pitch Control and Display are set to off. I don't know if this helps the sound but I think it is cool.

I'm not that great with audiophile terms but for my ears this player natural sound that's easy on the ears. I pretty much hear how the music was recorded on the CD for better or worse. Some live CD recordings I have I realize are kind of ehh. It operates smoothly operation and built solid. The remote isn't as nice as the ERC-1 but it is pretty.

I hope this helps you. I haven't compared it to the ERC-1 though.

you should check out this review of the ERC-1.

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=mediareviews&action=display&thread=5776

JD

[lynxo]

thanks for your replies. the 640c is pretty cheap right now at $249shipped but it's version 1 and has reliability issues. Also the sound signature per the reviews is not what I'm looking for.

JD,

so do you have both cd5003 and erc-1? if so, would you mind doing a comparison?

I know the best way is to try both but again, we all cannot do that. I've read the reviews for the erc-1 in several forums
and the signature seems to be more foward and bright.

The reviews for the cd5003 is smooth which is what I'm looking for.

thanks! ;D

[jedinite24]

Sept 1, 2009 17:40:06 GMT -5 lynxo said:

JD,

so do you have both cd5003 and erc-1? if so, would you mind doing a comparison?

I know the best way is to try both but again, we all cannot do that. I've read the reviews for the erc-1 in several forums
and the signature seems to be more foward and bright.

The reviews for the cd5003 is smooth which is what I'm looking for.

thanks! ;D

Hey Lynxo

I unfortunately do not have the ERC-1 to do an AB comparison to the Marantz CD-5003. I was looking @ both but the CD-5003 won out because of price, positive reviews and looks. I just didn't have the additional $100+ to spring for the ERC-1. I only had $300 exactly to work with.

Sorry JD.

Also check out this thread

www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84103&page=12

There are a bunch of Polkies auditioning an ERC-1. Once they are done they will post their thoughts. A lot of Polkies are tough on Emo gear so I'm curious to see what their thoughts are.

[RPA-1 man]

I'll be watching that as well.

[Deleted]

Those cats who own Poke speakers are called Pokey (singular) or Pokies (plural). ;D

(My ex-girlfriend used to call me a poker and herself a pokey, but that is for another thread) ;D

[jedinite24]

Sept 2, 2009 0:51:40 GMT -5 @chuckienut said:

Those cats who own Poke speakers are called Pokey (singular) or Pokies (plural). ;D

(My ex-girlfriend used to call me a poker and herself a pokey, but that is for another thread) ;D

Great stuff again Chuckie.

[lynxo]

Hey Lynxo

I unfortunately do not have the ERC-1 to do an AB comparison to the Marantz CD-5003. I was looking @ both but the CD-5003 won out because of price, positive reviews and looks. I just didn't have the additional $100+ to spring for the ERC-1. I only had $300 exactly to work with.

Sorry JD.

Also check out this thread

www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84103&page=12

There are a bunch of Polkies auditioning an ERC-1. Once they are done they will post their thoughts. A lot of Polkies are tough on Emo gear so I'm curious to see what their thoughts are.

Hi JD,

no problem! I'm in the same boat. the lower price of $100
and the looks is very attractive. onecall has some open box
for $289 shipped. I'll probably shoot for the cd5003 first
and try an erc-1 later.

thanks!

[lynxo]

Those cats who own Poke speakers are called Pokey (singular) or Pokies (plural).

(My ex-girlfriend used to call me a poker and herself a pokey, but that is for another thread)

Do they speak pikey? ;D

[hemster]

Sept 2, 2009 11:12:56 GMT -5 lynxo said:

Those cats who own Poke speakers are called Pokey (singular) or Pokies (plural).

(My ex-girlfriend used to call me a poker and herself a pokey, but that is for another thread)

Do they speak pikey? ;D

... and have dags? ;D

[bearfan51]

Sept 2, 2009 11:12:56 GMT -5 lynxo said:

Do they speak pikey? ;D

yeh
andwe're terriblypartialtoperriwinkleblue.

My turn is done, but as agreed upon, I can't spill the beans just yet.
(though I've shared some thoughts via pm....) ;D

[Deleted]

Lynxo, if I were you and comparing a Marantz CD player to the ERC-1, I would be comparing the Marantz SA 8003 and not the SA 5003.

The 5003 is the Marantz entry level CD player. It weighs in at 11.25 lbs compared to the ERC-1 at 17.5 lbs. The ERC-1 is on a much higher level of build quality. I can't compare the sound quality because I have not had the 5003 in my room for a direct A/B comparison to the ERC-1. I presume anyone who calls the ERC-1 a "tad forward and bright" also has not done a direct comparison. I would suspect their hearing of forward and bright sounds was attributable to factors other than the ERC-1. The ERC-1 is flat as a pancake (20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1 dB's) and perhaps sounded a tad bit bright because in fact it did not roll off a tad on the upper high end. In my opinion calling a CD player a tad bit forward is imaginary audiophile nonsense. The sound stage is much more likely to be a result of speakers, speaker placement, room issues and the original recording and mike placement.

Get the ERC-1. These two players are not in the same ballpark. The ERC-1 is sold direct to the end user from the factory. There is no way on this planet that Marantz can sell a CD player for $350 thru a dealer that is superior to the ERC-1 at $399, IMO (or in the opinion of that Roadrunner guy). ;D

[artiek]

In my opinion calling a CD player a tad bit forward is imaginary audiophile nonsense. The sound stage is much more likely to be a result of speakers, speaker placement, room issues and the original recording and mike placement.

In my opinion... oh never mind. ;D

[Deleted]

Oh, come on Artie, spit it out! ;D

[sanjaygolf]

I was gonna say something similar to lines of Chuckienut but didnt want to be too forward . But now that he's already said it I can chime in as well. After my experiences with Emotiva and their pricing and quality I now look at B&M companies a lot differently in regards to their pricing and quality. They have a lot more costs associated with their company, marketing and such, and thus charge a way bigger markup on their products whereas an Internet direct company can charge less and focus more on quality. I'm not saying Marantz is a bad company, I have one of their products, but comparing their entry-level CDP to a player that compares to many brands' high-level players is a losing battle.

[lynxo]

Lynxo, if I were you and comparing a Marantz CD player to the ERC-1, I would be comparing the Marantz SA 8003 and not the SA 5003.

The 5003 is the Marantz entry level CD player. It weighs in at 11.25 lbs compared to the ERC-1 at 17.5 lbs. The ERC-1 is on a much higher level of build quality. I can't compare the sound quality because I have not had the 5003 in my room for a direct A/B comparison to the ERC-1. I presume anyone who calls the ERC-1 a "tad forward and bright" also has not done a direct comparison. I would suspect their hearing of forward and bright sounds was attributable to factors other than the ERC-1. The ERC-1 is flat as a pancake (20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1 dB's) and perhaps sounded a tad bit bright because in fact it did not roll off a tad on the upper high end. In my opinion calling a CD player a tad bit forward is imaginary audiophile nonsense. The sound stage is much more likely to be a result of speakers, speaker placement, room issues and the original recording and mike placement.

Get the ERC-1. These two players are not in the same ballpark. The ERC-1 is sold direct to the end user from the factory. There is no way on this planet that Marantz can sell a CD player for $350 thru a dealer that is superior to the ERC-1 at $399, IMO (or in the opinion of that Roadrunner guy).

what you are saying makes sense.

just quick question, have you had other external dacs before the ERC? I'm curious as if the anyone can hear a difference with upsampling higher than 96KHz? I assume this is automatically done with the ERC or can you change the sampling rate? or it depends on the disc played?

[roadrunner]

lynxo

I think that one of the early reviewers of the ERC-1 had a thread going where he specifically compared the ERC-1 to the Ultra-expensive CD Players he has owned. This is very revealing as to the tremendous sound and build quality the Emotiva CD player has. I did a search for this thread and found it so I will cut and paste it below for your perusal.

================================================================================

Topic: Expensive CD players vs. Emotiva ERC-1 ;D (Read 3,512 times)
ny1pr2009
Emo VIPs

Re: Expensive CD players vs. Emotiva ERC-1 ;D
« Result #27 on Jun 8, 2009, 1:04pm »

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If you want to know about comparing expensive players to the ERC-1 here is my list. I have owned the following CD or SACD players and so far the ERC-1 is better player than those.

Sony SCD-1. A $5000 50lbs beast and supposed to be at the time the best SACD/CD player out there. The ERC-1 sounds more detailed and more involving than this player during redbook cd playing. Since the ERC-1 is not a SACD player I will not be able to make a comparison regarding SACD playing.

Marantz SA-1. This was Marantz first state of the art SACD player. At $7000 was supposed to be a true reference player. I think that the SA-1 was slightly better than the Sony SCD-1 in both SACD and CD playing but in Redbook CD playing the Emotiva ERC-1 is a more detailed and natural sounding CD player.

Denon 5910ci. A $3500 Universal player and while it was ok playing CDs or SACD's it does not justified the price. It is a great DVD player. No doubt about that but as a cd player it was just mediocre. The Emotiva ERC-1 will eat this unit for breakfast anytime at playing redbook cds.

Sony SCD-XA777ES. $3000 CD player. Very good player. In fact I founded to be better than the SCD-1 specially in Multichannel SACD playing. In Redbook Cd playing was much better than the Marantz but again the ERC-1 is a more detailed and involving cd player.

Sony SCD-XA9000ES . A $3500 SACD/CD player. Was supposed to be better than the SCD-XA777ES which it replaced,with better dacs but in my personal opinion the SCD-XA777ES was a better sounding unit. The SCD-XA777ES was a more neutral souding with better soundstage but not as good as the Emotiva ERC-1.

I can go on and on with the list of other cd players that I have owned previously and the ERC-1 still is a better cd player.

The only player that I have considered to be the best CD/SACD player so far is the Musical Fidelity Trivista. This player is such a detailed,natural and so involving cd player that I am yet to find a player that can sound this good. Its a $6500 CD player and I think it was worth every penny. It is also a Tube CD player so it will not be fair for me to make a fair comparison to the ERC-1. But the Emotiva ERC-1 is the closest player that has ever come to the Musical Fidelity Trivista while playing Redbook Cds.

The best way that I can described the ERC-1 is an amazing CD player that delivers enhanced linearity, dynamic range and distortion-free response in the most beautiful way possible.

The sound is so unbelievably crisp, so undeniably clear and so completely pristine, it will change the way you listen forever.

For Redbook CD playing I don't think that you will find a more involving and detailed sounding CD player under the $3000 price range.


This is the level of competition that the ERC-1 matches up to extremely well. When you stop to think that this Emotiva CDP is outperforming products that cost 15 to 20 times as much it becomes a "no brainer" as to which player offers the most BANG FOR THE BUCK! ;D ;D ;D

[lynxo]

thank for the info.

hmm, do you guys work for emotiva sales team? ;D jk

I hope to order one next month.

[SticknStones]

Sept 4, 2009 17:03:08 GMT -5 lynxo said:

thank for the info.

hmm, do you guys work for emotiva sales team? ;D jk

I hope to order one next month.

No but they are your safety net!! What is the warranty on the other player! I have never seen a 5 year warranty on a CD Player device in this price range!