Post by Mike Ronesia on Feb 16, 2010 20:08:42 GMT -5
This is not so much a review as some observations from my experience with the thought process of my buying decision and what I think after having the ERC-1 for a couple of weeks.
When I first started my AV improvement project a couple of years ago I was told that the speakers will make up 99% of SQ and to focus my money there. I bought some very nice speakers and a Denon 2808 to drive them. The sound at lower volumes was great but it struggled at higher volumes. After doing some research I found Emotiva and decided to go with the XPA-5. This made a huge difference when playing at higher volumes and I was happy. It also made me think there is more to sound then just the speakers.
I’ve been working on improving the look as well as the sound of my system so adding Emotiva gear has been a direction I’ve wanted to go based on the clean classic design. I toyed with getting the ERC-1 but knew that it would be only for aesthetics because it’s just digital 1&0’s. My DVD transport started acting up and the drawer was not always opening and Emo was having a sale so I decided to bite the bullet and ordered the ERC-1 in December. I did this knowing that it would take over a month to get and I could not return it, but was OK because I knew it would add to the look of my room. I had zero expectations of getting any SQ improvement out of it.
I got it hooked up a couple of weeks ago and I can’t get into separation or soundstage and that kind of stuff because I’m not that kind of guy. What I can tell you is I put in my Raul Malo, You’re only lonely CD which I know very well and can tell you that I heard things I’d not heard before. I us this CD a lot for testing because it has such a nice variety of instruments and is just a great recording at any volume. I like it louder then my wife does… ;D
I’m not going to tell you I’ve increased my CD listening or I’m going through all my old CD’s but I will tell you that the quality of the listening I do has improved and I am pleasantly surprised. I guess as your gear gets better these things are more noticeable and maybe I’d have missed these improvements if I was using a HTIB, or maybe it would be more noticeable?
I do know that if you have good gear this unit is well worth it on either looks or sound alone but with the combination of the two it is something I’m very glad I added to my system and it is right for me.
You are now free to move about the forum.
When I first started my AV improvement project a couple of years ago I was told that the speakers will make up 99% of SQ and to focus my money there. I bought some very nice speakers and a Denon 2808 to drive them. The sound at lower volumes was great but it struggled at higher volumes. After doing some research I found Emotiva and decided to go with the XPA-5. This made a huge difference when playing at higher volumes and I was happy. It also made me think there is more to sound then just the speakers.
I’ve been working on improving the look as well as the sound of my system so adding Emotiva gear has been a direction I’ve wanted to go based on the clean classic design. I toyed with getting the ERC-1 but knew that it would be only for aesthetics because it’s just digital 1&0’s. My DVD transport started acting up and the drawer was not always opening and Emo was having a sale so I decided to bite the bullet and ordered the ERC-1 in December. I did this knowing that it would take over a month to get and I could not return it, but was OK because I knew it would add to the look of my room. I had zero expectations of getting any SQ improvement out of it.
I got it hooked up a couple of weeks ago and I can’t get into separation or soundstage and that kind of stuff because I’m not that kind of guy. What I can tell you is I put in my Raul Malo, You’re only lonely CD which I know very well and can tell you that I heard things I’d not heard before. I us this CD a lot for testing because it has such a nice variety of instruments and is just a great recording at any volume. I like it louder then my wife does… ;D
I’m not going to tell you I’ve increased my CD listening or I’m going through all my old CD’s but I will tell you that the quality of the listening I do has improved and I am pleasantly surprised. I guess as your gear gets better these things are more noticeable and maybe I’d have missed these improvements if I was using a HTIB, or maybe it would be more noticeable?
I do know that if you have good gear this unit is well worth it on either looks or sound alone but with the combination of the two it is something I’m very glad I added to my system and it is right for me.You are now free to move about the forum.
