Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version

Posted by Alex Peychev (M) on May 2, 2006 at 22:17:57

In Reply to: Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version posted by mikel on May 2, 2006 at 06:41:35:

It is also very puzzling to us why those two threads were deleted from Audiogon. Many have indicated frustration with Audiogon staff who, although we are sure they have their reasons, did not take the extra step giving a decent explanation to their members about why they have deleted these very informative threads. Some of us drove 1700 miles and did not sleep for 48 hours in order to contribute to all that. :)

Anyway, below is one of the posts which was also deleted from those threads:

"First let me say how much I appreciated the opportunity to visit Mike and get to see his wonderful home, his audio room and system, it is something that has to be seen and experienced. I congratulate Mike on all that he has achieved.

I would like to add the following to this discussion.

When we put the Denon in place of the old DAC6 and played it through the DartZeel Preamp we went trough the same CD and SACD cuts used for the old EMM vs. new EMM DACs comparison. Because there was a difference between the new EMM and the Denon, we had to go back and fourth a few times and listen again to the EMM and Denon so we can determine what it was. After we did that, Mike's friend â€˜Budâ€™ (Don) who was sitting in the sweet spot, turned around to Mike and said the following:

â€œAlthough the new EMM sounds good, I still hear digital and mechanical sound with it which makes it sound artificial to me. Alexâ€™s Denon is free of those artifacts with more musical and engaging presentation which I really like. In my opinion, the APL Denon goes a step further in musicality than the old and the new EMM combosâ€.

Unfortunately, â€˜Budâ€™ had to leave so he could not hear the Denon directly driving the DartZeel amps. At this time Ted and his wonderful wife arrived. It is always a great pleasure to see Ted and chat with him. He is a very nice and very knowledgeable guy. Ted heard the same comparison between the Denon and the new EMM and said that the Denon did not have the detail and â€˜airâ€™ of the EMM. Please note that this was through the latest version of the DartZeel preamp. Then we connected the Denon to drive directly the DartZeel amps eliminating the Preamp. We had a problem at first because the input impedance was not properly set. We figured something is wrong so Mike switched the amps for the right input impedance for using the RCA inputs. Ted (again sitting in the sweet spot) listened to his favorite SACDs again and said that the detail, â€˜airâ€™ and ambience he was missing while the Denon was playing through the Dart preamp are now back. This says that the â€œveilâ€ was removed with the Denon connected directly to the Dart amps. The other thing Ted said was:

â€œIt is very interesting to me that the Denon has more body and more bass which makes the new EMM combo sounding leanerâ€.

I am not attempting to inject my personal preference into how audio "should sound ". This is a matter of each individual's taste and attributes he values. I do however prefer and aspire to a more "natural" sonic presentation so I design my Digital to be first and foremost "musical" and engaging while retaining extreme linearity and natural, uncolored sound. To my ears, hyper detail is fatiguing. To others, it is what they strive for. We all see the picture differently, thatâ€™s all.

To conclude, I carried my redesigned 3910 and not my flagship Esoteric UX-1 based NWO player. I knew it was David vs. Goliath. I am happy I did so well considering the circumstances. Mike is one of the great people in all of audio. I feel sure he will welcome me back for Round 2: NWO-2 vs EMM Signature. Now THAT is worth selling tickets to!

Regards,
Alex"

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - nevillekapadia 03:03:36 05/1/06 (50)

Opinion of one who was there - Bud 14:43:22 05/8/06 (0)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - mikel 06:41:35 05/2/06 (35)

Upgrading DCC2 to Signature specs - DkB 08:27:56 05/9/06 (4)

Re: Upgrading DCC2 to Signature specs - Jonathan Tinn 12:58:04 05/9/06 (3)

Upgrade Details? - DkB 07:32:46 05/10/06 (2)

Re: Upgrade Details? - Jonathan Tinn 14:12:22 05/11/06 (1)

RE: CDSD Signature - Thom Y 13:25:18 05/27/06 (0)

I had another listen tonight... - Ted Smith 00:19:34 05/3/06 (20)

How refreshing to hear such well reasoned and objective commentary! - Waldteufel 19:45:32 05/4/06 (6)

Re: How refreshing to hear such well reasoned and objective commentary! - Stefano Busquamanti 19:01:56 05/6/06 (4)

Experienced listeners don't flip-flop, ... - Waldteufel 10:27:19 05/7/06 (0)

Hmm, a critic posting from an anonymous proxy... - Ted Smith 23:56:09 05/6/06 (2)

trick shot players "Stefano Pelinga" and "Francisco Bustamante" - Metralla 05:59:53 05/8/06 (1)

Yep - Ted Smith 08:26:44 05/8/06 (0)

Thanks, I appreciate it. [nt] - Ted Smith 19:52:06 05/4/06 (0)

Re: I had another listen tonight... - Thom Y 09:47:50 05/3/06 (12)

Thanks - Ted Smith 10:07:42 05/3/06 (11)

The big question is ... - Christine Tham 18:05:19 05/3/06 (10)

PRAT - Ozzie 18:21:01 05/5/06 (0)

Re: The big question is ... - Ted Smith 18:21:10 05/3/06 (8)

Re: The big question is ... - mikel 21:58:01 05/3/06 (6)

There's a time we all have to face the truth... - Waldteufel 20:28:59 05/4/06 (0)

Thanks - Christine Tham 22:08:40 05/3/06 (4)

Re: Thanks - Jwm 05:42:25 05/4/06 (3)

Re: Thanks - Ted Smith 14:59:49 05/4/06 (0)

Re: Thanks - Christine Tham 14:44:59 05/4/06 (0)

Re: Thanks - mikel 06:54:56 05/4/06 (0)

Thanks - that was a good honest answer - Christine Tham 18:33:22 05/3/06 (0)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - Alex Peychev 05/2/0622:17:57 05/2/06 (1)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - nevillekapadia 16:34:09 05/2/06 (0)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - Jwm 13:34:49 05/2/06 (0)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - trcnetmsncom 10:38:14 05/2/06 (0)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - StenersonR 08:31:55 05/2/06 (0)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - Thom Y 07:27:06 05/2/06 (3)

Excuse me? - Chris Garrett 12:04:48 05/2/06 (2)

Re: Excuse me? - Thom Y 12:31:55 05/2/06 (1)

Personally, I've never wasted too much time posting over there.... - Chris Garrett 13:09:51 05/2/06 (0)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - Terry 14:56:02 05/1/06 (10)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - classe 10:58:20 05/5/06 (0)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - Bill K 15:56:52 05/1/06 (8)

i kinda like the EMM on redbook...... - mikel 20:27:27 05/1/06 (2)

Re: i kinda like the EMM on redbook...... - Thom Y 07:50:52 05/2/06 (0)

Given the obvious controversy could you please repost your Audiogon comments? - Pacman 06:03:55 05/2/06 (0)

No playback problems here - Robert C. Lang 19:59:56 05/1/06 (2)

Re: No playback problems here - nevillekapadia 01:27:09 05/2/06 (0)

I had problems - Cousin Billy 18:24:27 05/4/06 (0)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - 24phun 19:32:04 05/1/06 (1)

Racerguy has an Ayre - Pacman 10:58:00 05/2/06 (0)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - Thom Y 14:22:41 05/1/06 (1)

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - nevillekapadia 01:31:32 05/2/06 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Emm Dac 6e/DCC2 versus new Signature version - Alex Peychev 05/2/0622:17:57 05/2/06 (1)

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