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Spring 2007
EMM Labs CDSA SE Stereo SACD Player
Interested? Read on....
Why is this one box player so much less expensive than its brothers?
If you are only interested in two-channel music, you like the performance of this one-box player and you already have a preamp you are happy with, I don't see the downside.
What's in the box? The drive unit is a Philips unit, a simplified variant of the one in the stellar CDSD SE Transport. Redbook upsampling to a 5.6448MHz DSD bitstream comes courtesy of a Meitner Digital Audio Translator (MDAT) circuit. MDAT examines the transient nature of the signal and chooses instantaneously from a selection of available conversion algorithms. The dual differential DACs are a proprietary discrete design since Ed is not satisfied with the limitations in integrated circuits of capacitor design and control of power supply fluctuations. His discrete approach may be much more expensive to produce and takes up more real estate but only this way can he avoid the differential non-linearities he claims exist in all D/A chips. Even the circuit boards are special, constructed of aerospace grade composite laminate for low dielectric loss and improved heat conduction for smooth temperature gradients and improved stability over time. Microscopically smooth copper traces are used top and bottom to reduce skin effect issues.
Ergonomics You can turn off the display but I could hear no difference in sound either way. Dimming the display is not an option. The readout looks more like a scientific instrument (which it is) than usual, with track times shown in an unusual format 0.06.18 meaning 6 minutes and 18 seconds into the track. On most players you can select from a range of different ways to monitor the time elapsed or remaining, by track or by disc, but this machine offers no choice at all. If the disc is playing it shows you the track number and elapsed time on this track, otherwise it shows you the number of tracks and the length of the disc. I found these ergonomic limitations surprising, so I discussed this with the engineers at EMM Labs. It seems Ed Meitner believes the presence of the normal microprocessor that implements the control logic in almost every other player has a detrimental effect on the sound, so he has discarded it in favor of a much simpler Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The advantage here is the removal of the continuous clock, which may have an adverse effect on the other circuits. The clock need only be activated when necessary so that functional blocks can remain in a quiescent state when not required. This FPGA is capable of reacting to only a few simple commands and does not have sufficient capacity to show the numbers being pressed on the keypad. Instead, it can just show the track that is now playing. This explains the relatively primitive display and control options, and Ed believes the sonic benefits are worth the sacrifice in utility. Now it all makes sense, and provided the player is still simple enough to control and the sound does indeed surpass the competition, this decision can be supported. A Perreaux Radiance R200i and a Valve Audio Predator were used in my tests with my reference Nordost Valhalla cabling throughout, occasionally switching over to top of the line Crystal Cable Ultra power cords and EMM Isopath Interconnects. The very revealing Wilson Benesch Act 1s with updated drivers and Bybee Quantum Purifiers completed the system. The Predator (a hybrid integrated amp with a tube preamp section and a 200wpc MOSFET power amp) is not sufficiently resolving and dynamic to release the full dynamic potential of the CDSA but the solid state Perreaux makes a great partner. Now for the acid test.
The Sound The EMM Labs comfortably exceeds the performance of the G08 by providing higher resolution, increased dynamics and a bigger, deeper and more precisely located image. Joan Baez's Diamonds and Rust [Vanguard VCD3-127] can overwhelm with its high energy and many layers of detail. The G08 is full of color, weight and detail and the famous voice is present and far from thin as through lesser players. Low-level detail can be heard easily in the mix and the music swells and thrills. The EMM throws a larger image where each instrument is more precisely located, and the level of detail is even higher. Perhaps it is just easier to make out fine details because the acoustic space is so large that the sounds do not run into each other. Most notably, the bass line is stronger and the voice is even more rich and intimate. A sensational performance from both machines, with a clear edge going to the EMM. The same verdict applies to the magnificent Haitink recording of Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony [DECCA 425066 2]. Each machine brings its own special qualities. The Meridian majors in dynamics, color and speed, while the EMM trumps the Meridian on detail, openness, depth and beauty of string tone. There is a wonderful sense of purity to the EMM's sound, and this is very effective in making sense of the blinding crescendos that can so easily turn to mush in lesser hands. I particularly enjoy the delicate layering which the EMM reveals in the textures of the orchestral playing and the startling bite of the brass. Each machine is capable of terrifying you in this music (most CD players cannot), but the EMM makes more sense of the brilliant orchestration due to its altogether remarkable imaging. Beethoven Piano Sonata Opus 32 No. 1, played by Alfred Brendel [Philips 438 134-2] has humor, passion and virtuosity by turns. All of this is well demonstrated by the Meridian, with its excellent timing, black backgrounds and strong dynamics. The long reverberation of the grand piano is captured perfectly, as is the voicing Brendel gives to each part. This is an extremely musical performance and it sounds like Brendel is improvising, so fresh is his music making. Bass notes sound clear and from middle C on up the piano sings. The EMM takes this one step further. It allows you to hear the separate strands more clearly, and it ruthlessly reveals Brendel's hard piano tone, a far cry from the beautiful sound a Rubinstein brings to Beethoven. The Meridian may sound more elegant, but I've heard Brendel in the flesh many times, so I know the EMM is more accurate. I spent a lot of time comparing Redbook on these two machines, because the EMM is a candidate to be my new reference digital source. Since I have so many excellent CDs any new reference will have to be clearly superior to the G08 on Redbook. So I pulled out dozens of CD, never once failing to prefer the EMM. I noticed a stronger deep bass, a more open and refined top end, outstanding low level detail and the blackest of backgrounds. In short, a clear win for the EMM.
Part 2: Redbook on the EMM versus Redbook on the
Meridian 808 I don't have the 808 on hand so I'll have to go by memory, with the help of my detailed listening notes. The CDSE SA comes very close to toppling the 808 from its position as the CD player of choice. It edges past the 808 on purity of sound and deep bass extension, but cannot quite match its relaxed easy nature or its power and immediacy. It may be more accurate than the Meridian, but accuracy to a 44.1kHz/16-bit signal is not the same as accuracy to the original performance. On Redbook the little bit of extra warmth the Meridian offers is welcome and tips the scale in its favor. I could happily live with either but I'll give the edge to the Meridian 808.
Part 3: SACD on the EMM versus Redbook CD on the
Meridian G08. On every well-recorded SACD disc in my collection, the SACD layer proved clearly superior to the Meridian G08's Redbook. It's not even close. The EMM is at once more precise, more responsive and rich, so that you very quickly lose the appetite for A/B testing. I am surprised to be writing these words, since SACD has never fully convinced me before now. Sure, the bass is exceptional, and I like the detail, but I've often found the treble unconvincing and the music to have lost some of its excitement. I've blamed the medium and remained happy with my vast collection of CDs. Today I've changed my mind. The problem was never the medium itself, just the rather the particular implementations I've heard from the Esoteric DV-50, the Sony SCD-XA9000ES, the modified Denon 5900, and the McCormack UDP that have spent significant amounts of time in my system and the various other players I've auditioned more briefly. No contest.
Part 4: SACD on the EMM versus Redbook CD on the EMM. The SACD layer is much more palpable and present than the CD layer. Intimacy is increased, the bass line is firmer and more defined, the top more open, the detail greater, the image more realistic. Every aspect of performance is improved, and improved markedly. Now it is easy to understand why people fuss over their inconvenient analog turntables rather than switch to the ubiquitous CD. CD is an approximation to the analog signal and so of course is SACD. But SACD is a much better approximation and therefore more faithful to the original sound. Good enough to challenge vinyl head on and miles ahead in convenience. I'm not saying the CDSA puts vinyl to shame or competes with analog master tape. Let's just say it is much harder to dismiss digital on principle when it sounds like this. Game, set and match to the EMM.
Part 5 – SACD on the EMM Many SACDs fall well short and are downright disappointing. Bob Dylan's 60s recordings are thin and lacking in detail and texture and the same goes for The Rolling Stones. Nora Jones' first album [Blue Note 5414728] is a joke — the DSD Stereo layer being derived from a Redbook source. Blood Sweat and Tears SACD only album [Columbia 63986] leaves me cold. I've had great recordings from Channel Classics, Mobile Fidelity, IsoMike, Analog Productions, ASV, Telarc and Artegra, while Columbia, Abkco and Blue Note have sometimes disappointed. Ideally you should look for an original DSD recording, but there are many fine recordings dating back to the days of analog recording.
And So...
Some will prefer a smoother or warmer SACD sound; others may prefer the dynamics reduced a little for more comfortable listening. They may be happier with an Accuphase or Audio Aero. EMM Labs makes no concessions in this area, aiming only for the purest possible reproduction of the original recording. This component does not romanticize the music in the least, and is also very revealing of inferior recordings and flawed components. You need to partner it with high resolution, wide bandwidth, low distortion equipment to do it justice. The CDSA SE has to be in very front rank of CD Players regardless of cost. It will do wonders for detail retrieval, imaging and accuracy complete with a fully realized bottom end and open top on the best Redbook recordings. Its failings are those of the medium itself. As to SACD, this is as good as digital gets, and far better than any Redbook CD you will ever hear. Not a mass market product, but clearly an exceptional achievement and a challenge to vinyl lovers everywhere. Meet my new reference digital source.
Specifications
Company Information Voice: (403) 225-4161
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I'm going to say upfront that
this machine is capable of the best digital sound it has been my pleasure
to hear, the best by some margin. It will open your eyes to the stunning
potential of SACD, so often hidden by mediocre implementations, and can go
head to head with exotic vinyl spinners for ultimate fidelity. There is no
aural sugar coating, artificial warmth or hyped up dynamics designed to
impress in the showroom. This is the real McCoy — a machine dedicated to
extracting the maximum accuracy from a two channel SACD signal. But it is
not the user-friendliest piece of equipment, it won't do multi-channel or
DVD-Audio, and who knows where SACD is heading!
It isn't the most expensive SACD player, although at
$9,995 it may be the most expensive two-channel-only SACD one box player
after the dCS P8i ($13,995). Until now, to put together EMM's complete
digital source you would have had to combine their SACD Transport, the
CDSD SE ($8,400), and either the DCC2 SE two channel DAC/Preamp ($13,500)
or the 6-Channel DAC6e SE (also $13,500), for a total of $21,900 either
way. So the CDSA SE may turn out to be something of a steal if you really
want the EMM Labs sound.
It doesn't
have all the features of the separates —
you are losing either a spectacular preamp or 4 channels. 
The
box itself is quite big and heavy, 15.7 x 5.5 x 17.1 (DxHxW in inches),
weighing a total of 26.5 lbs. This makes it a tight fit in my rack, but I
have it nicely balanced on a Sound Fusion CD Platform for optimal
mechanical isolation. The unit is quite handsome, although no match for
the superb styling and finish of the Esoteric range or the other high
priced Japanese components that find their way to these shores. A large
LED display makes viewing easy from my listening position, with the
exception of some unevenly lit messages showing the repeat status or which
layer of a hybrid disc is being played.
Of
primary concern in his designs is preservation of the phase
characteristics of the signal. If you get this right, the imaging will be
spot on and the output has a chance to sound like music should sound. Add
high resolution, low distortion, tonal accuracy, black backgrounds and
broad bandwidth and you're nearly home. But a number of high end
components still fall down in the areas of dynamic range and transient
response. You need a broad dynamic range with headroom for the most
massive crescendos and you need lightning reflexes to capture the
excitement and tactile feel of live music. To achieve this requires the
most careful attention to the power supply and the independent regulation
and isolation of the various digital and control circuits. The CDSA SE has
all these qualities in spades, giving true meaning to the much misused
expression high fidelity.
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