Emotiva tid bits from the horses mouth

[nightflier]

Has anyone else noticed the very similar appearance between the Emotiva ERC-1 and the Rotel RCD-1520? Has anyone noticed the difference in price?

Well, but internally they are also totally different, so I really don't think they share the same manufacturing. Actually the internals on the Emotiva look quite a bit more substantial.

RR6, not to jump on any bandwagons or anything, but you have to admit that the independent reviews aren't exactly plentiful. And I haven't really read any comparisons to other players in it's price range or slightly above (the Cambridge ones come to mind). For Emotiva to compete, it has to offer gear at a competitive edge over NAD, Rotel & Adcom, to mention a few companies that people have mentioned.

Speaking of looks, I'm actually not too fond of the design work that Emotiva did for it's product line. The blue & silver looks a bit kitsch to me. But that's just my opinion. After all, McIntosh uses the same design queues and people love it (although I'm not one of those people either). Now if the Emotiva player is rock solid underneath, then that's perhaps a minor issue for most people, but I just prefer a little less flash in my gear.

[JoeE SP9]

Slot loading is something I'm not really fond of. The only other slot loaders I've seen are car stereo units. I've never thought very highly of them.

[pixelthis]

Slot loading is something I'm not really fond of. The only other slot loaders I've seen are car stereo units. I've never thought very highly of them.

Great way to mess up a CD, lame for a higher end unit.

[RoadRunner6]

RR6, not to jump on any bandwagons or anything, but you have to admit that the independent reviews aren't exactly plentiful. Speaking of looks, I'm actually not too fond of the design work that Emotiva did for it's product line. The blue & silver looks a bit kitsch to me.

I hear you, but you must remember that Emotiva is a very small company with a tiny advertising budget. The ERC-1 has only been on the market for a few months. It is getting a lot of attention considering its price. Surprisingly enough there is already a review out on the Emotiva USP-1 stereo preamp. There have been a lot of owner reviews on the ERC-1. Some sceptics complain that there are no comparisons to more expensive units and then when there is such a comparison they blast it for being a "wild claim." Sort of a damned if you don't and damned if you do, catch 22.

As far as looks, have you ever seen a Emo product in person? IMO, they look better in person where you can immediately see the superb build quality. The colors are actually black with silver trim and blue lights. I have replaced the silver end plates on my amp with black ones and I like the all black looks better. It is much more subtle than the McIntosh blue light show. My components are off to the side and the lights don't bother the video at all. My wife thinks the appearance is great and the blue lights are "wow, cool" (her own words). We both like black versus silver front panels.

Here are several comments on the ERC-1 from the Emo forum. This first one is from today.

".........I got my ERC-1 yesterday. It is the best sounding CD player I've ever heard. And I've owned many.....I just can't believe that it sounds sooooooooooo good. The ERC-1 replaced my Cambridge 650C. The Cambridge sounds a little edgy compared to the Emo......"

This is from several months back.

".....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!....."

Here's another posted on 9-19:

".....My Emo UPA-2 and ERC-1 arrived yesterday afternoon. When I got home I disconnected my old system—Cambridge 650A and 650C—and moved the UPA-2 and ERC-1 in. The ERC-1 is connected to an Audio Electronics AE-3 tube preamp and that in turn is connected to the UPA-2. I fired up the ERC-1. The sound is incredible! It is very detailed—so clean and clear and not too bright. I am very pleased with this tube preamp/SS combo! I am driving a pair of Polk TSi300 speakers. They’re not very expensive but the sound is fantastic with the Emo. And the bass is even deeper. It’s like I’ve got a new pair of speakers with the Emo......."

If you walked in off the street and looked at my ERC-1, (not knowing the brand or source), lifted it, looked at the remote, looked under the hood, before you even listened to it, there is no way on this planet that you would think it sold for under $1000 at the least.

[TheHills44060]

I I have replaced the silver end plates on my amp with black ones and I like the all black looks better.

That's a really good idea, i'd be interested in seeing pics.