EMM Labs DA2

EMM labs DAC thread turns into the pros and cons of good and bad reviews of audio equipment. IMO all reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt, none to be trusted. Just look how Stereophile has turned into everything is a Class A product.
 
Bumping this thread as the EMM Labs DA2v2 is on my short list.

With SF Aidas (a touch "warm) and D'ag electronics (neutral) - I tend to prefer a warm, full sound. I bought 6 Dacs and auditioned a 7th in the last couple months and did a shootout with the following DACS: Mcintosh MDA-1000, PS Audio DSD Dac, Schiit Yggy Less is More, AMR 777-SE, dCS Debussy, Lampizator B3, and I demoed a dCS Debussy.

Not to get off track, but I didn't like the dCS, as it came across as too "Bright" in my system. The PS Audio was pleasant and smooth - but too smoothed over (and every song sounded homogenized). AMR was a great "all rounder" very smooth and organic. The Lampi was the best in terms of organic sound and soundstage.

I was pretty geared up to by the EMM Labs Da2, but have hesitated because a couple of folks have told me that they can be bright. I am all for detail and separation, but if the upper frequencies are too high, it's nails on a chalkboard to my ears.

EMM folks, what do you say?

My shortlist is the DA2, Playback Designs Dream DAC, MSB Premier or getting an Aurender N10 (or Lumin u1/innuos Zenith) and "suffering on" with my Baltic 3 for a while (which is actually not bad)
 
Grasshopper said:
Bumping this thread as the EMM Labs DA2v2 is on my short list.

With SF Aidas (a touch "warm) and D'ag electronics (neutral) - I tend to prefer a warm, full sound. I bought 6 Dacs and auditioned a 7th in the last couple months and did a shootout with the following DACS: Mcintosh MDA-1000, PS Audio DSD Dac, Schiit Yggy Less is More, AMR 777-SE, dCS Debussy, Lampizator B3, and I demoed a dCS Debussy.

Not to get off track, but I didn't like the dCS, as it came across as too "Bright" in my system. The PS Audio was pleasant and smooth - but too smoothed over (and every song sounded homogenized). AMR was a great "all rounder" very smooth and organic. The Lampi was the best in terms of organic sound and soundstage.

I was pretty geared up to by the EMM Labs Da2, but have hesitated because a couple of folks have told me that they can be bright. I am all for detail and separation, but if the upper frequencies are too high, it's nails on a chalkboard to my ears.

EMM folks, what do you say?

My shortlist is the DA2, Playback Designs Dream DAC, MSB Premier or getting an Aurender N10 (or Lumin u1/innuos Zenith) and "suffering on" with my Baltic 3 for a while (which is actually not bad)
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Hey Jason,
Just a suggestion, but consider rolling some different tubes into your Lampi. It's fun and you may find a set that gets you to your "destination", once and for all.
 
Jason - I have a close friend that’s using the Aurender N20 with the EMM D2V2 with Pass XS pre, BAT tubed Monos into Avantgarde Trios. The musicality and presentation of this system is exceptional. While a home audition is highly recommended at this price point, my thoughts are that the EMM would be a really good match in your system.
 
Having compared the EMM to the MSB offerings (see OP), I cannot recommend the MSB enough. Sounds like tape, like music. So analog.


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Puma Cat said:
Hey Jason,
Just a suggestion, but consider rolling some different tubes into your Lampi. It's fun and you may find a set that gets you to your "destination", once and for all.
Click to expand...

I'm open to some tube rolling - unless I find a Dac that knocks my socks off as-is-

I plan to try and audition a few more (preferably not ones that I have to buy to hear) and if the B3 is a keeper, i'm all for tweaking it to get it just right.
 
Ritmo said:
Jason - I have a close friend that’s using the Aurender N20 with the EMM D2V2 with Pass XS pre, BAT tubed Monos into Avantgarde Trios. The musicality and presentation of this system is exceptional. While a home audition is highly recommended at this price point, my thoughts are that the EMM would be a really good match in your system.
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Good to hear - --

I'd love to hear one without having to buy it first. Any Colorado EMM owners want to do a shootout :)
 
Thanks for your thoughts.

I prefer the way MSB looks, and I also appreciate that there seems to be a more established secondary market with the MSB offerings.

In my research, the EMM gear seems to depreciate pretty hard, with a fairly rough secondary market. The reviews are pretty stellar, but I've tried to reach out to EMM directly a few times and it has been like pulling teeth to connect. (Left a message for a callback from the sales guy, and got ghosted. Sent multiple emails, with no reply. Finally called a 3rd time and spoke to someone who could at least answer one question. I'd be terrified if I had to do any serious service.)

All that pain is OK if the sound blows me away.

How would you describe the EMM House sound with the D2A? With the MSB being more "tape" like, what is the signature sound of the EMM.

I've established I'm not a dCS guy, as I find it fatiguing and bright (in my system). I've heard the EMM stuff is very detailed, but is smoother than the dCS gear, but not as smooth as the MSB--




Mike said:
Having compared the EMM to the MSB offerings (see OP), I cannot recommend the MSB enough. Sounds like tape, like music. So analog.


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Click to expand...
 
Grasshopper said:
Thanks for your thoughts.

I prefer the way MSB looks, and I also appreciate that there seems to be a more established secondary market with the MSB offerings.

In my research, the EMM gear seems to depreciate pretty hard, with a fairly rough secondary market. The reviews are pretty stellar, but I've tried to reach out to EMM directly a few times and it has been like pulling teeth to connect. (Left a message for a callback from the sales guy, and got ghosted. Sent multiple emails, with no reply. Finally called a 3rd time and spoke to someone who could at least answer one question. I'd be terrified if I had to do any serious service.)

All that pain is OK if the sound blows me away.

How would you describe the EMM House sound with the D2A? With the MSB being more "tape" like, what is the signature sound of the EMM.

I've established I'm not a dCS guy, as I find it fatiguing and bright (in my system). I've heard the EMM stuff is very detailed, but is smoother than the dCS gear, but not as smooth as the MSB--
Click to expand...

If you find DCS fatiguing, EMM is far more detailed. Hopefully Elberoth will weigh in here. He’s had both.


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We compared a fully loaded Select II to the EMM DA2V2. In our system, the EMM sounded better to us as it was more musical, sounded more like live music to us. A venue-like experience, better sound stage, more 3 dimensional, etc. It was close though, either DAC would have been good for us. But ultimately for us the best DAC in our system was the EMM DA2V2. We were just more engaged with the sound of EMM.

I’m surprised with your calling experience regarding EMM. I’ve called a few times getting info (no service issues at all) and haven’t had any problems. We’ve been so impressed with the sound and communications with EMM we’ll probably (if the reviews are correct) be getting a set of their mono amps (MTRX2) - if they sound good in our home audition … (but we are auditioning other amps as well).
 
Calvin said:
We compared a fully loaded Select II to the EMM DA2V2. In our system, the EMM sounded better to us as it was more musical, sounded more like live music to us. A venue-like experience, better sound stage, more 3 dimensional, etc. It was close though, either DAC would have been good for us. But ultimately for us the best DAC in our system was the EMM DA2V2. We were just more engaged with the sound of EMM.

I’m surprised with your calling experience regarding EMM. I’ve called a few times getting info (no service issues at all) and haven’t had any problems. We’ve been so impressed with the sound and communications with EMM we’ll probably (if the reviews are correct) be getting a set of their mono amps (MTRX2) - if they sound good in our home audition … (but we are auditioning other amps as well).
Click to expand...

Do you have any pictures of the Select II in your system for this shootout? Also, why don’t you tell the members here how you wasted hundreds of hours of my time and bought your new Magico’s from another dealer? Also, why not tell them how my guys and I picked up ALL your equipment for free, hauled it in my trailer, stored all your equipment for free in my air conditioned warehouse FOR MONTHS while you were moving houses here in Florida (because you didn’t trust the moving company) and yet you still had the audacity to buy from another dealer? A guy who wasn’t even a magico dealer at the time!! I think you need to stay off this forum. You’re a real piece of work. There is so much more I want to say, but I will just leave it at this, what you did to me, I will NEVER forget. The hundreds of hours I wasted on you, Saturday’s and Sunday’s, I will NEVER forget.


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Mike said:
Do you have any pictures of the Select II in your system for this shootout? Also, why don’t you tell the members here how you wasted hundreds of hours of my time and bought your new Magico’s from another dealer? Also, why not tell them how my guys and I picked up ALL your equipment for free, hauled it in my trailer, stored all your equipment for free in my air conditioned warehouse FOR MONTHS while you were moving houses here in Florida (because you didn’t trust the moving company) and you yet you still had the audacity to buy from another dealer? A guy who wasn’t even a magico dealer at the time? I think you need to stay off this forum. You’re a real piece of work. What you did to me, I will NEVER forget. The hundreds of hours I wasted on you, Saturday’s and Sunday’s, I will NEVER forget.


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Mike,

I apologize you were offended. And this will be my last post here. I did price out my system thru you, but in the end your pricing - your trade-in values - were less than what other dealers (pl) offered. Additionally, I was getting a turntable. I needed a dealer close by to help me transition back into one. You’re are a long way off - app. 7 hours and I needed someone close by. And I paid a lot of $$$ - $3000 if I remember correctly - to have my system reinstalled in my new place. And you sold me a system, the one you stored. So, your time wasn’t wasted. You made a huge sale.

Again, I apologize you were offended. And this will be my last post. Please delete my account.
 
Calvin said:
Mike,

I apologize you were offended. And this will be my last post here. I did price out my system thru you, but in the end your pricing - mainly your trade-in values - were less than what other dealers (pl) offered. Additionally, I was getting a turntable. I needed a dealer close by to help me transition back into one. You’re are a long way off - app. 7 hours and I needed someone close by. And I paid a lot of $$$ - $3000 if I remember correctly - to have my system reinstalled in my new place. Again, I apologized you were offended. And this will be my last post. Please delete my account.
Click to expand...

You paid a third party to bring the system to you and set it up after you moved to Northern Florida. I helped arrange that for you. I found someone I trusted who picked it up from me, transported it to you, unboxed everything and hooked it all back up, dialed in the speakers, etc.

You were also, I recall, so distraught at the time by the thought of moving that you wanted me to just buy your entire system and you would be done. I put on my audio psychologist hat and talked you off the ledge. I told you we would do everything we could to make it easy for you and told you not to make the mistake of just selling everything at a huge loss as an audio system brings so much joy and you love yours. EVERY OTHER DEALER would have just taken advantage of your worries and stolen your system for pennies on the dollar and made out like bandits. I did not. I did what was best for you and that was talking you off the ledge.

I have one of the best turntable setup guys in the business and we use all the latest technology, including, digital microscopes, fozgometers and AnalogMagik from Richard Mak. We would have most definitely delivered a proper turntable setup for you. When I told my employee about the setup, he said, “great, I love to drive”.

I know you bought solely on price and clearly I’ve made Magico aware of this. It’s not a race to the bottom for me, it’s about providing the best level of service. And in life, it’s also about having a little decency and recognizing when someone goes far above and beyond in so many ways for you. But in the end, you saved a few bucks and hey “screw that guy” right?

Good day sir.


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Mike said:
...It’s not a race to the bottom for me, it’s about providing the best level of service. And in life, it’s also about having a little decency and recognizing when someone goes far above and beyond in so many ways for you. But in the end, you saved a few bucks and hey “screw that guy” right?...
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we derive a living in very similar ways. I get stroked by people that bill by the hour like attorneys, which take my info (for free) and do it themselves. there are lots of sociopath's about especially in business. When I cut my teeth in consulting an old sage that's now long departed always said "its not about the money, IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY!" you can apply that axiom to mean many things but in the end you pick your clients with similar diligence.
 
Mike said:
If you find DCS fatiguing, EMM is far more detailed. Hopefully Elberoth will weigh in here. He’s had both.
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It depends which EMM DAC. The new MA3 is bright. I didn't like the sound at all. I have borrowed one from my dealer, out of curiosity, and I have returned it next day.

I had DV2 at the time at home, so was hoping to get more of the same house sound, but in a cheaper package, with Roon end point built in (Ethernet input). In other words - sth I could recommend to my friends as an alternative to Bartok, but fuller sounding.

Boy, they (DV2 vs MA3) could not sound different! DV2 was musical, slightly on the warmer side of neutral - in fact, it was very much like the Select II DAC, but with a little bit less resolutuion, less bass slam, smaller soundstage.

But in terms of natruralness, body and smoothnes, they were about eaqual. I have even described the DV2 a poor man's Select.

nZVFmE.jpg


ZD6mYL.jpg


The MSB Select II remains the very best DAC I have heard in my system.
 
Thank you Adam! This is great feedback.

I'm only interested in the EMM Labs DA2, and see you are running the D'agostino Momentum Amp.

I am looking for detail, bass, and a warm, enjoyable "musical" sound.

From what I gather MSB is the bees knees...just very expensive. No way on earth will I spend $80K+ on a DAC, and would be limited to the used markets. If the EMM DA2 gets me "close enough" that would have to be good enough for me.

I'm happy to spend "big dollars" on cars, etc. I just haven't gotten there with gear (yet).


Elberoth said:
It depends which EMM DAC. The new MA3 is bright. I didn't like the sound at all. I have borrowed one from my dealer, out of curiosity, and I have returned it next day.

I had DV2 at the time at home, so was hoping to get more of the same house sound, but in a cheaper package, with Roon end point built in (Ethernet input). In other words - sth I could recommend to my friends as an alternative to Bartok, but fuller sounding.

Boy, they (DV2 vs MA3) could not sound different! DV2 was musical, slightly on the warmer side of neutral - in fact, it was very much like the Select II DAC, but with a little bit less resolutuion, less bass slam, smaller soundstage.

But in terms of natruralness, body and smoothnes, they were about eaqual. I have even described the DV2 a poor man's Select.


nZVFmE.jpg



ZD6mYL.jpg


The MSB Select II remains the very best DAC I have heard in my system.
Click to expand...
 
Grasshopper said:
Thank you Adam! This is great feedback.

I'm only interested in the EMM Labs DA2, and see you are running the D'agostino Momentum Amp.

I am looking for detail, bass, and a warm, enjoyable "musical" sound.

From what I gather MSB is the bees knees...just very expensive. No way on earth will I spend $80K+ on a DAC, and would be limited to the used markets. If the EMM DA2 gets me "close enough" that would have to be good enough for me.

I'm happy to spend "big dollars" on cars, etc. I just haven't gotten there with gear (yet).
Click to expand...

All current MSB DAC’s have the same glorious sound, you just get more of it as you move up the line.


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It would be interesting to compare the DA2/DV2 to MSB Premier. A just put a simple system together for a close friend of mine - MSB Premier DAC + Momentum stereo + Sasha DAW. Very compact, super cool looking and sounds incredible too.
 
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