What do people think about EMM Labs?

[Nyal Mellor]

I note that their DAC-8 has not been updated in maybe 8 years? Is it still a SOTA DAC? http://www.emmlabs.com/html/products/dac8/dac8.html

 

[Bruce B]

I love EMM Labs equipment. I have both the DAC 8IV and the ADC8 IV. It's still SOTA as far as I'm concerned....... though Andreas has "blessed" it a couple of times!!

 

[Steve Williams]

I love EMM Labs equipment. I have both the DAC 8IV and the ADC8 IV. It's still SOTA as far as I'm concerned....... though Andreas has "blessed" it a couple of times!!

I completely agree

 

[edorr]

I note that their DAC-8 has not been updated in maybe 8 years? Is it still a SOTA DAC? http://www.emmlabs.com/html/products/dac8/dac8.html

Very nice gear, but no idea how it compares against other stuff, since EMM labs was my first foray into ultra high end DAC territory. I will soon be able to shed light on the question how the DAC2X stacks up against MSB though. I have the MSB signature DAC IV and DAC2X in the house, Galaxy clock is in transit. Hopefully have time for some direct A/B compsarison over the week end.

 

[Bruce B]

Very nice gear, but no idea how it compares against other stuff, since EMM labs was my first foray into ultra high end DAC territory. I will soon be able to shed light on the question how the DAC2X stacks up against MSB though. I have the MSB signature DAC IV and DAC2X in the house, Galaxy clock is in transit. Hopefully have time for some direct A/B compsarison over the week end.

Professional equipment is totally different than consumer products. Nyal was questioning about the DAC8 IV

 

[edorr]

Professional equipment is totally different than consumer products. Nyal was questioning about the DAC8 IV

I see. So the qualification of the DAC8 IV as a "SOTA" product is in its capacity as a multi channel DAC for professional studio application?

 

[Nyal Mellor]

Thanks for the responses

Yep I am looking at options for 8 channel DACs for my demo room and EMM Labs seems to be one good option. Any others that are worth looking at? In fact ideally I need a 12 channel DAC

 

[edorr]

Thanks for the responses

Yep I am looking at options for 8 channel DACs for my demo room and EMM Labs seems to be one good option. Any others that are worth looking at? In fact ideally I need a 12 channel DAC

The six channel EMM labs DAC6e SE shows up occasionally on audiogon for peanuts. You could get two of those for 12 channels. What type of application do you need this for? What type of 12 channel processor with digital outs would you put in front of the DACs?

 

[Nyal Mellor]

The six channel EMM labs DAC6e SE shows up occasionally on audiogon for peanuts. You could get two of those for 12 channels. What type of application do you need this for? What type of 12 channel processor with digital outs would you put in front of the DACs?

I am thinking about a HTPC with a digital output card to a multi-channel outboard DAC. Proof of concept really. DSP would be done on the HTPC.

I'm using bi-amped main speakers which necessitates using a pre-pro and then an outboard DSP unit, which means an A-D and D-A conversion.

Also I am interested in the cost / benefit of using a top flight multi-channel DAC as a replacement for the onboards in units like the DEQX, Trinnov, etc.

 

[edorr]

I am thinking about a HTPC with a digital output card to a multi-channel outboard DAC. Proof of concept really. DSP would be done on the HTPC.

I'm using bi-amped main speakers which necessitates using a pre-pro and then an outboard DSP unit, which means an A-D and D-A conversion.

Also I am interested in the cost / benefit of using a top flight multi-channel DAC as a replacement for the onboards in units like the DEQX, Trinnov, etc.

Interesting idea. Would you do DRC and bass management on the HTPC? What software would you use? The Dirac PC version will give you DRC but not bass management. I presume volume control would be done digitally on the HTPC as well. You could simply line up a whole battery of good 2 channel DACs, for example the Bel Cantos which have a nice small form factor. 6 of those would take up no more space than 2 x 6 channel DACs. The advantage of that is you could get their top of the line 3.5vb for mains, and cheaper ones for surround channels. I looked into doing this myself (6 channels only) at some point.

 

[Nyal Mellor]

Interesting idea. Would you do DRC and bass management on the HTPC? What software would you use? The Dirac PC version will give you DRC but not bass management. I presume volume control would be done digitally on the HTPC as well. You could simply line up a whole battery of good 2 channel DACs, for example the Bel Cantos which have a nice small form factor. 6 of those would take up no more space than 2 x 6 channel DACs. The advantage of that is you could get their top of the line 3.5vb for mains, and cheaper ones for surround channels. I looked into doing this myself (6 channels only) at some point.

For the HTPC JRiver seems to do it all, though I have not played with it as yet. The multi-dac idea is nice but will likely end up costing more (the chassis is a big cost) and being ergonomically challenging in terms of rack placement.

 

[Nyal Mellor]

Professional equipment is totally different than consumer products. Nyal was questioning about the DAC8 IV

Hi Bruce, what do you mean?

 

[edorr]

For the HTPC JRiver seems to do it all, though I have not played with it as yet. The multi-dac idea is nice but will likely end up costing more (the chassis is a big cost) and being ergonomically challenging in terms of rack placement.

JRiver will play your multi channel files, but to expand to 12 channels you need post processing and bass management for multiple subs. JRiver will not do this.

 

[edorr]

For the HTPC JRiver seems to do it all, though I have not played with it as yet. The multi-dac idea is nice but will likely end up costing more (the chassis is a big cost) and being ergonomically challenging in terms of rack placement.

Not necessarily. The number of MCH dacs for sale is very limited - EMM Labs and some other pro stuff. The consumer market for good two channel DACs is driven by very different economics and economies of scale. It is not unlikely the multiple 2 channel DAC route will get you better DACs for the money.

 

[opus111]

Is it still a SOTA DAC?

For DSD, probably. For PCM, it converts internally to DSD before the D/A stage so most definitely not SOTA.

 

[Bruce B]

Hi Bruce, what do you mean?

There are a couple of converters that can do 16 or 32 channels. The Avid/Digidesign, Apogee Symphony, Antelope, Merging Horus and some I'm sure I'm forgetting.

What I mean about that statement is the Professional side has no constraints to make it pretty or beefy. Usually all you'll see is the front panel because most of the time it's rack mounted. My DAD AX24 is one of the best converters I've heard but the chassis is made out of cheap thin gauge steel that kinda' looks cheesy. Professional vendors put their money in the sound. Weiss made 2 DAC's that were exactly the same on the inside but the "consumer" version was $2k more because they had to make it "pretty"!

 

[edorr]

There are a couple of converters that can do 16 or 32 channels. The Avid/Digidesign, Apogee Symphony, Antelope, Merging Horus and some I'm sure I'm forgetting.

What I mean about that statement is the Professional side has no constraints to make it pretty or beefy. Usually all you'll see is the front panel because most of the time it's rack mounted. My DAD AX24 is one of the best converters I've heard but the chassis is made out of cheap thin gauge steel that kinda' looks cheesy. Professional vendors put their money in the sound. Weiss made 2 DAC's that were exactly the same on the inside but the "consumer" version was $2k more because they had to make it "pretty"!

Generally true, but not much difference between the look and build of professional and consumer EMM labs gear. In fact, the switchman is listed as both Pro and Consumer product.

 

[Bruce B]

Generally true, but not much difference between the look and build of professional and consumer EMM labs gear. In fact, the switchman is listed as both Pro and Consumer product.

Actually the Switchman 2 is the Professional unit with in/out jacks on front and back whereas the Consumer version is the Switchman 3 with jacks only on the back and a nicer ($$) faceplate and a heavier case.

 

[edorr]

Actually the Switchman 2 is the Professional unit with in/out jacks on front and back whereas the Consumer version is the Switchman 3 with jacks only on the back and a nicer ($$) faceplate.

You're right - the SM2 is listed as pro product and the SM3 as consumer product (at higher cost). Little strange since it was relayed to me by EMM labs that the SM3 has circuit upgrades over the SM2. The SM3 is also substantially more expensive. It was my understanding the SM3 is just the more current model.

 

[Bruce B]

You're right - the SM2 is listed as pro product and the SM3 as consumer product (at higher cost). Little strange since it was relayed to me by EMM labs that the SM3 has circuit upgrades over the SM2. The SM3 is also substantially more expensive. It was my understanding the SM3 is just the more current model.

The SM3 is more current since audiophiles wanted a nicer looking unit. I was told by Andreas that the SM3 has upgraded parts inside as well. I'm using the SM3 in the studio now.