Emm labs DA2 v2 upgrade

[Yuen A.]

RACHMANINOV All-Night Vigil (Vespers), Op. 37 Latvian Radio Choir/Sigvards Klava
St John’s Church, Riga ONDINE ODE 1206-5 SACD

This is a deeply affecting choral music! The performances are dynamically and beautifully modulated. The sound is lifelike and resonant. The low bass especially made it easy to hear the ambience of the recording venue. I was transported! Play very loud.

 

[Ian B]

Hi, Ian.
It’s a bit of a compromise here. The NS1 can only send up to DSD64 to DA2 via the optical link. But it is the best way to feed the DA2. Zenith can send up to DSD512 or even 1024 I guess, but the USB output is noisy. So what is the proper way to use the full potential of the DA2 and not being limited in PCM(DXD) and DSD ratio. USB to AES/SPDIF reclockers can’t help. May be the antipodes S20 with I2S output, but the DA2 does not have the proper input. So it’s only the USB to USB reclocker like Phoenix, but as I understood you’ve tried it and it was not that good?

Correct. Short of a Taiko Extreme, I don't think you can get USB to sound that good, whatever you do. What I am doing now is trying to prevent any USB SSD noise from getting into my system, via mains and ground, but I've removed it from any direct connection to the DAC.

To be honest, I think even AES from the NS1 sounds better than USB from Innuos etc.

I was told some time ago that EMM Labs would eventually update the optilink to support DSD128 and DXD.

 

[Yuen A.]

Pärt Passio Helsinki Chamber Choir, Nils Schweckendiek BIS 2612 SACD​

This is one of the most hyper-real and immersive vocal recordings! The ambience of the hall is awesome. The instruments (including the organ) sounded alive and real. Gramophone rightly says: "What impresses me immediately about this new recording is the lustrous depth of the sound of the choir and solo singers, which brings out every dissonance and resolution almost forensically."

 

[Yuen A.]

Beethoven: Symphony No.9 Christina Landshamer (soprano), Jennifer Johnson Cano (mezzo-soprano), Werner Güra (tenor), Shenyang (bass-baritone), Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck Reference Recording - 741 SACD (Revisited)​

This is a superlative performance of great beauty, transparency, precision, tenderness, intensity, and verging on the maniacal in the finale. The sound is palpable, extremely dynamic (the fortissimos were explosive) and of great warmth and depth.

 

[audio.bill]

With all due respect, this thread is titled as being about the EMM Labs DA2 v2 upgrade but many of the posts are reviews of digital recordings. These music reviews are appreciated but would seem to be of more value if shared in another properly titled and categorized thread.

 

[John T]

Correct. Short of a Taiko Extreme, I don't think you can get USB to sound that good, whatever you do. What I am doing now is trying to prevent any USB SSD noise from getting into my system, via mains and ground, but I've removed it from any direct connection to the DAC.

To be honest, I think even AES from the NS1 sounds better than USB from Innuos etc.

I was told some time ago that EMM Labs would eventually update the optilink to support DSD128 and DXD.

Don't hold your breath!

 

[Yuen A.]

With all due respect, this thread is titled as being about the EMM Labs DA2 v2 upgrade but many of the posts are reviews of digital recordings. These music reviews are appreciated but would seem to be of more value if shared in another properly titled and categorized thread.

Hi, Thank you for the suggestion. Point taken. However, when I am describing the sound quality of a recording, I am also describing the sound quality of the EMM Labs DA2/DV2 as well.

 

[Yuen A.]

EMM Labs DA2 V2 Reference Stereo DAC ($30,000) | Review

Michael Lavorgna writes :

"Ed Meitner, the man behind EMM Labs, has had more than a hand in the development of digital audio since its beginnings. So it’s no wonder his DA2 sits at the top of my favorite digital gear of 2022."

 

[gfroman]

I'm trying out these Ansuz DTC2 interconnects and DTC PowerBox in my system - EMM DV2>>>>>Rowland 925 amps.
Retail for these are obscene, but I got them for a huge discount used.
So far I am hearing spooky imaging and my speakers seem to disappear....

 

[Audire]

I'm trying out these Ansuz DTC2 interconnects and DTC PowerBox in my system - EMM DV2>>>>>Rowland 925 amps.
Retail for these are obscene, but I got them for a huge discount used.
So far I am hearing spooky imaging and my speakers seem to disappear....

Please describe the differences in sound from your old cables? Thanks.

 

[gfroman]

Imaging seems to have jumped significantly.
Better focus with pinpoint separation of vocals and each instrument.
This could be in part from a much lower noise floor?

 

[Yuen A.]

Imaging seems to have jumped significantly.
Better focus with pinpoint separation of vocals and each instrument.
This could be in part from a much lower noise floor?

Hi, Yes, I am quite certain that the truly extraordinary resolution and the highest level of uncolored musical accuracy (timbre, dynamics, soundstaging, etc.) that resulted from the inclusion of the Ansuz Acoustics D-TC2/D-TC Supreme and the PowerBox are due mainly to the lower noise floor. I am using the Ansuz Acoustics D-TC Supreme interconnects and the D-TC PowerBox (grounding), the latest model.

 

[Yuen A.]

Hi guys, From my personal experience, having three or four highest resonance control footers under the the EMM Labs DA2/DV2 will also dramatically improve the audio quality of your sound system.

 

[gfroman]

I agree!
I am currently using (4) Arya Audio RevoPods under my DV2 with great success.

 

[krell600]

Has anyone heard when they will be releasing the v3 software for the DA2?

A friend has the dCS Rossini which I tried when I was looking to upgrade my DAC last year. In my system, the DA2 v2 easily beat it with its uncanny 3D realism and space between notes. The dCS presentation had more weight, but was a little sterile ultimately. Well, my friend had the APEX upgrade done and now it beats the DA2 v2. The sterile presentation I first heard is gone and it now has similar 3D soundstage with blacker background. I felt the former Vivaldi was very close to the DA2, but now I would imagine it handily beats out the DA2. It seems EMM would be rushing the v3 update in order to compete with the newly released DACs.

Thoughts?

 

[gfroman]

EMM Labs told me there would be a software update for the DV2, probably end of the year.

 

[Yuen A.]

Has anyone heard when they will be releasing the v3 software for the DA2?

A friend has the dCS Rossini which I tried when I was looking to upgrade my DAC last year. In my system, the DA2 v2 easily beat it with its uncanny 3D realism and space between notes. The dCS presentation had more weight, but was a little sterile ultimately. Well, my friend had the APEX upgrade done and now it beats the DA2 v2. The sterile presentation I first heard is gone and it now has similar 3D soundstage with blacker background. I felt the former Vivaldi was very close to the DA2, but now I would imagine it handily beats out the DA2. It seems EMM would be rushing the v3 update in order to compete with the newly released DACs.

Thoughts?

Hi Guys,

Just to share: (1) A well known and respected American high-end Hi-Fi equipment reviewer with whom I correspond frequently still prefer the current EMM Las DA2 V2 to the DCS Apex. (2) However, I will be expecting major updates to the EMM Labs DA2/DV2 this year.