Emm labs DA2 v2 upgrade

[gajgmusic]

Ian

Thanks for the update. I will say your early impressions echo my experience. I have had the DA2i in my system for a couple of months. I pulled out the old DA2 and put in the new unit. I don’t post a lot and I’m actually reluctant about making a lot of changes to my system. I used to be in the business and got tired of switching equipment all the time. I am also loathe to 'wax poetically' about most things, not in my nature. That being said, from the first few songs, the effects were transformational. I have no problem in saying this was the biggest improvement in my listening experience in the last 15 years. I won’t go into all the technical changes because I won't profess to be that knowledgable. All I can say is that it was startling, and I thought I was happy before. The soundstage was larger but more natural. The height and depth were also more lifelike. There is real oomph to the base and mid base. I have perceived no downsides whatsoever. There is just more music to enjoy. Simple as that.

Probably the best compliment I can make is that I also have a fairly good vinyl set up which I usually use to listen to jazz recorded in the 60s and 70s. The digital versions are really not of the same caliber. Recently I got a new LP, a re-issue by a well known label. It was ok, but I thought I would take a listen to it on the DA2i. It was no contest. The digital was so much more analog and lifelike that I gave the lp away.

Anyway my two cents, but just my opinion. If you have a chance, take a listen.

 

[gfroman]

Getting in the new EMM Labs DV2i DA/Preamp/Streamer this month.
Tic-Tok...............

***My DV2 unit is available for sale currently

 

[Jackey Huang]

Getting in the new EMM Labs DV2i DA/Preamp/Streamer this month.
Tic-Tok...............

***My DV2 unit is available for sale currently

I was wondering if you could talk about your upgrade to DV2i？thanks

 

[Ian B]

I've been holding off on commenting too much until I have every element in my system exactly as it was before the DA2i. I'm almost there, but there are some things that are pretty clear.

The image size, separation, detail, depth, and solidity are exceptional. That is what stands out to me first: Very spacious and big presentation layered in three dimensions. Noise is much lower and the resolving ability seems to go about as low as the source file is capable (!). The other big thing is how stable, balanced, and punchy the DAC is. It is significantly more rhythmically propulsive and impactful that the DA2v2 and really makes use of EMM Labs transient abilities. With the aforementioned stability, you also get more presence and texture.

For me, this is a stage of digital audio where the only real limitations I can find (without having it side by side with a DAC costing 3-10x the price) are in the other parts of my system. The DA2i is incredibly transparent. I can use descriptors for how impressive the sound stage and imaging are, and how propulsive transients and bass are, but aside from that, its sound is sort of "no sound". I think if you were imagining that it would sound like a DSD DAC, or a certain kind of power supply, or digital filter, one finds that it goes beyond having these characteristics. With colorations are limitations, and I can detect none here. This is especially true of digital colorations, lean sound, flatness, sharp edges, glare, etc etc. It has very little of these characteristics. Maybe it is easier to describe in philosophical language than standard technical jargon.

It might be possible to have a deeper depth of field in my system, though there is much depth and much pronounced layers in space and back wall audibility compare to the DA2v2. I've never heard this accomplished without adding distortion of some kind. This could be an issue with some of my SS electronics and not the DAC.

I can imagine someone might prefer a warmer, or tube-oriented DAC, if they want that flavor from their DAC specifically. But until I hear something that blows me away, this is end game. Nothing is missing that I can't attribute to the recording itself. I might want to introduce more warmth or tubes elsewhere in my system, but here nothing is lacking.

Anyway, that they could accomplish this in a single box design, without multiple transformers, or tesla coils etc etc speaks to the quality of engineering involved.

I will post some comments about the different digital inputs and streaming a bit later. I will suffice to say that the streamer with a well isolated external hard drive is satisfyingly transparent, and actual streamed audio sounds better than with NS1.

 

[Verdier]

***My DV2 unit is available for sale currently

And your Taiko?

 

[gfroman]

And your Taiko?

When I get the DV2i, I will be observing how the internal streamer performs compared to the Taiko. The Taiko may have to move on if the DV2i delivers.......