Emm labs DA2 v2 upgrade

[Yuen A.]

Hi Guys,

Today is my sixth listening session. The V3 has about 340 hours of running-in. The album used for the listening session was John Pickard, Mass In Troubled Times, BBC Singers/Martyn Brabbins, BIS 2651 SACD.

The reproduction of the sound of the choir, trumpet and organ of St. Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, London, is the most realistic I have ever heard. Listen especially to track 5-7 (Orion for trumpet and organ), track 10 (Tesserae for organ), and track 11-16 (Mass in Troubled Times). The direct sound, the early reflections and the sound that reverberates were effortlessly reproduced with stunning purity! Timbres were exactly correct.

Hi, may I clarify that what I wrote above is not a "music review" ( as you put it) or even a CD review, but rather a review of the V3. Noticed that I said "The reproduction of the sound of the choir, trumpet and organ of St. Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, London, is the most realistic I have ever heard." I didn't say "the sound recording is the most realistic ..", although it is not wrong to mentioned that because the recording has to be realistically recorded in the first place in order for the V3 to reproduced the sound recording realistically!

 

[Yuen A.]

Sound recording and reproduction is the storage of sound and playing it back so that a person can hear the same sound more than once.

 

[Genesis168]

Since receiving the DV2i, I have admittedly ignored using the internal streamer and use my Taiko Extreme for streaming purposes.
This week I decided to switch and start using the DV2i streamer.
Gotta admit it sounds wonderful and so easy to access Qobuz through the Mcontrol app on my iPad and iPhone.
Seriously considering putting the Taiko Extreme on the used market.....

That was what I was wondering. How good the internal streamer sounds compared to top tier streamers. Good to hear it’s compares favourably to a Taiko. Thanks again for posting this

 

[louawalters]

Since receiving the DV2i, I have admittedly ignored using the internal streamer and use my Taiko Extreme for streaming purposes.
This week I decided to switch and start using the DV2i streamer.
Gotta admit it sounds wonderful and so easy to access Qobuz through the Mcontrol app on my iPad and iPhone.
Seriously considering putting the Taiko Extreme on the used market.....

Man, now I am thinking I should have paid for the full "i" update with streamer vs. just the DAC. Are there any noticable differences in sound quality moving from TE to the built in streamer or is it a matter of "its so close, not worth owning an external streamer"?

 

[GSOphile]

Excellent review of the DV2i in Soundstage! Ultra:

EMM Labs DV2i Streaming DAC-Preamplifier

 

[nicoludio]

The full “i” upgrades also replaces the digital input board. EMM Labs own notes indicate “Enhanced digital architecture improves galvanic isolation and FPGA design.”

Upgrade Your EMM Labs Audio System with the Latest Enhancements

Stay ahead in high-end audio with upgrades that deliver unmatched sound quality. Keep your setup innovative and state-of-the-art. Explore upgrades and elevate your audio system

emmlabs-meitner.com

Phil Gold in the Soundstage Ultra review also says as much:

“The V3 upgrade includes most of the improvements provided by the DA2i upgrade, but the latter adds a Roon Ready streamer and a new organic LED display, as well as a new digital input stage with improved source isolation on ethernet and USB and a new FPGA architecture (field-programmable gate array, a type of reprogrammable IC).”

In my correspondence with EMM Labs, they have said that “We have added extra galvanic isolation to the network input to further boost performance.”

Unfortunately, the cost differential from V3 to full “i” status is not insignificant but I suppose the cost can be ameliorated by doing without an expensive external streamer.

 

[matthias]

Does someone know in which way the Meitner MA3i differs from the Emmlabs DA2i?
Thanks

 

[Ian B]

Does someone know in which way the Meitner MA3i differs from the Emmlabs DA2i?
Thanks

I think the biggest thing is the power supply.

 

[matthias]

I think the biggest thing is the power supply.

Maybe, but the price difference is about 20k for a SMPS?

 

[Ian B]

Maybe, but the price difference is about 20k for a SMPS?

The difference between an off-the-shelf PSU and their in-house resonant mode power supply, which is considerably more advanced, and the extra shielding. I'd imagine some discrete components are different, and there is definitely a cost difference in the chassis and the circuit board material, but it's the same circuit and DSP.

Still, mostly the PSU and chassis. As always, I'm more concerned with whether it sounds like enough difference to justify the price. Maybe other people who have used both have some insight.

 

[nicoludio]

Does someone know in which way the Meitner MA3i differs from the Emmlabs DA2i?
Thanks

Shahin Al Rashid, Director of Sales at EMM Labs provided a summary of 7 differences between the DV2 and MA3 (which will largely be same for the DV2i/DA2i and MA3i) in the below review by Phil Gold of the MA3.

Meitner Audio MA3 Integrated Hi-Res DAC Review Outstanding performance and value! Review By Phil Gold

Meitner Audio MA3 Integrated Hi-Res DAC Review Outstanding performance and value! Review By Phil Gold of Enjoy the Music.com

www.enjoythemusic.com

 

[nicoludio]

The difference between an off-the-shelf PSU and their in-house resonant mode power supply, which is considerably more advanced, and the extra shielding. I'd imagine some discrete components are different, and there is definitely a cost difference in the chassis and the circuit board material, but it's the same circuit and DSP.

Still, mostly the PSU and chassis. As always, I'm more concerned with whether it sounds like enough difference to justify the price. Maybe other people who have used both have some insight.

Mainly:

1. Chassis - usually the costliest (?) component
2. PSU - replacement cost for the DV2i / DA2i proprietary PSU is a 4-figure sum whereas the customised IPS REL-110-4014-CH-CO in the MA3i is about 5x less
3. Ceramic (DV2i/DA2i) vs FR4 (MA3i) pcb material for the analog board (which houses the clock & DAC modules)
4. Hand selected and higher tolerance (0.1%) capacitors (and other part too?) on the EMM vs 1% on the Meitner
5. Remote control unit

Tested the DV2 V2, MA3 & DV2 V3 in a full EMM system with Magico M2 speakers.

MA3 & DV2 V2 are remarkably close - the differences in bass punch / density and dynamics / punch / intensity are discernible, with the other aspects of the sound harder to distinguish.

I suspect that the MA3i / DV2i might be closer still.

The DV2 V3 pulled ahead of both but was not broken in yet.

 

[matthias]

I suspect that the MA3i / DV2i might be closer still.

Thanks,
I mean it might be interesting to directly compare both

 

[nicoludio]

Thanks,
I mean it might be interesting to directly compare both

Hopefully soon. But likely to be MA3i & DV2 V3

 

[Rasputin]

MA3 & DV2 V2 are remarkably close

Tested many times, I totally disagree, DV2 is better by a large margin.

 

[Genesis168]

Tested many times, I totally disagree, DV2 is better by a large margin.

+1 totally agreed

 

[Yuen A.]

Hi Guys,

As of today, my V3 has about 520 hours of running-in. The album used for today's listening session is: Souvenirs by Johan Dalene (violin) and Peter Friis Johansson (piano). (BIS 2770 SACD)

Based on my extended listening sessions, there's no doubt that the V3 is a giant leap forward over the DV2! Two things stand out: the micro details and the transient respond. A case in point: Dalene's ability to use vibrato and portamento in pursuit of a singing line and to invests each phrase with a wealth of feeling. Listen especially to his intoxicating Ravel: Tzigane. The V3 has the ability to reproduced his playing with uncanny realism. Every subtle nuance is reproduced, including the mechanical bowing noises and the sound energy radiating from the instrument.

 

[matthias]

Based on my extended listening sessions, there's no doubt that the V3 is a giant leap forward over the DV2!

What exactly is the V3 in comparison to the DV2i?

 

[Yuen A.]

What exactly is the V3 in comparison to the DV2i?

Hi, the V3 do not have the built-in streamer.

 

[Yuen A.]

Hi Guys,

As of today, my V3 has about 600 hours of running-in. The album used for the listening session was: Beethoven String Quartets, Op 18, Nos 1-3, Chiaroscuro Quartet (BIS 2488 SACD)

Wow, the Quartet came alive in my listening room! The energy radiating from the four string instruments sounded natural and real. Dynamics were startling. Tonal timbres were spot-on. The spatial sound reproduction was excellent. My verdict: The V3 rivals even live music.