Price Paid:  $6000.00 from JasonScottDistributi

Summary:
Wow! What an outstanding CD player. Right out of the box not even broken in, the EMC-1 UP SE defines what a reference player should do, great detail, sound staging, imaging, with a sense of ease about it that is..., dare I say, analog. This has to be one of the more musical players that is out there. WIth SACD all but dead, where it never really impressed me, and DVD-A, though outstanding, never really taking off, I didn't see a real need paying for a technology that I do not use. I have listened to several players to include: Mark Levinson model 37 transport and Dodson 218 DAC, Gamut CD-1, EAR acute tubed CD player, Arcam CD-192, Alpha 9, and both CD-33 and CD36, to name a few off the top of my head, and while thay are all good what stands out is the Electrocompaniet EMC-1 UP SE with the spider clamp. For better overall balance, detail, and the shear enjoyment lto isten to hours on end, I have to say I am glad I bought the EMC-1 UP SE. This player digs deeper into the music than the others while at the same time being very musical with little to no digital artifacts. They only other consideration would be the EAR acute. I do have to say that is a great player with its tubed output stage and Tim D'Paravinchi magic fingers upon what starts out as a basic Arcam player. Between the aCute and EMC-1 it is a close contest. However, I still have to go with the EMC-1 due to in my humble opinon it digs deeper into the recording on the disc--it is one of the best. Oh, one last comment. If you have an EMC-1 and you are not using the spider clamp, give Alan a call at Jasonscottdistributing it really makes a difference especially with the bass production of the unit---much deeper and more pronounced!

Strengths:
Great detail without digital harshness. Very analog like. Outstanding transport design--one of the best if not the best. Extreamly musical with a great sense of aire and ease about it where it throws out a deep and very wide soundstage. Truely a keeper and of heirlom quality. It just may be your last CD player!

Weaknesses:
None really. Other than the remote is very cheesy. With a 6000.00 player you would think you would get a remote that matches the quality of the player. But, then a again, it is just a remote.

Similar Products Used:
See review list.

applemusic

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.11 of 5, 9.00 votes

Price Paid:  $4700.00 from HiFi Shop Southern G

Summary:
I have bought my EMC 1 UP in June 2005. I do not write reviews often, but I guess somebody should say something about the changes regarding Service at Electrocompaniet. Many reviews of Electrocompaniet gear are quite enthusiast but often the service was critisized. Electrocompaniet went through ownership changes in Autumn 2004 and since then I can only report positive things about the service. For example all of my email questions regarding products have been answered within one or two days. I did an upgrade of my ECI 3 in August 2005 which was done in 5 days!

Now to the EMC-1 Up: I have searched for years for the right CD Player. With the EMC 1 Up I have found my last player and the search has come to an end. I own this player for one year now, I don't even have the reflex to listen or to compare it to other gear anymore. It fulfills all my wishes. This player is incredibly musical, it has outstandig dynamics, it reveals the colors of music and and it does this with all sorts of music. I listen to stuff from Death Cab for Cuties to Miles Davis or Mozart. Never this player leaves you dissappointed or emotionally uninvolved with what you hear. This player offers you an insight to the master recording quite anolog feeling.

Strengths:
Beautiful and detailed musical colors
Wide soundstage
Great dynamics and outstanding mids
Timeless design

Weaknesses:
None

nylunla

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.33 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $3000.00 from InfiniteAudio

Summary:
A high-priced CD, but I got a good deal on a demo-ex. I'm generally very satisfied with the sound and can agree with most positive inputs on this site. A major drawback is however that the EMC-1 does not play all hybrid CD:s. I have two Bob Dylan hybrid CD:s and the EMC refuses to play one of them and starts wery reluctantly and slowly on the other one. I contacted the manufacturer, and they replied in the vein of: "Hey, there are all kinds of music standards out there, we can't guarantee that the EMC will play all". A pathetic reply in my opinion, since my earlier CD (Unison Res Unico CD) played both discs without problem! And were talking about a 2000 euro player here vs. the 5000 euro EMC-1. Huh? Thus, only 3 stars for reading problems and no help whatsoever from Electrocompaniet.

Strengths:
Very musical with ordinary CD:s!

Weaknesses:
Does not play all hybrid CD:s

Similar Products Used:
Unico, Audionet SAM.

Chazbot2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Recently bought the Electrocompaniet, upgraded to 1Up SE status. My prior experience was with $1,000 priced CD players like the Rega, Arcam, Linn and Naim. I got a good deal on this player used and bought it with the intention that it would be my last CD player. After listening to this player for dozens of hours, I'm confident I've bought my last CD player. To me this player gets you all of the aspects of a high end CD player in terms of soundstage depth, channel separation, dynamics and detail. It does this without any drawbacks of the high end like being too laid back (Rega) or fatiguing (Arcam). Very happy with my purchase.

Similar Products Used:
Rega, Arcam, Naim, Linn

DaveIvie

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.33 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $4000.00 from Retailer in state of

Summary:
If you you considering buying this CD Player, then you should probably read my story. I've had a less than optimal experience with my EMC-1. Your mileage may vary. Purchased as one an original EMC-1 24/96, but I purchased the DAC upgrade to 24/192. My dealer in Port Orchard, WA arranged to have someone install the upgrade. I think I paid $1,000 for the DAC upgrade and another $150 for the install. During the installation, the dealer mentioned that I would lose about 10 dB of gain - which surprised me. They asked the power of my amp, which was 60 WPC, and said I'd be fine. I found it odd, but went ahead with the install. Buyer beware. I found the upgrade did not improve my sound. The player didn't sound bad, but it lacked life and dynamics. Ultimately, I was disappointed. About 1.5 years later, I purchased an MSB Platinum DAC II and found it to be a substantial improvement. I would eventually learn why my EMC-1 didn't sound right, but it wouldn't be until my transport went out. My player stopped working altogether, so I contacted Jason Scott Distributing. They thought it sounded like a transport problem, and they are the only authorized repair facility. So, I shipped them my machine. Here is what they found: They checked my DAC and told me that the DAC upgrade was installed improperly. I think Jason Scott Distributing was emabarrassed as they fixed the DAC at no charge. My dealer, however, didn't even apologize for his screw up. I don't do business there anymore. Still, this is not the end of my story. Please keep reading. The DAC was not the only problem. The transport still needed to be replaced. It took Jason Scott Distributing 3 months to get a new transport. I transport was about $250 + installation, which is less than a day. But my machine sat there for months waiting for the part. Jason Scott Distributing could not tell me when they could expect to receive a part. They weren't even sure if the problem was with the transport. There is no diagnostic test to determine if the transport has failed other than to put a new one in and see if the player works. Neato huh? Eventually, they replaced the transport. The repair was not expensive. They shipped it back to me. The icing on the cake is the top drawer does not close properly any more. I can make the drawer close and get the machine to work, but at the $$ we audiophiles pay, we should have to put up with having to 'jimmy' the drawer to get it to close. I would have difficulty selling this player used to someone and remain in good conscious. OK...enough of my complaining...Here's what I can tell you about this machine. I think it has an excellent transport. While I my machine was on the disabled list waiting for parts, I had the oppotunity to try other transports. I substituted in a Marantz CD Player and a Sony DVD player. I wish I could have tried more, but I learned the transport matters. I think the analogue sound that we all love about the EMC-1 comes from the transport and not the DAC. The other thing I've learned since having the EMC-1 back in service with the DAC properly installed is that the MSB Platinum still sounds better. I would expect this Preamp/DAC combo to sound better given the price. But I also found some far less expensive MSB products to provide, what I feel, is superior sound. Regardless, I'm keeping the EMC-1, but using it as a transport only. OK, this is not a bad product overall. I think it has a subductive sound. However, I think it's distortions are substractive in nature. In other words, I think the philosophy of the company is not to distort with colorations, but rather chooses not to include those colorations even at the expense of loss of information, i.e., somewhat polite. I do think the transport is well designed. You can read about the details on their website. I think it is the transport and chassis design that provides the analogue-like sound. Overall, I would have a hard time recommending this product based on my experience alone. But like I said, your mileage may vary.

Strengths:
A very good transport/chassis design that provides much of the analogue sound quality that is popular with this product. Good sound stage and imaging.

Weaknesses:
Sonically: The DAC is a bit polite, lacking in dynamics. Lacks a bit of weight in bass. Build quality is suspect. The Biggest Weakness: Lack of customer support for this product in the U.S. Not eveyone will agree with my assessment of the sound, but you cannot dispute the poor customer service experience. As audiophiles, we pay a LOT money for our high end audio products. There is no excuse for this. It is for this reason alone, that I cannot recommend this product.

Similar Products Used:
Marantz, Sony, MSB, Phillips