Any Good SACD Player Plays CD Well

I have ordered the EMM Labs Dac6 for myself, but for
my younger brother, I have bought a Sony SCD XA777ES.
My reasoning is this; I am a nice brother, but I am
not going to buy my brother a Dac6. For 1,600 [used],
I bought him the Sony SACD player on Audiogon. This
way, he has a great CD/SACD player -- AND -- he can have
it modified to sound even better. David Robinson of
Positive Feedback has said that a modified high end Sony
SACD player, while not in the same league as the DAC6,
is the closest thing he's heard to it. If one does not
have the 15 - 20K for an Emm Labs Dac6, I would recommend
getting a used Sony SCD XA777ES [For multi-channel] or
the Sony SCD 777ES [for two-channel]. It is a one box
player, will provide a nice listening experience in the
short-run, and can be modified in increments when you get
the urge and the $$ to upgrade.

I also bought him a Denon 1600. Now, in two boxes, he
has DVD-A, SACD, DVD -- most all 5" discs can be played
in one box or the other. So, in two boxes, he has it all.
It cost me less than $2,000 [used] on Audiogon. He will
have better CD/SACD play-back than any one box Universal
Player, a DVD player that is free from the "Chroma Bug"
and he can still upgrade.

So, I would recommend this avenue to anyone else who wants to participate in high rez digital, doesn't have the $$$
for the DAC6 [Or Trivista for that matter] -- or who isn't satisfied with the current batch of Universal Players.

Wally -- If you can get the $$, Go for the Emm Labs.
I find that in the long run, you end up saving money
when you upgrade in larger steps.

The Switchman is part of the DCC2.

Wally --

Here is the info I compiled while shopping for the
Emm Labs equipment ---

The EMM Labs DAC6 set-up involves:

A transport -- either a modified Philips SACD 1000
[$1,050 for modification -- you supply the Philips --
this may have been discontinued -- check with your
dealer] Or a unit from Meitner [$5,000 MSRP].

The DAC6 -- $9,950 MSRP [6 Channel DAC]

The Switchman II -- $4,500 MSRP

Total MSRP -- $19,450 with Meitner Transport

or ---------- $15,500 + cost to secure Philips Transport

The DCC2 set-up involves:

A Transport -- see above.

The DCC2 -- $9,950 [2 Channel DAC -- The DCC2 includes an internal two channel Switchman].

Total MSRP -- $14,950 With Meitner Transport

or ---------- $11,000 + cost to secure Philips Transport.

**The Philips modification may have been discontinued --check with your dealer!**

The DCC2 is a two box set-up.

The DAC6 is a three box set-up.

The Philips SACD player will still play DVD's, but not through the EMM Labs DAC. You still need a Surround processor for DVD's. The EMM Labs cannot process Dolby Digital or DTS. However, the Philips SACD 1000 was a poor DVD player anyway, so if one has been able to get a Modified Philips for the transport, it is your call as to whether you want to use it for DVD's. The EMM Labs Transport does not play DVD's. The best way to integrate Home Theatre with the EMM Labs SACD Player is to connect your DVD player to your surround processor and your surround processor to the EMM Labs SwitchmanII pre-amp that can be ordered with the DAC6.

Your DAC6 goes from the Transport [Either Modified
Philips or EMM Labs] to the DAC6 to the Switchman II
to your amps.

Your DCC2 goes from the Transport [see above] to
the DCC2 with internal two channel Switchman pre-
amp, to your amplifiers.

With a DAC6/SwitchmanII set-up, your home theatre [DVD player and Surround Processor] goes through
the Switchman II, which outputs to your amps.

The Switchman II has a LOT of inputs!

The DAC6 will play CD's, two channel SACD's and multichannel SACD's.

The DCC2 will play CD's and two channel SACD's.
Both the DAC6 and DCC2 are said to be fully capable of accepting future updates. No updates are foreseen at this time.

**All of this information has been compiled to the best
of my ability to remember and to take notes -- check with your dealer to verify!**

I have about 1,000 CD's.

For me, the first reason I am buying the Emm Labs
Dac6 is to listen to Redbook CD's.

Just a curious note here: If you got to Richard
Kern's Web-Site, he admits the Dac6 bested his
fully hot rodded Sony SCD-1 and he also says the
Dac6 is the best he's heard. Since it is not exactly
in his best interest to make these comments, I
think it lends something to the statement.

Just thought I'd pass that on.