Emm Labs CDSA 'X' upgrade


UK distributor mentioned an 'X' upgrade was going to be available soon for $5000 but hasn't got back with details. Anyone know anymore about the upgrade?
defride

Showing 8 responses by rgs92

I do not see this upgrade mentioned on EMM's website.
Is there any published info on it or would I just have to call them? Is this a new offering or is for a limited time?

Also, Rickron51, does the upgrade add any warmth to the sound?
Thanks in advance.
OK, thanks for all that! I am always convinced, even though the EMM sound has always had some hiccups, it feels like the best foundation from which to build. EMM always seems to pull the most from a disk, mostly for the better.
No, the current CDSA-SE is the $11.5K model that has been
around for a few years. This is evidently something new, and
it is not clear how this upgrade compares to the $25K EMM
X model technically (or in any respect). EMM seems to be kind of furtive about it, and they only info that seems to be available is here in this thread.
I had my CDSA x-upgraded a couple of months ago and
I wrote a quick review of it in the digital reviews section
in case anyone is interested.
The X upgrade is not sold with a new CDSA SE I'm
pretty sure.
You need to buy one and then send it to EMM for the upgrade.
The only physical evidence of the upgrade is the removal
of the level switch on the back panel.
My review is here on audiogon:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?rdgtl&1299732698&openmine&zzRgs92&4&5#Rgs92

No, the output level is fixed. I never really understood the purpose of that switch on the CDSA anyway.
I had the PD MPS5 for a few months and sold it because the mids and lower mids seemed to lack control on redbook only, where they sounded a little woozy. I did like the tonal signature though, no glare or "digital" glassy upper mids in redbook. I hear the new software or long break in adds more control now (others I spoke to heard exactly what I did), but I have not heard it since I sold it. (SACD had none of the redbook problems and was superb, period.)

New X-upgrade is warmer on redbook with less glare and more depth and very nicely slightly recessed midrange, which I enjoy, and lots of micro imaging detail and rounded sounds with real-sounding boundaries. SACD is a joy with almost all recordings, making me wish everything was SACD. No need to analyze SACD sound on the X'd CDSA, but no digital pain and all is well, no need for analog with SACD, which beats vinyl for me. It's just from memory, but I think there is a smidge more unforced detail and relaxation on the X with SACD, but as I said, the MPS5 is superb on SACD too, and I could be happy with either for HiRez.
Well, Sabai, I sure notice that the CDSA (& maybe most high end digital things) are super-sensitive to cables, especially power cables. The trick is to deal with the highs and sweeten them without horribly muddying up the bass. By the way, the X upgrade does produce a warmer sound (with no loss of bass control or detail) on the CDSA.