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MUSE Erato II - Anyone using this player?

I have an opportunity to own MUSE's top player, the Erato II. However, the only print references to the Erato II I can find are the double review in HiFi+ (same review on-line at AV-guide), a Stereophile CES 2008 Show Report with no performance related comments, and an article indicating that Stereo Times reviewer Jan Petter Egidius uses the Erato II as his reference. There is no specific discussion here or at AA, and there is only one posted virtual system that uses the transport version, and none listed that use the player version. The two HiFi+ reviewers seemed to like it with a few operational caveats, but their reviews were not what I would call all-out raves. I would be interested in hearing feedback from any who have heard the Erato II player in their own system, a friend's system, or even at a show like CES. Thanks.
mitch2

Showing 3 responses by defride

defride
89 posts
 
I've come to this a bit late but I had an Erato at home for a few weeks earlier this year. The reasons for not purchasing were purely practical. I found it beguiling and now that I have an Emm Labs CDSAse I'm not 100% sure I did the right thing. It seemed to have a natural character that when I think back drew me in more so than I've experienced before or since. The system I run now is better but not neccessarily in a natural way certainly more hifi, greater resolution etc. The likelyhood of trying it again and comparing is slim but I'd definately love to.
defride
89 posts
 
Hi Mitch, good luck with the Erato assuming you do get one it'd be very interesting to hear what you think. You mention the Hifi+ reviews, I had them to hand when I had the player and felt they offered a pretty fair reflection of what I heard. The player had an uncanny way of at first sounding a bit ordinary and at the same time very natural. I ended up listening through entire albums where I'd usually skip through some of them.
defride
89 posts
 
RKochies, I had only 3 weeks with the Erato and my system has changed quite a bit since then but I've fond memories. I ran the Erato into Muse Model 200 and Audio Analogue Verdi amps. These drove Sonus Faber Grand Piano's. I've kept the Model 200 but have been through speakers since settling on Kharma's. They offer up most notably greater scale. My impression is that the Emm Labs is a tonally richer player. The Erato seemed to be very natural, neutral and linear. There was no over or under emphasis anywhere and it made music beautifully. What I'm listening to now has similar attributes but more believable scale and thats down to the speakers more than anything. My guess is the Erato will suit a system with similar traits but it'd be important to make sure that other components didn't tend toward the lean side. I think the bass could end up sounding lightweight in that sort of setup. The Erato offers plenty of bass but only when its there, no emphasis, if this area of the system were light I'd guess it'd not come across well. All IMHO of course and bare in mind I've not heard one in my current setup.
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