Rhyno, thanks for your suggestion but I'm not sure what you mean? Do you mean to replace the IEC receptacle on the EMM? If so, with what? |
Rgs92, I'm already using XLR -- I took Shahin's advice. I'm also using the Totem beaks in diamond configuration on top of the EMM and a silk-covered cushion under the EMM. Much more effective than the four expensive Harmonix Synergy Points on the bottom. They have gone on top of my Marantz PM-15 with an unexpectedly wonderful improvement in sonics. The sonic results with my 2 EMM tweaks are not subtle. |
Rgs92, raw silk is known as one of the best natural absorbers of unwanted frequencies because of its irregular fiber structure. If you dig a bit on the internet you will find people selling raw silk to put around speaker binding posts, etc. I have known about "audio silk" for a long time. I had a couple of silk-covered cushions lying around the house and one day it came to me -- "why not"? I put a silk cushion under my CDP -- BINGO !! An immediate and not subtle improvement in the sonics. I'm sure the high quality of the material in the cushion helps, as well. Until I get my Synergistic Research MiGs the cushion stays put under my CDP. I will compare the MiGs to the cushion and report back here next month when I pick them up from an authorized dealer overseas where I live. Regarding the Totem beaks, all you need to do is get on the Totem Acoustic site and find a dealer near you. Or call Totem and they will help you out. I am picking up a few sets of Totem beaks next month from an overseas dealer so if I can locate them overseas without a problem you'll certainly be able to find the beaks quickly in your location. I see that EMM has just introduced an X upgrade -- a hardware upgrade, not a software upgrade -- for $5,000. This puts the retail price of the EMM CDSA SE at a hefty $16,500. It doesn't look like EMM will be offering any free software upgrades -- anytime soon. Apparently the X upgrade delivers about 90% of the new EMM XDS1 that retails for $25,000. I am choosing to go a different route -- one that reportedly gives better results than the X upgrade and is more versatile because it can be used with any CDP -- the Synergistic Research PowerCell 10SE -- the latest version that includes a free Tesla Plex -- an upgraded model (I have the original Tesla Plex in my system) and also an upgraded Precision Reference power cord. I am picking up the PowerCell next month and will report back on the sonic results with the EMM. Both the new EMM X upgrade and the PowerCell are supposed to produce 3D sonics. I will not be able to provide an A/B report but I will be able to report my impressions. I know you own the EMM CDSA SE. Are you contemplating the X upgrade? By the way have you tried Schumann resonance devices? I have two SW1 units in my system and they do a nice job of sound stage enhancement. |
Rgs92, thanks very much. Since the EMM X upgrade and the Synergistic Research PowerCell 10SE (that includes a new model Tesla Plex SE, a Precision Reference power cord with a 3-lead option and a standard MPC) both promise 3D sound reproduction I will opt for the SR. I have no way of knowing which 3D effect would be more pleasing to me, of course, and I have no way of A/Bing the two, so this is a crap shoot. But setting up my system, not being able to audition ANYTHING, has been a crap shoot. I have let my intuition be my guide and, frankly, I am more that happy with the results so far. I already have a partial 3D effect since I started tweaking my system and it is very agreeable. Any added 3D effect from either option would be first class, I'm sure, albeit different in one or another respect. I agree with you that tonality is #1 and the EMM CDSA SE provides me with wonderful tonality right now -- enhanced by my many tweaks. The thing is that the PowerCell will not only treat my EMM it will also treat all the other components and cables in my system so the synergy should be excellent. If I add the Galileo MPC the sound should be truly outstanding, including an enhanced sound stage -- one of the main improvements promised by the EMM X and the SR PowerCell. Two other factors that I have considered are that going the SR route provides me with more versatility. If, one day, I change my CDP I will still have the PowerCell. The other factor is that, since I live overseas, having the EMM X upgrade done would be very costly -- shipping both ways. The SR option will save me a lot of money. Also, doing an EMM X upgrade would mean no music for quite a while, whereas when I pick up the PowerCell next month it will be in my system when I arrive home. For you the EMM X upgrade may be the best choice since you already have the Hydra and excellent cables. I don't have a power conditioner yet and I have such a complicated mix of cables that treating the whole system right from the wall receptacle seems to be the most logical approach for me to take and looks like it will give me the best chance at having a better sonic experience. I will soon be adding more Totem beaks and a few sets of SR MiGs to the system, too. IMHO, you can never have enough top quality tweaks in your system. Each one adds to the synergy. |
Rgs92, there is an Audiogon thread called "SR Tesla PowerCell or Dedicated Circuits ????" where people comment on the Hydra 8. You may be interested in having a look. |
Rgs92, you're welcome. IMHO doing both may be overkill since the upgrade and the SR are supposed to accomplish the same thing. I would be very interested in hearing if you do both how the sound sounds. You can A/B with and without the PowerCell. You will probably be the first person in the world to do both and to report about it. I am doing a PowerCell 10SE with Galileo MPC. |
Flashunlock, looks like the Thailand distributor is able to order for me so I should have them next month. I'll keep you posted. I don't know why my two postings that I sent through yesterday are not showing up in this string. |
Flashunlock, it looks like I'll be able to get the fuses from either Singapore or Thailand. Do you have any experience with the Tara Zero Gold XLR IC versus the Tara Zero Onyx XLR IC? |
Flashunlock, thanks for letting me know. Do you know how the Onyx compares to the Zero? I can't find your email address. How do I email you? |
Rgs92, you're welcome. I am sure the X is a really major upgrade. Of course, it must include changes in the digital processing to achieve the 3D sonic effects that are being talked about. My point is that if you do the X upgrade AND buy an SR PowerCell it may be overkill because one OR the other options may provide you with the sonic benefits you are looking for. For me, since the SR PowerCell 10SE will treat my whole system, not just my EMM, and adding the new Galileo MPC will greatly enhance the PowerCell's effects, this is the route I will take. Add a few tweaks -- like the SR MiGs -- and I think I'll have a wonderful system. As well, buying the PowerCell is a much cheaper option for me -- it saves me over $1000 shipping and other costs -- each way -- to and from EMM in Canada for the upgrade. So the EMM upgrade would cost me over $7000. I will also be getting a trade-in for the conditioner I am now using, so the PowerCell plus the Galileo MPC will be costing me $5000 net. But if I do the X upgrade and keep my present power conditioner the cost to me for both is over $8300. I don't have a money tree in the back yard. I have to think about costs as well as sonic benefits and weigh everything carefully. I think I'll be getting the most bang for my buck with the SR PowerCell. I will have it in my system by December 20 and will post here how my system sounds with the PowerCell in place. You may find this helpful -- before you make your decision how you want to spend your hard-earned dollars. |
Rgs92, I agree, cabling can make a huge difference. I have also found that the particular plug and IEC you choose (if you are doing DIY work like I do) can change everything. You may note that a couple of the highest end SR plugs used to come from Oyaide -- one was the 079. I think SR are developing their own plugs now -- the G07 being the new one. I can report a change that I made to my system yesterday that astonished me. I had my Gabriel Gold Reflection power cord connected from my power conditioner to my EMM CDP. On a whim I connected it from my Tesla Plex into my power conditioner -- replacing an SR Master Coupler terminated with Oyaide plug and IEC -- and I plugged the EMM into the power conditioner using the Master Coupler. This has made a HUGE difference in resolution, dynamics and sound stage. Of course, my cabling configuration will change when I add the SR PowerCell 10SE to my system next month. So you may not have to double down with an X upgrade PLUS a PowerCell 10SE to get great results. Yes, cabling and plugs have sometimes made such a huge change in my system that they made it sound like a new component was added to the system or that one of my components was upgraded. |
Flashunlock, thanks very much for all this information. Very interesting. I have the 230-volt EMM. It looks like I would have to buy the blue fuse -- the big or the small? Would the results be better than the fuse in the EMM? I use a silk cushion (waiting to be replaced by MiGs) under my EMM and 4 Totem beaks in diamond configuration on the top. The results are not subtle. I would like to know more about how your EMM sounds with the PowerCell. What MPC are you using -- the standard or the Galileo? How are resolution, dynamics and sound stage? |
The distributors in Asia sometimes stock the T2A green, especially in Hong Kong, as far as I can glean by phoning some of them. But you have to go to Hong Kong to buy them. They will not ship overseas. If the Asian distributors don't have them in stock they can order them from Japan. Then you have to discuss having them shipped to you, if they will do so -- or pick them up if you are in the area. So it will take a bit of work to get hold of these little things. I'll let you know what I come up with. I live in Asia and am working on this now. |
Flashunlock, thanks again. I had a look at the back of my EMM. No external fuse. It looks like I'll have to open up the box to make the fuse change. I'm still looking for the green Furutech fuse on the Internet. And thanks for all the information about SR cabling. Same as you -- I also will only have the SR PowerCell 10SE plus the Galileo MPC in my system. This is the first time I have read about the sound being a bit too laid back with SR cables. This is very important information because of the universally positive reports about SR cabling -- and all the sales promotion. I know the people at SR (by phone) and they are very helpful. No complaints about SR. They may not know about this sonic effect with the EMM. After all, they can't know about the synergy of their cables with every system in musicland and all the possible permutations. Knowing this about SR cabling with the EMM is very important information for me because I can't audition anything. I live overseas and have been guided only by sonic intuition in all my purchases which I either bring from abroad or have shipped over. So far so good -- like Steely Dan. I have mostly Gabriel Gold cables throughout my system -- not laid back at all -- dynamic, warm and resolving all at the same time, excellent all round, amazing cabling -- as well as an SR Master Coupler with Oyaide terminations for my 100-volt Marantz PM-15 that has to be plugged into a step-down transformer. The latter is nicely cleaned with the rest of my system because everything (except my REL subwoofer) is plugged into a Tesla Plex. I am also using Schumann resonance devices. I'll be getting my PowerCell next month. It will be the cornerstone of my system. I can't wait to hear it. |
Flashunlock, I don't need to use all 10 sockets on the PowerCell, only 3 or 4. It will only be used for my music system. I have 4 sets of MiGs on order. I also use Totem beaks on top of my EMM -- they did nothing for my Merlin speakers -- and Harmonix Synergy Points on top of my Marantz PM-15. They are meant to be used as footers -- did nothing for my EMM -- so I tried them on top of my PM-15 and the sonic results are not subtle. A lot of the tweaking I have done is trial and error -- as well as switching around my power cords. |
Flashunlock, thanks for clarifying about the SR cables. Since it it is impossible for me to have all-active cables in my system because of my step-down transformer, and Merlin does not recommend silver cables for their speakers, I chose to go with mostly Gabriel Gold cables -- no buyer's regret. |
Flashunlock, between the switch and the power cord? It looks like a small label. Do you pry that off and the fuse is behind it? |
Flashunlock, VH Audio sells Furutech fuses. They don't say the color. They have a lot of models. Is it one of these two? One is the .75" HiFi Tuning Fuse Slow 2A and the other is the 1.25" HiFi Tuning Fuse Slow 2A? Thanks very much, in advance, for all your good advice. |
Flashunlock, the only green one VH Audio has is called the T13A. The two I mentioned above are gold-colored on the ends. |
Flashunlock, I am on the Furutech site looking for distributors. Where in Asia did you get yours? I live in Asia. I talked to a Canadian distributor a few minutes ago and he says the T2A 20 mm is on back order -- should arrive next month. He says the green one was discontinued a while back -- only the blue ones available now -- they are an upgrade, he says. |
Flashunlock, thanks for letting me know. I'll check out Hong Kong for the fuse. I'm on the road now but when I get back home I'll get into the nest of wires behind my EMM and check out the fuse situation. Thanks again very much. |
Flashunlock, what about the HiFi Tuning fuses? Especially the Supreme for the EMM? How would they compare with the Furutech T2A? |
Flashunlock, thanks, I'm still trying to get the green T2A from Asia. If I can't I'll try for the HiFi and see what I can come up with. |
Flashunlock, Singapore says they have the green but they are now shipped only in 25mm. When I get back home in a couple of days I will take that flat-head screwdriver and a flashlight and see what the back of the EMM has to tell me. Thanks again. |
Flashunlock, any ideas or experience about the difference between the Tara Zero Gold XLR IC versus the Tara Zero Onyx XLR IC? I can't find any comments anywhere about the sonic differences between these cables. |
Flashunlock, thanks very much for this link. Very informative. I have a question. I live in a country where there is no ground in domestic wiring. So I imagine getting a Tara wire with the Ground Station would be a waste of money. I'm not in the market for any new wiring at the moment but if I were to consider buying a new interconnect in the future -- Tara or another brand -- is there one you might recommend that does not require buying a Ground Station or other similar device? |
Flashunlock, thanks for letting me know. I'll check this out. |
Flashunlock, the Furutech T2A green fuse is now installed in my EMM and I must say the improved clarity is quite amazing right off the bat even with no power conditioner at the moment. Thank you for the hot tip. I have disposed of my old power conditioner and will listen to the system without my new SR PowerCell 10SE for a few days to let the fuse settle in. I will connect the PowerCell in a few days and am looking forward to hearing the results. |
Flashunlock, 100 hours for the fuse to break in? I had no idea. So it gets even better. Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Thanks for the tip about turning the fuse around. I'll try it. And thanks for the tip about how to connect the cables to the PowerCell. I had no idea this could make a difference. I will wait a day or 2 to let the MiGs settle in before connecting the PowerCell. I installed the MiGs under my step-down transformer last night and today I installed them under the Marantz PM-15 amp and the EMM. Well, my jaw has dropped and continues to drop all afternoon. The resolution is stunning -- reminiscent of the resolution from the MBLs I listened to in Singapore a couple of days ago -- without the omni-directional effect, of course. I have Merlin TSM mmi monitors -- Bobby Palkovic's latest iteration of the TSM -- and I am one very happy camper. They are magnificent. They have seemingly limitless potential with a deep and wide sound stage that are wonderful. An inferior component in the system will bring inferior resolution and one might be tempted to blame the speakers for the result where the blame actually lies with another component of lesser quality in the system -- definitely not with the speakers. I imagine there will be a few sonic surprises awaiting me once I connect the PowerCell to the system. Maybe tomorrow. I am using the GG Reflection PC for the EMM. |
Flashunlock, you have a lot more experience in the cable department than I do. I would very much appreciate if you could give me your opinion about 2 ICs. I am using the GG Reflection ICs (XLR) from my Marantz PM-15 to EMM. Do you think the SR Acoustic Reference ICs (XLR) with the stock MPC would be an improvement in my system with the PowerCell connected, of course? Thanks in advance for your comments. |
Rgs92, with my SR PowerCell 10SE connected my system is rocking and rolling. The Gabriel Gold cables are working very well for me. I am tweaking a lot now. Before I installed the PowerCell I was trying out the Oyaide INS-CF Isolation Devices. They made no difference no matter where I put them in my system. Now they make a very big difference when placed on top of my EMM. I have experimented a lot with them -- even changing their position by one inch can make a big difference in the sound. They have joined the SR MiGs, Totem beaks and EVS Ground Enhancers as the best sound enhancers I have found for my system. |
Rgs92, this is proving to be a work in progress. No surprise, I guess. I have a new EMM CDSA SE tonight at home. The machine is the same but the sound has been transformed with the single stroke of a brush -- an Oyaide P-004 plug installed in the Tesla Plex wall receptacle. One the other end (the cord is stock) is the Tesla Plex SE. Yes, two Tesla Plexes in series. The Oyaide INS-CF Isolation Devices are now under the 4 Totem beaks that are in diamond configuration atop my amp. I have 4 Harmonix SYN-100 footers on top of the EMM in diamond configuration. They did nothing as footers for any of my machines. They work on top of the EMM. I have a set of SR MiGs under the EMM in pin-point configuration. I cannot over-emphasize the transformation that Oyaide plugs, SR MiGs and EVS Ground Enhancers have made in my system. The other tweaks -- and there are more than I have mentioned here -- have added serious sonic benefits, as well. |
Rgs92, There is a lot more that I have done that I have not posted here. Everything I have done has helped. Some things are "big wow" and other things are "little wow". But it all adds up. It is cumulative. You and I agree that the EMM is special. The fact that Alex of APL does not agree is understandable. It is not unusual for makers to downplay the attributes of competitors' products. And, in fact, his APL products may produce superior sonic results. I have never auditioned an APL so I cannot comment from personal experience. I can only go on what others say. In any case, for folks like me who cannot afford an APL we are left with trying to make our EMM sound the very best that it can. I have had a lot of success with this and am very happy with the results. The sound is like night and day with everything I have done. You would not recognize the EMM if you did A/Bing before and after. In spite of the fact that others may dismiss all this, for me it remains a very important factor in having beautiful music in the house. That's the bottom line for me. |
Rgs2, I have just piggy-backed two ICs from my EMM to my integrated amp. I am tired of answering spam -- from others, not you -- so please PM me if you would like the details. |
Anyone who would like information about the amazing results obtained by putting 2 XLR ICs in series from my EMM to my integrated amp can PM me. |
I have done more tweaking of my EMM that greatly enhances the improved 3D effect of putting ICs in series. Those who would like the details can PM me. |
You may have some sonic success putting one Oyaide INS-CF isolator under each Totem beak in diamond configuration on top of the EMM CDSA SE. |
More goodies for anyone who wants to PM me -- a real winner. |
