Mezmo, don't apologize for being attracted to the EMC-1's looks! I too did some looking for one simply because it looked beautiful. Then I found one this past January for a good price used and snatched it up. It is the best CD player I have ever owned, absolutely as good as my Marantz SA-1 SACD player, which also sounds good. If you can find an EMC-1 for below $2500, GRAB IT. You will NOT be disappointed. You will be able to upgrade it to the supposed EMC-2 for under $1000, I am told, if you want to upgrade. I a/b'd the EMC-1 with a couple of other CD players and my Linn LP-12 turntable, all playing the same tracks of a Springsteen and Smiths album or CD or dubbed CD and could not believe how much like the LP the EMC-1 sounded, except with tighter bass. I was happy to have gotten mine for what I thought was a good price, $2800, in January. Now I could have saved another $500 on it!!
Find one and smile all the way to your listening chair.
Find one and smile all the way to your listening chair.