EMM Labs DAC6

Jposs: In some ways, you are absolutely correct. The reliability of the transport mechanism is quite suspect, but I am sure it will be worked out. On the other hand, sonically it is terrific. It is far better sounding than any of the Sony mechanism's.

I can not attest to its sonics as I have never heard it. And I will not take your last sentence as an affront to my tastes. However I would be hesitant to drop 10k on a digital playback system that has so many widely known problems.

Is it that difficult to modify another transport that is more reliable to work with the Meitner DAC? I really have no idea.

Jposs- I am unaware of

many widely known problems

for EMM labs gear, the transport has a heat problem with one chip on the transport which has been confirmed at the hi-rez highway, and a fix has been found. As for Emm labs there components have a flawless record in the field. The transport is a SACD1000 which retailed for $2000(I sure hope NO one paid that for it) and then another $1750 for the modification to output SACD digitally- so even at full bore retail its only $3750- which is a far cry from $10k. Emm labs is now aware of this problem, and they have been and still are working on there own transport to work with there DAC's, which is due out late this year early next year. The fix for the current SACD1000's is a piece of cake and most folks can do it themselves, so it really doesn't seem like a problem any more.

Some people drive a civic for it reliablity(sorry for that analogy mike:) other's prefer the performance of a Ferrari, and realize that it may not be as reliable as a civic- but its a risk they feel worth while. And when it comes down to it Ferrari's are pretty darn reliable considering what they are capable of, just like Emm labs. I bet bose would be trouble free for years and years.

Even if the modified transport is only 3750, the dac only works with this transport, or am I mistaken about that? Therefore, if the dac is rendered useless by a flawed transport, you are effectively out 10k.

Your analogy isnt necessarily proper, because they could have used a Corolla engine in their Ferrari that gives fewer problems, with not so dissimilar results.

I can't say that for sure, I have not heard the SACD 1000. However there is not a consensus saying that the Phillips is the ultimate tranpsort for SACD.

It is good to know they are developing their own transport, and I don't know that reliablility was an issue when they chose the Phillips originally. However it does not change the fact that it was a poor choice, whether it was knowingly poor or just shitty luck.

I think Ed Meitner was quite impressed with the Phillips 1000 and the possibility of room to install his conversion board and outputs. He did not know the future of the 1000. I do not think anyone would have expected the failures of the 1000 as I know of no other such instance. I do concede, however, that having bought the DAC6 and experienced a failure of my 1000, I wonder about the wisdom of depending on this transport, even if Alex has found a fix.
I also have a Lindemann which has proven entirely dependable and excellent sounding. In a comparison with the Phillips 1000 before I got my Meitner, I could certainly hear a difference between the units, but could not decide which was superior.