Ed Meitner: It sounds good. At the end of the day, that's what matters. Rarely…
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Imagine my surprise while I was preparing my review of the EMM Labs DV2 D/A processor in this issue, EMM Labs' manager of production and social media, Amadeus Meitner, informed me that what I'd thought would be a one-on-one chat with his father, EMM Labs founder and CEO Ed Meitner, would also involve himself and EMM's managing engineer of the past 15 years, Mariusz Pawlicki. Once all three had come to the phone, however, information flowed more or less smoothly. My first question was what makes the DV2 special?
For years, I've attended audio shows at which the Canadian company EMM Labs, either on its own or in conjunction with Kimber Kable and IsoMike, has displayed some of the grandest, most impressive-sounding multichannel systems I've ever heard. When everything was aligned properly, as it was at the 2018 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, the sound was breathtaking.
When Shahin Al Rashid, EMM Labs' extremely knowledgeable and longtime director of sales, offered for review the just-released DV2 digital-to-analog converter ($30,000), the dogs and I eagerly welcomed him to our home in Port Townsend,…
Once I'd loaded the N10 with all the tracks I expected to listen to for this review, I again faced two choices. First, I could use the N10's USB output, which, as the DV2's USB input operates in the asynchronous mode, would allow the DAC to act as the master clock and let me take full advantage of the DV2's playback options. Second, I could use its RCA and AES/EBU outputs, which Aurender's US tech-support person, Ari Margolis, assured me were the sonic jewels in its crown. He explained by phone: "Both the N10's AES and S/PDIF outputs are superior to its USB because the former are both…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-channel D/A processor. Digital inputs: AES/EBU, 2 coax S/PDIF, 2 TosLink S/PDIF, EMM Optilink (for SACD/CD playback), USB Class 2. Formats supported: via USB, PCM up to 24-bit/384kHz (DXD), DSD up to 128 (DSDx2), MQA decoding/rendering; via AES/EBU, coax, TosLink, PCM up to 24/192, DSD64; via EMM Optilink, PCM up to 24/44.1, DSD. Analog outputs: 1 pair single-ended (RCA); 1 pair balanced (XLR). Maximum output levels: 8.04 or 7.22V (+20.3/19.4dBu), balanced; 4.02 or 3.61V (+14.3/13.4dBu), unbalanced. Output impedance; RCA), 150 ohms, balanced;…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: dCS Vivaldi DAC & Network Bridge & Scarlatti clock; Aurender N10 music server; Apple 2017 MacBook Pro computer with 2.8GHz Intel i7, SSD, 16GB RAM; Intel NUC7i7BNH with 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, running Roon; Linksys routers with two sets TP-Link gigabit Ethernet media converters, multimode duplex fiber-optic cables, Small Green Computer linear power supply; external hard drives, SS USB sticks, iPad Pro.
Power Amplifiers: Dan D'Agostino Master Systems Progression monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia 2.
…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the EMM Labs DV2 using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"), using the Audio Precision's AES/EBU digital output—unlike JVS, I had no problems with this input—and USB data sourced from my MacBook Pro running on battery power, with Pure Music 3.0 playing WAV and AIFF test-tone files.
Apple's USB Prober utility identified the EMM processor as "DV2 Reference DAC with MQA Decoder" from "EMM Labs," with the serial number "LAB0012." The DV2's USB port operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous mode. Apple's…
Jim Austin appointed Stereophile Editor as John Atkinson transitions to new role as Technical Editor
NEW YORK, NY— AVTech Media Americas announces key editorial changes at its premier hi-fi title, Stereophile. John Atkinson, Stereophile's Editor and guiding light for 33 years, will step down from this position following the publication of the June (coverdate) issue, while Jim Austin will formally assume the mantle of Stereophile's Editor from the July issue. John will remain a key member of the Stereophile team in his capacity as Technical Editor, contributing reviews and in-depth lab…
Today, Stereophile announces its first major Editorial changes in decades, with an expansion of the Editorial team and a change in leadership.
Since 1986, through many generations of corporate ownership, John Atkinson (right, above) has been the Editor and bedrock of the magazine. After nearly 331/3 years, JA has decided to relinquish daily responsibility for producing the magazine and as of April 1 will take on a new (and newly established) position: Technical Editor. Stepping into his shoes as Editor will be long-time Stereophile contributor Jim Austin (left, above). Deputy Editor Art…
Vivaldi: Arias
Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano; Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Matheus Ensemble
Decca 002932502 (24/96 download, CD). 2018. Arend Prohmann, prod., ed.; Philip Siney, eng.; Claudio Becker-Foss, asst. eng. DDD. TT: 58:27
Performance *****
Sonics ****
Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano; Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Matheus Ensemble
Decca 002932502 (24/96 download, CD). 2018. Arend Prohmann, prod., ed.; Philip Siney, eng.; Claudio Becker-Foss, asst. eng. DDD. TT: 58:27
Performance *****
Sonics ****
Stereophile occasionally awards a Joint Recording of the Month, and Cecilia Bartoli's second recording of Vivaldi arias deserves no less.
Though we don't know over how long a period Bartoli recorded this album's 10 tracks, she finished the project with Jean-Christophe Spinosi's Ensemble Matheus, a baroque group…
It used to be on my commute that I'd see my fellow subway riders listening to music on their iPods with headphones from Beats, Bose, Sennheiser, Sony—and even, occasionally, from Grado. These days, however, iPhones and Android smartphones are ubiquitous, and while I still sometimes see a pair of Beats, many travelers now wear Bluetooth-connected Apple AirPods. I haven't bought a pair of AirPods, so I don't know how they sound, but at $159, I suspect they don't compete with "legitimate" headphones. Even so, I wondered if convenience trumps sound quality when it comes to listening on the move…