Emotiva ERC-4: An Affordable High Quality CD player that can make Sows' Ears Sound Like Silk Purses

The Emotiva ERC-4 CD Player


 While streaming is perhaps now the dominant form to obtain music, not even the best quality is equal to many CDs and many collectors, like me, have a good sized library. So a CD player is valuable.

 Although certainly more expensive than a typical CD player, or using a Blu-ray player, no ordinary, and I suspect even units costing three times as much, can match the performance and build quality of the ERC-4.

 What's amazing to me is that several CDs, even when played through my Emotiva UMC-200 using my Panasonic Blu-Ray player, had that harsh, shrill digital sound that critics complain about; I suspected as much before buying and it's gratifying to be proven correct. Now, for example, the voice of soprano Renee Fleming in her CD The Beautiful Voice is almost as lovely as if it had been recorded by Chesky records; warmth, depth, "air" -- all those elements that bring a voice to life; and of course Chesky's "Ultimate Demonstration Disc" is outstanding. The CD included with DG's Blu-Ray Audio of Boston Symphony performing Holst's The Planets and Strauss' Zarathustra (the 2001 Space Odyssey theme) is all but indistinguishable from the Blu-ray in quality: breathtaking! And old Telarcs sound amazing, with even stronger, cleaner, more powerful bass. The passion of the performers comes through. 

 No, not every recording is given new life, but so many are, if you have a good sized library of CDs and don't want to pay Amazon $15/month for "CD" audio quality streaming (and suspect even if they have your album it won't equal the sound of the Emotiva's) this unit is an excellent investment. Good sound is a means to capture all the details and art of the performers, not just the enjoyment of hardware but the purpose of the hardware. In this respect, the Emotiva truly excels. I highly recommend the ERC-4 to those who value their libraries and desire superior sound. Magical; and some "sow's ears" will be turned into "silk purses" (while realistically, many other recordings that aren't well engineered and recorded cannot be.)

 I think the ERC-4 is the best value for the money for anyone who loves music, not just "audiophiles" who love hardware. You'll stick with this player; truly, it's remarkable. 

 Especially to The Frugal (emphasis on frugal) Audiophile.





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