Electrocompaniet EMC II CD Player

Jm88439, everyone must decide for themselves on these things. I am truly amazed by those who can discern minute improvements with every adjustment that is made in their systems. I wish I had the ability to do the same. I have heard substantial improvements in my own system from time to time with the addition of new loudspeakers, preamp, or even interconnects. I recently posted my amazement at the improvement Empirical Audio Holphonic PC and Ridge Street Audio Midnight Silver Edition II interconnects made in my system. However, one can read in my past posts in these forums that I am also not one to immediately jump on a bandwagon, and more often than not I am dubious of claims like, "bass was more tuneful, controlled, detailed and a bit more extended. Overall there was more air around the instruments and voices. We got much more of a sense of the recording venue and there was more resolution and focus in all of the frequencies." Similar claims are made over and over, whether the reviewer is referring to loudspeakers, power cords or isolation cones. I just wonder how much is self-fulfilling desire to hear what we wish to hear? (NOT to pick on Cello...I believe he hears what he hears...this is just representative of comments stated in professional and amateur reviews everywhere.) Again, though, let me be clear, I respect and admire those who hear differences in their systems with every minor tweak. Perhaps the Spider does contribute a 2-3% improvement, but I am not able to hear it at this point in my listening, and perhaps this is due to the wonderful work Steve Nugent did in his modification of my player!

Tvad, I checked my EMC-1UP to see if the spindle allowed any play on my unit after installing the Spider and in my case it is solid as a rock.

The significant sonic improvements that I am experiencing and increase in emotional involvement are not at all small or hard to perceive. I don’t think you have to have an exceptional ear to appreciate the improvements and difference I heard after installing the Spider.

I can only guess that the play that your CD has around the spindle might possibly be preventing you from getting the benefits from the Spider.

I am interested in hearing from anyone who has done the Empirical Audio mod by Steve Nugent. It would be great to hear what benefits came out of the mod and in particular from someone that is running out of the RCA into a tubed pre-amp (I am currently going out of the RCA outs into RCA's inputs of a Supratek Cortese). Do you think it was worth the $ 1,400.00

Has anyone tried replacing the internal RCA connector with a better shielded silver wire, and if so what kind of results did you get ?

Cello, I believe the spindle issue amounts to hair splitting, and very fine hair at that. I did compare the CD>spindle fit with the stock spindle and the stock spindle did, in fact, provide a totally snug fit. The play I'm referring to has to do with the diameter of the rubber band once installed on the new spindle, since the new spindle doesn't actually come into contact with the platter.

I'll give the machine some more dedicated listening time with a varied selection of music and report back if my impressions change.

Tvad: I wanted to ask you about the Steve Nugent mods. Do they change the basic character of the EMC-1? One thing I really like about the EMC is that it is far less analytical sounding than many other players. I'd hate to end up with a player that leans towards a analytical, hyper detailed sound.

Jm88439, Steve's mod results in a very detailed player totally free of harshness. The character of the player does change somewhat as a result. In my opinion, this detail retrieval without glare is what Steve's mission is (he may correct me). His Empirical Audio Holophonic PC interconnects also grab every last bit of detail and pass it along through the system. This characteristic is something one must take into account when considering his modification.