EMM Labs XDS1 CD/SACD Player

Anthony Cordesman has posted a review of the EMM Labs XDS1 CD/SACD player ($25,000) at AVGuide. His conclusions:

The most musically natural SACD and CD player I have yet encountered. A true pleasure to listen to! I owe HP one for introducing me to EMM Labs. I should also say that I am making the XDS1 one of my references, although I should keep this in perspective. You should audition the Boulder 1021 if you want to hear a contrast in a truly excellent unit. The EMM labs CDSA-SE does not have the XDS1’s sound quality, but it does have many of its sonic merits at less than half the price. The PS Audio PerfectWave digital transport and digital-to-analog processor offer some of the best sound and technical value around for $6000. The Cambridge Audio Azur 650C and 840C provide “inexpensive” options, and the less expensive NAD, Marzantz, and Oppo BDP-83 or DV-980H players offer entry-level options for anyone reading this review who approaches the kind of budget I had when starting in the high end.

The XDS1 is a great product—and more than a bit of a breakthrough in terms of natural, musically realistic sound—but there are many ways to improve the quality of your digital sound and then eventually work your way up to this quality of unit.

You can read the full review here.