Electrocompaniet EMC 1 MKV REFERENCE CD PLAYER
The Electrocompaniet EMC 1 MKV makes CDs feel vividly alive, pairing organic tonality and silky detail with punchy bass, assured timing and a spacious, coherent stage. HiFi News admired its musical dynamism, while Hifi Pig found its natural, relaxed presentation deeply absorbing. This substantial top-loader is a refined, disc-first statement for serious CD collections.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
91/100
Features Usability
86/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Organic, natural and engaging sound balances fine detail with a relaxed, non-analytical presentation.
Strong rhythmic drive, weighty bass and convincing handling of complex percussion.
Substantial 18kg construction and satisfying top-loading mechanism make it a pleasure to use.
Cons
No digital inputs limits its role as a wider digital-system hub.
The lightweight plastic remote does not match the player’s premium build.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviewers find the EMC 1 MKV notably organic, sweet and musically involving, combining a smooth presentation with convincing power and rhythmic drive. It is praised for fine detail, natural tonal colour, strong low-frequency authority and a well-organised soundstage that makes CDs feel engaging rather than analytical.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
Both reviews describe a distinctly organic and natural character. HiFi Pig found it untaxing, clear, powerful and refined without becoming analytical, while HiFi News calls it sweet, tonally nuanced, vibrant and silky smooth when the recording requires it.
Resolution Detail
93/100
The player is consistently praised for resolving fine musical information without turning the presentation into information overload. HiFi News highlights small instrumental details, clear separation and strong spatial organisation, while HiFi Pig found it detailed yet easy to immerse oneself in.
Digital Performance
92/100
HiFi Pig describes the onboard DAC as clearly accomplished, and the listening reports point to a clean, controlled handling of complex music. HiFi News particularly notes its command of complex rhythms, low-end detail and fast percussive transients.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 86/100
As a dedicated CD player, the EMC 1 MKV focuses on straightforward disc playback and a polished physical user experience rather than extensive digital-source functionality. Its balanced and single-ended analogue outputs plus coaxial and optical digital outputs provide useful system flexibility.
Streaming Software
85/100
This is a dedicated CD player rather than a network-based source, so there is no streaming platform or control app to assess. Reviewers instead praise the pleasurable, uncomplicated physical operation and describe the machine as a pleasure to use.
Features Connectivity
88/100
The player provides balanced XLR and RCA analogue outputs, along with coaxial S/PDIF and optical Toslink digital outputs for use with an external DAC. RS232 and 12V trigger connections support integration into more elaborate systems, though it is not intended as a feature-heavy digital hub.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
91/100
The EMC 1 MKV is a substantial 18kg machine, and the review describes its sliding drawer lid as weighty, satisfying and especially pleasant to operate. HiFi News also characterises it as well engineered and a real pleasure to use, although the reviews offer limited long-term reliability commentary.
Value for Money
94/100
At roughly £5,000 in the cited review and around $6,799-$7,749 in the supplied pricing, the EMC 1 MKV is clearly a premium CD player. Even so, HiFi Pig considers it exceptionally compelling in context, stating that for listeners who still prioritise CD playback, it can think of no better way to spend this kind of money.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Specifications
- Output level
- (unbalanced) 2.3Vrms (balanced) 4.6Vrms
- Noise floor
- < -130dB
- Frequency deviation
- (20-20kHz) 0.05dB
- Channel separation
- > 110 dB
- THD+N
- <0.003%
- Dynamic range
- 120 dB
- Power consumption
- 25 W
- Digital/analog conversion
- 24 bit/192kHz
- Power consumption Standby
- 0.5 W
- Compatible formats
- CD, CD-R, CD-RW
- Digital outputs
- SPDIF COAX, SPDIF TOSLINK
- Control inputs
- RS232, 12V Trigger
- Other
- True balanced system Mechanical filter which cancels acoustic/mechanical vibrations preventing the laser pick-up from receiving unwanted signals Fully remote (no volume control)
- Dimensions
- Width: 470 mm / 18.5 inches Depth: 422 mm / 16.6 inches Height: 118 mm / 4.64 inches
- Weight
- 18 Kg / 39.6 lbs.
Manufacturer's Description — Electrocompaniet
Since 1998, Electrocompaniet has produced one of the best sounding CD players on the market, the EMC 1 UP. The new EMC 1 MKV builds upon this legacy and refines by using a new drive unit. The MKV also introduces updated electronics for better sonic performance, new mechanics for more rigid construction and brand new chassis with updated design to be in line with the new MKII edition of our other products.
Since 1998, Electrocompaniet has produced one of the best sounding CD players on the market, the EMC 1 UP. The new EMC 1 MKV builds upon this legacy and refines by using a new drive unit.
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Authorized dealers for Electrocompaniet EMC 1 MKV REFERENCE CD PLAYER
- Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
- Area Hifi — online and in-store — L'Eixample, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
- Audio Art Cable — online and in-store — San Diego, California, United States (website)
- Audio Elation — in-store — Lolo, Montana, United States (website)
- Audio Solutions — online and in-store — Indianapolis, Indiana, United States (website)
- Audio Tempel — online and in-store — Zwolle, Overijssel, Netherlands (website)
- Audiocompagniet — online and in-store — Odense C, Denmark (website)
- Audiogears — in-store — Casalecchio di Reno, Emilia-Romaña (website)
- audioharmonia — in-store — Bouliac, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- AUIDOtrend — in-store — Kraków, Województwo małopolskie, Poland (website)
and 52 more verified dealers