EMM Labs EMM Labs DV2i Integrated D/A Converter
The DV2i delivers concert-hall scale with startling transient snap, rich instrumental colour and a deeply layered soundstage. Phil Gold found its tonal balance, imaging and upper-register detail exceptional, while the integrated DSD-domain volume control enables a transparent direct-to-power-amp path. Add Roon Ready streaming and wide digital connectivity, and this is a formidable reference hub for an all-digital system.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Build Quality
89/100
Features Connectivity
82/100
Value for Money
88/100
Pros
Exceptionally lifelike scale, tonal balance and image definition, with clear instrumental separation in dense recordings.
Outstanding transient precision, dynamics and bass definition give attacks, decays and musical drive unusual realism.
Integrated digital volume control performs transparently enough to drive power amplifiers directly without an audible penalty versus a separate reference preamp.
Cons
Its $35,000 price and performance potential demand a genuinely high-performance partnering system.
The OLED display's smaller information can be difficult to read from a distance.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
Reviewers describe an exceptionally convincing, highly resolved converter with unusually lifelike scale, imaging, tonal color, and transient expression. Its presentation is praised as both precise and natural rather than merely analytical, with the DV2i reviewer calling its recreation of live instruments “truly uncanny.”
Tonal Balance and Musicality
96/100
Phil Gold heard perfect tonal balance, rich instrumental tone, and a presentation that could make reproduced music feel comparable to a live performance. Reviews of the earlier DV2 are similarly emphatic, describing it as sounding more like music in the best performance spaces than any alternative heard, with a rare balance of precision and warmth.
Resolution and Detail
95/100
The DV2i was said to better its predecessor in revealing fine upper-register detail, while percussion textures and saxophone harmonics were described as extraordinary. Earlier DV2 listening found previously obscured applause, instrumental textures, decays, individual strings, and fine spatial boundaries rendered with exceptional clarity.
Digital Performance
94/100
Transient precision is a repeated strength: the DV2 was described as having a start-and-stop realism unlike its competitors, while the DV2i conveyed the attack, scale, and power of live instruments with striking conviction. Reviewers also found the direct digital volume implementation transparent enough that one could not distinguish it from routing through EMM Labs' separate reference preamplifier.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
89/100
The DV2 platform is described as a rare, entirely bespoke and unconventional high-end design that delivers on its technical ambitions. The DV2i itself uses high-grade machined and anodized aluminum metalwork and is a substantial 16kg component, though the supplied reviews offer limited long-term construction commentary.
Features Connectivity
82/100
Connectivity is comprehensive for a high-end DAC, including EMM Optilink, AES/EBU, coaxial, optical, USB, and network inputs, alongside both balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs. Its integrated variable output can drive a power amplifier directly, although the reviews note that this function is less useful in systems that already require a preamplifier for analog sources.
Value for Money
88/100
At $35,000, the DV2i is plainly a major investment, but SoundStage Solo considers it competitively priced for a DAC of this caliber. The earlier DV2 review also notes that listeners who do not need its particular control range and granularity could save $5,000 with the DA2, tempering the case for the more expensive model.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Digital inputs
- EMM Optilink (CD/SACD), AES/EBU, COAX, TOSLINK, USB audio & Network
- Stereo analog outputs
- XLR & RCA
- Output impedance
- 300 ohms balanced (XLR) 150 ohms unbalanced (RCA)
- Output levels (High/Low)
- XLR outputs: 7V rms (19.14 dBu) / 4V rms (14.34 dBu) RCA outputs: 3.5V rms (13.12 dBu) / 2V rms (8.31 dBu)
- Finish
- Available in silver chassis with black insert or all-black high-grade machined and anodized aluminum metalwork
- Dimensions (WxDxH)
- 438 x 400 x 161mm
- Weight
- 16kg
Manufacturer's Description — EMM Labs
The Pinnacle of Digital-to-Analog Conversion
The EMM Labs DV2i represents an evolutionary leap in the realm of digital-to-analog conversion. Like our flagship DA2i, the DV2i is a 16xDSD (DSD1024) converter and stands as a testament to our relentless pursuit of perfection, crafted to redefine the boundaries of your listening experience. With unparalleled sonic clarity, the DV2i offers an immersive soundstage that transports you to the heart of the original recording.
Revolutionary Discrete DACs
At the core of the DV2i lies EMM Labs’ proprietary Dual Differential DACs, complemented by a newly designed Class A analog output stage. These meticulously engineered, in-house DACs capture every nuance, dynamic shift, and spatial detail, ensuring that your audio is reproduced with the precision and integrity of the original performance.
Uncompromising Volume Control with VControl™
Our next-generation VControl™ system ensures the highest fidelity at any volume. It maintains the integrity of the input signal without re-quantization, offering a wide attenuation range with complete transparency and no loss of resolution.
State-of-the-Art Integrated Network Streaming
The DV2i is equipped with an advanced network streaming system, featuring an isolated power supply dedicated to preserving the purity of your audio. Supporting high-resolution formats such as DSD, 2xDSD, DXD, and MQA®, the DV2i seamlessly integrates with streaming platforms including Roon, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz, Deezer, and V-Tuner. With just one click, a world of music is at your fingertips.
Unrivaled DSP and Jitter-Free Performance
Our next-generation MDAT2™ DSP works in harmony with the 16x DSD DACs, processing audio in real-time to deliver unmatched quality. The DV2i also incorporates our enhanced frequency acquisition protocol (MFAST™) and the cutting-edge EMM Labs asynchronous clock (MCLK3™), reducing jitter to industry-defying levels.
Advanced Input and Power Isolation
The DV2i’s digital input system features enhanced isolation for USB and network interfaces, safeguarding your signal from external noise and interference. This ensures that your audio remains pristine, untouched by external factors.
Proprietary Power Supply System
EMM Labs’ latest proprietary switch-mode power supply powers the DV2i, delivering exceptional stability and precision. Each component within the system operates at its peak performance, ensuring a superior listening experience.
Elevate Your Audio Experience
The DV2i is more than just a digital-to-analog converter; it’s a statement of audio excellence. Designed, tested, and meticulously crafted in Canada, the DV2i is built to set new benchmarks in high-fidelity audio, elevating your system to unparalleled heights.
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- A 10 Audio Room 4 Music — in-store — Amsterdam Nieuw-West, Noord-Holland, Netherlands (website)
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
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