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Emerson ANALOG

From network to amplifier in a single box

The Emerson ANALOG is a one-stop-shop when it comes to adding network replay to an existing system. Connect Emerson between the network and your amplifier and you are ready to go. But don’t be fooled by the Emerson ANALOG’s outward simplicity and ease of use. There’s nothing simple about taking a music stream from the network and feeding it directly to a line input on your amplifier. Many streaming solutions use multiple boxes cables and connections to achieve what the Emerson does in a single, small box. Therein lie the challenge and the beauty of the Wattson Audio solution.

 

By eliminating multiple devices, cables, and connections, we also eliminate multiple sources of error. Instead, we control every aspect of the process, from the components selected to the circuit topology, the milled from solid casework to the proprietary software, based on our extensive work with many of the highest profile and most highly regarded brands on the market. The musical results speak for themselves, high-end performance and engineering distilled down to its most minimal form.

Network replay and compatibility

The Emerson ANALOG’s network interface employs Wattson Audio’s own, highly regarded streaming engine. It’s a proprietary solution we build around the Sitara processor from Texas Instruments, which depends on our own, updatable software and which you’ll find in some remarkably high-profile and expensive products. This handles the ever-increasing number of network communication protocols and has been continuously developed and updated since its introduction. Signal handling has been optimized to ensure audio data integrity, transmission reliability and support for Hi-Res file formats (PCM and DSD) without transcoding, all while delivering a smooth and responsive user experience.

plays with Audirvana

Emerson ANALOG’s digital data path is "bit-perfect". We build the digital circuit around an exactingly executed internal clock, with a pair of superb, ultra low-noise oscillators, one to accommodate material sampled at a base frequency of 44.1kHz, the other for 48kHz (as well as any multiples thereof). With only the active oscillator powered, the generation and distribution of the clock signals has been carefully designed to minimize jitter.

 

The incoming data stream is fed directly to the Cyrus/Wolfson WM8742 DAC, which also delivers DSD to PCM conversion. A sophisticated, loss-less LEEDH adjustment of output level is also available, to provide perfect matching to your amplifier’s input sensitivity or a volume control if required. No output filtering is applied to the DAC, maintaining the straight-line, musically coherent nature of the device.

Thanks to the Wattson Remote for Android and Wattson Music for iOS apps, you can control your Emerson ANALOG, and access your streaming sources from your phone or tablet, respectively.

 

With its distinctive, compact design, carved from solid billet aluminium and protected by powder coating, the Emerson ANALOG is a surprisingly solid yet discrete addition to any system. But its astonishing musical impact is hard to miss: musical AND engineering integrity delivered by a single, affordable unit.

System and setups

Review real world systems adopted by and the comments of our Wattson Audio community members.

You’ll find the Emerson ANALOG in good company in a multitude of different setups.

Key features

  • Proprietary bit perfect and asynchronous streaming solution

  • Lossless LEEDH Processing volume control for direct connection to power amplifiers

  • Innovative and highly performing clock circuit and synchronization system 

  • Ultra-low phase noise oscillators, < -135dBc/Hz at 100Hz and < 50fs RMS jitter

  • CNC-machined out of a solid aluminium block

  • Design, manufacturing and assembling entirely made in Switzerland

Performance
  • Network streaming resolution: PCM up to 24-bit 384 kHz, DSD64

  • RCA output level (0dB FS): 2,0V RMS

  • Signal-to-noise, weighted (SNR-A): > 120dB

  • Harmonic distortion (THD+N, 0dB FS): < 0,001%

  • Very low noise power supply (< 1µV RMS 10Hz-100kHz)

Connectivity

  • Network input: 100Mbit/s Ethernet

  • Analog output: 1x unbalanced on RCA connectors

Mechanical and electrical characteristics

  • Dimensions (W x D x H): 4,1 x 3,4 x 1,5in (104 x 87 x 38mm)

  • Weight: 0,85lb (387g)

  • Power supply: 5V DC, external, medical grade

  • Power consumption: 1,5W (idle), 2,5 W (playing)

Restitution

  • Supported compression formats: WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, WMA

  • Control protocols: UPnP/DLNA, AirPlay, TIDAL connect, Roon ReadyAudirvāna

  • Streaming services brought by the Wattson Music app: TIDAL¹, Qobuz², airable radios

¹ requires a TIDAL service account and subscription, not included with the product

² requires a Qobuz service account and subscription, not included with the product

Recommend by Hi-Fi Choice
Best recommended by Audio Art
Best buy 2021 by HiFi Review
Impressive by Stereopluss
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