---
product_id: 1162626
title: "Emotiva Audio ERC-3 Balanced CD Player & Transport"
brand: "emotiva audio"
price: "€ 247.63"
currency: EUR
in_stock: false
reviews_count: 3
url: https://www.desertcart.fi/products/1162626-emotiva-audio-erc-3-balanced-cd-player-and-transport
store_origin: FI
region: Finland
---

# Plays all CD formats High-performance DAC Balanced & unbalanced outputs Emotiva Audio ERC-3 Balanced CD Player & Transport

**Brand:** emotiva audio
**Price:** € 247.63
**Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock

## Summary

> 🎧 Elevate Your Listening Experience!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Emotiva Audio ERC-3 Balanced CD Player & Transport by emotiva audio
- **How much does it cost?** € 247.63 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.fi](https://www.desertcart.fi/products/1162626-emotiva-audio-erc-3-balanced-cd-player-and-transport)

## Best For

- emotiva audio enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted emotiva audio brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Unleash Your Sound:** Experience audiophile-grade sound with the AD1955 DAC.
- • **Multi-Format Mastery:** Plays everything from CDs to hybrid SACDs effortlessly.
- • **Robust Build Quality:** Engineered with a reinforced steel chassis for minimal interference.
- • **Transport Powerhouse:** Utilize optical, coax, and AES/EBU outputs for versatile use.
- • **Versatile Connectivity:** Seamlessly connect with balanced and unbalanced outputs.

## Overview

The Emotiva Audio ERC-3 Balanced CD Player & Transport is a complete disc solution that plays all Red Book stereo audio CDs, HDCDs, MP3 CDs, and the Red Book layer of hybrid SACDs. It features an Analog Devices AD1955 high-performance DAC, versatile analog connectivity options, and a robust construction designed to minimize interference and vibration.

## Description

Taking CDs to the Next Level Even in today's download age, most of your best music is still on CDs. You probably have hundreds, if not thousands of them. But finding a player that can treat them right and bring out their best can be difficult, especially if you don't want to spend thousands. until now. The all-new Emotiva ERC-3 sets a new standard for exceptional compact disc playback, at a price that will leave you breathless. Performance from the Chassis Up Everything about the ERC-3 was designed to extract the best possible performance from your discs. Pick it up and feel the rock solid 21-pound chassis. Strategically placed steel dampers add additional mass loading, reducing vibration and resonance to negligible levels. Feel the smooth action of the high-reliability tray loading mechanism. We spared no detail in creating a tough, precise, and gentle playback platform for your treasured discs. Balanced Audio Quality The legendary Analog Devices AD1955 Multi-Segment Delta-Sigma DAC's joined to our all new Differential Reference analog circuitry deliver class-leading audio performance, whether you're looking at the numbers or listening to the end result. You don't need an external DAC for a nuanced, engaging, and resolving musical presentation with the ERC-3-just connect the balanced or unbalanced analog outputs and get ready to hear what you have been missing. An Exceptional Transport Already own a great DAC? The ERC-3 is also a top-class digital transport, providing optical, coaxial, and AES/EBU digital outputs to interface with your DAC of choice. Amazing Versatility and Control Do you have MP3 CDs, HDCDs, or Hybrid SACDs? The ERC-3 plays them all. Sit back and use the included solid machined aluminum remote control to stage a command performance you'll remember! The Emotiva ERC-3. Taking your discs to the next level.

## Features

- Complete disc solution: plays all Red Book stereo audio CDs, HDCDs, MP3 CDs, and the Red Book layer of hybrid SACDs.
- Audiophile sound quality through superior design: Analog Devices AD1955 high-performance DAC with multiple isolated and well-filtered linear power supplies for analog and digital circuitry.
- Versatile analog connectivity: both balanced and unbalanced analog outputs are provided.
- Works great as a transport, too; To slink optical, coax, and AES/EBU outputs provided.
- High-quality construction throughout: reinforced steel chassis with additional mass loading to minimize interference and vibration, machined solid aluminum faceplate, a high-reliability tray loading mechanism, and machined gold-plated output connections.

## Images

![Emotiva Audio ERC-3 Balanced CD Player & Transport - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/7128qHuJwaL.jpg)
![Emotiva Audio ERC-3 Balanced CD Player & Transport - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71qG38m4ewL.jpg)
![Emotiva Audio ERC-3 Balanced CD Player & Transport - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71xSeCqfwxL.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: what do you need to use transport**
A: Hi Derek, While the ERC-3 is a full fletch CD player, it can be used as a stand alone transport with separate DAC (D to A Converter of your choice) via digital coax, balanced or optical. Contact us for further questions at 407-333-4621.  Thanks, CAavtheater.

**Q: Can I connect this cd player to a vintage 70s pioneer receiver?**
A: Sure. No problems at all with RCA cables. I recommend a Onkyo 7030 CD player. Save some money and get the same quality

**Q: Is the emotiva erc3 a true balance xlr cd player?**
A: You can use the Emotiva ERC-3 in 1 one of 2 ways: 1) as a "CD player" (in which case the digital audio signal goes through the excellent DAC included in the ERC-3) and the output from the ERC-3 will  be ANALOG; or, 2) as a "Digital Transport" (in which case you bypass the internal DAC to connect with an external DAC) and the output from the ERC-3 will be DIGITAL. Back to your question:1) if you plan to use the ERC-3 as a "CD Player", then you can connect it to other components (say to a preamp/powered moniors) through either: a) an unbalanced (i.e RCA) L and R (analog) output cable; or b)  balanced (XLR) L and R analog output cables. Note: "balanced analog outputs" typically offer a "higher quality" connection than a "unbalanced" i.e RCA connection but you need  a component with balanced XLR INPUTS.2) if you use the ECR-3 as a "Digital Transport" (akin to a turntable) you bypass the internal DAC thus the output will be DIGITAL and you will have to connect to an external DAC using either: a) a coaxial cable; b) an optical (Toslink) fiber link; or c) and AES/EBU single XLR cable (the best as long as the DAC has a AES/EBU--XLR--input). This is the connection I use, because I connect the ERC-3 (and many other digital output sources) to the superb EMotiva DC-1 DAC which has every possible connection you can think of. Hope this was helpful (disclaimer: I do not work for Emotiva, but I love their products. The info above is based on the ERC-3 User Manual.

**Q: I understand it will play hybrid  SACDs, but will it play all SACD discs?**
A: The Emotiva ERC-3 will play the red book layer of SACD's.   This is not full SACD, but the sound quality is very good.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Superb!
  

*by M***0 on Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2014*

What happens when manufacturers' chips (IC's) exceed the limits of human hearing?  Let me state this another way. If two amplifiers subjected to a subtractive test result in zero signal output then no one on the planet can tell one from the other in a double blind test... no one.  Some golden eared internet 'experts' will tell you they can and worse give long flowery descriptions of what said audio component does or doesn't do. The problem is if they can't do it in a double blind test then everything they say is nonsense. This goes for audio critics as well, worse for them is the fact that their reviews (read opinions) are often biased by the ads they sell and the free components they get.Everyone gets to choose from the same components, the ones I initially mentioned that exceed human hearing limits, whether they make a $5000.00 or a $500.00 piece of equipment. You can go further like winding silver transformers but in all the gymnastics if you can't hear it in a double blind test you're extra money is ... well, circling the drain in your bathroom. There are a couple of well known audio 'critics' who I would like to challenge to a double blind test with some of the audio cables out today, I think there would be a lot of very embarrassed people, but that's another story.This is not to say that all audio equipment sounds the same, it doesn't, the problem is the cost, the media bias and the plain old internet nonsense attached to audio equipment by all these 'experts'.I'm not an expert, I've spent over 50 years in electronics designing some pretty sophisticated stuff but I would never say I was an expert. What I will say is that I can look at specs, examine the craftsmanship of a product and the circuits within it and give a decent idea of what went into its construction, how worthy it is, and how good the circuits are.  I did that with the ERC-3... I'm still scratching my head that these guys can make something so accurate and robust for the price they sell it for. This is a high quality unit, I think if you audition one you will find it as capable and pleasing to listen to and use as I did.That's it!(I'll save the foolish nonsense for the 'critics' and 'experts'.)

### ⭐ 1.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    2 bad units - No longer recommending
  

*by P***R on Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2014*

I recently became interested in listening to my extensive CD collection once again (the last few years just listening to music via my iPod) and I was looking to replace an old Sony ES that I bought in 1990 which I really enjoyed. As I was doing my research I had a few criteria: Wanted solid engineering and build (nothing cheap), a $500 price point, good looks, and of course great sound. My research led me to the Emotiva ERC-3, and when it went on sale during the holidays I decided to purchase one.I am very happy with this CD player as it has already exceeded my expectations. It really started to sound better after several hours of burn in. Right now it has about 100 hours of continuous operation and it is operating flawlessly and sounds great.If I could describe the sound, it would be more detailed than my previous CD player. Transients are much more apparent, especially in the low end (drums) where the bass is much tighter. After listening to many old favorites, I have often said "that's something new, haven't heard that before". That's why I wanted a new player - to hear the advances in CD technology and bring out the best sound in the CD's that I've collected over the years.It has brought out the best in my speakers and integrated amplifier, showing how important a good source is. The display shows when you're playing an HD CD. I had several in my collection that I didn't know were HD until I put them in this player. Sound reproduction for standard and HD material is outstanding. I'm once again looking to buy new CD's; once again enjoying a long lost hobby.The remote is aluminum and a nice change from all the other plastic remotes that I own. The build and appearance of the player is first rate. I like the blue lights and display on full. It just makes the player, in my opinion, look very cool.This is the CD player I was looking for. Great build, high class appearance, and outstanding sound quality. Looks and sounds like a $1,000+ CD player for a lot less and comes with a 5 year warranty.I have no reservations in recommending the Emotiva ERC-3.Update 2/28/15: After 3 weeks this player began dropping audio on both previously played and brand new CDs. I requested a new replacement which took 6 weeks to arrive. When it did arrive it was DOA in the box. After another 3 weeks of trying to get another new player sent to me, their solution was to send me a refurbished unit. Really? I paid full price for a "new" unit and they want to send me a refurb. No thanks Emotva. In short, my customer service experience wasn't the best (long waits for replacement, emails not responded to in a timely manner), 2 bad units, and the unthinkable that a refurb would be a good replacement for a new player that was less than 30 days old (and in the case of the DOA in the box unit - 0 days old). Thankfully Amazon took care of me as a customer and gave me a full refund on this purchase.While this CD player sounded great while it worked, it's not the only great sounding CD player available. I will not be buying another Emotiva product ever, and I am retracting my previous recommendation of the Emotiva ERC-3.

### ⭐⭐⭐ 3.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Endless potential
  

*by T***M on Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2019*

I would have easily given this player 5 stars of I didn't have to return it. My experience was similar to some others who ended up having issues, my unit started off really well but started to develop noise when spinning a CD and after being on for a while it would have an issue when one track ends and the next begins there would be silence for up to 5-10 seconds and then start to play that far into the track. I kept it right up until I had to return it hoping the transport just needed to settle in or something but the issues did persist and before I sent it back out started having issues playing certain CDs at all. It is really unfortunate, as much for us as emotiva, it did play near flawlessly when I first got it. That's all I personally can really say, when it works correctly it is a top contender! I really love Emotiva and own other products from them and I do have respect for them and the attempts they make to continue to bring us reference gear for affordable prices, many companies end up cashing in on the growth and name they make for themselves in the affordable market but Emotiva has stuck with us and continues to give back to this community. Sincerely, thank you and there'll be a shelf kept open with your name on it.

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*Product available on Desertcart Finland*
*Store origin: FI*
*Last updated: 2026-03-03*