Streaming using Wattson Audio - Emerson Digital

[audio_engr]

I'm keen to know if anyone here is using Wattson Audio's Emerson DIGITAL streamer with their Devialet Expert.

[ruivilar]

I'm keen to know if anyone here is using Wattson Audio's Emerson DIGITAL streamer with their Devialet Expert.

I am presently using a Wattson Emerson Digital with my Devialet 1000. The Watson is connected do The Devialet by a XLR\EBU cable and to the Ethernet switch by a Shunyata RJ45 câble. I use Roon software and a Roon Nucleus Plus as Roon core, the Wattson acting only as renderer or transport. I bought the Wattson after intensive testing, compared to several Aurender models, Antipodes K50, Innuous etc. and, in my opinion, only the R50 is marginally better than the Wattson, provided that one uses it as renderer only, but its price is far too high to use only part of the machine! A few months ago I found a renderer this has a more pleasant sound than the Wattson and that I intend to buy one in 2025, which is the Cinnamon Galle (see https://cinnamonaudio.com/components/galletransport). With my configuration the sound is more organic and better resolved as compared to the Wattson, but it is far more expensive as well. The Cinnamon is very beautiful and its electronic design and construction is first rate.

[audio_engr]

@ruivilar  Thank you for your detailed response that I truly appreciate. 

Whilst you connect the Wattson to your Devialet using AES/EBU, looking at the Cinnamon, they only allow USB. In this Forum, repeatedly it has been mentioned that the most favoured input for the Devialets would be the AES/EBU, as you are considering the Cinnamon that is thru USB, have you tried it in your setup with the Devialets ?

Incidentally, the Cinnamon Galle made its debut in the US Capital Audio Fest 2024 in Washington DC a month back and sells here for $6,495. The Wattson is $1,500 and most users replace its OEM PSU with a Farad Super3 PSU.