EarMen-Tradutto

EarMen-Tradutto

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Prelude:
Tradutto is a reasonably priced DAC enriched with Bluetooth and fully sealed architecture. More insightful people are probably wondering how I can write that equipment that initially cost over USD 799 and is currently available for USD 499 is reasonably priced. It’s very simple, I don’t see it through the prism of price, but through the price-quality ratio. If you are curious about this ratio in the case of tradutto, see for yourself later in the article.

Unboxing and execution:
Unpacking EarMena products is a pleasant process, in this case we have a clear feeling of dealing with a premium product. Under the cardboard cover there is protective foam and the DAC itself covered with a polishing cloth. Additionally, we receive a heavy metal remote control loaded on the USC C that allows us to remotely manage the device’s functions. Next, we will find a solid quality USB B cable, but I would prefer it to be slightly longer. Additionally, we will find a classic 12V/2A switching power supply with interchangeable plugs that allow us to adapt the power supply to the standards in our country. The last element we have at our disposal is the Bluetooth antenna. Tradutto is a small DAC in the form of a uniform black block with a matte shade. On the front of the device there is a small screen displaying basic parameters and a switch, a Bluetooth pairing button and two buttons for changing operating modes. On the back we have a balanced 4.4mm output and a single classic RCA. As for the inputs, the rear panel has a coaxial, optical and USB B standard input. The DAC itself is really solidly made and weighs quite a lot, the housing is solid, and on the bottom there is raw sheet metal with a ventilation hole and four rubber feet.

Sound:
Tradutto stands out from other EarMen products because its sound differs significantly from the standard sound house that we are accustomed to from previous products of this manufacturer. In this case, however, I absolutely do not consider such a procedure to be a disadvantage. So what does one of the best DACs based on the SABER chip sound like?

Bass: The low tones are thick and strong, hitting the ear precisely and adding weight to the sound. What impressed me most was the excellent rendering of the mass and weight of the instruments. The tempo and timbre are at the appropriate level, the tradutto retains great naturalness and realism in sound, avoiding either excessive or insufficient speed in the sound of low frequencies. The low tones are strong enough not to be forgotten, and at the same time they are not overwhelming or overly dominant.

Midrange: The mids in the tradutto are astonishing because they sound extremely clean and natural, and the realism and neutrality of the timbre are absolutely beautiful. The midrange is not overly colored, but thanks to the huge stage, dynamics and separation of instruments, it allows us to surround ourselves with music in which we can easily capture every detail and nuance without being overwhelmed or overwhelmed by the sound. Gestures and realistic sound of instruments and vocals are something that puts Tradutto high in the DAC ranking.

Treble: The higher tones are kept in check, but the neutrality and extension of the high frequencies allow you to capture every tiny detail and nuance of the instruments. The high tones are not only resolving, but also extremely clean, and this allows me to understand why the ESS SABER transducer was chosen and not any other. The overall effect is very good and complements the soundstage not only in width, but also in depth.

Comparisons:

EarMen- Tradutto (799/499USD) VS xDuoo MT601 (120USD)
I know that this comparison is not entirely fair, but it allows us to draw attention to a very important aspect. Currently, the audio industry is experiencing a golden era and is developing at the speed of light, and devices are becoming more and more affordable. MT601 is also a DAC based on the Saber chip, but this time on the ESS9018Q2M model. xDuoo plays more warmly, with less resolution, in a more analog way and much slower. However, if I had a larger budget, I would definitely go for Tradutto.

EarMen- Tradutto (USD 799/499) VS EarMen Angel in DAC mode (USD 599)
Angel is an excellent mobile device, but its sound is, above all, brighter and less warm. So if we are looking for an analytical and neutral DAC, this is a good direction, but if we prefer something more resolving with more mass, the Tradutto will be excellent. Of course, both devices are very good and it all comes down to individual preferences. Personally, I cannot imagine my audio system without both Tradutto and mobile Angel.

BLUETOOTH:
Unfortunately, I did not have support for the LDAC codec in wireless mode. Fortunately, I solved this problem using my xDuoo QX50pro receiver, which worked perfectly in this role. However, if someone is not as focused on the LDAC codec as I am, tradutto will provide Bluetooth 5.1 from QUALCOMMA with full support for other codecs, including APTX HD. When it comes to connectivity, it is exemplary, stable connection and no unwanted artifacts. The sound itself was slightly compressed and lost resolution, but not enough for it to be a significant issue. Therefore, for the sake of convenience, I really appreciate the implementation of bluetooth in tradutto.

Summary:
EarmEen is a company that deserves respect and recognition for the competences it has. Tradutto has won many awards in the audiophile community. I completely understand this and I join this group in considering tradutto one of the best DAC converters on the market. Its warm, dense and still resolved and dynamic sound is something that perfectly suits my taste. If I had to complain about something, I would like support for the LDAC codec and a 4.4 to 4.4 aux cable included in the set. I will add at the end that Tradutto fully supports the MQA format, which is currently marginal, but if it ever comes back into favor, Tradutto will easily provide full support. EarMen tradutto is an excellent DAC with all the necessary functions. Maybe you won’t find a million filters or switches in it, on the contrary, it’s a very simple device. But these are only appearances, the technically advanced and well-made tradutto does not need anything else to do what every DAC does best, i.e. generate beautiful and amazing sound. Therefore, this is a very good approach, following the principle that a good one does not need to be improved because it is supposed to be perfect.