I am betting that a 16-bit recording on the EMP will sound better than a 24-bit recording on an inexpensive pocket recorder.
But will it sound better than a Grace Lunatec V3?
Given typical pricing on Nagras, I'm betting a Lunatec V3 (digital) > Sony D50 setup will cost less than an EMP and will record in 24 bits.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
I completely disagree that a 24/96 recorder would "cost a lost more." Sure... they'll charge more, but the materials and design costs to a company like Nagra are negligible.
The EMP was designed as a top quality mic. pre. to match the Nagra VI. It has no recording controls other than an on/off record switch.
To make it a 24/96 recorder (which I personally would have liked) would have meant transport controls and a lot more work.
My understanding is that some of the internals are software controlled and they took an existing board to do this. As that board already had 16-bit recording on it, they allowed it's use rather than leaving it on the board unused - that is my understanding of the situation.
Yes, I would have loved it to have been 24/96 and I conveyed this to Nagra at the time - but the EMP is a great mic. pre. equal to and cheaper than the Grace Lunatec (in Europe at least).
Funny - it would have cause less angst if Nagra had left the EMP as a mic. pre. only and not activated the recording feature - the price would have been the same.