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Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there

76.24.78.116
Posted on June 27, 2014 at 13:09:59
Freo-1
Audiophile

Posts: 1326
Location: Florida
Joined: June 14, 2008
 I've been in this hobby for quite some time now, and have had most major high end manufactures gear in the audio system for evaluation/ownership.

From a solid state standpoint, recently decided to audition Electrocompaniet equipment of recent vintage. The sound from this equipment absolutely astounded me. The EC gear has all the right high end attributes, with no real drawbacks. There is a lack of harshness/grain from the equipment at any listening level one chooses. The clarity and detail is second to none, and the low level detail is something to behold. The music has never sounded better, with a natural presentation and virtually no distortion from the playback (the recordings really now are the limiting factor here).

The present lineup: EC 4.7 preamp (picked up as a leftover new item), ECC-1 CD player (best CD player I've heard to date), and a AW2-120 Class A Balanced Amp. I've had more expensive setups over the years that simply did not achieve this level of sonic bliss.

I suspect the major reason their gear sounds so good is the fact they EC has conquered Transient Inter-modulation Distortion. I'm convinced most SS amps have not fully addressed this aspect of distortion.


" Don't look back. Something may be gaining on you"

Satchel Paige

 

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RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on June 28, 2014 at 15:06:05
PAR
 Yes, good sounding gear. But virtually zero support from the manufacturer if it goes wrong ( at least here in the UK). Friends have amps and preamps just dumped in a cupboard as no spares or service manuals are available.

Good luck.

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on June 28, 2014 at 19:27:48
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for sharing. this brand is on my short-list to audition.
Which dealer/retailer(s) have this gear in their showroom(s)?
Location(s)?

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on June 28, 2014 at 19:36:20
Jack D II
Audiophile

Posts: 1535
Location: Hot Springs, AR
Joined: June 17, 2009
 I've had two pieces of Electrocompaniet equipment. A pre amp (forgot the model but it was an early one(+/- 30 years ago) that had a phono circuit problem fixed twice under warranty by some guy in Florida and a 20+ year old Ampliwire 100 amp which just soldiers on. Stereophile Class B at the time and I've heard very little that is better to this day. Good stuff.

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on June 29, 2014 at 00:30:22
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 I found Electrocompaniet integrated amplifier very unreliable and would not touch its overpriced products with the proverbial

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on June 29, 2014 at 06:09:16
Freo-1
Audiophile

Posts: 1326
Location: Florida
Joined: June 14, 2008
 Most of my gear was via a dealership out of Colorado. Check their website to see where you can get to audition in your part of the country.

All the equipment I have is of a more recent vintage (2009 onwards). I have owned a lot of different high end brands (Pass Labs, First Watt, Threshold, Audio Research, Krell, Sony ES, and others). The EC gear sonically stands out from all the other equipment I've owned as intensely musical and accurate. The CD player is easily the best I've ever heard for CD reproduction. The only equipment that I've enjoyed as much as the EC gear is custom made tube amps and pre-amps.


Regarding the reliability issue, the gear is very well made, and seems reliable to my view. I also have a PI-2 integrated, and it sounds great, and has been reliable. To be frank, I've had a lot more breakdowns/noise problems with Audio Research gear than any SS gear.


" Don't look back. Something may be gaining on you"

Satchel Paige

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on June 29, 2014 at 18:02:20
muser
Reviewer

Posts: 264
Location: CA
Joined: March 29, 2005
 Funny that you like the EC preamp, it's one of a few that shine with ATC's powered speakers.
Happy hunting.

 

May i ask you which other good line preamp have you owned/tested ?, posted on June 30, 2014 at 04:37:48
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
 Hi i would be interested in a final "line preamp" ... so to speak
After reading your review i am very interested in the 4.7 you have now
For me 3D ability is everything
What i do not like is a flat sound ... 2D
Can the 4.7 image ? Do you use it via balanced connections ?
do you think that only balanced connections can give the best results ?
Thanks a lot.
Kind regards,
bg

 

Was very happy with my ECI-4 integrated, posted on June 30, 2014 at 10:28:19
David S.
Audiophile

Posts: 3552
Location: Mountains of WNC
Joined: August 31, 2000
 Had plenty of power that it delivered with finesse.

Only real issue I ever had with it was the volume pot got noisy & I had to clean it - which can happen to any piece that has a volume pot.

Fantastic match with B&W loudspeakers.

 

I was happy with a Classe Integrated, posted on June 30, 2014 at 12:17:25
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 A CAP-100 specifically. It's good to know one can downgrade/compact one's system and still be happy.

All I ever missed was an integrated headphone amplifier, though.

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on June 30, 2014 at 13:35:26
abs1
 In the interest of fairness why don't you tell us about your unsuccessful legal battles with Electrocompaniet and/or your dealer?


Cheers,
Al

ps I'm not an Electrocompaniet fan and really have no dog in this fight!

 

RE: May i ask you which other good line preamp have you owned/tested ?, posted on June 30, 2014 at 14:18:42
Freo-1
Audiophile

Posts: 1326
Location: Florida
Joined: June 14, 2008
 Tried preamps models from Coda, Pass Labs, Audio Research, Krell, Classe, Threshold, McCormack, and McIntosh, plus several custom made tube units.

The EC is as good or better than any of the aforementioned preamps. Would agree that the balanced inputs provide the better overall performance over single ended. The sound stage is wide and deep, especially with a EC player. There is a wealth of musical depth and detail without any specific frequency area that calls attention to itself.

Speaking EC with ATC speakers, my present rig is connected to a pair of ATC SCM-19 monitors, and a SVS SB13 Ultra. Incredible match.
" Don't look back. Something may be gaining on you"

Satchel Paige

 

What are you talking about??, posted on June 30, 2014 at 14:23:47
Freo-1
Audiophile

Posts: 1326
Location: Florida
Joined: June 14, 2008
 Al?
" Don't look back. Something may be gaining on you"

Satchel Paige

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on June 30, 2014 at 23:46:58
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 abs1: It can all be found under SHADY, there was no dealer I bought the amplifier directly from Electrocompaniet Service Agent. Also made the mistake of using a Debit and not a Credit card.

 

RE: May i ask you which other good line preamp have you owned/tested ?, posted on July 1, 2014 at 00:35:46
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
 Hi and Thank you very much indeed
I had the opportunity to buy one 2nd but i decided for a lower level one.
I should get it this week ...
If it will fail to convince me a 4.7 will be my next try and, possibly, a long term companion.
I love preamps immensely. I would like some Pass Labs ... but they are much more expensive.
No tubes ... i do not like their bass at all. Unfortunately because the midrange is usually very beautiful.
Thanks again.

Kind regards,
bg

 

I can remember their baby class-A power amp, posted on July 1, 2014 at 00:38:23
Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002
 Nice.




Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger


 

I found The EC 4.7 to be better...., posted on July 1, 2014 at 13:40:32
Freo-1
Audiophile

Posts: 1326
Location: Florida
Joined: June 14, 2008
 don't worry about Pass Labs. I've owned a couple, and honestly, the EC 4.7 is a better sonic performer (IMHO). It's a bit more 3D, better low level detail, just a better overall sound. Unmatched clarity.
" Don't look back. Something may be gaining on you"

Satchel Paige

 

" It's a bit more 3D ", posted on July 1, 2014 at 13:48:31
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
Hi and thanks again ... you have said the magic words ... more 3D
I would have jumped on this first if i have read your review before
I have to start to get rid of some stuff also ... to focus on better pieces and stop playing with stereo and playing with music
Thanks again
Kind regards,
bg

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on July 2, 2014 at 09:33:53
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Fre0-

which dealer/retailer in CO?

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on July 4, 2014 at 09:27:03
Freo-1
Audiophile

Posts: 1326
Location: Florida
Joined: June 14, 2008
 My EC 4.7 preamp was a leftover new item that came from The Music Room in Colorado, who got it from Axiom Audio (a major EC dealer in the area). Most of my EC gear came from the Music Room.

The below explanation goes a long way to understanding why EC gear sounds unique among solid state equipment. Normally, I take these things with a grain of salt, but in this case, believe this to be accurate:

"Traditionally, designers increased feedback to make a larger portion of the output signal control the amplifier’s response. Our listening tests showed us that simply applying more feedback was not the answer. In fact, as one kind of distortion went down, other parameters would be adversely affected, leading to an overall degradation of sound quality. We knew that the other conventional design approach of eliminating feedback completely was not the answer either, because this would cause high distortion levels, and as a result would produce a “woolly” sound.
The answer to the dilemma was found in a novel approach to feedback theory. We developed a feedback concept that allowed local feedback to be applied around individual stages of the amplifier circuit. This approach allowed us to avoid the sonic disadvantages of overall feedback from output to input. The concept was further developed to reduce phase and interphase distortion between stages of the amplifier as well. We were able to concentrate the loop feedback on the stages of the amplifier where it resulted in audible improvement.
Stability margins were also expanded because feedback no longer affected the frequency response. The use of this concept of individual gain blocks—complex in design but simple in function—allowed us to reduce distortion to minute values in all the products. The amplifier is divided into two separate sections or gain blocks. The input block is a transconductance amplifier without overall feedback. This avoids large output current being fed back to the input, and mixed with the minute input signal. The output block is a transresistance amplifier with parallel feedback. This is done to prevent higher frequencies than the feedback loop can handle from entering the loop. An approach like this will prevent Transient Intermodulation Distortion (TIM) and Slewing Induced Distortion (SID), eliminating the need for an extremely wide bandwidth.”

" Don't look back. Something may be gaining on you"

Satchel Paige

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on July 4, 2014 at 10:30:15
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Right On!

it is the simple matter of believing in one's brand of product(s).

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on July 5, 2014 at 09:23:58
sudz1234@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2956
Joined: February 20, 2011
 I have to agree with Elizabeth. Bryston is the best plus it has a 20 year warranty.

 

Bryston: Warranty Yes/Sonics No, posted on July 6, 2014 at 17:36:41
Freo-1
Audiophile

Posts: 1326
Location: Florida
Joined: June 14, 2008
 I think Bryston's warranty is great, but sonically, Electrocompaniet sounds quite a bit better (IMHO). It does not exhibit any sonic harshness, and the low level detail is much more discernible with the EC gearAgain, I think it has to do with superior handling of transients.
" Don't look back. Something may be gaining on you"

Satchel Paige

 

RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there, posted on July 12, 2014 at 13:36:34
thebordas
 New Krell iBias Class A amps are amazing...Vangaurd integrated is a bargain at $3500!!

 

RE: Bryston: Warranty Yes/Sonics No, posted on July 12, 2014 at 16:21:27
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Freo-

whom makes the cd/dvd/Br drive(s) for this company?

 

RE: Bryston: Warranty Yes/Sonics No, posted on July 13, 2014 at 07:48:38
Freo-1
Audiophile

Posts: 1326
Location: Florida
Joined: June 14, 2008
 I think they are Phillips sourced. They are a bit quirky, in that they are DVD drives, so reaction time to commands like open/close tray are a bit slow. I have tried a couple of music DVD's, and they do actually play.

EC also does a excellent job of isolating the disc mechanism from vibration.
" Don't look back. Something may be gaining on you"

Satchel Paige

 

RE: Bryston: Warranty Yes/Sonics No, posted on July 14, 2014 at 08:47:52
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Hopefully the company has back stock drive(s) in their factory...

 

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