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In Reply to: RE: Electrocompaniet: Some the best sounding SS gear out there posted by fantja on June 28, 2014 at 19:27:48
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.
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
Follow Ups:
Fre0-
which dealer/retailer in CO?
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.”
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
Right On!
it is the simple matter of believing in one's brand of product(s).
I have to agree with Elizabeth. Bryston is the best plus it has a 20 year warranty.
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.
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
Freo-
whom makes the cd/dvd/Br drive(s) for this company?
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.
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
Hopefully the company has back stock drive(s) in their factory...
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
Edits: 06/30/14
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.
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
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
Edits: 07/01/14 07/01/14 07/01/14 07/01/14 07/01/14 07/01/14
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.
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
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
Funny that you like the EC preamp, it's one of a few that shine with ATC's powered speakers.
Happy hunting.
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