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Model: | ECP-1 |
Category: | Phono Preamp |
Suggested Retail Price: | $1000.00 |
Description: | Outboard Phono Preamp |
Manufacturer URL: | Electrocompaniet |
Review by J-PMatt@Comcast.Net on May 06, 2003 at 13:04:51 IP Address: 68.45.82.147 | Add Your Review for the ECP-1 |
Synergy, synergy, synergy.........it's what we look for when we buy our components, or at least it's what we should be looking for. When I introduce a new component to the rig, it's always my hope that it will fit in nicely, play well with others and get good grades from teacher. Of course, we all know that's not always the case, no matter how well meaning and well researched our plans may be.I purchased or borrowed other phono preamps in the roughly $1000.00 price range and did just that. With varying results of course. And yes, it was frustrating at times. "Why does this or that phono preamp sound so good in his system and so bad in mine?" Or, "Why don't I hear that magic now? You just scored gold medals at the other place yesterday and today you're not even qualifying?"
Finally, a light bulb went off. I like my EC gear,............ maybe their phono preamp has something to offer............
It did, and in spades. Here was the midrange I was hoping for. Postioned correctly in the soundstage with just the right amount of sweetness and without the hangover. Here was my long-lost depth and focus. High frequencies with sparkle and shine, but without the grit or fatigue. Cymbals that decay naturally in their own time and place, and again within the correct position of the soundstage.
And talk about bass. How low do you want to go? Bass with impact and substance without sounding tubby. Definition and detail. In 1966, McCartney put down his violin bass and picked up his Rickenbacker. Of course, as a Beatle fan I know this but I didn't always hear it. Now I HEAR IT! Even cuts that we're impossible to decipher are now there to be heard clearly. The bass in "SGT. Pepper's REPRISE" (MFSL) leading into "A Day in the Life" is there in all its lowdown and dirty rocking glory. The trebly, twangy sound of the Rick unearthed and dusted off for my enjoyment! The Cars first album (Nautilus) was another treat. All of the guitars in "My Best Friends Girl" had texture that simply was never present in all the years of listening to that cut.
Orchestral was a revelation. Hey, I love rock as much as the next kid, but when you want dynamics, this is where you go. And there I went, deep into the night and totally beat for work the next day. I just didn't know that vinyl could be that quiet on my system, and I don't mean the surface noise went away when the music started. I mean between cuts, during low passages, etc. Black, black backgrounds, and their byproduct--dynamics.
I have no doubt in my mind that the ECP-1 isn't for everyone. What did I say before? Synergy, right? And I think that's what it really boils down to in the end. If I owned a Pass, Boulder, Musical Fidelity, Krell, Levinson, McIntosh (Add yours here) preamp and amp, then I would buy their phono preamp without hesitation. But I don't. I own EC, for better and worse, (Ahem) and what should have been a no-brainer turned into a Cecil B. DeMille production.
But not without having learned an important lesson.
Synergy...........
Product Weakness: | Should have balanced inputs and outputs as well as single ended. |
Product Strengths: | Dead quiet background. Able to drive very low output moving coils with ease. Dynamic and detailed, with great depth and width of soundstage. |
Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
Amplifier: | Electrocompaniet AW-250DMB Fully Balanced 250 watt per channel pure class A amplifier |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | EC-4.7 Matching fully balanced preamplifier/Linestage |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Basis 1400 w/ modified Origin Live RB-300 Tone arm and Benz Micro ACE low output moving coil phono cartridge |
Speakers: | Talon Audio Peregrines w/ Sound Anchor stands |
Cables/Interconnects: | Stealth CWS balanced and single ended interconnects. Stealth silver triple wrapped speaker cable |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Beatles/Badfinger/Billy Joel/Cars/Orchestra and Opera |
Room Size (LxWxH): | 40 x 30 x 8 |
Time Period/Length of Audition: | 1 1/2 years |
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | MIT Z-Center |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Follow Ups:
I have one, an ECP-1. It is very good with low ohm MC cartridges. My Van de Hul MC10 likes it (73 db). All my MC cartridges like it. The ECP-1 likes well recorded music, it plays what it gets. The MM output of the ECP-1 could have more gain (35 db). It just does it all well. My Grado Ref Ref with 1.5 volt doesn't have enough gainn MM mode, but sounds very good. The Grado ref ref does not do well on the MC input. The 10 ohm resistance of the EP-1 drags down the highs.I also have the new Grado phono PH-1 preamp. It is very good but a bit noisier. If you have a Grado, you need this preamp. Synergie, Synergie!
Thanks for doing this review. I was considering buying the 4.7 pre amp and ECP-1 phono amp to go with my EC AW180 monoblocks. I have tried the 4.7 pre but haven't had the opportunity to hear the phono stage yet.
I think you'll really like it. Our systems seem pretty darn similar. How do you like the AW180's? Also, what kind of speakers are you using?
I like the sound of the AW180 monoblocks. I'm using them with Kef Reference 2 speakers and they seem to go together quite well. Big room filling sound, well controlled but powerful. At the moment I have a Roksan TT, Roksan phono and Roksan preamp, so I'm thinking of swapping the phono and preamp for Electrocompaniet gear. I've already auditioned the EC4.7 and liked it. Quite how the EC phono stage will sound with a Roksan Shiraz cart remains to be seen. I have a review of the EC phono stage somewhere - can't remember if it was in HiFi Choice or HiFi World.
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