Electrocompaniet ECI-1 Integrated Amplifiers Reviews

Sam_00

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Simply stunning amplifier !!!!!!! Have listened to many amplifiers over the years from top brands including Krell, Audio Research, Jadis, Conrad Johnson, etc ... but 'for the money' nothing comes close to this exquisite machine. I paid £1000.00 second hand a few years back for this unit (New retail £2,250)

It is a true dual mono 100WPC design that can drive virtually any loadspeaker load including panel speakers with ease, this is achieved with a maximum peak current delivery of over 80 amps !!!! It is supplied by two 650VA toroidals. It is these mains transformers which account for much of the amplifier's 18kg weight and an unfeasibly high peak current yield, enough to cope with 0.5ohm loads !!!!

But this amplifier is not just about power. It is also possesed with great finesse & balance that allows for both macro & micro dynamics in any musical piece to come alive, even at lower volumes. The sound is very well balanced with a very smooth & liquid delivery much like the best valve amp designs but with none of the drawbacks . The bass goes deep & is beautifuly articulate & extended. The midrange is very open, smooth and detailed yet free of grain, or artifacts. The highs are sweet yet detailed and gives vocals (especially female) a real soaring quality & spacial presence. The Soundstage has real depth width & height & simply draws you into whatever piece of music you are listening to.

The best thing about this amplifier though is that it is never fatiguing to listen to. It posseses all the Hi End traits that we look for as audiophiles, but is but in a design that is very analogue in its presentation. It is a rare machine that simply allows you to appreciate the music !!!!!!!! And that is afterall what it's all about :)

Very well built & reliable machine, on a par with Krells .. say no more .... Has been used in my setup without a hitch for over 8 years !!!

P.S - Looks very sexy in the flesh :) .... Very similar in overall design to current range of Electrocompaniet products ...

dominique toulon

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.78 of 5, 18.00 votes

Price Paid:  $800.00 from second hand private

Summary:
I love my ECI1 since 8 years now (1992 model);

it works with micromega duo cd3 duo pro and an old pair of HRC DK4; I've tried JM lab electra 906, really awful; leedh flirt, really too much high level; this night i've tried with dynaudio contour 1.4, very nice, a litle bit too much bass (perhaps it's my friend's home); but my friend's amp (moon I3) is really very higher in definition, spatialisation, properness of the bass, dynamics, even high sounds feel smoother, ECI1 is wellknown for this...; i made the comparison all night long;

for the moment i don't have money to change it but i need to change my speakers; i'm very interested by B&W 805S, because they work with lots of amps, so it will be easier to change for me after ; did someone try?

Best regards dominique

Strengths:

be carefull of positionning; ECI1 needs a lot of fresh air for working long years; lots of them are dead because they warmed up too much;

in mine the thermo-rupteur has been changed for a lower temparature; when I hear too much loud, over half volume, it cuts off quickly; therefore, an electrocompaniet dealer who i gave it to repair (level computation) told me it is like brand new; he was surprised because most of them he repaired wer burned or too much warmed up

Weaknesses:
weakness in some bass frequencies, no enough impact in this range (battery for example); can be a disaster with some speakers (for example JM LAB 906 Electra);

Similar Products Used:
moon I3 but really better....

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Second Hand Shop in

Summary:
I have been using ECI1 for about 2 years now. My comment is if your listening room is not extremely big like 5*8m. your speaker is not power consumed like totem model one sig (old model) and you are not a big fan of death or heavy metal, ECI1 is the very very good choice of Int'Amp for you. Be frankly,you will not get the extended trible or powerful and punch bass from ECI1 but what you will percieve is the smooth, liquid and flow through all frequency range. ECI1 give the mild and round body focus with sweet and mellow high. ECI1 sounds really sweet,natural, warm, liquid and tube sound rather than solidstate amp. The midrange of ECI1 is really hard to describe ^_^", I found it is round enought for the female vocal music however it is thin enought to presents the last breath when the voice fades away. I found this when I compared ECI1 with a really expensive Accuphase 530 Int'Amp. Bass is not a weakness for ECI1, deep and focus but a bit to slow for some kind of music However, I give this amp full cradit as if I see this int'amp in the secondhand market again I would buy it as a spare one. I really could not think of any int'amp or pre+power with in 3-4 times price could compare to ECI1. My system are Accuphase DP60 CD player -> Electrocompanient ECI1 Int'Amp -> Vienna Accustic Haydn Signature. Cardas Golden Reference interconnect, speaker cable and AC cable with Wattegate wall receptacle.

Strengths:
Musical + Natural + Warm + Sweet + Liquid = What's more you need???

Weaknesses:
Lack of dynamic in some frequency range. New one not avalable in the market anymore.

Similar Products Used:
Jeff Roland, Accuphase, Ayre, High End tube amp.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from 5.10.2003.

Summary:
Well, I made a big mistake once, and sold my ECI 1 two years ago. I spend almost two years trying to find a new integrated amplifier that could replace it. I can only tell you this - there aint nothing like this on the market, so if you are not pleased with your ECI-1, try to change your cables or other equipment: changing of power cord can be a very dramatic expirience with ECI.Another advise: ECI 1 and 2 are shure beast buys these days considering their price and the fact that ECI 3 and 4 are basicaly the same product with some cosmetic changes and the temote control. Be smart, get out and buy one ECI used and spend rest of your money on the front end and cables. You won' regret it. Oh yes - and never sell your unit, no mather the circumstances.

Strengths:
Power, clean and natural sound, musicality, reliability

Weaknesses:
no remote, but who cares - you will only get even more fat and uselles using it

Similar Products Used:
every integrated on earth, some pre/power units, including CJ, thorens, audio analog, Krell, Rega, Musical Fidelity, etc.

Price Paid:  $1400.00 from West Midlands HiFi

Summary:
Bought this second hand from local dealer when I lost faith in my Rogue Tempest - unreliable. My dealer told me that it would make my Guarneri Homage's sing as they required plenty of current. He wasn't kidding!! This amplifier is a sleeping giant. Beats anything I've owned and heard. The music flows effortlessly from an inky black background. The treble is rendered naturally (not tizzy), the bass is fast and with a touch of warmth and the midrange is superb - maybe not as lucid as the Rogue valves but still very integrated. This amplifier is sensitive to its support and power cable. I found that a cheap power cable isbetter than a Kimber High Current (thickened sound). As far as supports (wait for it) - I found id best with Vibrapods under the back feet and sorbathane pads under the front - much better than the same all round and much better than no supports. I cannot see me ever changing this amplifier but I wonder, why did the Company stop producing it??

Strengths:
Beautifully balanced sound, detailed without sounding squeaky clean.

Weaknesses:
No remote

Similar Products Used:
Krell 300i - too digital; Lavardin IT - blew speaker & couldn't repair amp; Rogue Tempest - excellent but unreliable