Electrocompaniet ECI-2 Integrated Amplifiers Reviews

rafulin

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Simply love it. Own this amp for over 12 years since it was bought new - holding on to it despite expanding over more expensive amps and tubes. This unit is utterly reliable and timeless. Same for sound quality: it holds its own through sheer musicality and authority. Would describe it a constant performer that was easily matched to a variety of speakers tried over the last decade - it for instance played succesfully with sonus faber as well as yamaha's 1000's.

Price Paid:  $950.00

Summary:
Because of the audio bug I recently audition to different amplifiers, same grade as ECI-2 or a little bit higher grade (in terms of price). I audition to Musical Fidelity, Primare, Accuphase, ECI-3..and even some local made tube amps. Conclusion is I will keep my ECI-2. It is just MUSICAL. Tonality is a little bit tube-like, warm and not too analytical. I think I need to pay more than twice if I want to get noticeble improvement. Suprisingly it is better sound than ECI-3. I don't know why because ECI-3 is DC couple and balanced circuit. Maybe the components of ECI-2 is better???

Strengths:
MUSICAL and powerful. Don't be fooled by its 50W/pc rating. It is really powerful. 550VA transformer, large and small capacitor bank together with FTT technoloy make it a 45amp monster. Looks elegant, like a piece of art. The knobs are solid metal and the speaker terminals are heavy duty WBT's.

Weaknesses:
A little bit hot (but it is Class A)

Similar Products Used:
Not really own below but audition more than once with my familiar CDs....MF A3, A300; Primare A20, A30.1; Accuphase E-211, E407; Audio Space AS8i; ECI-3.....

Price Paid:  $650.00

Summary:
Now superceeded by the EC1/3 this well made integrated is a bargain if you can pick one up on the second-hand market. Straight out of the box the overall impression I would say was only average - this unit as any Electro' owner will tell you needs to be left switched on all the time. Secondly, ditch the standard power-cord and upgrade this immediately...the result will give you a lovely smooth, powerful whiff of the high end for small change. Yes it does lend a warm tint to the music but that doesn't result in any particularly bad trade-offs, instead you can sit back and relax and let the music flow without fatigue. I have since traded up to an Electro' pre/power combo which simply adds to the strengths of this amp...thoroughly recommended.

Strengths:
Quality, smoothness, punch and price.

Weaknesses:
None worth bothering but do swap that power-cord.

Similar Products Used:
MF A3, Arcam, Roksan et al

Summary:
Guess what, I have just bought a pair Silver plated copper
cable from QED to interconnect my CD player and the ECI-2.
I could not believe the improvement. The mid and high are so
articulate. The overall balance is smooth and sweet. I am
sorry to post an unfair review to this amp. Now I'd rather
keep it and will not trade it for anything.

Summary:
This amp sounds good (at the time I bought it and it faces serious competition now); but is not capable for all kind of music, due to its little bit mellow and conservative nature. As compared to the A3 its lacks rythms and openess and it does not have the neutrality of the Puccini SE.

I think it is a matter of taste.

Strengths:
Solid build. Non obtrusive or too aggresive sound. General balance.

Weaknesses:
mid and high a bit conservative.

Similar Products Used:
Musical Fidelity A3; Audio Analogue Puccini SE