From Electrocompaniet ECI4 to Purify, Hypex, ICEpower etc etc etc

[DavidEdwinAston]

Thank you Jim.

I'm sure you'll agree that, if a component in one's system fails to deliver the sound one wants (and other comparable components can), the best thing to do is cut one's losses and sell it - however well it may sound in other users' systems, or performs on the bench.

For me, when conducting my multi-amp extended tests (at home and in my system), there were 3 amps that failed the essential enjoyment factor requirement - the Benchmark, the Quad Platinum and the Sugden FPA-4. Most of the others delivered very acceptable sound quality, but for me the NAD won out, not only because of its excellent sound quality but other considerations such as its numerous additional features, its reasonable price, its low fuel consumption and very importantly for a unit that includes a streamer, its control app. As I said before, I was surprised that there was so much audible difference in this selection of amps. Whether those differences would lead to different decisions by others is another matter, but I was not alone in finding those 3 amps in particular lacking and so they were not kept.

I have to say that my Quad Platinum continues to give me great pleasure. Perhaps I like, the signal in, signal out, with only added gain philosophy?

 

[Winemaker]

The baby is moving, she will give birth soon

 

[Winemaker]

We're finally here. He is an Italian assembler and manufacturer (Microsim https://www.microsim.it/)

 

[Winemaker]

And finally, it was...

the nuclear catastrophe-proof packing.
Obviously, the weight is a quarter of the Electrocompaniet's, which is much better for your back.

How did it sound to me? I should start by saying I only listened for about an hour, but my initial impressions were... well, imagine going to the eye doctor. Before they put in the lenses, everything's blurry, then suddenly, it's all crystal clear. That's the feeling I got.

Did I lose anything? Did I gain anything? Both, let me explain: I gained in the mid to high registers. I lost, or at least it seemed that way, in the low and very low frequencies.

I can't quite tell if it's a more faithful reproduction – meaning if the bass is there, it comes out, but the Electrocompaniet had a deeper bass (maybe it wasn't real?). Now it seems the woofers move more conservatively (like, if it's there, it's there; otherwise, nothing).

One other thing, and I think this is probably due to the Eversolo: when I turn up the volume, from -100dB to around -35dB, the volume seems to increase very little. Then, from -25dB to -18dB, it grows exponentially. I didn't go any higher than that. It almost seems like the amplifier doesn't have the declared 250W, but much less.

I'll let you know in the coming days. A special shout-out to Microsim; they did an excellent job.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I've never heard Pino Daniele's voice (the Italian/Neapolitan blues singer) sound so incredibly real. And don't even get me started on the Tuba Mirum from Mozart's Requiem!

The soundstage is noticeably deeper, and the vocals are just stunning. Listening to Lennox's "Strange Fruit" gave me goosebumps.