Electrocompaniet EC 4.8 MKII
Electrocompaniet stereo preamplifier in Dual Mono architecture, with balanced and unbalanced inputs, aimed at high-end electronics enthusiasts.
Description
The EC 4.8 MKII is a stereo preamplifier from Electrocompaniet, designed to sit ahead of a power amplifier within a hi-fi system. Its role is to handle source selection and volume adjustment before the power stage, whilst seeking to preserve the quality of the original signal as much as possible.
This model uses a Dual Mono architecture: the two stereo channels are treated as two independent mono preamplifiers, each with its own power supply. This separation limits interaction between the channels and results in channel separation exceeding 120 dB. The unit also displays a very low total harmonic distortion rate, below 0.002% for a 1V input and output signal, as well as background noise below -130 dB at zero gain. Frequency response extends from 1 Hz to 200 kHz, and gain is adjustable between -111 dB and +6 dB depending on the requirements of the setup.
On the connectivity side, the EC 4.8 MKII offers two balanced stereo XLR inputs, two unbalanced stereo RCA inputs, a REC OUT output in RCA and a balanced stereo XLR output, allowing it to interface with both balanced and unbalanced sources.
This preamplifier is aimed at audiophiles wishing to pair a carefully engineered stereo preamplification stage with a separate power amplifier, in a system where the quality of the connectivity and the stability of the power supply matter as much as the measured performance.
Technical specifications
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 80x470x372 mm |
| Input impedance | 47 kohms |
| Output impedance | 100 ohms |
| Frequency response | 1 Hz to 200 kHz |
| THD | <0.002% (1V input, 1V output) |
| Channel separation | >120 dB |
| Minimum gain | -111 dB |
| Maximum gain | 6 dB |
| Connectivity | 2x balanced stereo XLR inputs, 2x unbalanced stereo RCA inputs, 1x REC OUT RCA output, 1x balanced stereo XLR output |
What to check before buying used
On this Dual Mono preamplifier, it is worth checking the level balance between the two channels and the absence of noise or crackling when turning the gain potentiometer, a common sign of wear on this type of stage. The XLR and RCA inputs are worth checking for loose connections, as are the source selector switches, which can sometimes suffer from oxidation after several years. Checking the power supply capacitors, which are separate for each channel in this architecture, is also worthwhile on an older unit.
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