Electrocompaniet ECI-80D
Electrocompaniet stereo integrated amplifier combining a class A/B power stage, DAC, MM phono preamp and two-way Bluetooth, for a complete system built around a single unit.
Description
The ECI-80D is a stereo integrated amplifier designed to serve as the centre of a system on its own: it combines a class A/B power stage developed by Electrocompaniet, a digital converter, a phono preamplifier for moving-magnet cartridges and a Bluetooth link. A system can therefore be built around it with a pair of speakers, a turntable and digital sources, with no intermediate component.
On the power side, the unit is rated at 2 x 80 W into 8 ohms and 2 x 150 W into 4 ohms: the increase in output as impedance drops indicates a power supply capable of keeping up with speakers whose load falls. The damping factor of over 300 into 8 ohms points in the same direction, that of firm control over the woofer. Linearity measurements remain discreet, with total harmonic distortion plus noise below 0.001%, a noise floor under -130 dB, a signal-to-noise ratio of 102 dB and a response extending from 1 to 150 kHz at -3 dB. The volume control covers a range from -110 dB to +15 dB.
Digital sources pass through a PCM converter accepting from 44.1 kHz / 16-bit up to 192 kHz / 24-bit, fed by one USB input, three optical Toslink inputs and two coaxial inputs. The RCA phono input is intended for an MM cartridge, with a gain of 40 dB at 1 kHz, RIAA correction held to +/- 0.1 dB between 25 Hz and 20 kHz, a subsonic filter at -3 dB / 14 Hz, an overload margin of 30 dB at 1 kHz and an A-weighted signal-to-noise ratio of 83 dB. The aptX-HD Bluetooth link works in both directions: receiving from a phone, tablet or computer, but also transmitting to wireless headphones.
The headphone section deserves particular mention: two amplifiers allow two people to listen at once. It requires a load above 16 ohms on a single output and above 32 ohms when both are in use, for a maximum output of 0.4 W into 16 ohms, a voltage swing of +/- 8 V peak and an output impedance of 10 ohms. These figures point towards headphones of reasonable sensitivity rather than very low-impedance models.
This model is aimed at anyone wishing to limit the number of components and cables in a living room, while retaining access to vinyl, files and Bluetooth streaming. The compact format, 470 x 262 x 90 mm for 8 kg, fits easily onto a standard hi-fi rack and suits both a medium-sized room and a late-night headphone listening setup.
Technical specifications
| Output power (8 ohms) | 2 x 80 W |
| Output power (4 ohms) | 2 x 150 W |
| Damping factor (8 ohms) | > 300 |
| Frequency response ( 3 dB) | 1 - 150 kHz |
| THD + N | < 0.001 % |
| Noise floor | < -130 dB |
| Signal to noise ratio (input shorted, ref 1 W into 8 ohms, A weighted) | 102 dB |
| Volume control range | -110 dB to +15 dB |
| Phono input impedance | 47 kOhms || 100 pF |
| Phono gain | 40 dB at 1 kHz |
| RIAA correction accuracy | +/- 0.1 dB, 25 Hz - 20 kHz |
| Subsonic filter | -3 dB at 14 Hz |
| Phono THD | < 0.001 % |
| Phono signal to noise ratio | 83 dB (A-weighted) |
| Phono overload margin | 30 dB at 1 kHz |
| Headphone load impedance (one output used) | > 16 Ohms |
| Headphone load impedance (two outputs used) | > 32 Ohms |
| Maximum headphone output power (16 ohms) | 0.4 W |
| Maximum output voltage swing | +/- 8 V peak |
| Headphone output impedance | 10 Ohms |
| PCM converter | 44.1 kHz / 16-bit up to 192 kHz / 24-bit |
| Connections | 1 USB input, 3 Toslink inputs, 2 coaxial inputs, 2 RCA stereo inputs, 1 RCA phono input, 1 RCA stereo pre-out, 1 headphone output 3.5 mm / 6.5 mm |
| Bluetooth | Two-way aptX-HD |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 470 x 262 x 90 mm |
| Weight | 8 kg |
What to check before buying used
The power supply and class A/B power stage do not cope well with long periods of storage without use: a test at moderate volume on both channels allows you to check for the absence of hum, crackling at the potentiometer or imbalance between channels. The phono stage, particularly sensitive, deserves a dedicated listen with a cartridge to rule out any abnormal background noise or distortion on the RCA phono inputs. A check of correct Bluetooth pairing and the operation of each digital input (USB, Toslink, coaxial) completes the inspection, as these connections are the first to suffer with age.
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