CD-player Electrocompaniet ECC 1
The forums often argue with what is better to start the formation of the audio system. Many believe that the first thing you need to purchase your favorite speakers, under it to pick up the amplifier, and the remaining money - source. However, Robert Harley in his "Encyclopedia of High End Audio" advises to do exactly the opposite, and in this regard I agree with him. Experience has shown that the role of a tuning fork, which is based on the "voice" of the entire system should be assigned to CD-player.
And in fact, if you can not get a high-resolution, reliable bass foundation and a clear top from the source will not help neither silver cables or 15-inch bass drivers, nor superkachestvennoe gain. So the first step in our business - the most crucial.
The Norwegian company Electrocompaniet approach to designing its components very seriously. She has a rich history - even in 1976, was released amplifier that American magazine "The Audio Critic Magazine" named the world's best-sounding. In 2004, the brand has acquired Mikal Dreggevik, amateur musician and the owner of another company, Westcontrol, specializing in the development of electronic equipment for military aircraft. Modern Electrocompaniet components are designed and manufactured in Norway, they meet not only the requirements of ISO900, but European military standards. The profitability of production in the country with the highest wages and taxes provided by automating most of the processes and precision assembly with the minimum percentage of marriage.
CD-player ECC 1 refers to a series of Classic Line with a strong but elegant design. The front panel is made of thick polished acrylic, through which shine blue characters on the display. Controls - four brass keys - are concentrated on the right side. CD-drive with fine loading platform is centered under it - the power switch.
Philips mechanism is mounted on anti-vibration suspension, as in the more expensive model EMC-1UP. Digital path, built on the chipset of Cirrus Logic, recounts the original signal to 24-bit/192 kHz, and only then converted to analog form. DACs - fully balanced. The output stages operate in Class A, so cover the ventilation slots in the top cover is not recommended. There are both conventional and balanced outputs, the latter being direct and to the RCA jacks signal is applied after the summation. The imposing mass of the player (9 kg) due to the presence of a powerful mains transformer and rigid chassis of 2 mm steel.
Remote control - universal, able to work well with advanced and integrated amplifiers.
By tradition, we listen to the technique of cables Electrocompaniet Neyton, which are produced by the German company Neyman Kabelsysteme und LWL-Technologie. It is based engineer Marek Neymanom who spent over 20 years developing unique class conductors High End. All products are manufactured in Germany Neyton using modern technology of the highest quality materials. Specifically, the conductors are made of copper, silver and gold in various combinations. Dielectric - the best of all available - Teflon air capillaries. Cables are supplied in plastic case with foam filler.
In the balanced cable Neyton Bamberg NF there is a screen to protect it from external electromagnetic fields. Direct and return conductors are identical and have a symmetrical geometry. The cable consists of six cores of 0.5 mm diameter Teflon-coated. As a material selected oxygen-free copper, coated with silver. The outer sheath is made of fabric with a proprietary additives of Teflon. Large amount of air between the fibers provides better insulation. Balanced connectors - high quality WBT, anodized black.
With a rather modest external diameter cable network Neyton Nuernberg AC has a very complex structure. It consists of 171 monozhily of silvered copper OFC diameter of 0.36 mm with a thin Teflon coating, which consists of three conductors (phase, neutral, ground) section of 5.6 m. mm each. These strands folded in two, with the copper strands alternate them with Teflon strings, creating numerous clearances. The cable is equipped with a fork Furutech Fi-E35 and IEC-connector Furutech Fi-25 with nonmagnetic contacts, gold-plated 24k.
However, during the pre-listening it became clear that the player is not too sensitive to the quality of the interconnect cables (which is typical for balanced connections), but the replacement of the network gives quite a noticeable effect. If instead of the usual thick cord with ferrite RF stoppers include Nuernberg AC, increased resolution in the upper register, the sound of the violin Anne-Sophie Mutter, without losing detail and timbral diversity perceived by ear somewhat comfortable.
In addition to natural light and natural sounding violin, attracted the attention and lowercase. I have long noticed that a good source in the editorial Monitor Audio Gold Reference 20 stunning ability to transfer bass. Subjectively, it seems deeper, although it is certainly a consequence of qualitative rather than quantitative changes. Thanks to the clearly marked a fundamental component of the overall picture becomes solidity and reliability. Another attractive feature - the transfer of all relevant details without excessive addiction to minor details. By the ability to focus the listener's attention is on the music rather than technicality and virtuosity of execution (although in this case, the latter at a very high level) Electrocompaniet ECC 1 is not inferior to the expensive turntable. But to get from an analog source such tonal accuracy, will have to spend a much larger sum.
And as part of a large symphony orchestra violin sound easy and natural, despite the extremely rich overall spectrum. Here it is worth noting the transmission of the atmosphere and spatial perspective. Of course, the overall scale and filling stage is largely dependent on the amplifier and the speakers, but the accuracy of fixation virtual images - the exclusive prerogative of the source. As mentioned earlier, the components Electrocompaniet slightly reduce the emotional intensity of music, the listener a more relaxed interpretation. However, the player displays a discreet Nordic character to a lesser extent than amplifiers.
But where there is need, ECC 1 is able to pump up the drive completely. I did not feel a lack of energy on the records of Dream Theater, on the contrary - because of the high intelligibility at extreme levels and the ability to build up a spatial pattern of listening test turned into an exciting experience. Bribes and gorgeous microdrivers, accurate portrayal of the nuances in the sound picture, incredibly complicated the spectrum.
