[Freo-1]

Just picked up one of these for my second system. It will be used with Source Technologies 277SE speakers, and a ELECTROCOMPANIET EC 4.5 preamp.

Anyone have experience with this brand? I wanted to get a slightly different presentation for the second system, which is audio only. The prices was very reasonable, and their equipment was highly recommended by my local tech.

Looking for feedback from folks who have owned or heard their equipment.

Here are a couple of pics:

[SteveFord]

Try doug s. as he has at least one of their amps and speaks highly of it.

[doug s.]

this amp is a current monster; i'd even consider trying it in place of your thresholds, even tho the wattage rating may be less.  i own a pair of the dual-mono iterations, the aw75dmb's, which can be run balanced, single-ended, or bridged.  i used to use them wertically bi-amped on my main speakers to great effect.  (for several years, i only ran one, until i found a second to match; even a single amp was superb - even on the difficult-to-drive thiel 3.5's.)  now they are relegated to subwoofer duty, as i prefer tubes for main amplification duties.  tho ec amps are certainly not dry, they don't have the soundstaging and warmth that good tube amps bring to the presentation.

re: preamps, i used to run an old ec-a1, which was also wery nice.  i imagine the more modern 4.5 will acquit itself well.  again, i ultimately prefer tubes, especially at the preamp position.  but, ec is nice s/s gear...

doug s.

[Freo-1]

Thanks, Doug.  Looking forward to putting this though it's paces.   I'll try this out on the Legacy's to see how they sound.

Interesting comments about SS vs. tubes.  I have gone the opposite direction (from tubes to SS).  In my case, it was two issues:

1) Dodgy output power tubes:  I got VERY tired of output tubes going cherry at random intervals.

2) Bought Legacy Signature III's.  These are incredible sounding speakers, but not with tubes.   They need a LOT of current to sound good, but when they are connected to amps like Threshold, I have found them to present a lifelike reproduction of sound I have never heard with tubes (especially with large scale classical music).  The more live symphonies I have attended, the more I realize that the large speakers with solid state can get very close to an actual live event.