Audiophilepure

https://www.hifichoice.com/content/electrocompaniet-eci-80d

The one asset you can’t measure with hi-fi is likeability, yet it’s obvious listening to Dream from Shawn Mendes’ Wonder on CD, that the ECI 80D has it in spades using its own on-board DAC. If it isn’t conspicuously fast or especially grippy, you’re barely aware without reference to the Hegel and Primare, both of which exhibit a strong temporal character. But the EC is tonally and harmonically richer as well as sounding deliciously fluid and supple, and such things tend to connect just as easily and powerfully with all kinds of music. The densely layered and slickly produced Mendes cut is delivered with detail deftly integrated into the larger musical picture rather than acutely analysed and an elusive sense of body and inner texture – tellingly apparent in the vocal – that leaner and more agile sounding amps often diminish. Perhaps predictably, routing in the Hugo 2 for decoding duties sharpens up timing and micro-dynamic acuity but the easy comfort and colour still remain intact.

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