ELECTROCOMPANIET ECI6DX-MKII > Part-Time Audiophile Review

What is it about these so-called “all-in-one” components, such as the Electrocompaniet ECI6DX-MKII, that I like so much? When I was a journeyman audiophile I was always taught that it’s better to separate the features of components as much as possible, breaking out tuners and integrated amps from ’70s receivers, breaking out phono stages from preamplifiers, breaking out the right channel from the left channel and, most recently, breaking out power supplies from everything else.

Electrocompaniet ECI6DX-MKII Conclusions

What does this have to do with the Electrocompaniet? We did plenty of troubleshooting along the way, and the ECI was the wind beneath our wings. The fact that it does so much and so well for a single component made it easy to figure out what was wrong, all while providing superb sound when matched with far more expensive products. Once we had the big system in place, doing its ultra-fi thing, I think everyone stopped to compliment the Electrocompaniet ECI6DX-MKII. You know, this is amazing, but that Electrocompaniet was surprisingly good. I’m not gonna say it’s close, but it’s closer than it should be. How much is the Electrocompaniet again?
That brings me back to my original point: why are these all-in-ones so good?
I’m starting to formulate a theory about this. I’ve had a few recent discussions with others in the industry about systems where 40 0r 60 electronic devices are plugged into the AC outlets in a single room. They never seem to sound as nice as the simpler systems out there. All this grounding and RF and noise research I’ve been performing seems to suggest that a complicated system is always going to raise the noise floor in a system because it’s so…well, complicated. If a company can effectively isolate separate functions and power supplies within the unit, rather than out in the room, it seems like a more economic choice.
That said, the Electrocompaniet ECI6DX-MKII integrated amplifier and DAC and network streamer performs at a level that seems miraculous for the price, an observation that’s even more keen when you consider pairing them with the Triangle Magellan Duettos. It sounds fantastic, it’s easy to use and set-up, and if I ever decide to go down the all-in-one road I’ll definitely come right back to it.
- Marc Philips, Part-Time Audiophile, May 2024

Electrocompaniet ECI6DX-MKII
Part-Time Audiophile