Electrocompaniet ECM 1 MKII HIGH END DAC AND MUSIC STREAMER
Electrocompaniet’s ECM 1 MkII pairs a low-noise, natural DAC stage with exceptional timing, delivering dynamic punch, tactile detail and a deep, precisely layered soundstage. The Ear admired its cohesive musical flow, while HiFi Turtle highlighted remarkably vivid vocals and expansive imaging. Extensive streaming, variable outputs and onboard-drive support complete a genuinely persuasive digital front end.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
85/100
Features Connectivity
85/100
Value for Money
90/100
Pros
Natural, cohesive sound with exceptional timing, strong dynamics and a notably quiet background.
Deep, wide imaging with precise placement and convincing separation of voices and instruments.
Flexible all-in-one connectivity, including major streaming services, variable analogue outputs and internal-drive support.
Cons
No AES or USB digital output for users planning a future external-DAC upgrade.
Its revealing balance can expose setup and speaker-placement issues, and may be less forgiving of poor recordings.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
Reviewers describe an unusually cohesive, natural and musically involving presentation, combining strong timing, dynamic expression and a notably low-noise background. It is praised for resolving spatial layers and individual instrumental textures without turning grainy, edgy or overtly analytical.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
95/100
The Ear found the presentation even-handed, natural and beautiful, with exceptional timing making complex music feel musical rather than congested. HiFi Turtle calls the midrange highly emotional and clear, praises the naturally laid-back bass balance, and considers the ECM 1 MkII a personal reference-level component.
Resolution and Detail
94/100
HiFi Turtle reports hearing individual orchestral parts previously unheard, alongside exceptional treble clarity and convincing instrumental timbre. The Ear likewise highlights precise placement, distinct acoustic space around instruments, and a deep, three-dimensional image.
Digital Performance
92/100
The Ear reports a lower-than-usual noise floor for a streamer of this type, helping the ECM 1 MkII sound natural and engaging. Its conversion is also described as remarkably clean, with strong transient snap and dynamics delivered without lag, blur, grain or edge.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
85/100
The Ear characterises the construction as solid, while noting that it is not especially lavish in its finish. The acrylic front panel and brass buttons lend it a more distinctive and upscale appearance.
Features Connectivity
85/100
The ECM 1 MkII combines balanced and single-ended variable analogue outputs with coaxial and optical digital inputs, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB storage support, and an internal-drive dock. Streaming provision is extensive, including Roon Ready, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, Bluetooth, internet radio and DLNA/UPnP; The Ear only misses AES or USB digital output for use with an external DAC.
Value for Money
90/100
At roughly $5,249–$6,000, The Ear found its clean, cohesive presentation remarkable at the price and suggested it could outperform many competing products in demonstrations. While it may not match equipment costing more than twice as much in ultimate refinement, the reviewer questions whether that dearer equipment is any more enjoyable.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- No. of channels
- 2
- Output Impedance
- 300 Ohms
- Noise floor (20 - 20 kHz)
- < -145 dB
- Frequency response
- 0.5 - 48 kHz
- THD+N
- < 0,0005 %
- Upsampling rate
- 192 kHz, 24 bit
- Digital/Analog conversion
- 192 kHz, 24 bit
- Input sampling rate
- 2 x SPDIF Coax: 192 kHz, 24 bit\n2 x SPDIF TOSLink: 192 kHz, 24 bit
- Network connection
- Wi-Fi or LAN
- Internal drive
- Docking, self installation. 3.5"/2.5" - unlimited capacity.
- Supported audio formats
- All popular formats including: WAV/WAVE, MP3, AAC+, Vorbis, ALAC, FLAC, APE, AIFF, WMA, up to 192kHZ/24bit, DSD, up to DSD 128 (5.6 MHz)
- Supported control interfaces
- DLNA, UPnP, Android and iOS remote\nInternal storage: docking, self installation
- Streaming services
- AirPlay 2 \nSpotify Connect\nQobuz \nPlays with Audirvāna\nTIDAL Connect\nRoon Ready\nJPLAY Certified\nDLNA\nInternet Radio\nBluetooth streaming from any Bluetooth enabled device
- Power consumption (no load or signal)
- 50 W
- Standby
- 0.5 W
- Dimensions
- Width: 470 mm / 18.5 inches\nDepth: 381 mm / 14.99 inches\nHeight: 80 mm / 3.14 inches
- Weight
- 8.3 kg. / 18 lbs.\n*(without internal drive)
Manufacturer's Description — Electrocompaniet
THE FUTURE OF LISTENING AND THE HERITAGEOF ELECTROCOMPANIET. The new ECM 1 MKII is a DAC and music streamer. With the brand new, in-house developed streaming software and app, it plays lossless, DSD and high-resolution digital content in a way that really makes you want to dig deeper into all the delightful music out there.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Electrocompaniet ECM 1 MKII HIGH END DAC AND MUSIC STREAMER
- Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
- Area Hifi — online and in-store — L'Eixample, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
- Audio Art Cable — online and in-store — San Diego, California, United States (website)
- Audio Elation — in-store — Lolo, Montana, United States (website)
- Audio Solutions — online and in-store — Indianapolis, Indiana, United States (website)
- Audio Tempel — online and in-store — Zwolle, Overijssel, Netherlands (website)
- Audiocompagniet — online and in-store — Odense C, Denmark (website)
- Audiogears — in-store — Casalecchio di Reno, Emilia-Romaña (website)
- audioharmonia — in-store — Bouliac, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- AUIDOtrend — in-store — Kraków, Województwo małopolskie, Poland (website)
and 52 more verified dealers